Accredited Personal Finance Instructor℠ (APFI℠) Pilot Program – Closed, No Longer Accepting Applications.  Next Course in August 2023

This advanced financial education instructor training from the National Financial Educators Council® concentrates on the program aspects of financial wellness education. Those components include program development and deployment, analyzing data gathered during program delivery, and applying results of those analyses to sustain and scale the program.

Graduates from the APFI℠ training are capable to design and implement financial education programs that have measurable impact on participants’ financial capabilities, while also helping sponsor and partner organizations reach their objectives.

Learning Outcome Level Objectives

The Accredited Personal Finance Instructor℠ course drives learners toward higher-order thinking skill sets and has participants complete a process that puts them in position to execute financial education programs that best serve their students, organizations, and communities.

Through the course students will create all the materials needed to run a program, including:

  • Establish your professional image as a financial educator.
  • Gain the skills to effectively communicate your role in financial education and how you can serve others.
  • Improve your ability to select the financial literacy lessons and activities that best meet the needs of your audience.
  • Gather data that highlight your abilities to conduct an effective financial education program.
  • Have all the resources needed to execute a financial education program organized and reviewed.
  • Be in position to fund or earn revenue for your financial education program.
  • Know how to promote and market your financial literacy offering.
  • Better understand the business aspects of financial wellness programs.

Graduation Assets

When you graduate, you will have the following business assets:

Proven ability to design & deploy programming
A professional image and online profile
Completed case study for marketing and fundraising
First chance at all speaking leads (sent to APFIs first)
Ability to issue NFEC recognized badging
Practice at pitching and developing communication skills
Brand enhancement as a financial wellness consultant
Highlight in a national press release and website features

Course Requirements & Details

Pilot Program Cost
$0 registration costs. One year after you graduate and earn your credentials, $147 annual dues begin.

Training Schedule
Self-paced with scheduled meeting times for peer work.

Training Hours
Estimated at 80 hours comprised of education and completion of activities that help you build a financial education program. As a pilot program participant, we are relying on your feedback to provide better time estimates for future groups.

Ongoing Training & Testing Requirements
3 years after earning certification and completed within 9 months to maintain good standing.

Prerequisite
Completion of the Certified Financial Literacy Professional℠ (CFLP) course and the Certified Financial Education Professional℠ training with both credentials in good standing. For the Pilot Group – we are providing the CFLP training at $0 cost as well.

Standards & Disciplinary Process

Accredited Personal Finance Instructor Logo

CEUs Issued Upon Successful Completion

The NFEC℠ is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is internationally recognized as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

IACET CEUs are offered to those who successfully complete all the coursework and steps.

Pilot Phase Added Requirements

We are providing a full scholarship to those who enroll in the Pilot Phase of the APFI course. This pilot program will help us better understand the average time it takes to complete the training and get valuable feedback from you. In exchange for a full scholarship for the course, you will provide in exchange:

  • A written log of time spent on training and application of lessons.
  • Participation in all course surveys and feedback requests.
  • A photo of you holding your APFI Certification and posted on social media.
  • Feedback via focus group sessions or personal consultation.
  • Tracking of any costs you incur during program execution (described below).
  • Complete project within time requirements (minimum 5 to 7 hours per week on training).

Note: There May Be Some Expenses

Although we comp the entire program, you may have some associated costs. Our APFI graduates meet the highest professional standards and have a positive public profile. You may have many of these items already, so the cost may range from $0 to $400 depending on your situation.

  • Professional website. If you do not have one, the NFEC offers the option to build you a basic 3-page website for $149 or you can build one on your own.
  • URL for your email and website. $10 per year.
  • Professional attire and photo. Professional photos can be taken with a phone camera.
  • Depending on your writing abilities, you may need an editor. Estimated at $100 and we can guide you to editors.
  • Professional-looking backdrop, lighting, webcam. Estimated at $100.
  • Starting year 2 – annual dues of $147 to maintain credentials.

Step 1: Complete Prerequisites – Pilot Program Closed.  Next Enrollment August 2023

1) Complete the Certified Financial Education Instructor Course (CFEI). This course is for those seeking to teach others personal finance topics.

2) Complete the Certified Financial Literacy Professional (CFLP) training. This new training covers personal finance topics that range from fundamental to advanced topics.

Personal finance includes the following and similar topics: budgeting, income, credit, savings, debt, risk management, insurance, and investing.

The CFLP Credentials are new – and you must register for this course. So we are selecting those who are fully committed. There is a .01 fee to register.

If you do not pass the CFLP course within 60 days, you will be charged $97 and are not eligible for the APFI course.  That fee is non-refundable for those who do not pass the CFLP course within 60 days.

Step 2: Application – Pilot Program Closed.  Next Enrollment August 2023

Only select applicants will be approved for the APFI course. We seek people in our pilot program who are highly motivated, can stay on track with the training, and are willing and capable to perform all the requirements during the allotted time frame.