Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Below are some of the frequently asked questions regarding the Certified Hedge Fund Professional (CHP) designation and exams. If you are interested in the CHP, you may download the CHP Study Guide. Feel free to email us with additional questions using our Contact Us Form.

Question: What are the benefits of earning the Certified Hedge Fund Professional (CHP) designation?
Answer: Some of the benefits include:

1. Advance Your Business or Career by raising your level of hedge fund knowledge and increasing your ability to work quickly and effectively. Specialized knowledge is valuable, and mastering the basics allows you to work more efficiently than your competitors.
2. 70+ Education Videos & Exclusive Access to HedgeFundPremium.com, providing you with video-based lectures, workbooks, career tools, and events ($324 value: all free with membership).
3. Upgrade Your Resume & Pedigree by adding the CHP designation to your resume, assuring employers that you are dedicated to working in the industry, passionate about learning more about the industry, and able to work more efficiently after being promoted or hired. (See below for the exact bullet points of experience you will be able to add to your resume after completing this program.)
4. Choose an Area of Specialization & Focus for the Level 2 CHP program and gain specialized knowledge within a niche of the industry that will help you move ahead faster. Knowing more means you are armed with information to make better decisions on the job and in general while navigating your career or the growth of your hedge fund business.

For a full list of the top benefits associated with the program, please see the Top 10 CHP Designation Program Benefits

Question: What is the Certified Hedge Fund Professional (CHP) designation?
Answer: The Certified Hedge Fund Professional (CHP) designation is a 100% online-based hedge fund training and certification program that can be completed in 6-12 months. The CHP program is the most popular and trusted certification program built exclusively by and for hedge fund professionals. As depicted here, to complete our program you must first register, complete CHP Level 1 on hedge fund fundamentals, and then complete CHP Level 2 within an area of your choice. If you still need to select your level 2 specialization you may do so now using this form.

Question:  What makes the CHP designation different from other professional designations? 
Answer: There are three main differences: focus, practical knowledge, and study aides.

• The CHP is focused exclusively on hedge funds and fund of hedge funds. It is in-depth and comprehensive coverage of this niche area.
• The CHP program offers practical knowledge that can easily be applied to a variety of hedge fund positions such as due diligence, compliance, analytics, consulting, or marketing and sales. 
• The CHP program provides participants with more study aides than anyone else at no additional cost. Participants who register for the CHP get access to over 70 educational videos to participants for free, require no purchasing of expensive external study aides, and we complete all of our required testing 100% online so you avoid the hassle and costs of dealing with testing centers. Read more about how CHP Program participants have fit this designation into their overall career plans by clicking here.

Question: I'm registered for the CHP, but when and where do I take the exam?

Answer: On your chosen examination date you have 24 hours to begin your two-hour allotted time slot. This means that you can take the exam at any time between 12:01AM and 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the date of your exam. (For corresponding times for your geographical location, please change the hours accordingly.)

You can begin your two-hour time slot at any time. In regards to the location of the exam, you can take the exam from home, work, the library, etc. The CHP is a 100% online certification program. That means there are no testing centers or classes offline, so you can complete the program at your pace, leisure, and on your schedule. The exam is offered four times a year, once per quarter. The examination dates include January 10th, April 10th, July 10th, and October 10th of each year. If you would like to change your exam date while completing the program, please use this form.

Question: If I register for CHP Level 1 & 2 at the same time to qualify for the discount, does that mean I need to take both examinations on the same day?
Answer: When you register for CHP Level 1 & 2 at the same time, you must still complete CHP Level 1 before setting your test date for CHP level 2. Upon completing CHP Level 1, please contact us and let us know which Level 2 option you would like to complete within our program. If you still need to select your level 2 specialization you may do so now using this form.

Question: What if I move my CHP Level 1 examination date? Will that automatically move my CHP Level 2 examination date, or will I have to complete forms and payments for each separately?
Answer: If you complete our Date Change or Re-Examination Form for CHP Level 1, we automatically adjust your Level 2 examination date without you having to complete any additional forms or pay any extra fees. You will never have to move these both separately or complete both examinations on the same day.

Question: What will I be able to add to my resume after completing this program? What tangible benefit will I receive in terms of positioning my knowledge and skills against others competing for similar jobs?
Answer:  Participants who complete our program and pass our challenging examination should be able to add the following entry to the Education & Training section of their resume.

Certified Hedge Fund Professional (CHP) Designation Level 1

• Completed challenging hedge fund training program covering hedge fund investment strategies and terms.
• Obtained an ___% on the two-hour CHP examination covering fund of hedge funds, hedge fund strategies, hedge fund due diligence, portfolio analytics, and hedge fund trends.
• Hedge Fund Group certified as holding a high level of specialized hedge fund best practices.

Question: How much will I have to study or prepare for the CHP before sitting for the exam?
Answer:  This will depend on your previous exposure and work within the hedge fund industry, but the typical amount of time expected is 75-100 hours. 

