Welcome to the AFCPE® Master FAQ page! This comprehensive resource is designed to answer your most frequently asked questions about our programs, certifications, and opportunities. Whether you’re considering becoming an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®), looking to expand your professional network through membership, or seeking details about our Symposium, this guide has you covered.
Explore topics such as certification requirements, membership benefits, professional development resources, scholarships, and much more. You’ll also find information about our COVID-19 Counseling & Coaching Program, media inquiries, career support, and awards that recognize excellence in the field. Whatever stage of your professional journey, we’re here to support your success and help you make a meaningful impact on the financial well-being of those you serve.
If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. We’re happy to help!
Certification
An AFC® assists individuals and families in the process of financial decision-making. AFC professionals agree to maintain the highest ethical standards as outlined in the AFCPE® Code of Ethics.
Through continuing education, AFC professionals maintain up-to-date knowledge in personal finance and financial counseling. To maintain the credential, an AFC must pay an annual fee each year and obtain and report 30 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) every two years. More information about maintaining certification may be found HERE.
To become accredited, you must do the following:
· Earn a passing grade on the examination,
· Comply with the AFCPE® Code of Ethics.
All AFC candidates must obtain 1,000 experience hours and submit an Experience 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*. For detailed information about the experience requirement, please visit https://www.afcpe.org/certification/afc/experience/.
AFCs® gain the knowledge and skills to assist individuals and families in the complex process of financial decision-making, including the ability to:
· 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 for achieving their 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.
The full list of competencies is available here.
You will be required to pay an annual certification fee (click or tap here for the current fees) and obtain 30 hours of Continuing Education every two years. For additional post-certification requirements, visit the Guide to Maintaining Your Certification.
Please reach out to us at Certification@afcpe.org and we will be happy to provide information and answer any questions you may have.
You may satisfy the education requirement through one of our educational pathways. All pathways have been evaluated and approved to cover the AFC Core Competencies.
Please create a profile at my.afcpe.org, and make your preferred selections.To request an invoice for your employer to submit payment, please email certification@afcpe.org and include the email address for the person making the payment. Payment may be submitted online directly through the invoice.
Study materials vary based on the pathway used to enroll in the AFC. Please refer to the pathway you are enrolling through to view study material options.
Yes! Please visit https://www.cafe-acaf.org/ for more information about the AFCC certification.
There are a variety of ways to earn the 1000 hours of experience required for the AFC certification. Experience can be paid, volunteer, in-person, or virtual.
Please visit https://www.afcpe.org/certification/afc/experience/ for details regarding the experience requirement and download the Experience Guide to explore the various options.
Please visit https://www.afcpe.org/certification/accredited-financial-counselor/special-pricing/ to learn more.
AFC Registrations are processed within 2 business days. When your registration is processed, any remaining balance will be charged, and you will gain access to any online resources purchased. Tracking information will be sent via email when any physical materials purchased ship.
All continuing education must be related to the AFC Core Competencies, Code of Ethics, and/or Standards of Practice. Continuing education may be achieved through AFCPE sponsored opportunities (free for AFCPE Members), however, certificate candidates may meet the CEU requirement by participating in programs or training through other providers. Visit https://www.afcpe.org/certification/maintain-your-certification/ for more information.
Certificants will submit their CEU requests via their dashboard at my.afcpe.org. CEUs may only be submitted for the current reporting period. To be eligible, CEUs must be earned in the 30 months preceding the reporting period’s close. For detailed instructions, please visit the Guide to Maintaining Your Certification.
Visit https://www.afcpe.org/certification/accredited-financial-counselor/special-pricing/#militarybenefits for information about the programs approved. If eligible, please email military@afcpe.org and include your name, as it appears on your DoD ID card, to request a quote.
The Financial Education Challenge Pathway may be a good fit if you have completed coursework at an accredited college/university in the U.S. within the past seven years.
Courses and degrees in accounting, business, and finance are normally geared toward business and not personal finance and therefore would not normally satisfy the requirements.
Keep in mind, your coursework may also count toward some of your experience requirements. Please visit https://www.afcpe.org/certification/afc/experience/ for details regarding the experience requirement and download the Experience Guide for instructions.
Learn more about how the AFC certification can help further your career. Join us for Wanna be an AFC®? a no-pressure, informative session where we will give you all the information you need to make your decision. Bring your questions–we love an engaged audience! Sessions are held monthly from 3PM to 4PM EST. Visit https://www.afcpe.org/wanna-be-an-afc/ to find a date and time that works for you. Note: If you are interested in the Canadian AFCC certification, please visit https://www.cafe-acaf.org/.
Upon enrollment, candidates will have access to an AFC Orientation Webinar to help you get started.
The AFC Online Study Guide includes recommended reading at the beginning of the modules on “The Set Up” page. For example, Module 1.0: The Counseling Environment recommends reading Financial Counseling: Chapters 1-3 and 8. Education Office Hours are available if you have any content questions.
