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 find the CHP Study Guide useful. Please email us with additional questions using our Contact Us Form. You can also call or use our Click-and-Chat option.

Please feel free to use the links below to easily find answers to your questions:

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) 170+ 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 happens if I take the examination before my payment plan is completed?
Answer: Please note that by using the payment plan options offered on the CHP website, you agree to the following terms – examination results will be sent to you via email one month after your examination takes place. If you have passed the examination for Level 2, but still owe payments, your certificate and designation will not be made available to you until the final payment has been made. You are always welcome to pay off a payment plan balance and receive your certificate and designation in a more timely manner.

If you have any questions about these terms or our payment plans, please contact us at [email protected]

Question: What happens if I take the examination before the 7-week refund period is up? Can I change my mind after taking the exam?
Answer: Refunds will not be made after an examination has been scheduled and the examination has been sent to a participant to complete. Once you submit your examination date request and are subsequently sent the online examination to complete, your refund period will be voided.

This means that, should you register on the 25th of October and take the examination on the 10th of November, your refund period will no longer be valid through the first 7 weeks. If you have any questions about this policy, please let us know. We can be reached by email at [email protected].

Question: How long does it take to complete the CHP program?
Answer: The CHP program is self-study. While we recommend spending ~100 hours per level to get through the text books and required videos, you can spread that out over 2 months or 24. There is no deadline to complete the course, and you can take as long as you need. We just require a 2-week notice to schedule you for an examination.

Question: Are the books included in the tuition price?

Answer: The text books can be purchased anywhere, as we do not sell them directly. The required books are listed in the program study guides. Here are links to the study guides, one for CHP Level 1, and one study guide for each option you can choose from for CHP Level 2: CHP Level 1 Program Study Guide | CHP Level 2 Marketing & Sales Study Guide | CHP Level 2 Portfolio Analytics Study Guide | CHP Level 2 Due Diligence Study Guide

Question: How do I schedule my examination?
Answer: To schedule your examination, please ensure your desired examination date is at least 2 weeks away. Exams must be scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance. To schedule your exam, please use the scheduling form on our website here. You can also call our team, send us an email, or chat with us on our ClickandChat service.

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 as quickly as you’d like. With 12 examination dates offered each year, the CHP program is flexible and made to fit your schedule. 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.

1.) The CHP is focused exclusively on hedge funds and fund of hedge funds. It is in-depth and comprehensive coverage of this niche area.
2.) 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.
3.) 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 170 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 will be sent the link and your login information at 11:59 the night before the exam. You will then have the allotted time aforementioned to start and complete the 2-hour exam.

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. Examinations are held on the 10th of each month, giving you 12 opportunities to test each year. If you would like to change your exam date after you’ve scheduled it, 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: If I am unable to take the exam on my scheduled examination date, can I move it to a future exam date?
Answer: If you are unable to make your scheduled examination date, you are welcome to move your exam to a future date. Please complete the date-change form here: http://hedgefundcertification.com/date-change at least 2 weeks before your scheduled exam date. If you do not complete the form and submit the date-change fee, a $199 fee to reschedule your exam will be incurred.

Examinations are held on the 10th of each month, giving you 12 opportunities to test each year. Exams are held on January 10th, February 10th, March 10th, April 10th, May 10th, June 10th, July 10th, August 10th, September 10th, October 10th, November 10th, and December 10th. If you would like to change your exam date after you’ve scheduled it, please use the aforementioned form. You can move your exam date to the next exam scheduled, or any future date thereafter.

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, your Level 2 examination will also be moved. If you have yet to schedule your Level 2 examination, you can do so after you pass Level 1. As is required of every CHP participant, however, you must pass Level 1 before you can take Level 2.

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 CHP Program?
Answer: Registration is now open on a rolling-admissions basis so you can start this self-paced hedge fund training program at any time. To receive updates on the CHP program via email, please submit your contact details through our Email Alerts form here.

To ensure every participant has the best experience with the CHP program and team, we limit the number of participants allowed in each examination session. For each exam date, we allow 100 registrants to take their exam on that date. There are twelve exam dates per year. To check if there is still room in the up-coming examination sessions, 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 again. If you miss your scheduled exam date or receive a failing grade, there is a $199 fee to retake the exam. You can schedule your examination retake and pay the retake fee with our online form here: HedgeFundCertification.com/exam-re-registration. Please ensure the re-take fee and form are submitted at least 2 weeks before your desired examination date.

