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


 

About The AAFCS National Examinations and Certifications


The program for national certification of Family and Consumer Sciences professionals involves three components:  specified prerequisites, a standards-based examination system, and continuing professional development.  The Council for Certification (CFC), an autonomous unit within the AAFCS association, is charged with assuring the integrity and high standards of its professional certification program.  The Council is responsible for developing criteria, standards, policies, and procedures that govern the national certification program for Family and Consumer Sciences professionals. 

AAFCS offers standards-based examinations that test the subject matter competence of professionals who plan to practice in family and consumer sciences or one of the areas within family and consumer sciences.  Four examinations are currently offered.  They are:

  • Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) – Composite Examination
  • Human Development & Family Studies (HD&FS) Concentration Examination
  • Hospitality, Nutrition, & Food Science (HN&FS) Concentration Examination
  • Personal and Family Finance Educator (PFFE) Concentration Examination

 

These examinations serve multiple purposes.  Colleges and universities can use them to test the subject matter competence of their graduates, credentialing agencies can use them to test subject matter competence of candidates, and employers can use them to determine subject matter competence of potential employees and professional development needs of employees.  Achieving a passing score on AAFCS gold-standard, professional assessments is a way of assuring others that the candidate has attained a professional level threshold of knowledge about the field. 


Passing one of these examinations is a requirement for obtaining the corresponding national certification offered by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.  Attaining certification provides an important statement to others of your commitment to professionalism and high standards.  Earning the right to use the credential designations after your name affirms your professional competence and your commitment to continuing professional development.  It assures others that you have current knowledge, skills, and abilities that enable you to improve the quality and standards of individual and family life through education, research, cooperative programs, and public information.
Some university programs utilize the assessments as a capstone measure of student achievement at program completion.

To be eligible to take a national AAFCS examination the candidate must have graduated from an accredited educational institution with a baccalaureate degree, or plan to graduate within the year.  Some institutions use the national examination system as a pre-test or post-test; these candidates take the exam on the schedule established by their school.

Obtain the national CFCS certification, the candidate must:

  • Pass the examination for the certification he or she is pursuing;
  • Subscribe to the Professional Code of Ethics;
  • Provide an official college transcript validating a baccalaureate degree;
  • Submit a certification application and fee based on your status as a member of AAFCS, non-member, or graduating senior.

 

Detailed information about AAFCS online examinations and certifications is provided in the following documents:

PFFE Information Bulletin & Study Guide CBT (computer-based testing) – information about the newest AAFCS assessment and corresponding certification for Personal and Family Finance Educators. 

FCS Candidate Information Bulletin & Study Guide CBT (computer-based testing) – information about the series of family and consumer sciences composite and concentration examinations:

          • Family and Consumer Sciences Composite (broad field) (FCS)
      • Hospitality, Nutrition, and Food Science (HNFS)
      • Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS)

 

Click here to access the online applicant registration system for administration of the 4 exams. 

 

On occasion, arrangements are made for paper-based test administration onsite for AAFCS entities, other groups, and universities.  Detailed information about AAFCS paper-based testing (PBT), the special arrangements required to offer PBT examinations, and candidate preparation is provided in the following documents:

PFFE Information Bulletin & Study Guide PBT (paper-based testing) – information about special onsite, paper-based administration of the newest AAFCS assessment and corresponding certification for Personal and Family Finance Educators. 

FCS Candidate Information Bulletin & Study Guide PBT (paper-based testing) – information about special onsite, paper-based administration of the AAFCS series of family and consumer sciences composite and concentration examinations:

      • Family and Consumer Sciences Composite (broad field) (FCS)
      • Hospitality, Nutrition, and Food Science (HNFS)
      • Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS)

 

Click here to access an online registration system for candidates who will participate in paper-based testing at special administrations approved by AAFCS. Space is limited and some restrictions apply.