Maybe. Explore the Registered Education Program pathway and check with your preferred college or university to find out if they are an eligible educational institute
Membership
To view both live and upcoming events, please click here. Once you add the event to your cart and check out, you will then see the event listed under the “Show Only My Events” tab. There, you will be able to locate the event and either register for it via zoom for an upcoming event or obtain access to the recording for the event.
For a video tutorial on how to register for an event or view the recording, please click here.
Currently, we offer Professional Membership, Certification Candidate Membership, Emeritus Membership, Student Membership, and Group Rates for Organization. For a larger breakdown of each membership and benefits, please visit https://www.afcpe.org/membership/afcpe-membership-categories/.
Education
Essentials Courses are online and self-paced to meet you where you are – giving you the tools and resources to make a lasting impact in the lives of those you serve. There are 5 Essentials courses. AFCPE members receive a 10% discount on Essentials.
Please visit https://www.afcpe.org/education/money-management-essentials/ for more information.
Please visit https://www.afcpe.org/education/financial-inclusion-essentials/ for more information.
Please visit https://www.afcpe.org/education/military-essentials/ for more information.
Please visit https://www.afcpe.org/education/college-finance-essentials/ for more information.
Please visit https://www.afcpe.org/education/dei-essentials/ for more information.
Within 2 business days after passing the final exam for your Essentials course, you will receive an e-mail with a link to your digital badge. This e-mail will also include instructions on how to submit the course for CEUs. Please check your junk folder for this e-mail if you do not see it in your inbox.
Currently, Financial Inclusion Essentials and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Essentials are approved for Ethics CEUs. When submitting these courses for CEUs, they will automatically be submitted as Ethics CEUs.
Those interested in enrolling should email education@afcpe.org to obtain an application.
Exam
You are eligible to schedule your AFC® exam at any point upon registration approval in the AFC® Program. However, reschedule and cancellation fees do apply, so we recommend scheduling your exam when you are certain that you are prepared and ready to test.
The AFC® exam is offered in a single, three-hour session with 165 multiple-choice questions (150 operational and 15 pretest). Each question contains four options, only one of which is the correct answer. The examination is taken at a PSI professional testing center .
Imbedded in the examination are “pretest” questions, which are included in the examination for statistical purposes only. Pretest questions are placed on the exam to evaluate the item’s difficulty level for inclusion as a scored question in the future. Candidates’ scores are based upon the number of scored items on the exam — pretest items do not affect the candidates’ score. Pretest questions are dispersed throughout the examination and cannot be identified.
Once you have paid your exam fee via your myAFCPE Certification Dashboard (if applicable), PSI will send an email with scheduling instructions. The scheduling instructions include your unique AFC ID and are also provided in your myAFCPE Dashboard once your exam fee is paid.
You may schedule your exam online or by phone. When you schedule your exam, be prepared to provide your AFC ID and confirm a location and a preferred date and time for testing. Upon scheduling, you will receive an e-mail confirmation notice from PSI.
Please complete the Special Examination Accommodations form (also available in your certification dashboard) and submit to the AFCPE Certification Program Director at least 45 days prior to the desired examination date.
Only for US citizens stationed overseas serving in the US military.
If you are a US Citizen stationed overseas serving in the US military, AFCPE offers the administration of its certification examinations overseas coordinated through PSI. Please contact your preferred local test center to arrange a mutually acceptable testing date and time at least 45 days prior to your preferred testing date. Test centers within your local area may include college and university testing centers, libraries, or education centers on a US military base. You should tell your Test Center Officer that you will be taking a computer-based exam which requires internet access.
Once your appointment is set with the test center, please email the date, time, Test Center Officer’s name and email address, and physical address of the testing location to AMPIntlExamServices@goamp.com. An International Testing Fee applies to any examinations delivered outside of the United States and must be paid with your exam fee through your myAFCPE certification dashboard.
You may reschedule your exam appointment once at no charge by calling PSI at 888-519-9901 at least two business days prior to your scheduled appointment.
You will forfeit your registration to take the examination under the following circumstances:
· You wish to reschedule an examination but fail to contact PSI at least two business days prior to the scheduled testing session.
· You wish to reschedule a second time.
· You appear more than 15 minutes late for an examination.
· You failed to report for an examination appointment.
A new examination request and the current retake fee are required to reapply for the examination.
Candidates will receive automatic results/score reports at the examination site immediately following the examination administration. Score reports are released directly to candidates only. Results are not released by phone. The exam score will be updated to the candidate’s Certification Dashboard within 2 business days. Requests for exam results to be released to anyone other than the candidate must be made in writing by the candidate. Please note some overseas (OCONUS) testing locations may not be able to provide immediate test results.
