We at the National Association for Certified Credit Counselors (NACCC) work in conjunction with the Institute for Financial Counseling (IFC) in the development of continuing education programs and on-going research in financial counseling. IFC is the education leader for financial counselors nationwide. Its programs are research-based and industry-specific. IFC has partnered with NACCC to ensure complete third-party objectivity and oversight of its curriculum and assessments. Through NACCC, member counselors have a voice concerning the education they receive.
NACCC believes that in order to effectively counsel and serve clients, it is necessary to consistently increase, update, and maintain professional skills and knowledge through continuing education.
To renew your certification, you must complete a total of 16 continuing education units (CEUs) within the two-year period of your current certification. It is your professional responsibility to fulfill this requirement, maintain records to substantiate completed CEUs, and to report them to NACCC prior to certification expiration.
CEU Process
Please read the following information regarding CEU requirements and reporting procedures. Our goal is to maintain the highest standards in education while, at the same time, providing web-based processes for submitting and reporting CEUs.
1. Order IFC continuing education programs.
This website maintains a Continuing Education Page with links to the Institute for Financial Counseling. They offer traditional and online self-study programs that are research-based and approved by our Board of Directors.
2. Submit CEUs for approval.
If you have a program you would like to submit for approval please refer to Guidelines for CEU Approval below.
Now ONLINE:Continuing Education Approval Form (Skip this step for all IFC programs!)
Our Educational Standards for the Financial Counseling Industry requires that educational programs be pre-approved through our organization. Please refer to the following guidelines when submitting material for our review.
1. Definition of CEU. Each unit of continuing education consists of 1 hour of attendance or application. A program of study worth 4 CEUs should take 4 hours to complete.
2. Determining hours. Continuing education units for personally attended seminars or classes equal their duration. An 8 hour seminar is worth 8 CEUs.
3. Acceptable topics. All subjects that relate to personal financial management as well as issues surrounding credit and debt are acceptable. Eligibility is not restricted to strictly technical issues, but also includes how counselors deliver their services. This would include communication skills, counseling skills, the business use of computers, as well as topics concerning professional ethics. Ask yourself, “Does this subject assist me in serving my clients?” If the answer to the question is “Yes,” then the topic would be included.
4. Program formats. CEUs can be earned through seminar or class participation or through self-study. Self-study materials can take the form of books, films, audio tapes, CDs, and online learning.
5. Submission requirements. Always use the CEU Approval Form located on our Continuing Education Page.
6. Time frame. Upon receipt of a CEU for approval, NACCC will either make recommendations or grant approval for CEU credits within 14 days.
Our Educational Standards for the Financial Counseling Industry requires that educational programs be pre-approved through our organization. Please refer to the following guidelines when submitting material for our review.
Q: Why do we need Continuing Education?
A: Continuing Education has become a standard requirement for certification renewal. Professionalism and effectiveness in credit counseling depend on keeping current with the latest news and developments about consumer protection legislation, bankruptcy reform, trends in lending, and innovative approaches in counseling the financially stressed.
If you had a choice, would you go to a medical doctor who stopped learning 20 years ago? Just as doctors must keep current with new procedures, breakthroughs, and research, credit counselors must continually seek to enrich their working knowledge of credit and personal financial issues. Continuing education helps you to better serve your clients.
Q: Who keeps track of all the classes?
A: NACCC tracks all Continuing Education requirements for its members. However, we strongly advise you to create a Continuing Education file and keep all letters or certificates of Continuing Education completion. Keep a copy of the course description and objectives. It is helpful to create a quick reference list like the example below:
Continuing Education Quick Reference List:
Q: How do I get Continuing Education?
A:We encourage you to enroll in one of the many continuing education programs offered by The Institute for Financial Counseling Education. Their curriculum and assessments are research-based and industry-specific. Several of the current programs offered by IFC were created in part as a result of feedback and suggestions from NACCC members.