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Professionalizing Financial Counseling and Coaching

Professionally trained counselors help consumers manage their finances, pay down
debt, increase savings, establish and build credit, and access safe and affordable
mainstream banking products.

The “Supervitamin Effect” of financial counseling, as distinct from generalized
“financial education” is the core work at the Financial Empowerment Centers (FEC)
across the country. Today it is the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund's (CFE
Fund) comprehensive approach to financial counseling and holds the promise of
saving cities money over the long term.

FEC's train their financial counselors by following the requirements and
competencies detailed in CFE's newly established FEC Counselor Training Standards
and Code of Ethics. These standards outline the financial content areas, counseling
and coaching skills, practice and experiential learning, and socio-economic and
cultural context setting necessary to serve the diverse needs and backgrounds of
FEC clients.

To facilitate local counselor training, the CFE Fund has approved ten national and
regional training providers’ courses that align with the FEC Standards.
– Malc ol m X
– Malcolm X
Three of the approved national training providers are listed below.

ASSOCIATION FOR FINANCIAL COUNSELING PLANNING EDUCATION (AFCPE)
The Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE) is a non-profit professional organization created to
promote the education and training of the professional in financial management. Certified individuals must meet education,
experience, and ethical requirements. Also, continuing education and annual fees are required to maintain a certificate.
Learn more at afcpe.org.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CREDIT COUNSELORS (NACCC)
Successful candidates receive the Certified Credit Counselor or Financial Health Counselor or Debt Settlement Specialist
certification, a two-year renewable certificate along with membership in the National Association of Certified Credit
Counselors. As a member, you are included in their international registry, and your continuing education requirements are
tracked for recertification. Learn more at http://fcnonline.org/certification-process/.

NeighborWorks AMERICA
NeighborWorks America’s training and certification offerings represent the professional development for those serving
people and communities in any capacity.

You can learn with NeighborWorks at in-person training events or online. Most of their courses count toward professional
certificates and certifications that help advance your career.

Learn more at the CFE Fund.org.

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