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Certificate in Financial Derivatives

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Financial Derivatives


About Financial Derivatives

Financial derivatives are financial products that are tied to a particular financial instrument, indicator, or commodity and allow for the independent trading of certain financial risks on financial markets.

Futures contracts, options contracts, and credit default swaps are typical types of derivatives.

Why is Financial Derivatives important?

Financial derivatives allow parties to trade particular financial risks (like interest rate, currency, equity, and commodity price, as well as credit risk) to other entities that are more willing or better suited to take or manage these risks — typically, but not always, without trading in a primary asset or commodity.

Who should take the Financial Derivatives Exam?

  • Stock market managers, senior executives, executives
  • Investment managers, senior executives, executives
  • Technical professionals who want to learn about quantitative finance
  • Finance professionals

Financial Derivatives Certification Course Outline

  1. Interest rate fundamentals
  2. Periodic and continuous compounding
  3. Discounted cash flow analysis
  4. Bond analysis
  5. The fundamentals of equity, currency, and commodity assets
  6. Portfolio modeling
  7. Long and short positions
  8. The principle of arbitrage
  9. The Law of One Price
  10. Forwards, futures, and swaps
  11. Risk management principles
  12. Futures hedging
  13. Stochastic processes
  14. Time series concepts
  15. The real statistics of asset prices: volatility clustering and autocorrelation
  16. Fat-tailed distribution and their importance for financial assets
  17. Brownian motion
  18. The log-normal model of asset prices
  19. Put-call parity
  20. The binomial model of option pricing
  21. The Black-Scholes theory and formula
  22. Option greeks: delta, gamma, and vega
  23. Dynamic hedging
  24. Volatility trading
  25. Implied volatility

Certificate in Financial Derivatives FAQs

The exam covers a variety of financial derivatives, including futures contracts, options, swaps, and forward contracts. Each derivative type is explored in terms of its use, pricing, and risk management strategies.

While prior knowledge of basic financial concepts such as stocks, bonds, and risk management is helpful, it is not strictly required. The exam is designed to provide a comprehensive overview, though familiarity with financial markets will enhance your understanding.

The exam typically consists of multiple-choice questions, along with practical case studies and problem-solving tasks that assess your understanding of derivative pricing, risk management, and trading strategies.

You can prepare by studying derivative pricing models (such as Black-Scholes), reviewing the different types of derivatives, and practicing trading strategies. Hands-on experience through financial simulators or trading platforms can also be helpful.

The exam usually lasts between 2 to 4 hours, depending on the number of questions and the inclusion of practical assessments.

You will gain the ability to price and value derivatives, understand their role in risk management and speculative strategies, and apply various hedging techniques using financial derivatives.

There are no strict prerequisites, but knowledge of basic financial concepts like the time value of money, interest rates, and risk management is highly beneficial.

The exam focuses on both theoretical understanding and practical application. You will need to demonstrate knowledge of derivative models, pricing, and how to implement them in real-world financial situations.

Yes, you can retake the exam if you don’t pass on the first attempt. Most certification bodies allow multiple attempts within a specific time frame, though additional fees may apply.

This certification will enhance your career by demonstrating a high level of expertise in derivatives trading, risk management, and financial analysis. It is particularly valuable for roles in investment banking, asset management, and financial analysis.