UCOWF is committed to assisting our members with their professional advancement by providing a desirable and effective certification program. We are equally committed to maintaining the public trust through vigilance of the Public Assistance programs and the vigorous prosecution of those attempting to defraud our society.

The confluence of these commitments is the Certified Welfare Fraud Investigator (CWFI) Program.

To be eligible for certification under this program you must:

• be a current and full time investigator;
• have a minimum of two years of ongoing, continuous experience in public assistance fraud investigations;
• in the case of employment by a state or province whose welfare delivery system is state-supervised and locally administered, spend 50% or more of your time in fraud investigation activities (i.e. FPI or back-end fraud investigations). Other duties must be fraud control related. It is required that you have worked in that capacity continuously for two years at the time of application;
• agree to perform all professional duties in accordance with applicable government standards (e.g. Government Auditing Standards as published by the U.S. Comptroller General);
• complete the CWFI Certification Exam;
• be a UCOWF member in good standing, and;
• agree to obey all federal, state and local laws and the UCOWF Code of Ethics.

 All complaints regarding conduct and performance of Certified Welfare Fraud Investigators are subject to investigation by the UCOWF Ethics Committee.

Certified Welfare Fraud Investigators must obtain a minimum of twenty (20) hours of approved continuing education yearly or sixty (60) hours of approved continuing education over the last 3 year period.  Verification of the training attended must be provided to UCOWF annually for recertification.   An online CWFI Study Guide is posted in the Member Area.  

How to Apply for Certification:
Complete and mail the CWFI application with a check for the non-refundable $15.00 examination fee, payable to UCOWF, to the following address: Certification Board, United Council on Welfare Fraud, P.O. Box 226948, Miami, Florida 33222-6948. 

• Click Here for the CWFI application.

Examination Scheduling:
If your application is approved, you will be scheduled for your exam at an upcoming State, Regional, or National UCOWF Conference; at a State Association Conference or Meeting; or, at a State Welfare Fraud Director?s office by a UCOWF Board Member.

CWFI Examination:
The examination consists of 104 multiple choice questions over a range of topics such as:

• Quality Standards for Investigations/Ethics
• Program Policy
• Interviewing and Interrogation
• Evidence
• Affidavits and Statements
• IPV's and ADH's
• Management
• Sources of Information
• Handwriting Exemplars and Analysis
• Report Writing and Testimony

For more information email us at: [email protected]; call us at: 954 404-7716; or contact us via regular mail at: Certification Board, United Council on Welfare Fraud, P.O. Box 226948, Miami, Florida 33222-6948.