Candidates that do not achieve a passing score on the examination must wait for a minimum of thirty (30) days between administrations before a subsequent reexamination attempt. Candidates may take the examination at least five times if they continue to meet the published eligibility criteria.
To retake the examination, the candidate must repeat all registration processes as outlined in the Candidate Handbook, including the retake fee, which is assessed for each additional attempt and paid via the Certification Dashboard.
This is a distance learning program. You receive all of the course materials by mail, and you study at your own pace. However, in order to enhance your learning experience, increase the opportunities for success, and encourage completion of the program in a timely fashion, AFCPE® offers an eight-week webinar review series covering the material. Each live session is 90 minutes in length. All study sessions are led by an experienced instructor.
The program includes the AFC Online Study Guide, designed to guide you through the material and provide you with additional tools and resources to develop your skills, test your comprehension, and put your knowledge into practice.
The instructor-led webinar review sessions with other fellowship recipients are an excellent way to prepare for the exam. Upon selection for the fellowship, recipients receive a schedule of webinar review options to choose from; while attendance is not mandatory, it is strongly encouraged.
The AFC® program is a self-study program. Once you have a full comprehension of the AFC core competencies, you may schedule your AFC exam at the PSI/AMP testing center of your choosing.
This is a self-paced course, so completion time depends on the individual. However, once registered, you have up to 3 years to complete the program.
Please visit https://www.psiexams.com/test-takers/ to locate test centers in your area.
To provide a fair and consistent exam experience for all candidates, the exams are delivered using standardized procedures and following strict security protocols. Candidates are required to follow all exam site rules at all times. Failure to follow these rules may result in termination of a candidate’s testing session and/or invalidation of the candidate’s exam score.
Your examination will be given via computer at a PSI Assessment Center. You do not need any computer experience or typing skills to take the computer examination. On the day of your examination appointment, report to the Assessment Center no later than your scheduled testing time. IF YOU ARRIVE MORE THAN 15 MINUTES AFTER THE SCHEDULED TESTING TIME, YOU WILL NOT BE ADMITTED.
Examinations are proprietary. No cameras, notes, tape recorders, pagers or cellular/smart phones are allowed in the testing room. Possession of a cellular/smart phone or other electronic devices is strictly prohibited and will result in dismissal from the examination.
No technical or programmable calculators are allowed. Candidates may only use silent, non-programmable calculators without alpha keys or printing capabilities in the testing room.
No guests, visitors or family members are allowed in the testing room or reception areas.
All test takers will undergo a metal detection wand inspection as part of the test center security checks.
No personal items, valuables or weapons should be brought to the Assessment Center. Only wallets and keys are permitted. Large coats and jackets must be left outside the testing room. You will be provided a soft locker to store your wallet and/or keys with you in the testing room. The proctor will lock the soft locker prior to you entering the testing room. You will not have access to these items until after the examination is completed. Please note the following items will not be allowed in the testing room and should be securely locked in the soft locker:
· Watches
· Hats
· Wallets
· Keys
Once you have placed your personal belongings into the soft locker, you will be asked to pull out your pockets to ensure they are empty. If you bring personal items that will not fit in the soft locker, you will not be able to test. The site will not store or be responsible for your personal belongings.
If any personal items are observed or heard (e.g., cellular/smart phones, alarms) in the testing room after the examination is started, you will be dismissed, and the administration will be forfeited.
Pencils will be provided during check-in.
You will be provided with one piece of scratch paper at a time to use during the examination, unless noted on the sign-in roster for a particular candidate. You must return the scratch paper to the proctor at the completion of testing, or you will not receive your score report.
No documents or notes of any kind may be removed from the Assessment Center.
No questions concerning the content of the examination may be asked during the examination.
Eating, drinking or smoking is not permitted in the Assessment Center.
You may take a break whenever you wish, but you will not be allowed additional time to make up for time lost during breaks.
If you engage in any of the following conduct during the examination you may be dismissed, your scores will not be reported, and examination fees will not be refunded. Examples of misconduct are when you:
· create a disturbance, are abusive or otherwise uncooperative
· display and/or use electronic communications devices such as pagers, cellular/smart phones
· talk or participate in conversation with other examination candidates
· give or receive help or are suspected of doing so
· leave the Assessment Center during the administration
· attempt to record examination questions or make notes
· attempt to take the examination for someone else
· are observed with personal belongings, or
· are observed with unauthorized notes, books or other aids not listed on the roster
To gain admission to the assessment center, you must present two forms of identification. The primary form must be government issued, current and include your name, signature and photograph. No form of temporary identification will be accepted. You will also be required to sign a roster for verification of identity.
Examples of valid primary forms of identification are:
· driver’s license with photograph
· state identification card with photograph
· passport
· military identification card with photograph.
The secondary form of identification must display your name and signature for signature verification (e.g., credit card with signature, social security card with signature, employment/student ID card with signature).
