AML & KYC Exam Dates 2026: IIBF Schedule, Slots & Prep

AML & KYC exam dates 2026 work differently from the big offline banking papers, and understanding that difference is the single biggest advantage you can give yourself. The IIBF Certificate Examination in AML & KYC is an on-demand, remote-proctored test that you sit from home on a Saturday slot of your own choosing — which means there is almost always a date within reach, but only if you know how the calendar is structured and when the booking window opens.

This guide explains exactly how the schedule works, how to lock the right slot, what the paper actually tests, and how to build a focused study plan that lands you in your chosen exam confident rather than crammed.

When are the AML & KYC exam dates in 2026?

The Certificate Examination in AML & KYC is conducted by the Indian Institute of Banking & Finance (IIBF) as a remote-proctored test, and the defining feature of the AML & KYC exam dates 2026 is that they repeat on a predictable rhythm rather than landing on one national date.

Sittings are held on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month. That single pattern is what you should memorise, because it lets you look at any month and roughly anticipate when a slot will fall — and it means that if you miss one Saturday, the next opportunity is usually just two or three weeks away.

Because dates can be adjusted, do not lock your calendar around a number you saw in a forum post. Instead, confirm the precise upcoming dates on the latest released IIBF notification before you commit. The pattern is stable; the exact calendar squares are what you verify.

How the remote-proctored schedule actually works

This is the part candidates most often misread, so it is worth slowing down. A remote-proctored exam is not a casual at-home quiz — it is a supervised, ID-verified test that simply happens to use your own equipment and location.

• You choose your slot. When you register, you select the exam date and the time band that suits you, then sit the paper from your own laptop.
• A proctor verifies your setup. Before the paper begins, a live invigilator checks your photo ID, scans your room and confirms your webcam view. A quiet, well-lit space with a clear desk is essential.
• Seats per slot are limited. Popular Saturdays fill quickly, which is exactly why booking the moment registration opens protects your preferred date.
• Your environment is part of the exam. An unstable connection or weak webcam can derail an otherwise well-prepared attempt, so your tech check matters as much as your revision.

In short: pick a Saturday, book it the instant the window opens, and prepare your room and devices with the same seriousness you bring to the syllabus.

Registration: don't miss the short window

For each RP sitting, the registration window opens roughly 10 days before the exam date and closes a few days ahead of it. That is a genuinely short runway, so the booking phase rewards people who stay alert and act fast.

• Sort out membership first. You typically need to be a member of the Institute to apply, so complete that step well before you intend to book.
• Apply the moment the window opens. Slots for a given Saturday are capped, and the better-known dates close fastest.
• Keep your assets ready. Have your photo, signature and payment method prepared so a last-minute upload error does not cost you the slot.
• Run a system check. Test your webcam, microphone and internet on the actual laptop you plan to use.
• Confirm on the official page. Reconfirm the exact window, fee and reporting time on the official IIBF website, since details can shift between cycles.

If you want the full topic map before you register, you can download the official AML & KYC syllabus PDF or read our breakdown of the KYC, AML & CFT certificate syllabus 2026, then plan your chapters around the date you choose.

Comparing your AML & KYC slot options

Because the AML & KYC exam dates 2026 recur every fortnight, the real decision is not which exam to take but how soon. The table below frames that trade-off so you can match a slot to your current readiness.

Whatever you pick, the principle is the same: choose the slot you can realistically prepare for, then commit. Hopping between dates late only resets your momentum.

Why this certificate is worth your effort

AML & KYC is not a "nice-to-have" for banking staff — it is core compliance that touches every part of the business. Every account opened, every transaction monitored and every suspicious-activity report filed runs on these rules.

Clearing this certificate signals that you understand customer due diligence, the legal framework behind it, and how to spot money-laundering red flags in day-to-day banking. For working professionals, it strengthens your profile for compliance, operations and audit roles. For students and new joiners, it builds the vocabulary you will use constantly on the job.

Either way, a clean pass is a credential that travels well across the entire banking sector — and it pairs naturally with the broader KYC, AML and CFT course hub on Learning Sessions.

What the AML & KYC paper actually tests

The exam is objective and multiple-choice, and it consistently rewards understanding over rote recall. Expect application and scenario questions across the core themes of the KYC, AML and CFT subject:

• KYC framework: customer identification, customer due diligence (CDD), enhanced due diligence (EDD) and the risk-categorisation of customers.
• AML fundamentals: the stages of money laundering, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), and the roles of regulators and FIU-IND — see our AML compliance under PMLA guide for the legal detail.
• Reporting obligations: Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs), Cash Transaction Reports (CTRs) and record-keeping duties — our STR and CTR reporting to FIU-IND guide walks through these in depth.
• Combating financing of terrorism (CFT): red flags, sanctions and the global standards that shape Indian rules.
• Practical compliance: account opening, periodic KYC updates and handling high-risk customers.

