How Long it Takes to Get a Funded Account?
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For most funded trading accounts, it takes around four to five months to pass the screening process or prop firm trading challenge, before funding will be allocated to a trader. However, some prop firm challenges can be passed in a much shorter time, in as little as two days, though this involves using increased risk.
If you are looking to become a successful trader, chances are that you are taking the time to learn all there is to know about trading while perfecting your trading strategy and refining how you conduct your trades. Building up your knowledge already has inherent value, but there is the added bonus that becoming a profitable trader can lead to you obtaining a funded account. But after all that time learning, how long would it take to fulfill the requirements needed to pass a prop trading firm funding challenge? In this article, the Traders Union explains how long it takes to become a funded trade.
How many months does it take to become a funded trader?
For a trader looking to get funded by a proprietary trading firm or platform, in most cases there are minimum requirements set by the prop firm to gauge whether the trader is a suitable recipient of said funds. Several factors will determine how long it takes to get approved for funding (which we will explain later on), but usually, the process involves the trader proving that they can consistently generate profit over a set amount of time.
Each funded account provider sets their own minimum requirements, which can range anywhere from a few days to several months. When looking at the available options, consider these limits:
Minimum calendar days: As the name suggests, this is the minimum number of calendar days that a trader must have traded for to qualify for funding. For example, My Funded FX requires 14 calendar days to have passed since account creation, despite only needing one day of active trading. This means you must wait for 2 weeks to pass before your account can receive funding. You may also see the term calendar days used for the minimum number of days until your first payout after receiving a funded account.
Minimum trading days: This refers to the number of active trading days that you need to have completed before you are eligible for a funded account. The minimum trading day is set to encourage traders to actively engage with the market and demonstrate their abilities within it, while allowing the brokerage to sufficiently evaluate their performance.
Minimum number of trades: Some funded accounts and prop firms require you to have completed a minimum number of trades before receiving funding. This shows that you have actively traded under evolving market conditions and not just made some solid investments that grew over time.
Firms offering funded accounts set these limits so that they can be sure a trader is qualified enough to receive a funded account, and ready to get the account under management. Each prop trading firm’s requirements vary, so research each firm before settling on one. You can see Traders Union’s list of the best prop firms here: All Prop Firms List - TU Ranking.
The amount of time it takes to get funded varies massively, so we can split those ‘trial periods’ into two categories: short-track and long-track. Let’s look at those two in more detail.
Short track (less than 1 month)
A short track period for obtaining a funded trading account will typically be under one month. Sometimes, prop trading firms want to supercharge the recruitment process and attract the most talented traders by shortening the qualification period. Although this allows more traders the opportunity to acquire more capital to further their trading careers, the higher profit requirements are much more of a challenge to meet.
One example of a prop trading company with a short-track qualification period is FTMO. FTMO is one of the most reputable prop firms out there, so receiving a funding account with them is a huge opportunity for any trader. Fortunately, to pass the FTMO challenge you are only required to actively trade for a minimum of four days during their unlimited period to reach the profit target. You can learn everything there is to know about the firm by reading Traders Union’s review of FTMO.
Earn2Trade (E2T) also offers funding to those who pass their virtual trading exam with a minimum of 15 active trading days. The percentage of profit required to pass depends on how much virtual funding you opt for, and the minimum loss requirements are quite challenging, but the period to be approved is considered short. However, E2T focuses on futures trading only so this is not suitable for all traders. To learn more about E2T, see our Earn2Trade Review.
Earn2Trade Funded Account RequirementsAlthough it might seem enticing to obtain prop firm funding as quickly as possible and start trading with higher capital sooner rather than later, there are some disadvantages associated with short-track qualification periods for funded accounts. Some of these are:
Stricter Risk: The requirements for risk compliance are often stricter with short-track funded accounts. For example, on E2T, suffering a loss of roughly 2.2% on one single day would fail the funding challenge.
Higher Requirements: Some short-track testing periods will require you to have higher qualifications to achieve funding, such as licenses or completion of a certificate program.
Less Regulation: Some of the funded account programs with short-track assessment periods are subject to less regulation than some of the more reputable long-track funding assessments. Be sure to read the terms and conditions closely.