If your name on your registration is different than it appears on your identification, you must bring proof of your name change (e.g., marriage license, divorce decree or court order).
Candidates must have proper identification to gain admission to the Assessment Center. Failure to provide appropriate identification at the time of the examination is considered a missed appointment. There will be no refund of examination fees.
After your identification has been confirmed, you will be directed to a testing carrel. You will be instructed on-screen to enter your identification number. You will take your photograph which will remain on screen throughout your examination session. This photograph will also be printed on your score report. Prior to attempting the examination, you will be given the opportunity to practice taking an examination on the computer. The time you use for this practice examination is NOT counted as part of your examination time or score.
When you are comfortable with the computer testing process, you may quit the practice session and begin the timed examination.
Following the practice examination, you will begin the timed examination. Before beginning, instructions for taking the examination are provided on-screen.
The computer monitors the time you spend on the examination. The examination will terminate if you exceed the time allowed. You may click on the “Time” box in the lower menu bar on the screen to monitor your time. A digital clock indicates the time remaining for you to complete the examination. The Time feature may be turned off during the examination.
Only one examination question is presented at a time. The question number appears in the lower right of the screen. Choices of answers to the examination question are identified as A, B, C or D. You must indicate your choice by either typing in the letter in the response box in the lower left portion of the computer screen or clicking on the option using the mouse. To change your answer, enter a different option by typing in the letter in the response box or by clicking on the option using the mouse. You may change your answer as many times as you wish during the examination time limit.
To move to the next question, click on the forward arrow (>) in the lower right portion of the screen. This action will move you forward through the examination question by question. If you wish to review any question(s), click the backward arrow (<) or use the left arrow key to move backward through the examination.
An examination question may be left unanswered for return later in the examination session. Questions may also be bookmarked for later review by clicking in the blank square to the right of the Time button.
To identify all unanswered and/or bookmarked questions, click on the hand icon. When the examination is completed, the number of examination questions answered is reported. If all questions have not been answered and there is time remaining, you may return to the examination and answer those questions. Be sure to provide an answer for each examination question before exiting the examination. There is no penalty for guessing.
During the examination, comments may be provided for any question by clicking on the button displaying an exclamation point (!) to the left of the Time button. This opens a dialogue box where comments may be entered. Comments will be reviewed, but individual responses will not be provided.
Experience Hours
FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship recipients will be required to obtain 1,000 hours.
Am I required to complete my experience hours at a military installation?
While this program is intended to give back to the military community, we understand that not all applicants live near a military installation. In that situation, we encourage participants to take advantage of virtual opportunities that can serve the military community. Additionally, don’t forget your National Guard or Reserve community, civic organizations, and non-profit organizations; they may have opportunities that are closer to where you live. AFCPE® will provide you with a letter of introduction explaining the program and your training to any company or organization you hope to work with to complete your experience requirements.
This program is designed to be flexible for military spouses, so experience hours can be earned in a variety of ways. Activities such as writing articles, attending conferences, or observing counseling sessions can qualify. However, the majority of your hours should be acquired by providing supervised personal financial counseling or education.
Scholarships and Fellowships
The FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship for the Accredited Financial Counselor Program® is made possible through the generosity of the FINRA Investor Education Foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to provide investors with high quality, easily accessible information and tools to better understand the markets and the basic principles of saving and investing.
One of the Foundation’s major initiatives is the development of a financial education program to improve the saving and investing knowledge of military service members. This fellowship program is part of that initiative. For additional information about the FINRA Foundation and its military financial education program, please visit us here.
Once you receive notification from AFCPE® that you have received the fellowship, you will be provided with information from AFCPE that outlines the steps you will need to take to become an AFC®. AFCPE will provide you with the name and contact information of the individual you will be able to contact should you have questions or concerns and will make every attempt to match you with a mentor should you chose to participate in the optional mentorship program.
Your application will be reviewed by a team of judges comprised of AFCPE and FINRA Investor Education Foundation representatives. Selection of grant recipients will be based upon the following criteria:
- Meet the eligibility requirements stated above,
- Complete the 6 fellowship application tasks by the deadline:
- Applicant Information
- Service member details
- Letter of recommendation (optional)
- Education and experience (high school diploma or a GED is required; give priority to work and volunteer experience that is related to the AFC core competencies),
- Essay questions (judged on quality of content, writing skills, and ability to understand the challenges faced by military families)
- Demographic information (optional)
Additional information to consider:
- Have strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with other military spouses, military families, military agencies, local federal government offices, individuals and groups at every level of society,
- Be willing to dedicate the allotted time to complete the program. It is expected that the study component will require as much as six hours of study time each week, for a period of 6-12 months.
- Be willing to complete 1000 experience hours by assisting as a paid employee or volunteer in financial education or financial counseling position.
