Contents of this article
What is the CFTe certification?
Besides the CMT Association, there is another major international organisation devoted to technical analysis: the International Federation of Technical Analysts, or IFTA. The CFTe (Certified Financial Technician) certification is backed and awarded by IFTA to professional technical analysts who pass the federation’s exams, which have two levels: Level 1 & Level 2. Candidates who pass not only prove their technical analysis knowledge and skills but also meet ethical standards and show a deep understanding of financial markets. This article focuses on the differences between the CMT and CFTe certifications, based on the comparison table below.
Comparing the CMT & CFTe certifications
| Certified Financial Technician (CFTe) | Chartered Market Technician (CMT) | |
| Awarding body | International Federation of Technical Analysts (IFTA) |
CMT Association (CMTA) |
| Levels | Two levels: Level 1: 120 multiple-choice questions Level 2: Essay |
Three levels: Level I: 132 multiple-choice questions Level II: 170 multiple-choice questions Level III: About 50 questions (not fixed) |
| Exam language | Choice of the following languages: Level 1: English, Chinese, German, Spanish, Arabic. Level 2: English, Chinese, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Arabic. |
English |
| Exam fees | IFTA members: CFTe Level 1: $550 CFTe Level 2: $850* Non-members of IFTA: CFTe Level 1: $850 CFTe Level 2: $1150* (*): An additional fee of $100 applies to the CFTe Level 2 exam at locations not affiliated with IFTA. |
Membership fee: $325 (students: $100)* One-time program enrollment fee: $250 Early registration: $875 Standard registration: $1,075 Late registration: $1,475* (*) If you become a member of the CMT Association, the exam fee is lower than the standard exam fee. |
| Location | Not currently held in Vietnam. | Prometric Test Centers in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi |
| Exam dates | Twice a year: April & October | Twice a year: June & December |
Overall, the CMT is more highly regarded than the CFTe, for the following reasons:
- Professional financial analysts around the world consider the CMT more prestigious than the CFTe.
- Under IFTA rules, passing CMT Level I and Level II is enough to apply for the CFTe. This is why you see many market professionals with profiles like: Mr. A, CMT, CFTe.
- The CMT Level I and Level II exams can be used in place of the Series 86 exam (the Series 86 is the exam required of financial analysts who want to work at brokerage firms or fund managers in the US market).
- In Vietnam, you can take the CMT exam through the Prometric Test Center network in Ho Chi Minh City. Candidates cannot currently take the CFTe exam in Vietnam.
- The CMT requires candidates to follow certain standards of professional ethics, comparable to those of the CFA designation.
Technical Analysis Course – CMT Level 1
Green Chart designed this course specifically for candidates in Vietnam who want to study and prepare for the CMT Level I exam. The 28-session programme includes theory, practice questions and mock exams. Students also receive the course textbook, question bank and mock exams free of charge for their exam preparation, and can retake the course for free for life.
See more details about the course here.
