How many questions are on the CTFA exam and how long do I have?

The CTFA examination consists of 200 multiple-choice questions. Candidates are allotted four hours to complete the exam. The ABA administers the exam at Prometric testing centers, and the exam is computer-based. A scaled passing score of 75 is required, and results are typically available immediately after you finish at the testing center.

What are the eligibility requirements to sit for the CTFA?

Candidates must meet both experience and education requirements. The most common path requires at least three years of wealth management or trust experience combined with a bachelor's degree. Candidates without a degree may substitute additional years of qualifying experience. Applicants must also complete an ABA-approved trust training program or demonstrate equivalent continuing education. Full eligibility details are on the ABA website.

Which domain carries the most weight on the CTFA exam?

The Fiduciary and Trust Activities domain is the largest single domain, reflecting the core purpose of the credential. Tax Law and Planning and Estate Planning are also heavily weighted. The ABA publishes an official content outline that lists the approximate percentage of questions devoted to each domain — reviewing that outline is one of the most effective ways to prioritize your study time.

Can I use the CTFA practice test PDF to prepare for the printed exam format?

Yes. Although the live CTFA exam is delivered on a computer at a Prometric center, many candidates find that working through printed questions improves retention and reduces screen fatigue during long study sessions. Print the PDF, cover the answers, work through each question, then check your responses. This active-recall method is well-supported by learning research and complements timed online practice sessions.

CTFA Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor Practice Test PDF (Free Printable 2026)

Download a free CTFA practice test PDF. Print and study offline for the ABA Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor certification examination.

CTFA - Certified Trust and Fiduciary AdvisorMay 4, 20264 min read

Free CTFA Practice Test PDF Download

The Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA) credential is awarded by the American Bankers Association (ABA) to professionals who demonstrate expertise in trust administration, estate planning, tax law, financial planning, and investment management. Our free CTFA practice test PDF gives you printable exam questions and answers you can study anywhere — at your desk, on the train, or away from screens entirely.

This PDF mirrors the real exam's five content domains and is ideal for final review before your sitting date. Print it once and work through it multiple times to reinforce your recall of fiduciary duties, trust code provisions, and tax planning concepts that appear most frequently on the ABA examination.

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CTFA Exam Fast Facts

What the CTFA Exam Covers

The CTFA examination tests five broad knowledge domains. Understanding the weight of each domain helps you allocate study time efficiently.

Fiduciary and Trust Activities

This domain covers the core duties of a trustee under the Uniform Trust Code (UTC) and the Uniform Prudent Investor Act (UPIA). Expect questions on the prudent investor rule, the duty of loyalty, and the duty of impartiality — the obligation to balance the interests of income beneficiaries against remainder beneficiaries. Trust accounting income versus principal allocation rules are frequently tested, as are trustee powers and discretionary distribution standards.

Estate Planning

Estate planning questions address the full spectrum of planning documents and strategies: last wills and testaments, revocable living trusts, irrevocable trusts (including irrevocable life insurance trusts), pour-over wills, durable powers of attorney, and advance healthcare directives. You should understand how property passes at death — through probate, by beneficiary designation, or by operation of law — and how the trust documents interact with each transfer mechanism.

Financial Planning

Expect questions on investment policy statements, strategic asset allocation, risk tolerance and risk capacity profiling, and tax-advantaged retirement accounts. You should know contribution limits, distribution rules, and rollover mechanics for traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, 401(k) plans, and inherited IRAs. Required minimum distribution (RMD) calculations and the SECURE Act changes are commonly tested.

Tax Law and Planning

The tax domain is one of the most technical sections. Key topics include the annual gift tax exclusion, the unified gift and estate tax exemption, estate tax calculations and the marital deduction, charitable deduction planning (charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, donor-advised funds), grantor trust rules under IRC Sections 671–677, and the basics of generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax. Trust income taxation — including the compressed trust tax brackets and the net investment income surtax — is also tested.

Investments

Investment questions draw on Modern Portfolio Theory, efficient frontier concepts, fixed income analysis (duration, convexity, yield-to-maturity), equity valuation methods, and the appropriate use of alternative investments within fiduciary portfolios. You should understand how a trustee selects, monitors, and replaces investment managers while satisfying the prudent investor standard and documenting decisions in the trust file.

Free CTFA Practice Tests Online

Prefer to practice on your device? Our CTFA practice test gives you an interactive quiz experience with immediate answer feedback so you can identify weak areas fast. Online practice is especially useful for drilling the tax calculations and investment management concepts that require active recall rather than passive reading. Use the PDF for your offline study sessions and the online quizzes for timed simulation.