Symposium
The AFCPE Symposium is an annual 3-day conference intersecting financial education, research, and practice. It brings together a diverse and inclusive community of people working across the personal finance field. Come to connect, to learn, and to grow. Exchange ideas to help empower and impact the individuals and communities that you serve. Our diverse and inclusive community is a hallmark of AFCPE®.
The Symposium helps bridge the gap between:
· Research, Education, and Practice
· Financial Knowledge and Behavior Change
· Issues of Systemic Inequality
· Professionals across the Financial Services Continuum
AFCPE® is hosting the 2024 Symposium in Columbus, Ohio, the week before Thanksgiving.
Wednesday, November 20 – Friday, November 22, 2024.
REGISTRATION: Open now! Click to Register!!
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE: In person and virtual schedule: View Here
PRICING: Current AFCPE members receive $150 off the non-member registration price. There’s still time to add Membership and save at my.afcpe.org/membership/get!
Symposium: In Person and Virtual Pricing – Early bird pricing ends September 30th!
Hotel: Hilton Columbus Downtown – 402 N. High Street, Columbus, Ohio, 43215
The AFCPE rate is $209+ taxes per night
Room block closes on October 26, 2024
Secure a spot in the AFCPE room block. RESERVE YOUR ROOM TODAY!
VIRTUAL OPTIONS:
If you are unable to attend this year’s Symposium in person, we are offering a virtual option again this year.
To view the virtual option click here.
By sponsoring the AFCPE Symposium, you support AFCPE’s mission and commitment to excellence in the field of personal finance, the education and advancement of our professionals, and the incredible impact that our professionals make in the lives of individuals, families, and communities worldwide.
Interested in becoming an AFCPE Symposium sponsor? Learn more here!
Exhibiting gives you incredible access to a diverse group of personal finance professionals across research, education, and practice. Our attendees are changemakers – creating an impact in the lives of their communities each and every day.
Expand your network, share your resources, and become part of our connected community!
Here is what you need to know to apply for the Symposium Scholarships.
Applications for scholarships open July 2024.
Scholarships will be awarded August 2024.
Complimentary registration to attend the AFCPE Symposium, in Columbus, Ohio, November 20-22, 2024. The scholarship includes Symposium attendance only. *Travel and hotel are not included.
Everyone is welcome to apply for a Symposium Scholarship. However, the scholarship is designed to encourage and welcome first-time attendees and those who might not have institutional funding to apply.
2023 Symposium in-person attendees will have access to recordings of all sessions and access to all content through October 2024. Virtual package registrants will have access to general session recordings and on-demand library through October 2024. Click here to view recordings portal.
If you’re attending Symposium in person, OR virtually it is preapproved for 15 CEUs for AFC® Certified Professionals.
CFP® Professionals: At least 10 CFP CEs are available.
At the time of Symposium registration, please check your myAFCPE.org Membership dashboard. If it says “Your Membership has been paid!” you are entitled to the $150 discounted member registration price. Check your AFCPE membership status at my.afcpe.org. There’s still time to add Membership and save at my.afcpe.org/membership/get!
Student rate is available to university or college students studying full-time at the undergraduate (at least 12 credits), graduate (at least 9 credits), or PhD (at least 3 credits) level. For students currently enrolled at an AFCPE Registered Education Program, exceptions may apply. Students must meet requirements at the time of Symposium.
All Student Attendees will be prompted to upload a copy of their most current “unofficial” transcript. This is a requirement as part of registration.
All presenters are required to register for and attend the 2024 AFCPE Symposium.
Accepted presenters will receive a 25% discount code to be applied at the time of Symposium Registration. (Maximum three discounted registrations per submission)
We are excited to offer the AFC On-site Review & Exam at Symposium this year! Join us for a live review session where you can learn with your peers and take the exam with the content fresh in your head. Stay for Symposium for a week of learning, networking, and fun!
WHO: AFC candidates who enjoy in-person learning and are planning to test in 2024.
WHAT: 12 hours of review over 2 days and the opportunity to test on site with everything fresh in your mind.
WHERE: Hilton Columbus Downtown, 402 N High Street, Columbus, OH 43215
WHEN: Monday, November 18th – Tuesday, November 19th, 2024
Monday- 8:00am-5:00pm ET – Full day review with lunch break.
Tuesday- 8:00am-4:00pm ET – Morning review, lunch break, afternoon exam.
Lunch will be provided on both days; breakfast and dinner are not included.
COST: $750 or $600 for AFCPE Members* – Registration available through the main Symposium Registration
*Does not include AFC exam fee, travel, or lodging. Must be a current AFC candidate with a program deadline of November 19, 2024 or later.
Email certification@afpce.org for more information.
No, it is not too late! Purchase the 2023 Symposium Recordings here →
10 CEUs for AFCs
7 CEs for CFP’s
Please review AFCPE’s Symposium Cancellation Policy.
