ACAMS launches revamped 2026 ACAMS Scholarship

ACAMS Today spoke to Dr. Justine Walker and Rose Dahlan, the two organizers of the ACAMS Scholarship initiative, about the launch of the 2026 scholarship and the program’s new format.

ACAMS has been awarding scholarships since 2021 and has supported more than 130 anti-financial crime (AFC) professionals to date, attracting interest from applicants in over 100 countries. Whereas in the past the ACAMS Scholarship program consisted of a mix of global but primarily regional scholarships, beginning this year the program aims to have a truly global reach. 

Who qualifies?

The ACAMS Scholarship program strives to offer recipients greater choice, allowing recipients to select the certification that best suits their careers—the Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), Certified Anti-Fraud Specialist (CAFS) or Certified Global Sanctions Specialist (CGSS). They will also have access to Virtual Classroom exam prep, which will provide expert-led training and a credential that is recognized globally. The scholarship also includes three years of ACAMS membership and three years of ACAMS Chapter membership.

The program is aimed at professionals with 18 months to five years of experience, who are actively engaged in research, volunteering, campaigning or community-building aligned with ACAMS’ social impact priorities. By combining skills development with long-term community connection, the scholarship is intended to help recipients build confidence, deepen their expertise and make them feel they are contributing to the global AFC community.

Social impact

Justine Walker

On the subject of how the scholarship will encourage social impact within the AFC profession, Walker, who is executive vice president, Thought Leadership at ACAMS, noted, “The ACAMS Scholarship advances social impact by opening doors, accelerating skills and investing in a global cohort of early-career AFC professionals. By combining world-class training, globally recognized certification and long-term community engagement, we’re building skills—and leadership—that strengthen the AFC community from the ground up.”

Rose Dahlan

Dahlan, ACAMS global communications manager, added, “The ACAMS Scholarship is about supporting people at the early stages of their AFC careers who are already making a difference and are ready to go further. It’s designed as a complete development experience—not just a one-off award.”

Dahlan continued, “The individuals we really want to encourage are younger researchers, those just starting out in their AFC careers, and people leading campaigns or community efforts in the field—future AFC champions who are already showing leadership potential.”

Measuring success

Regarding how the success of the program will be measured, Walker said, “We think about success on a few different levels—both for the program as a whole and for the individuals who receive the scholarship. For the program overall, success is both global and long-term. We want to see strong interest and applications from all over the world, because one of our goals is to inspire and support professionals across every region. Over time, we also hope to see recipients remain engaged with ACAMS and grow into future leaders and champions of the AFC community.”

Walker continued, “For recipients, success is about follow‑through and growth. That means completing their certification within the scholarship period, actively engaging with ACAMS and their local chapter, and continuing the work they’re already doing in the field—whether that’s research, volunteering, advocacy or community‑building. If recipients are building confidence, deepening their expertise, and staying connected to the global AFC community, that’s a strong indicator the scholarship is doing what it’s meant to do.”

When is the application deadline?

Applications are now being accepted through Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Applications will be reviewed during the following two months by ACAMS and a global panel of judges representing ACAMS Chapter boards, who bring diverse perspectives from across ACAMS’ worldwide community and reflect the global spirit of the scholarship.

Applicants who are chosen for the scholarships will be contacted via email toward the end of August. They will then have seven days to confirm their continued interest in the scholarship and agree to complete the scholarship within the 12-month scholarship period, which will take place from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027.

Walker summed up the organization’s hopes for the program by saying, “ACAMS is excited about this program because it’s a way we give back to the AFC community. At its heart, the scholarship is about people—supporting those who are early in their careers but already showing real commitment and passion to tackling financial crime. These are people who are deeply motivated by impact and aligned with the real‑world harms ACAMS cares about, from modern slavery and environmental crime to exploitative and humanitarian‑related crimes.”

For more information or to fill out the online application, please visit https://www.acams.org/en/resources/scholarships.

Interviewed by: Karla Monterrosa-Yancey, CAMS, ACAMS, kmonterrosa@acams.org