Providing you with the knowledge and experience to meet individuals and families where they are, help them build a strong financial foundation, realize their goals and achieve lasting financial well-being.
ABILITIES OF THE AFC®
- Educate clients in sound financial principles.
- Assist clients in the process of overcoming their financial indebtedness.
- Help clients identify and modify ineffective money management behaviors.
- Guide clients in developing successful strategies to achieve their unique financial goals.
- Support clients as they work through their financial challenges and opportunities.
- Help clients develop new perspectives on the dynamics of money in relation to family, friends and individual self-esteem.
- Navigate cultural and emotional aspects of money
Elevate your knowledge and skills with the credibility and confidence that the AFC® certification provides.
Top Reasons Professionals Become AFC® Certified
76%
Provides credibility to client
60%
It represents the highest standard
56%
The network and access to ongoing professional development
THE FOUR STAGES TO COMPLETE YOUR AFC® CERTIFICATION
Choose the education pathway that fits your lifestyle.
Educational eligibility requirements have been established to ensure that individuals certified by AFCPE® have the appropriate level of education, knowledge and proficiency necessary to provide financial counseling services as an AFC® professional. As a prerequisite to selecting the education path that’s right for you, please review the list of core competencies required prior to sitting for the AFC® examination. These competencies are based on the results of the AFCPE® 2018 Job Analysis Study.
List of AFC® Core Competencies
You’ll find meaningful differences among the education paths for AFC® certification. Each path is designed to ensure that you’ve been exposed to the educational components that correspond with each of the core competencies on the AFC® examination. You can find the option that best fits your experience and goals.
Download the AFC® Candidate Handbook
AFC® Education Paths and Fees
The educational pathways below include the cost of the AFC® exam. Education and exam fees are paid separately. Certification registration fee is non-refundable. Please view AFCPE®‘s Refund Policy for more details.
Optional course reviews are available through AFCPE® upon request for $750 and optional study guides are available for $150. Books and materials that ship outside the U.S. will incur a $35 international shipping charge.
AFC® Online Study Guide
A supplementary tool to support your preparation for the AFC® certification examination! The guide is now included with the self-study pathway and available as an add-on for all other pathways. It is designed to guide you through the material, providing you with additional tools and resources to develop your skills, test your comprehension, and put your knowledge into practice!
Housed in a learning management system, the guide allows you to:
- Divide the material into manageable sections of content.
- Sort through study processes more efficiently.
- Engage with other certification candidates through discussion boards.
- Tap into different learning styles, utilizing videos for visual learners.
- Apply the material you are learning with “Think Like A Counselor” exercises.
- Access study materials, including a glossary of terms and worksheets.
- Explore additional resources and links to bring the material to life.
- Experience new content, including case study applications for non-traditional clients and instruction on cultural sensitivity.
The Certification Council does not require, provide, accredit, or endorse any specific study guides, training or review courses, or other examination preparation products. The Certification Council, certification staff, certification committee members, and certification subject matter experts do not have involvement in the creation, accreditation, approval, endorsement or delivery of examination review courses, preparatory materials, educational programs, or training programs/products that prepare candidates for the AFC certification examination.
AFC® Special Pricing
Learn more about our special pricing, including AFC® exam discounts for students, group pricing, military educational benefits, and myCAA for eligible military spouses.
Sit for the AFC® exam
The AFC® exam is provided through PSI. Visit their website to find a testing center near you. Your exam fee is paid to AFCPE® after your education requirement is complete.
The NCCA accredited the Association for Financial Counseling & Education® (AFCPE®)’s AFC® certification for a five-year period, expiring December 31, 2025. NCCA is the accrediting body of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (formerly the National Organization for Competency Assurance). Since 1977, the NCCA has been accrediting certifying programs based on the highest quality standards in professional certification to ensure the programs adhere to modern standards of practice for the certification industry. The AFC®‘s compliance with NCCA standards shows that the educational content and testing for the AFC® is psychometrically sound and has been developed, maintained and governed by the highest standard.This recognition and achievement sets the certification mark apart from others in the field and emphasizes the highest standard of excellence that AFCPE® has built for this field.
AFC candidates with an enrollment date of 1/1/2023 or later may test at an international location if they have a military affiliation. AFC candidates without a military affiliation may need to travel to the United States to sit for the AFC exam. AFCPE cannot guarantee international testing for candidates enrolled on or after 1/1/2023 without a military affiliation.
