Certified Personal Finance Counselor (Online)

The Certified Personal Finance Counselor® was designed to provide professional development and training for credit counselors working with clients in a one-on-one setting. This comprehensive program was designed to allow financial counselors to assist clients with establishing personal budgets, evaluating debt loads, setting financial goals, and developing a plan of action. Certification ensures that individuals have been trained and tested in counseling skills and the fundamentals of personal finance management. Upon completion of the program, the CPFC will have the essential tools needed to further their professional advancement and help their clients alter ineffective money management patterns. The CPFC was also designed to fulfill the requirement of the Uniform Debt Management Services Act and various similar state laws.

Course Outline:

Part I of the training manual details communication and counseling techniques. Communication techniques include listening skills, obstacles to effective communications, improving communication skills and counseling formats. Cognitive issues and problem solving skills are also addressed, as are learning styles, emotional issues regarding money, information gathering and decision making.

Part II of the training manual details the fundamentals of financial management: money management; credit; debt management; investing and retirement and insurance.

Part III of the training manual discusses consumer protection legislation.

Part IV of the training manual is the Resource Guide which includes worksheets, a glossary of relevant terms, forms, website information, and the Code of Ethics

This program is also available in Spanish.