The ACAMS certification test is the global gold standard for AML compliance professionals, validating your expertise in financial crime prevention. Compliance professionals may also find our PHR practice test helpful. Practice with the free Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (200+ questions with answer explanations).

ACAMS Exam at a Glance

Facts verified Oct 20, 2026 against ACAMS. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.

Free Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists Study Tools

Interactive Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:

• ACAMS Basic 1 — 11 questions with instant scoring and answer explanations
• Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
• Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
• Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review

For a private sector professional, the total initial investment is approximately $2,040 (Membership + Exam Package). This investment often pays off within the first year through salary increases.

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Sample Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists Practice Questions

Try these questions from our free Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.

1. Which of the following represents the financial stage of money laundering?

   • A. placement
   • B. structuring

   Answer: A. placement

   Placement is the first financial stage of money laundering, where illegally obtained cash is introduced into the legitimate financial system. This often involves breaking up large sums of cash into smaller, less conspicuous amounts and depositing them into bank accounts or converting them into monetary instruments. Structuring is a technique used during the placement stage to avoid reporting thresholds.

2. A financial institution receives a grand jury subpoena for the financial records of one of its customers. What is the most critical action the institution must take upon receipt?

   • A. Immediately notify the customer that law enforcement has requested their records.
   • B. Conduct an internal investigation and file a SAR on the customer before responding.
   • C. Comply with the subpoena's request for information while maintaining strict confidentiality about its existence.
   • D. Freeze all transactions on the account until the subpoena has been fulfilled.

   Answer: C. Comply with the subpoena's request for information while maintaining strict confidentiality about its existence.

   A grand jury subpoena is a formal legal order that must be complied with. A critical aspect of such subpoenas is the requirement for secrecy to avoid compromising the investigation. Notifying the customer could be considered obstruction of justice. While the receipt of a subpoena should prompt a review of the customer's activity to determine if a SAR is warranted, it does not automatically require one to be filed. Freezing the account is not typically required by a subpoena alone and should only be done with a specific court order, such as a seizure warrant.

3. An AML program's policies, procedures, and internal controls should be MOST influenced by which of the following?

   • A. The personal preferences of the Chief Executive Officer.
   • B. The results of the institution's enterprise-wide risk assessment.
   • C. The number of employees in the compliance department.
   • D. The AML programs of competing financial institutions.

   Answer: B. The results of the institution's enterprise-wide risk assessment.

   The foundation of a risk-based AML program is the enterprise-wide risk assessment. The results of this assessment, which identifies the specific ML/TF risks the institution faces from its customers, products, services, and geographies, should directly inform the design and implementation of its policies, procedures, and controls.

4. What is the primary AML risk concern when onboarding a PEP as a customer?

   • A. Currency exchange rate exposure
   • B. Elevated risk of bribery, corruption proceeds, or abuse of public office being laundered through the institution
   • C. Greater likelihood of tax evasion
   • D. Reputational risk from media attention only

   Answer: B. Elevated risk of bribery, corruption proceeds, or abuse of public office being laundered through the institution

   PEPs pose elevated AML risk because their public positions may give them access to state funds or opportunities for bribery and corruption, making them potential conduits for laundering illicit proceeds.

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Official Resources

• ACAMS (Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists) is the organization that owns and administers the CAMS certification, where candidates register for the exam, access official study materials, and manage credential renewal.
• Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is the global standard-setter for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing whose recommendations underpin much of the CAMS exam syllabus.
• FFIEC publishes the BSA/AML Examination Manual, a core U.S. regulatory reference for the compliance concepts tested on the ACAMS exam.