Complete 1,000 hours of experience and submit a verification form.
Your 1000 hours of relevant experience may include:
- Delivery of one-on-one or group personal financial counseling, education or coaching
- Curriculum development
- Management of financial counseling professionals
- Developing financial education content
- Webinars, training, coursework, and conferences
Experience may be obtained in conjunction with exam preparation or following successful completion of the exam, as long as all requirements are completed within the designated time frame of the certification path you have chosen. You may also include relevant hours obtained up to 7 years before registering for the program. Visit the AFC Experience Guide for more information.
Note: You will be required to document your experience in an online form. The form is available in your myAFCPE certification dashboard.
Sign and adhere to the AFC® Code of Ethics.
Counselors certified by AFCPE® pledge to maintain the following ethical standards…Learn More.
Professional development is a career-long process. Over the course of a career, many changes will occur in a field of expertise that require an updating of knowledge and skills. These changes can include the introduction of new product and service offerings in the financial marketplace, as well as changes in laws and technical knowledge related to personal finance and counseling.
The purpose of requiring certificants to receive continuing education is threefold:
- Enhance the individual professional’s capacity to serve his or her constituents
- Protect the public interest
- Uphold the rigor of the certification programs.
There are three steps to maintaining certification:
- Submit an annual fee
- Meet the CEU requirements
- Abide by a code of ethics
For more information on requirements and fees, please refer to our Guide to Maintaining Your Certification.
AFC® EDUCATION PATHWAYS
The AFCPE Certification Council does not develop, approve, recommend, or endorse any educational programs, study programs, or other offerings. AFCPE courses are developed and delivered by the AFCPE independent of the Certification Council with no access to confidential AFC examination content. All applicants are encouraged to choose the educational pathway best suited to their educational background and professional experience.
SELF-PACED STUDY
Get the course materials and study at your own pace for the exam.
Time: up to 3 years from date of registration
Total Cost: $1,575 - $2,325
Cost Includes:
- $75 registration fee
- $750 AFC Online Study Guide & Books
- and/or -
$750 AFC Online Study Guide & Webinar Review Session - $750 AFC exam
PATHWAY REQUIREMENTS
You’ll start by submitting your registration form with payment to the AFCPE® national office. We will process the registration and either mail you your study materials or send you an email with instructions to access online materials. (Please allow 14 business days for shipping and handling.)
You can then study for the examination using the selected study materials. Syllabi for course options are available in Certification Resources.
Note: The AFC Webinar Review provides three live review opportunities per year. Participants also have access to a library of recorded review sessions they can access on-demand. For more information visit AFC Webinar Review.
FINANCIAL EDUCATION CHALLENGE / A Challenge-Based Pathway
For those who have completed applicable course work in Personal Finance, Financial Planning, Financial Counseling, Consumer Sciences, or equivalent curriculum from a regionally-accredited college or university.
Time: up to 3 years from date of registration
Total Cost: $875 - $1,975
Cost Includes:
- $75 registration fee
- $50 transcript review fee
- $750 AFC exam
- $150 AFC Online Study Guide (optional)
If coursework covers some, but not all of the AFC Core Competencies, course materials may be required:
- $350 AFC Online Study Guide & books, or
- $750 AFC Online Study Guide and Webinar Review Session
PATHWAY REQUIREMENTS
You’ll start by submitting your registration form, including documentation of completed upper-division coursework in personal finance, financial planning, financial counseling, consumer sciences or another comparable discipline through a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. You will complete an application outlining which course(s) specifically meet each AFC Core Competency.
We will review your transcript and process your application within 30 business days. Once we determine whether the educational requirement has been fulfilled, we’ll send you written notification, including instructions for either scheduling the AFCPE® examination or completing additional educational requirements.
University coursework must be no older than 7 years to qualify for the Education Challenge. If coursework is older than 7 years, you may still qualify if you have been working full-time in the financial services field for at least 4 of the last 7 years or part-time in the financial services field for at least 5 of the last 7 years (validated through an Employment Verification Form).
PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATION CHALLENGE / A Challenge-Based Pathway
If you hold a CFP®, CPA, ChFC or CFA, then this pathway is for you.
Time: up to 3 years from date of registration
Total Cost: $1,175 – $1,925
Cost Includes:
- $75 registration fee
- $350 AFC Online Study Guide & books
- and/or -
$750 AFC Online Study Guide and Webinar Review Session - $750 AFC exam
PATHWAY REQUIREMENTS
If you hold the CFP®, CPA, ChFC or CFA certification, you may submit documentation of a pre-approved credential. The credential must be in good standing. These marks will fulfill your educational requirement for the personal finance competencies of the AFC®.