Long-track (3-6 months)
Though there are short-track test periods for funded accounts, it is more common for prop firms to require three to six months of trading before they will fund you. Having longer periods for the assessment means there is less incentive for you to engage in high-risk trading while allowing firms to get a better gauge on how you can perform in the long term. Market conditions tend to evolve considerably over several months, so as a trader, you can demonstrate how you adapt.
Best prop trading firms
What factors influence the amount of time it takes to become a funded trader?
One of the main factors that will determine how long it takes to become a funded trader is the specific prop firm and the length of time they allocate for their evaluation process, though many other factors will ultimately affect the outcome. Some of those are:
Review Period: The review of any phase could take between one and five business days, lengthening the wait for receiving funding. Some firms conduct swift reviews within a day, while others may require up to 5 business days for a comprehensive assessment.
Account Size: The size of the trading account being sought will likely influence the evaluation duration. Larger accounts may undergo more meticulous scrutiny, as prop firms want assurance that traders can handle the responsibility of increased capital. Smaller accounts may have quicker evaluation periods, reflecting a more straightforward risk assessment.
Type of Instruments: The type of instruments traded, and market volatility play crucial roles. Trading more complex instruments or in highly volatile markets may necessitate additional scrutiny to ensure a trader's strategy can adapt and thrive under varying conditions. This consideration impacts the evaluation process duration. Furthermore, trading less volatile instruments may lead to slow growth and lengthen the time it takes to hit your profit targets.
Risk Management: Your ability to effectively manage risk and adhere to the prop firm's risk parameters is crucial. Demonstrating a disciplined approach could positively impact the evaluation timeline, while poor risk management may cause you to overstep the limit for loss allowance.
Market Conditions: The broader market conditions and current economic performance are likely to influence the evaluation period, especially for strategies sensitive to specific market environments.
To help you select the best-suited funded account for you, Traders Union has assessed the five top Forex prop trading firms and compiled a list of reviews, which you can find here: Best Forex Funded Accounts.
Conclusion
Be sure that you have sufficient qualifications and trading experience so that the time spent on getting a funded account is not wasted, because you can lose a funded account faster than you can get it.
FAQs
Is it hard to get funded trading?
There are many opportunities for obtaining a funded trading account out there, but the odds of success can be quite slim. It’s important to polish off your trading skills and refine your trading strategy before pursuing a funded account.
How many years does it take to become a profitable trader?
Learning how to trade profitably is a must before you consider getting a funded account, so it’s difficult to measure in years. It is widely believed that to become better than others in your profession, you need to spend 10,000 hours perfecting your skills and abilities.
How do I become a fully funded trader?
To become a fully funded trader, find a prop trading firm, and pass their evaluation process by showcasing consistent profitability and adherence to risk parameters. Once approved, the firm provides capital for you to trade, and profits are shared based on agreed-upon terms.
Is it worth your time to become a funded trader?
Spending a long time building a strong track record of profitable trading and learning all you can about trading can help you to acquire funding. Learning more about trading is always worth your time, even though it does not guarantee you will get a funded account. A lot of traders fail prop firm trading challenges. Whether it’s worth your time improving your trading ability is up to you.
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Team that worked on the article
Jason Law is a freelance writer and journalist and a Traders Union website contributor. While his main areas of expertise are currently finance and investing, he’s also a generalist writer covering news, current events, and travel.
Jason’s experience includes being an editor for South24 News and writing for the Vietnam Times newspaper. He is also an avid investor and an active stock and cryptocurrency trader with several years of experience.
Chinmay Soni is a financial analyst with more than 5 years of experience in working with stocks, Forex, derivatives, and other assets. As a founder of a boutique research firm and an active researcher, he covers various industries and fields, providing insights backed by statistical data. He is also an educator in the field of finance and technology.
As an author for Traders Union, he contributes his deep analytical insights on various topics, taking into account various aspects.
Mirjan Hipolito is a journalist and news editor at Traders Union. She is an expert crypto writer with five years of experience in the financial markets. Her specialties are daily market news, price predictions, and Initial Coin Offerings (ICO).
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