Evaluation Objectives

To pass the evaluation and qualify, traders must meet these three core objectives:

  1. Minimum Trading Days: Trade for at least five days (consecutive days are not required).
  2. Profit Target: Reach the designated profit target for your chosen account type.
  3. Position Closure: Close all positions one minute before market close to manage end-of-day risk, excluding the Diamond Hands program.
  4. Weekly Trading Requirement: Traders must place at least one trade per week to maintain an active account. If you are unable to trade due to specific reasons, please notify ETF via the self-serve form available here. Failure to trade for a week may result in account closure. This rule does not apply to Diamond Hands accounts.

Risk Management Requirements

Proper risk management is essential in meeting evaluation standards. The following guidelines help maintain account stability:

  • Intraday Trailing Drawdown: Avoid hitting or exceeding the intraday trailing drawdown, which is adjusted based on the highest unrealized gains during the day.
  • Daily Loss Limit: Do not hit or exceed the static daily loss limit, a fixed threshold that helps prevent significant daily losses.
  • End-of-Day Drawdown: Ensure that your cash balance remains above the maximum end-of-day drawdown requirement at market close.

Program-Specific Requirements

ETF offers various programs with tailored evaluation requirements:

  • 1 Step and Fast Track: These programs have specific risk management standards. For more details, visit the 1 Step and Fast Track pages.
  • EOD (End of Day): Maintain cash balance above max end-of-day drawdown.
  • Static Program: Ensure that balance stays above the max drawdown by day’s end. See Static details.
  • Diamond Hands: Focus on risk-adjusted strategies with fixed limits. Refer to Diamond Hands.

CME Rules Compliance

All traders must complete 34 lessons on CME Rules and Regulations, covering essential market conduct and regulatory guidelines. Complete these lessons before advancing in the evaluation. Review CME guidelines here.