Certified Trade Finance Professional (CTFP)
Build comprehensive, globally aligned trade finance expertise and increase your credibility across the trade finance ecosystem.
Join an elite group of 1500+ alumni
Danstan Kolimba
BankerBanking / Mortgage Tanzania
Amanda Bier
BankerAccounting / Finance Brazil
Elvis Mugeni
BankerAccounting / Finance Kenya
RAKESH RANJAN
BANKAccounting / Finance India
Vaishnavi Mahendran
BankingAccounting / Finance Germany
Ravi Chellani
Trade FinanceBanking / Mortgage India
Rajesh Yadav
BankerBanking / Mortgage India
Karankumar Manojkumar Jani
Trade Finance Manager at Bank of IndiaBanking / Mortgage India
Bridge the gap from fragmented trade finance experience to a comprehensive body of knowledge aligned with global standards
The CTFP will help you bridge the gap from fragmented, on-the-job trade finance experience to a structured, comprehensive body of knowledge aligned with international best practice. Assess risk, structure solutions, and make faster, more confident decisions in real-world transactions.
- Structured end-to-end Knowledge
- Master the complete trade finance lifecycle from documentation to settlement
- Risk assessment & mitigation
- Develop frameworks for evaluating and managing transaction risks
- Real-world Application
- Apply globally standardised practices to complex banking operations
100%
of surveyed CTFP alumni said the certification bridged their knowledge gap
The biggest benefit…has been the ability to apply globally standardised trade finance knowledge to real-world banking operations.
While I had hands-on experience in export operations, I lacked formal training from a recognized rulemaking institution—particularly in import trade operations, guarantees, and the practical application of trade rules. This limited my confidence in advising customers and supporting strategic decisions.
Much of my knowledge was developed through on-the-job experience, which, whilst valuable, can be ad hoc and sometimes inconsistent. The CTFP offered a globally recognised, standardised curriculum from the ICC, which sets key rules for trade finance.
Certificate curriculum
Updated and expanded in October 2026 including 37 new case studies and a new course on trade finance compliance.
The CTFP curriculum was been developed by more than 10 experts from the ICC Banking Commission and is CPD accredited by the London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF) and an affiliate qualification of the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT).
CTFP core courses
You must complete all 6 core courses to take the final CTFP exam. Each course will take 5-6 hours to complete.
Learn the cash flow and working capital cycle of commercial companies and develop a core understanding of the meaning and functions of working capital. Find out more about the Advanced Working Capital for Trade course.
This letter of credit training course provides a detailed review of documentary credits, from structuring and issuance to document verification to financing and settlement. Find out more about the Advanced Documentary Credits course.
Learn more about the issuance of a bank guarantee, the use of counter guarantees and more complex transactions. Find out more about the Advanced Guarantees course.
Learn the key role export credits and official export credit agencies play in international sales and its financing, particularly in developing nations. Find out more about the Export Finance course.
Gain an in-depth understanding of how various SCF products meet the financing and risk mitigation needs of different events and stages in the supply chain. Find out more about the Advanced Supply Chain Finance course.
Master the full financial crime lifecycle in trade finance – from spotting TBML, fraud, and sanctions red flags to building strong KYC and audit-ready decisions. Learn more about this trade finance compliance course.
CTFP Elective courses
Once you register for the CTFP you will be able to choose the 4 elective courses you wish to complete as part of your certification. You cannot take the exam until you have finished the elective courses.
Learn the fundamentals of factoring, including its types and applications, its operational aspects and how to effectively sell this supply chain finance product. Find out more about the Factoring course.
Get to grips with the digital trade ecosystem including the advent of fintechs, the legal, regulatory and commercialisation challenges involved. Find out more about the Digital Trade Finance & Fintechs course.
An in-depth look at how standby letters of credit work, the purposes for which they can be used and the rules and regulations governing them. Find out more about the Advanced Standby Letters of Credit course.
Learn how to align the organisation of your sales team and staffing model to your bank’s business strategy, target customer markets and sales coverage process. Find out more about the Managing Trade Sales course.
This course will provide mid-level bank officers an overview of the key responsibilities of trade operations management and the skills required for long term success in the position. Find out more about the Managing Trade Operations course.
Learn a bank manager’s role in handling trade finance products and the working model product managers should use to enhance and/or develop trade products. Find out more about the Managing Trade Products course.
Learn about the three types of commodities, their features, and the risks involved in financing them as well as commodities trading from a banker’s perspective. Find out more about the Advanced Commodity Finance course.
Examination FAQ
To pass the CTFP and earn your ICC certificate you will need to complete a final 1-hour, online exam. Please note the exam must be booked and completed within your 6-month access period.
The final exam can be taken at any time after you have completed the prerequisites – 5 core courses and 4 elective courses. It lasts for 60 minutes and is live proctored via the internet. This means there is someone monitoring your environment via webcam to ensure there is no outside interference and maintain the integrity of the certification. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions.
Please ensure you schedule your exam at least 1 week prior to the end of your access period as availability can be limited.
Your purchase of the CTFP includes 1 attempt at the final exam. The passing mark is 70%. If you score lower than that you will need to purchase a retake for US$100 while you are still within your 6-month access period.
The CTFP is valid for three years from date you pass the exam.
To re-certify you must earn 24 CPD hours before the three-year expiration date.
Credits can be earned through online and offline learning as well as attending relevant events
Clients have specifically requested CTFP holders for presentations on trade finance digitisation and risk mitigation, reflecting tangible commercial trust and a higher perceived value in customer relationships.
"I enrolled in the CTFP because this certification is authored by leading trade finance experts from the ICC’s Banking Commission, making it one of the most credible programmes available in the market. Each course is structured to ensure the essentials of global trade finance have been sufficiently covered."
