AFC (Accredited Financial Counselor) Program

Transcription

1 AFC (Accredited Financial Counselor) Program Registration Guidelines for the University Program Registration as an Approved University Program provides students with the opportunity to obtain the AFC at a deeply discounted rate of 50% off. The price to complete the traditional program is $1,000 but students at an approved university are eligible to challenge the exam for a total price of just $500. Program Guidelines: Undergraduate or graduate programs with the main focus in personal finance, financial counseling, personal financial planning or consumer sciences (minimum of 18 credit hours in relevant, approved coursework) are eligible to have full-time enrolled students take the exam. Programs must include a financial counseling or planning internship field experience as part of the program. Certificate programs from accredited institutions will be considered on a case-by-case basis and subject to review of curriculum. Undergraduate minors or coursework in related fields will be considered on a case-bycase basis subject to review of curriculum. Students must have a substantial focus and commitment to the personal finance field. The University Supervisor, a faculty member of the University, must be an AFC in good standing, or have a graduate degree from a financial planning, financial counseling or other degree approved on a case-by-case basis. Student Requirements: Complete coursework in approved program. Earn a 70% or better on each of two examinations within 3 years of enrollment. Acquire 1,000 hours of relevant financial counseling/financial education work experience. Submit four letters of reference attesting to professional competence one from an employment/internship supervisor, one from the program s University Supervisor, one from a colleague, and one from a client. Sign and agree to abide by the AFC Code of Ethics. Renew certification by paying annual certification fees and acquiring required Continuing Education Units (CEUs) within each bi-annual reporting period. 1

2 Process: Supervisor: Submit Curriculum for Review. To apply for the program, a University Supervisor must review and sign the Registration Guidelines and submit the AFC University Curriculum Application to AFCPE s Certification Department along with the review fee. Student: Enroll with AFCPE. Once a program has been approved, the student must submit the Student Enrollment Form including the enrollment fee of $100 which includes a Study Guide for each course. Student: Request the Exams. Complete the Exam Request Form and submit it at least 14 days prior to the anticipated examination date. The examination fee of $200 per exam can be paid when the student chooses to test but must be included with the Exam Request Form in order for the request to be processed. There are two exams required to earn the AFC. o The Study Guides provided upon enrollment are the only study materials the student will receive. No Additional study materials are included with the enrollment fee or examination fee. Student/Supervisor: Choose a Proctor. University Supervisors are encouraged to help their students find a proctoring service on campus (testing center, library proctoring service or cooperative extension office). University Supervisors may proctor an examination. Student: Take the Exams. Examinations are given in an online format and are scored immediately by the computer testing system. However, examination scores are not valid until AFCPE receives a completed and signed Examination Notification Form from the proctor. o Upon receipt of a valid Examination Notification Form (provided by the proctor directly by fax or ), students will be notified of their official grade. Student: Complete All Requirements within Time Constraints. From the date of enrollment in the AFC program, the student has three years to complete both examinations (at the reduced rate) and three years to complete the requirements to become an AFC. I certify that I understand the requirements of the AFC program as outlined above. I also certify that the students for whom I sign enrollment forms will be students in the majors or minors as outlined above at my university. Name of Supervisor (print) University Signature Date 2

3 AFC University Curriculum Application Date of Application: (mm/dd/yyyy) Institution Information: Institution Name: Address 1: Address 2: City, ST, Zip: Website: Contact Information: University Supervisor: Name: Title: Degrees and Designations/Certifications: Address 1: Address 2: City, ST Zip Website: Telephone: Fax: 3

4 Program Description: Degree programs: provide the full degree title for your program listing (e.g. B.S., Financial Counseling): Non-degree programs: Provide the full program title for your program listing (e.g. Family Financial Planning Certificate Program): Program Delivery Method: Classroom Self-Study (text based) Distance Learning Hybrid (classroom and distance) Curriculum: List the courses to be taken by students that will give them proficiency in the subject areas outlined in the registration guidelines. Attach additional documentation if necessary. Course Number Course Title Credit Hours Textbooks Competencies Covered Instructor 4

5 Curriculum (cont): Course Number Course Title Credit Hours Textbooks Competencies Covered Instructor 5

6 Program Length Number of courses in your program: Number of weeks of each course: Number of contact hours in each course: Please describe the assessment tools used to determine satisfactory completion for courses related to personal finance, financial counseling and financial planning. Application Payment: One-time University Program Application Review fee: $100 MasterCard/Visa/American Express OR Check # Card Number: Exp: Name on Card: Cardholder 6