$399 AFCPE Member / $499 Non-Member
Become an AFCPE Member today and save! https://my.afcpe.org/membership/get
The 2025 AFCPE Symposium will take place in Glendale, Arizona at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa from Tuesday, November 18 – Thursday, November 20, 2025.
Awards
You can find award winners from the past several years on the AFCPE website. Click “Learn More” under each Award to find descriptions of past award winners. Reviewing past winners can help you identify which award might best fit the work of you or your organization.
If you don’t see your work represented by past winners, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply! The world of personal finance is ever evolving – and that means our award winners are too! You don’t have to educate consumers or design your program in the same way as past winners. Determine how your work meets the award criteria and use the application to convince the reviewers why you are most deserving!
One example is the Outstanding Financial Counseling and/or Planning Center Award. Over the past few years, several outstanding Student Money Management Centers have won this award, and we hope more centers like this will apply! However, nonprofit organizations, cooperative extension, and even independently owned organizations might be doing great work as a financial counseling center. We encourage all types of centers to apply!
Similar to training for a marathon, the real joy comes in the journey. Winning is just icing on the cake! Applying for an award provides value to you, win or lose. It provides you with:
- The opportunity for outside feedback
- A way to demonstrate your effectiveness/impact
- A way to enhance your reputation (we love to spotlight our members, and applying for an award brings your work to the forefront)
- An assist with funding opportunities
- Professional aspiration
- Opportunities for self-reflection, which can increase self-esteem and job satisfaction
Yes, even if you did not win in a previous year, you could apply again! The applicant pool is different each year, and chances are, you have more to share after another year of great work.
The awards application system only allows you to upload supporting documentation. You can only upload one file, and it cannot exceed 10 pages. Applications with documentation exceeding 10 pages will NOT be accepted.
Yes, you can. You can access and edit your application in the Apply platform at any time prior to submission.
Yes, each question has a 500-word limit. This does not mean that you must meet the word limit. Remember, quality over quantity. We suggest typing up your answers in a separate document, and then pasting them into the application when you are ready to submit. The application does not allow you to do a final review before hitting submit, so it is best to do so in a separate document. Also, ask a friend or colleague to proofread your responses. It never hurts to get another person’s perspective, even if they just catch grammatical errors!
Technically, no. However, if you find an error ahead of the July 15, 2024 submission deadline, please reach out to awards@afcpe.org so we can help troubleshoot any issues you have with your submission.
The 2024 application period runs from June 3 – July 15. All applicants will be notified of the results by September 6. Winners will be honored at the AFCPE Symposium in November.
Career
The field of financial counseling is growing. Potential employers are located throughout the country, in both small and large communities. According to many job satisfaction studies, financial service providers feel challenged and satisfied by their work. In general, providers believe that they are making a significant contribution to their clients’ economic well-being. Job opportunities can be found in the following industries/verticals:
· Bankruptcy courts
· Banks and savings and loan associations
· College financial aid offices
· Community programs
· Consumer credit counseling services
· Consumer finance companies
· Cooperative Extension services
· Corporate and government employee assistance programs
· Corporate credit departments
· Credit bureaus
· Credit unions
· Divorce mediation firms
· Employee benefits counseling firms
· Family service agencies
· Hospitals
· Housing and urban development offices
· Insurance companies
· Loan associations
· Mental health associations
· Ministerial organizations
· Mortgage lenders
· Mutual fund companies
· Social welfare agencies
· Uniformed Services family/community service agencies
Media Requests
AFCPE® has a strong network of financial counselors, coaches and educators available to support members of the press. For media inquiries or requests for press materials, photos, videos, and media interviews concerning AFCPE® please view our Media Kit.
Covid-19 Counseling and Coaching Program
Anyone! This opportunity is open to all consumers around the country who are seeking financial counseling or coaching from a qualified professional like you!
No, this opportunity is open to all interested consumers! Coordinated Assistance Network (CAN) typically serves military families and veterans through their virtual financial counseling/coaching portal. However, they have partnered with AFCPE to provide the technical solution for this initiative. AFCPE professionals will serve consumers from all backgrounds.
Yes! We have created a communication kit that includes images and language that individuals and organizations can share on social media, email, or a newsletter. If you have a network of individuals who might benefit from virtual financial counseling or coaching, please help us share. Building awareness helps support more people who are struggling, and it promotes the value of the AFC® and FFC® certifications. https://www.afcpe.org/covid19/afcpe-response-spread-the-word/
If you are an AFC candidate who has passed your exam, you are eligible to participate and follow the same instructions indicated above.
When signing up, you will still select “I have been certified/accredited by AFCPE”. We will verify that you have passed your exam, but your profile will not display the purple verification mark that indicates full certification.
