How to Become a Certified Financial Counselor

Get ready to hit the books and become a trusted financial professional.

A certified financial counselor plays an important role in the lives of his or her clients. The financial counselor provides information and advice about managing and investing money, saving for retirement and preparation of an estate plan. He assists clients with tax questions, employer retirement savings plans and will preparation. Certification and accreditation programs provide education for the financial professional as well as regulation within the industry. A certification creates trust between client and professional, as it provides proof of education, ethical standards and credibility.

Things You'll Need

• computer with Internet access
• course and study materials
• qualified employment

Instructions

Become a Certified Financial Counselor

1. Select a designation. Within the U.S., there are two major financial counseling designations: the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and the Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC). Both designations maintain websites you can use to evaluate your options (see Resources).

2. Enroll in an education program. There are a variety of options for study, including online, in person and self-study. Select the program that works best for you and your schedule.

3. Complete required coursework. You will need to purchase course and study materials.

4. Register and study for the exam. Both certifications require that you take a test to prove your knowledge.

5. Take the exam. Certification will require a passing score, typically quite high.

6. Gain experience and present this to the examining board. Both designations have related work experience requirements. In most cases, experience can be acquired before or after the exam. If you have questions as to whether your job is qualified for the experience requirement, contact the examining board.

7. Maintain your certification. You will be required to take continuing education courses and pay certification fees throughout the time you are certified.

References

• CFP.net: Become a Certified Financial Planner
• AFCPE.org: Certification

Resources

• Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards
• Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education