FTMO says you can reach a funded account in as few as 8 trading days on its 2-Step Challenge and as few as 2 on its 1-Step. Those are the minimums the rules allow, not a guide to what a careful trader should expect.

The rules set the floor, not the pace

The rules set the floor, not the pace. Profit target: FTMO 2-Step 10%, then 5% in Verification, FTMO 1-Step 10%; Minimum trading days: FTMO 2-Step 4 per phase, FTMO 1-Step None (50% Best Day Rule); Fastest possible: FTMO 2-Step 8 trading days, FTMO 1-Step 2 trading days; Time limit: FTMO 2-Step None, FTMO 1-Step None
The rules set the floor, not the pace: the figures from this section at a glance.
FTMO 2-StepFTMO 1-Step
Profit target10%, then 5% in Verification10%
Minimum trading days4 per phaseNone (50% Best Day Rule)
Fastest possible8 trading days2 trading days
Time limitNoneNone

Without a time limit, the question is not how fast you can pass, but how long your method takes to make 10 per cent at a size that will not breach the loss limits.

Working it out from your own numbers

Expected gain per trade = (win rate × average win) − (loss rate × average loss), measured in units of your risk. Divide the target by that, and by how many trades you take a day.

Illustrative example: a realistic timeline

A trader risks 0.5 per cent per trade, wins 45 per cent of trades at twice the risk and loses 55 per cent at the full risk. Expected gain per trade is 0.45 × 2 − 0.55 × 1 = 0.35 times the risk, or about 0.175 per cent of the account. A 10 per cent target needs about 57 trades. At two trades a day that is roughly 29 trading days, about six weeks. The 5 per cent Verification needs about half as many trades, so around three more weeks.

Losing streaks stretch that further. The same trader will see runs of five or six losses in a row over 57 trades, which is why safe sizing matters more than speed.

Why fast passes are a warning sign

  • Passing in a few days usually means large size, which works until the first bad streak, often on the funded account.
  • A method that needs big size to pass will need it to make payouts too, under the same loss limits.
  • Firms review trades before paying; a fast pass built on luck tends to show up later as a breached funded account.

If you have hit the target with a few minimum days left, see our guide to minimum trading days for how to finish safely.

Six weeks at half a per cent risk is a good pass. It is also the pace you will need to keep on the funded account, so it is the right one to practise.
FX Recap viewEditorial team

Frequently asked

How long does it take to pass a prop firm challenge?

The rules allow a fast pass, but at a safe position size most consistent traders take weeks. FTMO's minimum is 8 trading days for the 2-Step and 2 for the 1-Step, with no time limit.

Is there a time limit on the FTMO Challenge?

No. FTMO says there is no maximum time limit on its 2-Step or 1-Step Challenge.

How can I estimate my own time to pass?

Work out your expected gain per trade from your win rate and average win and loss, divide the profit target by it, then divide by the number of trades you take a day.

Is passing quickly a good sign?

Not usually. Very fast passes tend to come from large position sizes, which also make a funded account easy to lose. A steady pace at 0.5 to 1 per cent risk is more likely to lead to payouts.