Please take a moment to view the training video and instructions.
Please contact the client within 24 hours and change the status accordingly to always reflect the current status of the case.
You should change the status of an assigned case to “Accepted” via the Status Tab immediately after assigned. *
*If you do not change the status of an assigned case within 48 hours, the Task Force Leadership may choose to retrieve that case form you and re-assign it to another counselor. A client is more likely to engage in counseling if timely contact is initiated.
You’ll see in the training video that this platform offers a lot of great tools, but you don’t need to use them all. Use what you and your client need to have a successful engagement. But BEST PRACTICE is to complete the counseling questionnaires (pre and post engagement) and counseling assessment with your clients.
To receive the stipend, you are required to complete initial sessions with three different clients. Please complete the counselor questionnaire (pre and post session with each client). Coordinated Assistance Network will pay $20/hour for each new-client session completed after the first three. We encourage you to work with as many clients as you are willing and able. You are welcome to meet with a client more than once, but the follow-up is not paid.
You may continue seeing clients via the Coordinated Assistance Network and receive compensation directly from Coordinated Assistance Network. If you wish to complete more than 3 sessions and earn an additional $20.00 per completed session, please contact the Task Force Leadership via email at vpadmin@veteransplus.org to receive further instructions on case assignment and additional compensation instructions.
There are two simple ways to see if a client has been assigned to you.
As a counselor you will need to log in to your Coordinated Assistance Network (CAN) account and look in the File Management portion of your account. This is where client names and files will be available to you.
In the Messages portion of your account click “Notify of New Messages” and you can receive any new messages from the CAN team and push notifications about new files assigned to you.
Our expectation is that you will reach out to your client within 24-48 hours of receiving your assignment.
If you do not hear back from a client within 1 week, or if they stop being responsive during the counseling or scheduling process, let the CAN leadership know ASAP.
This will allow the client to be placed in an Admin Hold and you can receive another client. Please review this process on pages 7 and 8 of the Training Instructions.
Three (3) attempts, including one CAN Message for documentation, should be made.
Place the file in Admin Hold status by choosing it from the drop down on the Status Tab for that client in the File Management Section. Then click the Submit button to change the status. You do not need to contact anyone. AFCPE Task Force Leadership at CAN will be notified of the status change.
Three (3) attempts, including one CAN Message for documentation, should be made.
Place the file in Admin Hold status by choosing it from the drop down on the Status Tab for that client in the File Management Section. Then click the Submit button to change the status. You do not need to contact anyone. AFCPE Task Force Leadership at CAN will be notified of the status change.
The client file will move to the “Closed Files” Table of your File Management Section. You can see it by clicking that button above your Active
File Management Table.
A notification is sent to the client informing them that you have placed their file in Admin Hold Status, and they should contact you if they wish to re-engage and continue or start the counseling process.
A notification is sent to the AFCPE Task Force Leadership at CAN.
Yes. You can view the Admin Hold file by clicking the Closed Files button in the File Management Section to reveal the cases you have Completed or place on Admin Hold. If needed, you can move any case on this list back to your Active File Table in File Management by opening them and changing the status back to an active status (Accepted, Contacted, or In Counseling).
Yes, you will always receive a CAN Message when you are assigned a new case, but if you also want to be notified via email you need to check the appropriate box in the CAN Messages Section. The check box to be notified via email of a new CAN message is located in the Messages Section of your CAN account, under the Folder navigation section. The box is defaulted to unchecked, so users must check it to opt in to the email notifications. You can uncheck it at any time to stop receiving them.
Please note that because the CAN is a HIPAA compliant platform, we must be careful of what is pushed to outside email servers. The email notification you receive will not show you the content of the CAN message for security reasons but will simply notify you that you have a new CAN message that you can then log in to read.
Yes! We encourage you to upload any certifications, endorsements, and/or licenses, etc. you hold to the My Certifications Section. If you would like to proactively share those credentials with your clients, for your credibility and their peace of mind, ensure that the bubbles on the table for Hero Share and Proactive Share are both clicked and showing green. This will allow the clients to view your credentials in their view of their file.
If you wish to share the credentials on demand, only click the bubble green for Hero Share on the table. This will make them available on the Documents Tab of your file management module but hidden from your clients until you choose to share them using the icon on the Documents Tab’s table. (You can also always upload individually to files on this tab as well).
If you want the client to see your headshot prior to the counseling session you can upload an image to the My Certifications Section. Once uploaded, ensure that the bubbles for Hero Share and Proactive Share are clicked and show in green. This will allow your client to view the images in their view of their own file (along with any other certs you may have chosen to upload and share).
You are also encouraged to upload a picture to your Profile Section. This is the image that will stamp any recent activity entries in the File Management module for each client.