AFCPE will review the application and confirm with the certifying body that the designation is held in good standing. Additional competencies satisfied by upper-division coursework through a regionally accredited college or university will be required to be documented via transcript.
Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) professionals must provide verification that the professional certification is current and in good standing AND complete either:
(1) Verify completion of applicable course work (corresponding to the remaining competencies not met by the professional designation in Financial Counseling, Consumer Sciences, or comparable curriculum) from a regionally-accredited college or university in the United States by submitting a transcript electronically, or
(2) Enroll in the AFCPE Financial Counseling and Debt Management self-study module. Practitioners may use the self-study materials in one (or more) of three methods that best meets the needs of the individual’s learning style: books, onsite review, or webinar review.
UNIVERSITY PROGRAM / A Registered Education Pathway
For those who have satisfied the educational requirement for the AFC® by completing coursework through an AFCPE Registered Education Program.
Time: up to 3 years from date of registration
Total Cost: $825
Cost Includes:
- $75 registration fee
- $750 AFC exam
- $150 AFC Online Study Guide (optional)
PATHWAY REQUIREMENTS
You may satisfy the educational requirement for the AFC® by completing coursework through an AFCPE® Registered Education Program. Options are available for both students and professionals.
Note: Each AFCPE® Registered Education Program has their own tuition and fees that are assessed independent of the AFC® Certification program.
You must register with AFCPE® to confirm completion of education requirements and to complete the exam, experience, and ethics requirements. Registration with AFCPE must be done either while enrolled as a student or within one-year post-graduation from the registered university.
REGISTERED FACILITIES AND FACULTY
To find a complete list of registered programs and faculty contact information please click here. This page also contains information for providers who are interested in learning how to get your programs registered.
DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM / A Registered Education Pathway
Designed for working professionals and offering courses that help satisfy the educational requirement to sit for the AFC® exam.
Time: up to 3 years from date of registration
Total Cost: $825
Cost Includes:
- $75 registration fee
- $750 AFC exam
- $150 AFC Online Study Guide (optional)
PATHWAY REQUIREMENTS
Each AFCPE® Registered Education Program has their own tuition and fees that are assessed independent of the AFC® Certification program.
Upon completion of the coursework, you must register with AFCPE® under the AFCPE® Registered Education Program Pathway (select Distance Learning) to confirm completion of education requirements and to complete the exam, experience, and ethics requirements.
REGISTERED PROGRAMS
Metropolitan Community College
Applied Finance Institute
Major: Financial Counseling Certificate
Contact: Ashley Peters
Park University
School of Business
Major: Financial Counseling Program
Contact: Rob Jones
AFC® Candidate Resources
AFCPE® Membership
Want to save $50 on your AFC® exam?
Separate from AFC® certification, AFCPE Membership is the intersection of financial education, research & practice. Membership brings together professionals from a variety of financial fields, creating a strong network of knowledge and delivering professional development, resources, and benefits that positively impact your work and enhance your career.
Why AFCPE® Membership?
- Free Professional Development – to support your experience hours and knowledge base and, once certified, to help you earn your CEUs. Our library of content is available to AFCPE Members 24-7, live and on demand.
- MentorConnect Program – to connect with a mentor to gain insights and expand your professional network
- Virtual Meet Ups – to connect with other professionals on topics that matter to you
- Discounts – including $50 off your AFC exam!
- And so much more!
AFCPE® membership and certification are completely separate divisions of the organization. While membership offers additional benefits to our certified professionals and provides a community for them to network and share best practices, membership is not required to hold certification. AFCPE® Membership dues are nonrefundable. Read AFCPE®’s Refund Policy here.
The NCCA accredited the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education® (AFCPE®)’s AFC® certification for a five-year period, expiring December 31, 2025. NCCA is the accrediting body of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (formerly the National Organization for Competency Assurance). Since 1977, the NCCA has been accrediting certifying programs based on the highest quality standards in professional certification to ensure the programs adhere to modern standards of practice for the certification industry. The AFC’s compliance with NCCA standards shows that the educational content and testing for the AFC is psychometrically sound and has been developed, maintained and governed by the highest standard. This recognition and achievement sets the certification mark apart from others in the field and emphasizes the highest standard of excellence that AFCPE has built for this field.
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