The AFC Experience Requirement
The experience requirement for AFC certification is an important component in preparing you as an AFC.
Experience gives context to personal finance concepts, builds confidence, and fosters deeper learning. There are many ways to satisfy your 1,000-hour requirement.
The Experience Requirement at a Glance
1,000 Required Hours
10 Years Experience Window
3 Years to Complete from Enrollment
Experience may be obtained before or after you take the AFC® exam. Candidates may include hours from 7 years before enrollment and have up to 3 years from enrollment to complete the program. All AFC candidates must obtain 1,000 experience hours and submit a verification form to complete their experience requirement* before their program deadline. There is a ten-year window for calculating experience hours: candidates may include hours from seven years preceding their AFC enrollment and have up to three years from enrollment to complete their certification*.
*FINRA Foundation Fellows’ experience assignment may differ.
What Counts as Experience?
- Financial counseling, coaching and education
- Personal financial planning and tax preparation
- Developing curriculum or educational materials
- Managing financial counselors or programs
- Training, webinars and coursework
AFC-Supervised Experience: Earn 1.5 Hours for Every Hour
Experience under the supervision of an AFC can be extremely valuable and can be reported at 1.5 hours for every 1 hour of experience. This ratio is permitted in the following categories:
- One-on-one Counseling
- Teach Financial Education Classes/Workshops
- Develop Financial Education Classes/Curriculum/Educational Content
Find Experience Hour Opportunities
Experience Portal
Within the Experience Portal, AFC candidates can find volunteer opportunities and internships that may qualify for experience hours.
Access the Experience Portal via your myAFCPE Dashboard.
Consider Volunteering
Beyond local opportunities, explore these options:
Seeking Employment
We invite AFC candidates to visit the AFCPE Career and Resource Center for helpful information and a job board to search for experience hour opportunities. The Center is updated often.
Submit and Verify Experience Hours
- Login to myAFCPE: Access your candidate dashboard.
- Complete the Experience Verification Form: This is similar to a professional reference. The verifier can be a supervisor, HR representative, or qualified peer or mentor. Our verification process provides options for paid employment, volunteer positions, self-employment, and pro bono work.
- Submit and Track Progress: Watch your progress toward the 1,000-hour goal. Random audits may be performed on submitted forms.
AFCPE Certification is Here to Help
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