FCS Leader Insights - American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS)


 

Certified Personal and Family Finance Educator (CPFFE)

 

The American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) proudly offers a gold-standard, assessment-based certification for Personal and Family Finance Educators that is:

  • Developed by National Financial Education Leaders.
  • Consistent with the U.S. Department of Treasury Financial Education Core Competencies and National Standards in K-12 Personal Finance Education created by the Jump$tart Coalition.
  • Open to educators across many disciplines and practice settings, including public and community education programs.

Access a general announcement of the Certified Personal and Family Finance Educator (CPFFE) credential
Read the USA Today Early Financial Literacy Supplement with CPFFE insert


Who benefits from the CPFFE program?

  • Educators - Validates knowledge and skills to effectively teach personal finance education to America’s youth and young adults.
  • Employers - Guides educator hiring and assignment to instructional roles.
  • Parents and Students - Provides quality assurance of educator competence.


How do educators achieve the CPFFE credential?

  • Hold a baccalaureate degree in any major. - A transcript documenting degree completion will be submitted with certification application.
  • Pass the Personal and Family Finance Educator (PFFE) exam. - Access further details about exam content and format, preparation resources, and registration process in the PFFE Candidate Information Bulletin and Study Guide.. 

    Testing is at proctored computer testing centers nationwide except in instances when special arrangements have been made to offer onsite testing during conferences sponsored by AAFCS or other professional organizations.  The computer-based testing fee is $165 per test administration.  Candidates who do not achieve the minimum cut score qualifying for certification may retake the exam at least one month later by again registering and paying the $165 testing fee. 

    Complete the online test registration and payment process. Click here to access the registration system.

  • Meet certification fee and professional development requirements. - After achieving a Personal and Family Finance Educator exam score of 240 (out of 300) or higher, candidates are notified of procedures for completing the certification process. In addition to submitting a completed application form and a university transcript verifying completion of a baccalaureate degree, the candidate must submit an initial certification fee according to the following fee schedule:

    - AAFCS Members: $150 initial certification fee
    - Graduating Seniors (fulltime university, college, or post-secondary students): $85 initial certification fee
    - Nonmembers of AAFCS: $250 initial certification fee
    - Certification and Membership Package for Professionals: $285 for certification and membership package (initial certification and one year AAFCS membership)

    The initial certification fee covers the cost of obtaining the certification credential and the first year of certification.  An annual renewal fee of $50 is assessed in September of each year (beginning at least 12 months following initial certification). 

    As a measure of quality assurance, maintaining the CPFFE credential carries a requirement of completing a minimum of 75 professional development units (PDUs with 1 PDU equaling 1 clock hour) over a period of 3 years.  To qualify, the professional development must be related to the competencies identified as the basis for the certification. 

    Learn about qualifying professional development opportunities