Resist the urge to memorise a fixed question count, duration or passing mark from an old forum thread — confirm all of those on the latest IIBF notification. The smarter move is to know the syllabus cold and practise applying it, which is where structured AML & KYC mock tests earn their keep.

Your week-by-week study plan

Here is a tight but realistic schedule aimed at the nearest comfortable slot. If you book a date further out, you simply stretch the same structure and give yourself more breathing room.

1. Weeks 1–2 — Build the base. Cover the KYC framework and customer due diligence end to end. Get genuinely comfortable with EDD and risk categorisation before moving on.
2. Weeks 3–4 — AML machinery. Move into the stages of laundering, the PMLA, and the reporting system (STR, CTR, FIU-IND). Connect each concept to a real banking scenario.
3. Weeks 5–6 — CFT and practice. Add CFT, sanctions and practical compliance situations, and start one timed mock every weekend to build stamina.
4. Final week — Revision only. Alternate full-length tests with quick one-liner recaps. Fix weak areas and do not chase brand-new topics.

If you only have three weeks, compress the learning phase into two and protect one full week for mocks. Whatever happens, never skip the mock-test phase — reading is not the same as attempting under the clock. You can reinforce the trickiest terms with the AML & KYC matching games, which make STR, CTR, CDD and EDD stick.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Treating it as rote learning. The paper tests judgement; understand why a transaction is suspicious, not just the textbook definition.
• Ignoring updates. AML and KYC rules evolve, so rely on current circulars rather than dated notes.
• Booking late. With a 10-day window and capped slots, delay can quietly cost you your preferred Saturday.
• Neglecting the tech check. A remote-proctored exam can be derailed by a weak webcam or unstable internet — test everything in advance.
• Skipping mocks. Practice papers expose weak chapters while you still have time to fix them.

Your exam-day checklist

On the morning of your slot, a calm routine matters as much as the revision behind it. Run through this list before you log in:

• Keep a valid photo ID ready for the proctor to verify.
• Set up in a quiet, well-lit room with a clear desk and no other people present.
• Charge your laptop fully, confirm the webcam works and re-test your internet connection.
• Log in early so you clear the system and ID checks well before reporting time.
• Read each question fully — AML & KYC distractors are deliberately close, so do not skim.
• Watch the clock, flag tough questions for review, and confirm the marking rules on your admit details.

For more guides covering this paper, browse every KYC, AML & CFT article on Learning Sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions

When are the AML & KYC exam dates in 2026?

The IIBF Certificate Examination in AML & KYC is held on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month as a remote-proctored test, so sittings recur roughly every fortnight. Because the exact calendar dates can change, always confirm the next available slot on the official IIBF notification before you book.

Is the AML & KYC exam offline or online?

It is a remote-proctored (RP) online exam that you sit from your own laptop under live invigilation. After choosing a Saturday slot that suits you, a proctor verifies your ID and room before the paper begins.

When does registration open for each slot?

Registration generally opens about 10 days before each exam date and closes a few days ahead of it. Apply the moment the window opens, since slots are capped, and reconfirm the exact dates and fee on the official IIBF notification.

Is there negative marking in the AML & KYC exam?

The marking scheme, question count and passing marks can change between cycles, so confirm them on the latest IIBF notification rather than an old forum post. Whatever the rule, plan to attempt every question you can answer confidently.

Where can I get the AML & KYC syllabus?

You can download the official syllabus PDF directly from Learning Sessions to map every topic before you start. Aligning your study plan to that syllabus is the fastest way to avoid wasting time on areas the paper rarely tests.

How long should I prepare for the AML & KYC certificate?

Most candidates clear it comfortably with four to six focused weeks, while those already working in compliance may need only two to three. Reserve the final week for mock tests and revision regardless of how early you started.

Final word

The AML & KYC exam dates 2026 reward people who plan, not people who panic. Because sittings recur every fortnight, there is almost always a slot within reach — but the short registration window means the candidates who succeed are the ones who book early and study backwards from a firm date.

Lock a Saturday, prepare your room and tech, and work a steady week-by-week plan with mocks built in. Do that, and you will not only clear the certificate on your first attempt — you will add a credential that genuinely strengthens your banking career.

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