CPFFE: Certified Personal & Family Finance Educator

The American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) proudly offers a gold-standard, assessment-based certification for Personal and Family Finance Educators developed by subject-matter experts in financial education and consistent with the U.S. National Strategy for Financial  Literacy and National Standards For Personal Financial Education published by Jump$tart and the Council on Economic Education.

The credential is open to educators across many disciplines and practice settings, including public and community education programs. The credential validates knowledge and skill in the the areas of:

  1. Financial Responsibility and Decision Making
  2. Income and Careers
  3. Planning and Money Management
  4. Credit and Debt
  5. Risk Management and Insurance
  6. Saving and Investing
  7. Teaching Pedagogy

    How does a professional earn the CPFFE credential?

    • Pass the competency exam associated with the credential - Click here to learn more about exam content and format and to register for an exam administration
    • Within 10-14 days after successful completion of the competency exam, candidates will receive an exam notification and certification application via email.
    • Upon receipt of the certification application, submit the application and official transcript verifying completion of a baccalaureate degree.
    • Pay the initial certification application fee according to the following fee schedule:
      • Current AAFCS Members: $250 initial certification fee
      • Graduating Seniors (full-time university, college, or post-secondary students): $175 initial certification fee
      • Nonmembers of AAFCS: $350 initial certification fee
      • NOTE:  The initial certification fee covers the cost of obtaining the certification credential and the first three-year certification cycle.
    • Ascribe to the Professional Code of Ethics

    How does a professional maintain the CPFFE credential?

    • Pay a cycle (three-year) maintenance fee ($195 for active; $165 for retired)
    • Meet professional development requirements - 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) during the three-year cycle. To qualify, the professional development must be related to one of the seven competency areas associated with the credential. Click here for details on reporting professional development activities.


    Earning Professional Development Units (PDUs)