Question: I live outside of the United States. Can I still earn the CHP designation? 
Answer:  Yes, we have crafted the CHP designation program so that you may take the test online from anywhere in the world. By using a dual-layered IP tracking and password system, and by making the exam timed, we allow participants to complete the examination from their place of work or home anywhere in the world. In the past 18 months alone we have had participants complete our program from the U.K., Switzerland, China, India, Australia, South Africa, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, and over 30 additional countries.

The chart below shows where participants in our program are based. When our program started, it was most popular in North America, but now Europe and Asia are the two fastest-growing segments of our participant locations.

Question: I know that I want to earn the CHP designation; how do I register for the exam? 
Answer:  Registration is now open on a rolling-adminisions basis so you can start this self-paced hedge fund training program at any time. To be alerted via email on upcoming registration dates, please submit your contact details through our Email Alerts form here. To check if there is still room within the current program session or to register for the program right now, please click here.

Question: How was the Certified Hedge Fund Professional (CHP) program started? What is the story behind what your training firm provides here within this program?
Answer: We have received this question many times at conferences, training seminars, and through email. Since it is such a common question and long answer, we now have a page on this website specifically on this topic here: Historical Review of the Certified Hedge Fund Professional (CHP) Designation. 

Question: I have read that the CHP is a rigorous and thorough course. What happens if I do not pass the exam? Can I take it again? 
Answer:  Yes, anyone who has failed one of the CHP exams may take it a second time. If you miss your scheduled exam date or fail the exam, there is a $199 fee to retake the exam.

Question: What if I register for the exam and then change my mind? Can I get a full refund for the cost of the program?
Answer: Yes, you may receive a full refund if you decide not to complete the CHP program. We provide a 100%, no-questions-asked refund within the first 27 days, regardless of the reason. This allows you to evaluate our study guide, required readings, and the industry tools and educational video content provided to you within HedgeFundPremium.com as part of your membership within the CHP program. To cancel your registration, please simply email us within 27 days of registering at team@hedgefundcertification.com. To change your registration date from one period to another costs $35 and this can be completed by filling out the form found here. If you do not change your exam date at least 72 hours before your scheduled examination and you miss your exam, you will be required to pay the full $199 re-take fee and complete the form found here. This is the same fee paid by those who fail the exam.

Question: How much does the Certified Hedge Fund Professional (CHP) program cost?  
Answer: The total program, including both levels of the designation program, costs about the same as one university course. The CHP Level 1 program tuition costs $775, while CHP Level 2 tuition costs $675, if you pay the full tuition for both levels at one time the total tuition cost is $975 instead of $1,450 when paid separately.

There are two levels of certification and two exams. Please see the following links for more details on program registration dates, fees, and CHP Level 1 & 2 program details:

• CHP Enrollment Dates
• CHP Program Fees
• CHP Level 1 Details
• CHP Level 2 Details 
• CHP Program Email Alerts

Question: Where can I buy the books that are required to study for the CHP designation exams? 
Answer:  Please visit http://HedgeFundBookstore.com to see the list of required books for Level 1 and Level 2 of the CHP program.

Question: What are the passing rates for the CHP Level 1 and 2 examinations?
Answer: The passing rate for CHP Level 1 is 76%, and the passing rate for CHP Level 2 is 66% for first-time program participants. We expect our Level 1 examination passing rate to stay in the 70's, while our Level 2 passing rate ranges between 55% and 75%. These examinations are very challenging, but those who cover all of the required readings typically do well. Our chief goal is making sure that we add value to each participant and employer who trains his or her team through our program.

Below is a chart showing the pass rates for each of the four examinations that we offer, including CHP Level 1 on Hedge Fund Fundamentals, CHP Level 2: Marketing, CHP Level 2: Portfolio Analytics, and CHP Level 2: Due Diligence. While we are working to make sure our examinations are psychometrically sound and challenging, we are not trying to fail 50-60% of participants, and our chief focus is on making sure our overall program delivers a great amount of value to each participant.

Question: What makes the CHP program reputable? Who supports it? How well is the CHP known in the industry? 
Answer: The CHP Designation is now the industry's standard #1 most popular and recognized certification program built by and for hedge fund professionals, and not analysts and not general finance professionals who work in 20 different industries.

The CHP program is becoming very well known around the world, and several companies have started requiring that their employees obtain the CHP designation, or they prefer candidates applying to hold the certification. The CHP designation was created by the Advisory Board and members of the Hedge Fund Group (HFG), the largest and fastest-growing professional networking group focused exclusively on the hedge fund industry.  The Hedge Fund Group currently has over 42,000 members, who include hedge fund managers, analysts, family office professionals, third party marketers, recruiters, prime brokerage firms, hedge fund administrators, hedge fund auditors, portfolio managers, and endowment and foundation directors.  Currently there are over 50 hedge fund managers on the Board of Advisors for the CHP, and more are being added each year. These hedge fund managers provide direct feedback and insight into what should be included in the designation. In addition to these credibility details, we also like to remind participants that by joining the CHP designation they gain access to the over 100 free exclusive resources within HedgeFundPremium.com. This includes over 70 educational video resources, and it is free for all CHP members to access.

