Valid Trades & Profit Days
FairTicks separates normal account activity from trading days that meet a meaningful performance standard. A valid trade must meet minimum duration and movement requirements. A Profit Day is then earned when the completed trading day reaches the required net profit, includes valid activity, and leaves the account above its starting capital.
Profit Days reward repeated, meaningful performance. They are not earned from instant clicks, tiny movements, open profit alone, or one isolated winning spike.
The system in one sentence
A trade must first qualify as valid activity. Then the completed trading day must reach the account's Profit Day threshold and finish above starting capital to earn one Profit Day.
Three names, one daily calculation
The same Profit Day calculation is used across FairTicks account lifecycles. The public name and purpose depend on the type of account.
| Account lifecycle | Dashboard name | What it is used for |
|---|---|---|
| Training Account | Training Profit Days | Used with the Profit Target to complete the Training Account. |
| Qualified Account | Qualified Profit Days | Used as part of payout eligibility for the current payout cycle. |
| Straight Account | Straight Profit Days | Used as part of payout eligibility for the current payout cycle. |
Activity Days show when trading activity occurred. They do not replace Profit Days and are not used by themselves to pass a Training Account or unlock a payout.
Part 1 — What is a valid trade?
A valid trade is a closed position that meets the minimum FairTicks activity requirements. These checks help distinguish meaningful trading activity from trades that are too short or too small to count.
A position can still appear in account history and affect the account even when it does not qualify as a valid trade.
Valid-trade requirements
A closed trade must satisfy both requirements:
| Requirement | Minimum | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | At least 30 seconds | The position must remain open long enough to count as meaningful activity. |
| Movement | At least 4 absolute ticks | The position must include enough market movement to qualify. |
valid trade = closed position + duration ≥ 30 seconds + absolute movement ≥ 4 ticks
A valid-trade result is final only after the position is closed. An open position has not yet completed the valid-trade check.
Valid and invalid trade examples
Duration: 2 minutes 40 seconds
Absolute movement: 12 ticks
Result: Valid trade. Both the duration and movement requirements are satisfied.
Duration: 8 seconds
Absolute movement: 9 ticks
Result: Not a valid trade. The movement requirement is met, but the trade lasted less than 30 seconds.
Duration: 50 seconds
Absolute movement: 2 ticks
Result: Not a valid trade. The duration requirement is met, but movement is below 4 ticks.
Duration: 12 seconds
Absolute movement: 1 tick
Result: Not a valid trade. Both requirements failed.
Does an invalid trade still affect my account?
Yes. A trade that does not qualify as valid activity can still affect official PnL, commissions, balance, live equity, drawdown, and other risk rules.
“Not a valid trade” only means that the trade does not qualify for valid-activity checks. The financial and risk impact of the trade still applies to the account.
Part 2 — What is a Profit Day?
A Profit Day is a completed FairTicks trading day that meets all daily qualification conditions. The calculation uses the account's official net result for that completed day.
A completed day can earn one Profit Day when the account is active, official net daily PnL reaches at least 0.5% of starting capital, the day contains at least one valid trade, and ending balance remains above starting capital.
All Profit Day conditions
| Condition | Current FairTicks rule | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Account status | Account must be ACTIVE |
Profit Days are earned during an active account lifecycle. |
| Official net daily PnL | At least 0.5% of starting capital | The completed day must reach a meaningful net-profit threshold. |
| Valid activity | At least 1 valid trade | The day must include at least one closed trade that passes both valid-trade checks. |
| Ending balance | Must finish above starting capital | A recovery day does not count while the account still ends below its original capital. |
| Daily limit | Maximum 1 Profit Day per completed day | A very large winning day cannot count as several Profit Days. |
daily threshold = starting capital × 0.5%
Profit Day = net daily PnL ≥ threshold
AND valid trades ≥ 1
AND ending balance > starting capital
Profit Day calculations use FairTicks' official net result for the completed trading day, including applicable commissions recorded for that day. Gross profit shown before costs may not equal the final qualifying result.
When is a Profit Day confirmed?
A Profit Day is confirmed only after the trading day is complete and FairTicks has evaluated the final daily result. Reaching the threshold during the day does not guarantee that the day will qualify at the end.
Later losses, commissions, or additional trades can change the completed-day result before final evaluation.
The dashboard may show current progress during the day, but the official Profit Day credit is awarded only from the completed-day result.
Profit Day threshold examples
| Starting capital | 0.5% daily threshold |
|---|---|
| $10,000 | $50 |
| $25,000 | $125 |
| $50,000 | $250 |
| $100,000 | $500 |
These examples explain the standard 0.5% calculation. Always use the requirement and progress shown on the specific account dashboard.