Question: Can I use the text books, Wikipedia, the internet, etc., during the examination?
Answer: You are welcome to use your notes during the examination, but to copy and paste from a website, such as Wikipedia, passing the answer off as your own, will not be tolerated in any form. Copying and pasting from another website will result in an automatic failing grade for either examination (Level 1 or Level 2). You will be excluded from pursuing the CHP program and you will be ineligible to retake the exam or Level 2 if you had not yet taken it.

If it is found you have plagiarized, no refunds will be issued for any portion of the program, and you will not be able to utilize the CHP designation in any fashion. If you do quote from a required text book, you must give credit to the quote and provide good reason for using the quote. There is no negotiation and no room for plagiarism in the Certified Hedge Fund Professional. Any indication of plagiarism will result in a failing grade.

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 14 days of your registration, regardless of the reason, and so long as you have not taken the examination. This allows you to evaluate our study guide, required readings, and the industry tools and educational video content provided to you within Hedge Fund Premium as part of your membership within the CHP program.

Please note that refunds will not be made after an examination has been scheduled and the examination has been sent to a participant to complete. Once you submit your examination date request and are subsequently sent the online examination to complete, your refund period will be voided. This means that, should you register on the 25th of October and take the examination on the 10th of November, your refund period will no longer be extended to 7 weeks. If you have any questions about this policy, please let us know.

To cancel your registration, simply email us in the first 7 weeks after registration at [email protected].

To change your examination date, there is a $35 fee. This can be submitted by filling out the form found here. If you do not change your exam date at least 2 weeks before your scheduled examination or if you miss your scheduled exam, a $199 re-take fee will be incurred. You can submit this fee by completing the form found here.

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 $999 instead of $1,450 when paid separately.

The tuition payment covers the registration fee, access to our video tutorials, practice examinations, the actual examination fee, and the certificate (mailed to you in our leather-like holder) when you pass Level 2. The only fees not covered, like other classes and courses, are the required books. Those can be purchased anywhere and found in most libraries.

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 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 the industry’s standard, #1 most popular and recognized certification program built by and for hedge fund professionals. Unlike other programs, the CHP was not built by analysts and general finance professionals who work in 20 different industries.

The CHP program is becoming very well known around the world. Several companies have started requiring that their employees obtain the CHP designation, or share that 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 100,000 members, including 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.

There are currently more than 50 hedge fund managers on the CHP Board of Advisers, and more are 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 HedgeFundGroup.org/Premium. This includes over 170 educational video resources, and is free for all CHP members to access.

The CHP Designation has been mentioned over thousands of times online by leading websites, including the Financial Times, WSJ Fins, Seeking Alpha, Alpha Magazine | Absolute Return, Money Control, Distressed Coalition, Team Hedge Fund and many other financial websites and media outlets. Our program is linked to and discussed daily in the hedge fund and investment industry, and it is increasingly 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 several years. We have now served over 1,400 participants, and hopefully in 2013 we will exceed 2,000 total participants.

Question: What are the prerequisites for the CHP program?
Answer: There are currently no prerequisites for the CHP 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.

Question: When should I expect to get my CHP exam results back?
Answer: You will receive your test results back two weeks after 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 exams?
Answer: To pass, you must earn a grade of 80% or higher on each examination. 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. Examinations are held on the 10th of each month, giving you 12 opportunities to test each year. Exams are held on January 10th, February 10th, March 10th, April 10th, May 10th, June 10th, July 10th, August 10th, September 10th, October 10th, November 10th, and December 10th.

If you would like to change your exam date after you’ve scheduled it, please use our date-change form. You can move your exam date to the next exam scheduled, or any future date thereafter. Examination and enrollment dates are both detailed further here and our registration page is located here.

Question: How do I receive the physical 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 will be sent your certificate by mail at no extra cost. If you are based outside the United States and would like to be sent a hard copy of your certificate, please contact our team to review the cost of doing so. At this time, only participants who complete both CHP Level 1 & Level 2 will receive an official CHP certificate from the Hedge Fund Group. These are sent in our leather-like holders.

Question: Is there a time requirement on completing both levels of the designation?
Answer: 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 languages other than English?
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 Charter 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.

http://hedgefundcertification.com/Enrollment.html

Are the courses for the CHP Designation program accredited?

Our courses are accredited by The CPD Certification Service. The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is an accreditation platform working across all sectors, disciplines and further learning applications. CPD uses rigorous guidelines that must be met in order to provide accreditation. The CPD Certification Service works internationally with organizations ranging from small consultancy firms to large training providers such as Finance Training Institute.

Testimonials from past and current CHP Designation Program participants can be helpful in sharing why professionals in the field enrolled in the CHP program. You can read them here.