The CHP Designation has been mentioned over 50,000 times online by leading websites including Financial Times, WSJ Fins, Seeking Alpha, Alpha Magazine | Absolute Return, Money Control, Distressed Coalition, and Team Hedge Fund. Our program is linked to and discussed daily in the hedge fund and investment industry, and it is now becoming required and recommended by hedge fund principals, hedge fund recruiters, and within many industry job listings.

CHP Program Growth: Below is a graph showing the growth of the CHP Designation program over the past sevearl years. We have now served over 1,400 participants, and hopefully in 2013 we will reach at least 1,800 total participants.

Question: What are the prerequisites for the CHP program?
Answer: You must have at least one year of related professional experience before completing the CHP designation program. The CHP is a professional self-improvement and continuing education program for those looking to boost their knowledge within the area of hedge funds. This program is limited to just 100 participants for each quarter with testing dates offered four times a year on January 10th, April 10th, July 10th, and October 10th.

Question: When should I expect to get my CHP exam results back?
Answer: You will receive your test results back within four weeks of taking the exam.

Question: Does the Hedge Fund Group offer scholarships or discounts off the CHP program?
Answer: Yes, for those not already in the program we do have a limited number of needs-based scholarships available. To apply for one of these scholarships please complete our CHP Scholarship Form.

Question: What score do I need to pass the exam?
Answer: To pass, you must earn a grade of 80% or higher. While the exam is designed to be rigorous and thorough, most individuals who have read the required readings and invested a significant amount of time studying for the test should do well. The exam is offered 100% online, so you may complete it from your place of work or from home if you wish. The exam uses a dual-layered IP tracking and password system to prevent abuse, and it has successfully been used with hundreds of program participants in the past.

Question:  Do I need to pass each module of the test to pass the whole exam?
Answer: No, an overall grade of 80% is all that is required to pass.

Question: How many tests are required to hold the full designation?  Are there three exams and levels within this designation?
Answer: There are two required exams, Level 1 and Level 2.

Question: When is the exam open for registration and when does testing occur?

Answer: The CHP Designation Program is now open on a rolling-admissions basis so you can join at any time and complete the program at your own pace from anywhere in the world. We offer quarterly examination dates which are set on January 10th, April 10th, July 10th, and October 10th each year. Examination and enrollment dates are both detailed further here and our registration page is located here.

Question: How do I receive the actual certificate upon program completion?
Answer: Everyone who completes Level 1 & Level 2 of the program is emailed their certificate upon passing the exam. If you are based in the United States you may provide us with your preferred mailing address and we will mail your certificate to you at no extra cost. If you are based outside the United States and you would like to be have a hard copy of your certificate, please contact our team to review the costs of doing so. We keep these costs as low as possible for participants. At this point only participants who complete both CHP Level 1& Level 2 receive an official double signed CHP certificate from the Hedge Fund Group.

Question: Is there a time requirement on completing both levels of the designation?
Answer: No, there is no time requirement. You may list the CHP Designation Charter Holder on your resume after passing the Level 1 exam, but you must state that you are a CHP Level 1 Chartered Holder so there is no confusion with those who have completed both levels of the program.

Question: Is the CHP Designation Program available in Chinese?
Answer: Currently the CHP program is only available in English.

Question: As an employer, why should I hire someone who has earned the CHP designation?
Answer: The CHP Designation Program is designed to do two things. First, it ensures that participants master a certain level of hedge fund knowledge across six learning modules throughout the CHP Level 1 exam. Second, it allows participants to choose an area of expertise where they will gain specialized knowledge through the Level 2 exam. This dual-level certification provides them with the necessary knowledge and skills to become an efficient and effective member of an alternative investment, hedge fund, fund of fund, or wealth management team.

Question:  I am currently a student. What are the benefits of earning the CHP designation for me?
Answer: The CHP designation has been designed for experienced financial professionals and students alike.  As a student you will gain critical knowledge needed to identify the area of the hedge fund industry in which you prefer to work in.  This program can also help you obtain internships because our team provides networking, resume construction, resume template, and internship video advice resources. Starting your career with this knowledge base can save you years of job experimentation within various roles.  As a CHP designation Chater holder you have an advantage over others with the same degree. Employers seek those who have taken the initiative to gain additional knowledge relevant to their career.

Question: What methods of payment are accepted for the CHP fees?
Answer: We accept web or fax-based credit card and debit card orders, payment by check, Western Union, or PayPal.  To register for the program, please click here.

Testimonials from past and current CHP Designation Program participants. Learn why professionals in the field are enrolling in this program. Learn More...