Earn a globally recognised credential that builds trust and credibility across the trade finance ecosystem
The CTFP acts as a powerful credibility signal in competitive banking markets—building trust with management, clients, correspondent banks, and international partners.
93%
of surveyed CTFP alumni said they can apply what they learned to perform more effectively at workWho is the CTFP for
The CTFP is an advanced programme that targets senior trade finance and treasury managers and specialists who want a wider range of expertise, as well as those in leadership roles in transaction banking. Target roles and training sponsors in financial institutions include:
- Trade finance managers
- Trade operations managers
- Trade sales
- Trade finance specialists
- Client service managers
- Product managers
- Senior relationship managers
- Head of corporate banking
- Head of trade sales, product or operations
- Head of trade finance
- VP transaction banking
- Client services team lead
- Compliance lead
CTFP for teams
More than 500 organisations in over 90 countries have enrolled their teams on our CTFP programme, including major international banks, regional development banks, national banks and large manufacturers. Contact us now to discuss your needs and get a custom quote.
Move beyond processing trade finance – stand out as a subject matter expert, lead conversations and unlock new career opportunities.
The CTFP accelerates career progression—positioning professionals as subject-matter experts, internal reference points, and candidates for senior or specialised roles.
93%
of surveyed CTFP alumni said that the certification increases their career options
A major problem I faced before the CTFP was career stagnation. However, within a year of completing the CTFP certification I was able to secure a better job opportunity. After this, it has been one job opportunity after another.
I have added this qualification to my LinkedIn profile and I am sure that it has helped with the many job offers that have been referred to me.
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What’s included:
- 6-months’ access to the entire certificate programme – more than 50 hours of online learning over 10 courses and a final online exam.
- Interactive learning – 297 self-assessment questions to help you check your understanding
- 37 new case studies – we’ll show you how to apply what you learn to real-world scenarios
- Lesson highlight summaries at the end of every lesson to recap what you have learned
- Downloadable PDF study guides for each of the 6 core CTFP courses
- A timed one-hour online exam – if you pass (70%) you will receive a digital, industry-recognised ICC certificate. You must book and complete the exam within your access period.
Trusted by banks including
What’s included
- Everything under the ‘CTFP for individuals’ plan plus….
- A dedicated service and account manager
- A personalised dashboard for tracking student progress
- Post-programme review
FAQs
Answers to your most commonly asked questions.
The CTFP is valid for three years before it must be recertified. The objective of recertification is to ensure that CTFP holders continue to maintain the high standards of trade finance skills and understanding that have been accredited to them.
We have recently updated our re-certification requirements to make them more flexible and less costly. You can see full details here.
Your purchase of the CTFP allows one attempt at the exam. If required, a retake can be purchased for USD $100 if you are still within your 6-month access period. Please contact our Help Desk at helpdesk@iccacademy.com.sg
All candidates need to be able to read and write in English. For the Certified Trade Finance Professional (CTFP), we recommend that you have +5 years of trade finance experience, or are already certified via the ICC Academy’s Global Trade Certificate (GTC) or The London Institute of Banking and Finance’s (LIBF) CDCS, CSDG or CITF programmes.
Your purchase includes 6 months to access all 10 CTFP courses. You can access the lessons as many times as you like within the 6-month access period. Once you have completed all 10 courses, you will get access to the final exam.
Please note the exam must be booked and completed within your 6-month access period. Please ensure you schedule your exam at least 1 week prior to the end of your access period as availability can be limited.
If you already hold the CDCS or CSDG qualifications from the London Institute of Banking and Finance, you access a core pack of CTFP courses at a discounted rate. Full details here.
Due to the immediate availability of our course content upon registration, ICC Academy has a strict no-refund policy for our courses and certifications. For more details, please refer to our Terms and Conditions.
Each individual course will take between approximately 5-6 hours to complete depending on your level of experience. To qualify to take the exam you must complete all six core courses and four elective courses of your choice.
To take the exam and earn the CTFP qualification, you will need to complete 10 courses – the 6 core courses and 4 elective courses of your choosing.
For those who purchase the full CTFP enrolment, you will be able to select your elective courses once you have logged in to your account.
- 6-months access to the entire certificate programme – more than 50 hours of online learning over 10 courses and a final online exam.
- 296 self-assessment questions to help you grasp key concepts easily and review the course material
- 37 case studies – we’ll show you how to apply what you learn to real-world scenarios
- Lesson highlight summaries at the end of every lesson to recap what you have learned
- A timed one-hour online exam – if you pass (70%) you will receive an ICC Academy, industry-recognised certificate
Yes, all our courses and the final exam are taken online. This means they are accessible at any time, from anywhere in the world. Learn when and where you want. You can find more details about how our exams work here.
The CTFP is an advanced programme that targets senior trade finance and treasury managers and specialists who want a wider range of expertise, as well as those in leadership roles in transaction banking. Target roles and training sponsors in financial institutions include:
- Trade finance managers
- Trade operations managers
- Trade sales
- Trade finance specialists
- Client service managers
- Product managers
- Senior relationship managers
- Head of corporate banking
- Head of trade sales, product or operations
- Head of trade finance
- VP transaction banking
- Client services team lead
- Compliance lead
The CTFP is a more advanced programme that targets new managers, product specialists as well as senior transactional bankers covering subjects ranging from working capital to supply chain finance. We recommend you have a minimum of five years experience or an existing trade finance qualification to take the CTFP.
The Global Trade Certificate (GTC) is an introductory-level online certification providing a comprehensive understanding of trade finance products. It’s an ideal programme for professionals wanting to build an understanding of the nuts and bolts of global trade.