AFCPE verified counselors must meet with three unique clients for a minimum of one hour each. While counselors will meet with clients via a technology of their choosing, all counseling/coaching sessions must be logged in to the Coordinated Assistance Network platform. Additional stipends may be provided based on volume and participation.
Counselors may be paid via ACH transfer or paper check. Please request your stipend at covid19@afcpe.org with the subject line “Stipend Request.” To request a paper check, please provide your full name, mailing address, and phone number. Counselors that wish to be paid more quickly can submit the ACH Form.
If your question pertains to the requirements of the actual process itself, please send a CAN message to vpadmin or email vpadmin@veteransplus.org.
While counselors will not receive CEUs for counseling/coaching sessions due to compliance with NCCA accreditation regulations, all participants in the project who registered for Financial Inclusion Essentials prior to May 31 are eligible to receive 5 CEUS upon completion of this course. AFCPE certified professionals can request CEUs by uploading their badge of completion in the CEU request form.
Yes! We are excited to extend this opportunity to AFC candidates who have passed their AFC exam. Time spent counseling/coaching may be included towards the AFC experience requirement.
In the midst of COVID-19, information is constantly changing and evolving – at the local, state, and national level. Because you may be meeting with a variety of clients with differing needs, we have created a resource page to keep you informed: https://www.afcpe.org/covid19/ This page contains links to trusted information, as well as access to professional development webinars to support your work.
If you don’t know an answer, be honest. Gather the information and tell the client you will do your research and get back to them. This may require a second call but it’s far better than guessing and getting it wrong. Be sure to check out our COVID19 resources page as a starting point.
If you identify issues of mental health, bankruptcy, or homelessness, below are some resources to guide your best course of action:
· Suicide: National Suicide Prevention – 800-273-8255
· Marital issues: From and financial counseling standpoint we never try to take sides when a husband and wife and having marital problems. The best policy is to stay on track with the counseling session and if pressed make a referral to Marriage Counseling or a Pastor that can provide this help to them.
· Bankruptcy: We never tell someone they have to file bankruptcy. We are not attorneys. We advise them that it may be an option and will go over the types of bankruptcy with them and then make the recommendation they seek the legal advice of an attorney.
· Homelessness: Do a quick internet search for the geographic area they are in and help to provide them with some good contacts. If you are meeting with a veteran, refer them to the VA Homeless program at 877-222-8387.
· Mental Health: As financial counselors we are not trained to provide mental health counseling, but we all know this will bleed into the financial side as well. Best practice is to stick to the financial aspect of counseling and encourage them to stay positive and set goals based on what they can do.
Professional Development
The eligibility requirements are as follows:
- An AFC® (Accredited Financial Counselor®) “In Good Standing” (all renewal fees paid, CEUs up-to-date, and signed AFCPE Code of Ethics).
- Graduated (e.g. completed the AFC certification requirements) at least 2 years prior to applying to become an AFC Independent Trainer.
Note: AFCPE Certification Staff, consultants, Subject Matter Experts (SME), and anyone with access to exam content cannot participate in the development or delivery of any course or instructional process intended to prepare individuals for the AFC exam for a period of 4 years after participating in examination development activities.
You are a qualified expert with a great deal of field experience.
Most AFC Independent Trainers have at least 5 years of practical experience providing financial education instruction. We recommend no fewer than 2 years of experience before applying to become an AFC Independent Trainer.
You have hands-on, day-to-day experience in your area of expertise.
Most AFC Independent Trainers have at least 5 years of practitioner experience providing direct financial counseling services to individuals and/or groups, which is invaluable when training others to be effective financial counselors.
You possess excellent communication skills.
You have the unique ability to convey complex topics to adult learners with different learning styles, varying levels of knowledge/experience, and who are working in an array of disciplines within the field.
- Sign and adhere to Confidentiality Policy on an annual basis.
- Sign and adhere to Conflict-of-Interest Policy on an annual basis.
- Respond in a timely manner (no more than 2-3 business days) to requests from groups for training services.
- Provide signed Certificates of Completion to trainees who participate in your training, acknowledging that they were exposed to the AFC Core Competencies.
AFC Independent Trainers will be subject to an initial application fee ($200) and an annual renewal application fee ($200). Applications will be renewed every year by June 30.
Independent Trainers receive:
- The “AFC Independent Training Handbook”
- Invitation to attend an AFC Webinar Review course.
- Access to the “AFC Online Study Guide,” which is regularly updated and refreshed by the AFCPE Education Department.
- Referrals from AFCPE as requests for custom training are received.
- Connection to an AFC Independent Trainer discussion forum for sharing best practices, successful training models, etc.
*The AFCPE Certification Council does not require, provide, accredit, or endorse any specific study guides, training or review courses, or other examination preparation products. The Council, certification staff, certification committee members, and certification subject matter experts (SMEs) 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 exam.
**The AFCPE Education Department does not have access to any confidential, non-public AFC exam information.
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