Example — a day earns a Profit Day
Starting capital: $50,000
Daily threshold: $250
Official net daily PnL: +$320
Valid trades: 2
Ending balance: $50,820
Result: 1 Profit Day earned. The net threshold, valid-trade requirement, and ending-balance requirement are all satisfied.
Example — profitable, but below the threshold
Starting capital: $50,000
Daily threshold: $250
Official net daily PnL: +$180
Valid trades: 3
Ending balance: $50,600
Result: No Profit Day. The account is profitable, but the completed day is below the $250 threshold.
Example — enough profit, but no valid trade
Starting capital: $50,000
Daily threshold: $250
Official net daily PnL: +$320
Valid trades: 0
Ending balance: $50,900
Result: No Profit Day. The profit threshold is reached, but the day has no valid trade.
Example — recovery day ends below starting capital
Starting capital: $50,000
Balance before the day: $48,500
Official net daily PnL: +$400
Valid trades: 2
Ending balance: $48,900
Result: No Profit Day. The day reached the $250 threshold, but the account still ended below its $50,000 starting capital.
Example — one large day still counts once
Starting capital: $50,000
Official net daily PnL: +$3,000
Valid trades: 2
Ending balance: $53,000
Result: the day can earn 1 Profit Day, not 12.
Does open PnL count?
Open PnL by itself does not earn a Profit Day. Profit Day evaluation uses the official completed-day result recorded by FairTicks.
A position must be closed for its final trade result and valid-trade status to be included.
Unrealized profit can disappear before a position is closed. Do not treat intraday open profit as a confirmed Profit Day.
Does a losing or non-qualifying day reset progress?
No. A day that does not qualify simply adds no new Profit Day. It does not automatically remove Profit Days already earned in the current cycle.
Current progress before Tuesday: 4 Profit Days
Tuesday result: does not qualify
Progress after Tuesday: still 4 Profit Days
Part 3 — Training Profit Days
On Training Accounts, qualifying days are called Training Profit Days. They are used together with the Profit Target to determine whether the Training Account is complete.
A Training Account passes when the Profit Target is reached, the required Training Profit Days are complete, the account remains active, and no breach has occurred.
Training Profit Days required
| Training model | Training Profit Days required |
|---|---|
| Rapid | 3 |
| Classic | 5 |
| Discipline / Precision | 10 |
| Instinct | 0 — not required |
| Free Trial | 1 |
Product configurations can evolve. The requirement displayed on the account dashboard is the official requirement for that account.
Training example — target reached, days incomplete
Profit Target: Reached
Activity Days: 12
Training Profit Days: 4 / 5
Result: the account remains ACTIVE.
Activity Days do not replace the missing Training Profit Day.
Training example — final day completes the account
Profit Target: Reached
Training Profit Days before evaluation: 4 / 5
The completed day earns one Training Profit Day.
Training Profit Days after evaluation: 5 / 5
Result: the Training Account can move to PASSED.
Instinct and Training Profit Days
Instinct does not require Training Profit Days. Its dashboard should show that the requirement is not active.
Training Profit Days required: 0
Profit Target: Reached
Result: the account can pass immediately, provided it remains active and no breach has occurred.
Part 4 — Qualified & Straight Profit Days
On payout-enabled accounts, qualifying days are named according to the lifecycle:
- Qualified Profit Days on Qualified Accounts.
- Straight Profit Days on Straight Accounts.
Both measure qualifying profitable days earned during the current payout cycle.
Qualified and Straight Accounts normally require 10 Profit Days in the current payout cycle. The payout page shows the official requirement for the account.
Current cycle vs lifetime total
| Metric | Meaning | How it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Current Profit Day cycle | Profit Days earned since the current payout cycle began. | Used for the next payout eligibility check. |
| Lifetime Profit Days | Total Profit Days historically earned on the account. | Used as account history and long-term context. |
Lifetime Profit Days do not replace the current-cycle requirement. Payout eligibility uses the current Qualified or Straight Profit Day cycle.
Payout-cycle example
Qualified Profit Days: 9 / 10
Result: the Profit Day payout condition is not complete.
Qualified Profit Days: 10 / 10
Result: the Profit Day condition is complete. The account must still satisfy every other condition shown in the payout checklist.
What happens after a payout is paid?
When a payout reaches PAID, the current Profit Day cycle starts again from zero.
Lifetime Profit Days remain preserved.
Before payout is paid:
Current Qualified Profit Days: 10
Lifetime Profit Days: 18
After payout becomes PAID:
Current Qualified Profit Days: 0
Lifetime Profit Days: 18
Does completing Profit Days guarantee a payout?
