Become an Accredited Financial Counselor®
The AFC is the gold standard in financial counseling and education. It is a structured, rigorous credential built on professional development and continuing education for a career of lasting impact. If you share our vision of financial well-being for all, we encourage you to explore how earning your AFC can help make that vision a reality.
AFC Certification: Confidence, Credibility, and Impact
The Accredited Financial Counselor® certification provides 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. Here’s what makes the AFC stands out among other financial designations:
Confidence
A structured curriculum grounded in real client scenarios, so you walk into every session prepared.
Credibility
National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCAA) accredited designation recognized by employers, colleagues, and the clients you serve.
Impact
Ongoing continuing education that helps keep your credential in good standing. These include webinars, on-demand events, and our annual Symposium.
Earn the AFC, Serve Others in All Facets of Personal Finance
AFC professionals work within government and military financial readiness programs, higher education and academia, private practice, and nonprofit and community-service organizations. Explore our career center to learn more about the career pathways you can take with an AFC credential.
A Certification Built on Empathic Counseling
The designation is grounded in behavior-change counseling technique, so your incentive is always the client’s outcome, not a commission.
The 4 Steps to Certification
Education
There are multiple pathways to satisfy the educational requirements to be eligible to sit for the AFC exam
Exam
1 proctored examination offered on a rolling basis at over 300 locations nationwide.
Experience
1000 hours are required. There are many ways to earn hours and past experience may count.
Ethics
3 years from enrollment to complete all requirements including signing the AFCPE Code of Ethics.
These can be completed in any order, and every candidate’s path is different. You’ll have three years from enrollment to finish all four. Once you become certified, it’s important to be mindful of the requirements for maintaining your certification.
The AFC: Held to the Highest Independent Standard
The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) has granted accreditation to AFCPE’s Accredited Financial Counselor® program for demonstrating compliance with the NCCA Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs through December 31st, 2030. In the words of AFCPE Executive Director Rachael DeLeon:
“NCCA accreditation enhances the value of the AFC designation to employers, colleagues, and consumers. This recognition sets the certification mark apart and emphasizes the highest standard of excellence AFCPE has built for this field.”
AFCPE Exam and Certification Statistics At a Glance
In compliance with NCCA Accreditation, AFCPE publishes exam statistics on an annual basis. Download exam statistics >>
How AFCPE Supports Your AFC Candidacy
Registering for the AFC is a big decision. We want to make sure you have a strong community, staff support, and career guidance as you move toward earning the AFC.
Connected Community
Career Center
Find your next financial counseling or internship opportunity. We list available remote, in-person, and hybrid positions.
Special Pricing
Learn more about AFC exam discounts for students, group pricing, military educational benefits, and the SpouseWorks Scholarship.
Become a Member
Save $100 on the AFC exam, get free professional development webinars toward experience hours, and access networking.
Pathways to Certification that Fit Your Learning Style
Every candidate’s journey looks different. Choose the format that fits how you learn and work best.
Self-Study
Our most popular and flexible pathway to AFC certification, it is ideal for self-starters, career-changers, and individuals who want to complete their certification in their own time, and at their own pace.
Instructor-Led Training
A personalized AFC exam preparation experience with a qualified Accredited Financial Counselor facilitator, using the AFC Learning System or the trainer’s custom learning program.
Financial Education Challenge
For those who have completed applicable coursework in personal finance, financial planning, consumer sciences, or equivalent curriculum from a regionally-accredited college or university.
Professional Designation Challenge
Designed for those with the CFP®, CPA, ChFC®, or CFA® designation. Designation holders may be eligible to waive select AFC core competency components.
Prepare Your Team
This pathway is available to groups and organizations looking to certify staff at scale. We invite decision makers across all industries and sectors to contact us for a tailored proposal and pricing structure.
In Their Words: What AFC Professionals Say About Certification
Register for a Free AFC Info Session
We hold a monthly “Wanna Be an AFC?” no-pressure information session covering everything you need to make your decision about pursuing certification. Recordings are available to registered attendees.
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