Financial Literacy Topic Badges & Personal Finance Education Certificate
The NFEC’s Financial Literacy Topic Badge demonstrates that participants possess the knowledge and capabilities to make more informed financial decisions across a wide range of financial literacy topics and life stage events. Those who complete all Topic Badges can earn a Personal Finance Education Certificate.
Badging gives learners public recognition, clear learning objectives, and added motivation to complete financial literacy programming. Backed by the NFEC, an IACET Accredited Provider, the Financial Literacy Topic Badges and Personal Finance Education Certificate represent the highest level of learner achievement in the financial education sector.
Topic Badging Options
Financial Psychology
Savings, Expenses, & Budgeting
Account Management & Team Members
Loans & Debt
Credit Profile
Skill Development & Education
Income
Economic & Government Influences
Risk Management & Insurance
Investing & Personal Financial Planning
Two Certification Options that Demonstrate Content Knowledge
Professional Development Certification
The Certified Financial Literacy Professional℠ designation is for professionals who demonstrate content knowledge of financial literacy topics. Graduates have proven their expertise at understanding, applying, and analyzing the topics outlined on this page.
The Certified Financial Literacy Professional℠ is for individuals looking to prove their knowledge of personal finance topics. This proven knowledge is commonly used to fulfill two main goals: professional development and compliance.
Learner Certification Issued by NFEC CFEI®s & APFI℠s
Learners completing programs led by NFEC Certified Financial Education Instructors® and Accredited Personal Finance Instructors℠ who earn all 10 Financial Literacy Topic Badges are awarded the Personal Finance Education Certificate℠.
This certificate is commonly issued to learners in school, corporate wellness program graduates, and nonprofits and community groups that measure student performance.
Life Stage Badging Options
Independent Living
Car Purchase Planning
Higher Education Planning
Essential Accounts
Career Planning
Student Loan Repayment
Debt Repayment
Credit Profile Enhancement
Financial Foundation
Personal Financial Planning
Understanding Risk & Insurance
Home Ownership
Why NFEC Badging?
The NFEC is a leading financial literacy organization committed to elevating financial education instruction to help participants achieve maximum benefits.
Accredited Education Institution
The NFEC is Accredited through the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). The IACET is internationally recognized as a standards development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.
Financial Literacy Standards
The NFEC sets industry standards for the financial education industry to improve the quality and enhance the impact of financial literacy instruction. These standards document learning outcomes and offer financial literacy education providers a teaching framework that represents best practices.
Badging Requirements & Guidelines
Facilitator
Badging tests must be monitored by an Accredited Personal Finance Instructor, either online or in person. For online testing, test takers must have video turned on with the Instructor overseeing their testing.
Schedule
All tests are scheduled in advance for the entire class and must be completed at the scheduled time. Unique class codes are issued that allow participants to access the test only during the scheduled time.
Timed
Each test is timed, and any questions not answered within the allotted time will be counted as missed. Time varies by badge. *For those teaching special needs students, this requirement can be modified.
Passing
A 75% or higher score is required to earn badging. Tests can be retaken after APFI verifies that the participant completed additional training. Additional fees will apply for retaken exams.
Opportunities for Badging & Certification
I Want to Issue Financial Literacy Topic Badges and/or Personal Finance Education Certificates
Those who seek to issue NFEC badging and certification must complete the NFEC’s Accredited Personal Finance Instructor course. Prerequisites include the Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI®) training.
I Want an NFEC Accredited Instructor (APFI) to Lead Badging for Our Organization
Although each APFI sets his or her own pricing, organizations can anticipate a minimum investment of at least $1,000 per topic badge. This investment includes provision of education materials to prepare for the exam, moderated testing, and completion of all compliance items required to issue badges and certification.
Financial Psychology Badge
This badge indicates proficiency in the psychological factors that affect how people manage money. Includes knowledge about the influences on people’s money habits, behavioral finance, stages of behavior change, and good goal-setting.
Savings, Expenses, & Budgeting
This badge demonstrates understanding of the basic aspects of budgeting and its impact on financial goals; how savings forms the foundation of one’s financial plan; types of expenses and how to reduce them; and processes to plan for the top two major expenses (auto and home).
Account Management & Team Members
This badge shows that you’ve mastered how to set up and manage accounts with a financial institution; automate financial transactions; differences between credit and debit cards; and how and why to develop a trusted advisor team.
Loans & Debt
This badge indicates your proficiency in the topic of loans and debt: “good” vs. “bad” debts; basic loan calculations; risks and consequences of debt; loan qualification; debt payoff planning; benefits and drawbacks of credit cards; auto loans; and home mortgages.
Credit Profile
This badge demonstrates knowledge of how credit affects your personal finance situation, including the components of your credit profile, how to obtain your credit report, why and how to get and maintain a good credit score, and how to protect from identity theft.
Skill Development & Education
This badge denotes your understanding of how to evaluate education options based on ROI, fund one’s chosen learning path, budget for higher education, and strategize to pay off student loan debt.
Income
This badge shows that you are knowledgeable about ways to generate income, find fulfilling work, protect income security, maximize earning potential, seek and obtain new employment, and identify active streams of secondary income.
Economic & Government Influences
This badge indicates that you’ve mastered the topic of how government and economic factors influence personal finances – including various types of taxes, why and how to hire a professional tax preparer, and planning for the effects of inflation.
Risk Management & Insurance
This badge shows your proficiency in evaluating and managing risk; how insurance helps mitigate financial risk; types of insurance policies and how to select the coverage you need; and estate planning.
Investing & Personal Financial Planning
This badge demonstrates your knowledge of the basics of investing and why people invest: motivations, preparation, risk tolerance, net worth, investment principles and terminology, retirement savings vehicles, and investment portfolios.