No. Completing the required Qualified or Straight Profit Days satisfies only the Profit Day condition.
The account must also satisfy the other requirements displayed in the official payout checklist, such as eligible profit, active account status, no open positions, no pending payout, identity verification where required, and valid payout details.
The payout page is the official reference for whether a payout request can currently be submitted.
What the dashboard may show
| Dashboard value | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Training Profit Days | 4 / 5 | Training completion progress. |
| Qualified Profit Days | 7 / 10 | Current payout-cycle progress on a Qualified Account. |
| Straight Profit Days | 7 / 10 | Current payout-cycle progress on a Straight Account. |
| Lifetime Profit Days | 16 | Total qualifying days historically earned on the account. |
| Daily threshold | $250 on a 50K account | Official net daily PnL needed for the completed day to qualify. |
| Valid trades | At least 1 required | The day must include valid closed-trade activity. |
| Activity Days | 12 | Trading activity history, separate from Profit Day progress. |
Common mistakes to avoid
| Mistake | Correct understanding |
|---|---|
| Closing trades before 30 seconds | A trade under 30 seconds cannot qualify as a valid trade. |
| Ignoring tick movement | A trade needs at least 4 absolute ticks of movement. |
| Thinking any positive day qualifies | The completed day must reach 0.5% of starting capital. |
| Using gross profit instead of official net result | Profit Day evaluation uses the official net result after applicable commissions. |
| Ignoring the ending-balance condition | The account must finish the day above starting capital. |
| Counting open profit as a completed day | Open PnL alone cannot confirm a Profit Day. |
| Thinking one large day counts several times | A completed trading day can add a maximum of one Profit Day. |
| Confusing Activity Days with Training Profit Days | Activity Days are informational; Training Profit Days determine the day requirement for passing. |
| Using lifetime total for the next payout | The next payout uses the current Qualified or Straight Profit Day cycle. |
| Thinking a losing day deletes earlier progress | A non-qualifying day adds nothing but does not automatically remove previous Profit Days. |
Common questions
What is a valid trade?
A valid trade is a closed position that remained open for at least 30 seconds and moved at least 4 absolute ticks.
Can an invalid trade still affect my account?
Yes. It can still affect PnL, commissions, balance, equity, and risk rules. It simply does not qualify as valid activity.
How does a day earn a Profit Day?
The completed day must have official net PnL of at least 0.5% of starting capital, include at least one valid trade, and finish with ending balance above starting capital.
When is the Profit Day confirmed?
After the trading day is complete and FairTicks evaluates the final official daily result.
Does open PnL count?
Open PnL by itself does not confirm a Profit Day. The system uses completed, official account results.
Can one day add several Profit Days?
No. One completed day can add a maximum of one Profit Day.
Does a negative day reset my Profit Days?
No. A non-qualifying day adds no new credit but does not automatically remove earlier Profit Days.
Are Training Profit Days the same as Activity Days?
No. Activity Days measure trading activity. Training Profit Days measure completed days that satisfy the full Profit Day rule.
How many Training Profit Days do I need?
The standard requirements are Rapid 3, Classic 5, Discipline / Precision 10, Instinct 0, and Free Trial 1. The account dashboard shows the official requirement.
Does Instinct require Training Profit Days?
No. Instinct currently requires zero Training Profit Days.
How many Qualified or Straight Profit Days do I need?
The standard current-cycle requirement is 10. Check the payout page for the official value attached to the account.
What resets after a payout?
When the payout becomes PAID,
the current Qualified or Straight Profit Day cycle resets to zero.
Lifetime Profit Days remain preserved.
Does completing Profit Days guarantee a payout?
No. All other conditions shown in the payout checklist must also be satisfied.
Summary
A valid trade must be closed, last at least 30 seconds, and move at least 4 absolute ticks. A Profit Day requires at least one valid trade, official net daily PnL of at least 0.5% of starting capital, and ending balance above starting capital.
The same daily calculation is used across account lifecycles: Training Profit Days help complete Training Accounts, while Qualified and Straight Profit Days support payout eligibility.
Valid trades prove meaningful activity, and Profit Days prove that meaningful activity produced repeated, completed-day performance.
Activity alone is not enough.
The day must include valid trading activity, reach the official net-profit threshold, and leave the account above starting capital.
Trade or Profit Day not counted as expected?
Check the position duration, absolute tick movement, official net daily PnL, valid-trade count, ending balance, and Profit Day progress shown in the dashboard. If something still looks unclear, contact support with your account number and position details.