The AFC Exam Requirement
All candidates, regardless of pathway, must pass the AFC exam to become certified. The AFC exam assesses your ability to interpret and solve problems as a financial counselor.
THE AFC EXAM IS OFFERED ON A ROLLING BASIS – SO YOU CAN TEST WHENEVER YOU FEEL READY.
Exam Guide
The AFC Exam Guide is one of the resources available to help you prepare for exam day. This guide will help you develop a strategy for studying and answer many of the questions you may have about what to expect at the testing center.
→ Click to view the AFC Exam Guide
Exam Experience
AFCPE partners with PSI to deliver the AFC exam. You can view the following video for an overview of what to expect on exam day.
AFC Core Competencies
Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with these competencies as they provide an outline of the exam content.
AFCPE is proud to deliver a certification program guided by research, rooted in academia, and supported by industry experts. To be sure our education pathways and exam represent the knowledge needed to serve clients, we conduct a regular job analysis survey of financial counselors and educators. From this we determine the AFC Core Competencies.
Results
Candidates testing domestically will receive results at the examination site immediately following their exam.
Score reports will be provided and include a “pass” or “fail” result, scoring information, and general information regarding next steps.
Diagnostic information is provided on score reports. Diagnostic breakdowns, calculated per domain, are intended to identify content areas by showing areas of relative strength and weakness. Content area scores are provided for informational purposes only to assist candidates in preparing for a re-examination attempt (failing candidates) or in selecting topic areas for future continuing education (passing candidates).
AFC Practice Exam
The AFC Practice Exam is a 2-exam bundle to build confidence, improve readiness, and help alleviate test anxiety.
AFCPE AFC Prep Course
The AFCPE AFC Prep Course is designed to provide a review of the AFC Core Competencies. Live, facilitator-led sessions will provide you with real time opportunities to ask questions and get personalized guidance, and a supportive learning community where you can study and grow with your peers. The AFCPE AFC Prep Course helps provide confidence and clarity as you prepare for the AFC exam.
If you have questions about course content, look to the Candidate Community for peer-to-peer support. This opportunity is open to all candidates. The Candidate Community is moderated by AFC certified Education Department staff members and the AFCPE Exam Code of Conduct prohibits the sharing of exam content. If you’re seeking more support through the program, consider the Instructor Led training options.
Candidates will pay the exam fee via their myAFCPE Dashboard to be eligible to schedule their exam. Detailed instructions for scheduling the exam will be provided in their dashboard after payment of the exam fee.
The AFC exam is administered by PSI. Visit their website to find a nearby testing center.
Exam Accommodations
AFCPE and PSI comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and state and local laws regarding accessibility for persons with disabilities and therefore are committed to providing reasonable and effective accommodations for candidates with known disabilities who can demonstrate a need for testing accommodations. Supporting documentation from a qualified professional is required for each requested accommodation and must be made in writing by completing the Request for Special Examination Accommodations form located here and posted to the Candidate Resources section in the myAFCPE Dashboard. We recommend submitting the request at least 45 days before your desired examination date. For more information, see the Accommodations Policy.
At this time, AFCPE and PSI do not allow for remote proctoring under any circumstances.
All candidates must abide by the AFCPE Certification Exam Code of Conduct. Exam misconduct can occur before, during, or after administration of the exam. Candidates are not permitted to discuss the specifics of the exam or solicit specific exam details from others.
International Exams
Additional fees apply for testing internationally. See our main pricing page for details.
The AFC Certification is accredited in the United States and is intended for professionals who primarily serve US residents. The AFC Certification may not be beneficial for professionals not serving this population.
The AFC exam may be administered at an international testing center for certain candidates. If you are an active-duty US servicemember stationed overseas, or a direct family member of the aforementioned, AFCPE offers the administration of its certification exam at an international testing center coordinated through PSI.
If you anticipate the need to test internationally, you can use this search tool to identify PSI test locations near you. Once your AFC exam fee is paid, you may schedule your exam with PSI. Instructions will be sent to you via email and will be available in your myAFCPE Dashboard.
If you have any questions regarding international testing, please contact exams@afcpe.org.
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