How to Get Funded with Apex Trader Funding

Getting funded with Apex Trader Funding requires passing their one-step Trading Test evaluation¹. You must hit a profit target while staying within a trailing drawdown limit over a minimum of 7 trading days¹. Once funded, traders keep 100% of their first $25,000 in profits per account, then 90% of everything after that³.

This guide covers the specific requirements for each account size from $25,000 to $300,000, the rules you must follow during the evaluation, and how the payout process works after you achieve funded status.

The One-Step Evaluation

Apex Trader Funding uses a single-phase evaluation called the Trading Test¹. Pass one evaluation and you receive a funded Performance Account.

The evaluation uses an End-of-Day (EOD) trailing drawdown¹. Your maximum loss limit is recalculated based on your end-of-day balance, not intraday equity swings. This is generally more forgiving than intraday trailing drawdowns used by some competitors.

Account Sizes and Profit Targets

Apex offers seven account sizes with corresponding profit targets and drawdown limits¹:

• $25,000 Account: $1,500 profit target, $1,500 trailing threshold, up to 4 contracts¹
• $50,000 Account: $3,000 profit target, $2,500 trailing threshold, up to 10 contracts¹
• $75,000 Account: $4,000 profit target, $2,750 trailing threshold, up to 12 contracts¹
• $100,000 Account: $6,000 profit target, $3,000 trailing threshold, up to 14 contracts¹
• $150,000 Account: $8,000 profit target, $3,000 trailing threshold, up to 17 contracts¹
• $250,000 Account: $12,500 profit target, $3,500 trailing threshold, up to 25 contracts¹
• $300,000 Account: $15,000 profit target, $4,500 trailing threshold, up to 35 contracts¹

There is no time limit on the evaluation¹. You can take as long as needed to reach the profit target, as long as your account stays active through the monthly subscription.

Trailing Drawdown Rules

The trailing drawdown starts at a fixed amount below your initial balance¹. As your account equity grows at end of day, the drawdown floor trails upward. Once the drawdown floor reaches your initial account balance, it locks in place and becomes a static maximum loss level¹.

For example, on a $50,000 account with a $2,500 trailing drawdown, your initial floor is $47,500. If your account closes a day at $52,000, the floor moves to $49,500. Once the floor reaches $50,000, it locks there permanently.

The 30% Negative P&L Rule

On funded accounts, your open unrealized losses cannot exceed 30% of your start-of-day profit balance⁵. For accounts below the safety net threshold, the limit is calculated against the trailing drawdown amount⁵.

After your profits exceed double the safety net amount, this limit expands to 50%⁵.

Minimum Trading Days

You must trade for at least 7 separate days during the evaluation¹. You cannot pass the evaluation by hitting the profit target in fewer than 7 days.

Consistency Rules

No single trading day can account for more than 30% of your total profits at payout request². This prevents traders from relying on one large winning day to pass. You need to demonstrate relatively consistent performance across multiple sessions.

Position Closure Requirement

All positions must be closed by 4:59 PM ET each day¹. No overnight positions are allowed. This applies to both the evaluation and funded accounts.

What Happens After You Pass

After passing the Trading Test, you pay an activation fee and receive a Performance Account (PA)². This is a funded account where you trade with the firm's capital.

Contract limits start at half the maximum allocation on funded accounts⁶. You unlock full contract access after your end-of-day balance exceeds the trailing threshold⁶. Once unlocked, full contracts are permanently available⁶.

Payout Structure

Apex offers one of the best profit retention structures in the industry³:

• First $25,000 in total payouts per account: 100% to the trader³
• After $25,000: 90% to the trader, 10% to Apex³

With up to 20 accounts¹, a trader could retain 100% of up to $500,000 in total payouts before the 90/10 split applies.

Payout Frequency

Traders must wait 8 trading days between payout requests³. At least 5 of those days must show $50 or more in profit². Processing takes 3-7 business days⁸.

Payout Caps

The first 5 payouts are capped per account size³. The minimum payout request is $500³. After the 5th payout, there is no maximum and traders can withdraw their full available profit³.

Tips for Passing the Evaluation

Start with Half Contracts

Since funded accounts start at half the contract limit⁶, practicing with reduced size during the evaluation helps you build consistency without overleveraging.

Use the EOD Drawdown to Your Advantage

The EOD trailing drawdown means intraday swings do not immediately threaten your account¹. You can experience temporary drawdowns during the session as long as you manage your positions before the close.

Watch the 30% Consistency Rule

Plan your trading across at least 7-10 days with relatively even profit distribution. If you have a large winning day early, you may need additional smaller winning days to bring that day below 30% of total profits².

Monitor the Negative P&L Rule

Keep track of your open trade losses relative to your start-of-day profit⁵. Use stop losses to limit individual trade risk.

Close Positions Before 4:59 PM ET

Set alerts or automated flattening to ensure all positions are closed before the daily cutoff¹. Holding positions past this time violates the rules.

Automation and TradersPost

Apex Trader Funding accounts can be connected to TradersPost through Tradovate for webhook-based alert execution.

Apex prohibits fully automated trading systems on funded accounts⁴. Limited automation tools such as ATM strategies and webhook-based alerts are permitted when the trader maintains active oversight⁷. Copy trading between accounts is prohibited⁴. Verify the current automation policy directly with Apex before using automated tools.

Conclusion

Getting funded with Apex Trader Funding is straightforward through their one-step evaluation¹. The EOD trailing drawdown, 7-day minimum requirement, and clear profit targets make the process predictable for traders with a proven strategy.

The combination of 100% profit retention on the first $25,000³, up to 20 accounts¹, and account sizes up to $300,000¹ creates significant scaling potential. Focus on consistent daily performance, respect the 30% rules, and close positions before 4:59 PM ET.

Verify all rules and pricing directly on the Apex Trader Funding website before purchasing an evaluation.

¹ Apex Trader Funding - Evaluation Rules
² Apex Trader Funding - PA Compliance
³ Apex Trader Funding - PA Payout Parameters
⁴ Apex Trader Funding - Prohibited Activities
⁵ Apex Trader Funding - 30% Negative P&L Rule
⁶ Apex Trader Funding - Contract Scaling Rule
⁷ Apex Trader Funding - PA Trading Rules
⁸ Apex Trader Funding - Dashboard