Leading Financial Literacy Certification Credential for Those Seeking to Teach Personal Finance:

Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ (CFEI®)

Because each person has his or her own preexisting financial habits, relationship with money, and current financial situation, teaching personal finance is a unique subject that requires specialized expertise to teach effectively.  To build the skills needed and gain credibility many chose to enroll in a financial literacy certification program.

Qualified financial educators form the cornerstone of any personal finance program. Effective educators help learners achieve better outcomes than less-qualified instructors. Programs taught by instructors with strong credentials are more credible and have far greater impact.

Improve your presentation skills, financial literacy knowledge and confidently teach others personal finance – explore the CFEI® training & Certification program:

Who the CFEI® Training is Designed For

If you’re looking to lead personal finance classes, present workshops, or offer a variety of financial education options, the NFEC’s Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ financial literacy certification is the training for you.

The CFEI® program helps individuals acquire the expertise, credibility, and self-assurance they need to teach money management lessons effectively. Graduation from the NFEC’s financial literacy certification program demonstrates that you are qualified to teach the subject matter and increases your credibility as a financial education instructor.

Those who earn the CFEI® financial literacy certification report that they experience greater enjoyment teaching and achieve better results among the audiences who attend their presentations.

Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI) Logo

Topics & Requirements

The CFEI® coursework meets standards for the highest academic rigor while providing practical financial education knowledge. Graduates possess the skills and teaching techniques that help them motivate, engage, educate, and move participants of all ages to take positive financial action.

The CFEI® course requires successful completion of the exam after approximately 40 – 60 hours of training (4 Continuing Education Units – CEU). You may test out of parts of the training. There are 2 main sections of the training:

1) Content Knowledge. At the foundation of teaching financial literacy lies knowledge of personal finance topics (examples: credit, debt, budgeting, savings, etc.).

2) Education Techniques. The goal of teaching personal finance is having participants take action on what they learned. Knowledge of educational strategies and research-based learning principles is critical to connect with participants and encourage action.

Standards

The NFEC teamed with the Danielson Group, developers of the most widely referenced educator standards in the education industry. This collaboration yielded the first and only national standards for financial educators – the Framework for Teaching Personal Finance.

The Framework defines the skill sets distinguished educators should possess and performance levels that define optimal educator capabilities. This framework identifies the responsibilities of financial educators proven by empirical studies and theoretical research to produce the highest gains in participant test scores.

The CFEI® program was designed around the Framework for Teaching Personal Finance. The qualifications set forth in the Framework give public assurance that financial education instructors are held to the highest standards of practice.

Who We Serve

Educators

All Levels – Elementary through College

Financial Professionals

Advisors; Agents; Banking Professionals

Philanthropists

Sponosrs; Parents; Community Activists

Entrepreneurs

Start-Ups; Service Expansions

Nonprofit Staff

Volunteers; Grant Writers; Administrators

Community Based Leaders

Family & Youth Services; Churches; Community Groups

View Profiles of a Few of Our CFEIs

All CFEI® Graduates receive a speaker’s profile page like this – complimentary.

Course Ratings

641 Recent Graduates Completed This Post-Training Survey

Increase of Confidence

Do you feel more confident in your knowledge of how to deliver financial literacy topics?

94.97%

Incorporation of Content

Will you incorporate what you learned next time you teach financial literacy?

98.74%

Adaptation of Curriculum

As a result of this training, my capacity to adapt the curriculum to meet the needs of my audience has improved.

95.60%

Recommend

Would you recommend that other financial educators complete this class before teaching financial literacy?

96.23%

Guarantee Leading Financial Educator Training

Graduates of the Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ program receive the most comprehensive, highest quality and top recognized credentials of any financial educator training program on the market available today. This is backed with a 30 day unconditional guarantee plus a full 1 year, 100% money back guarantee. If within 1 year after your purchase date you provide details on a course that exceeds our training on those three areas and we agree – we will refund you 100%. For those looking to earn your Certification from the leading training program that set national standards, this guarantee gives you piece of mind.

What’s Provided in The CFEI® Coursework

Training & Resources

Receive all the training and resources you need to earn your Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ credentials. During the training you will participate in comprehensive lessons and activities that improve your capabilities as a financial education instructor delivered through:

eLearning Education Center

Full Production Videos, Interactive Learning Features, Activities & More

The Framework for Teaching Personal Finance

Standards and Guidelines for Financial Education Instructors. Delivered digitally.

Project-based Learning

Design & Integrate Your Own Teaching Style to Create Personalized Presentations

Testing & Graduation

The Certification exam is delivered online and you must pass the final exam with a score of 75% or higher. If you do not pass the first time, you may take the exam again. Upon graduation you receive:

Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ Digital Logo

Continuing Education Letter

Demonstrating that You Earned 40 CE Units

Use of the Title ‘Certified Financial Education Instructor℠’ and Acronym ‘CFEI®’

Certificate

US Residents Receive Mailed Certifications; International Receive Electronically

Personal Consultation & Ongoing Call-in Support

At the NFEC we have a vested interest in the success of our graduates. We provide support to help you plan and build out your financial literacy initiative – including funding, business aspects, programming options, and all aspects of program development. You receive:

Personal Consultation Call

30-Minute one on one consultation call.

Continuing Education via Online Learning Center

Special Event & Advocacy Promotion Training

Ongoing Training via Live Training Webinars

Optional – every Friday

Awareness, Advocacy, & Funding

To highlight your accomplishments, help you raise awareness, and garner funding for your program, the NFEC provides an awareness package that builds your reputation as a qualified financial educator. Get exposure to our website visitors (50,000+ monthly page views) and highlight your role as a financial education advocate with these complimentary resources:

Custom Webpage for Graduates

Features Your Personal Photo & Bio, Your Organization, and/ or Your Event

Demonstrate Expertise & Leadership

Publishing, Case Study Building, & Advocacy Opportunities

Eligible to Participate in NFEC Promotional Campaigns

Financial Educators Day, Cash for Candy, and 6 Other Advocacy Campaigns

Graduate & Organizational Spotlights

Select Graduate Webpages, Organization Spotlights, & Events are Featured via NFEC Social Media Accounts

Enroll in The CFEI® Course

By now you understand that the Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ financial literacy certification program provides the skill sets you need to teach financial literacy effectively. Completing the program gives you added credibility and confidence when teaching. Simply register below or contact us using your preferred method.

The CFEI® course is in its fifth iteration and over 100 experts have contributed to its development. Because of the psychological and behavioral components of personal finance, professionals in various spaces have contributed: experts in education, finance, psychology, and niche financial topics. Their contributions are aligned with research-based educational standards.

Right now, you are invited to join the financial literacy movement. Become an active participant working toward solutions proposed in the National Financial Capability Strategy. Your investment also will help support a variety of programs funded through the NFEC’s social enterprise model.

Enroll now in the certified financial education instructor℠ course to earn your CFEI® designation and maximize the impact you make when teaching personal finance. By now you understand that qualified financial educators are the cornerstone to successful programming and can make a meaningful difference in people financial lives. Click “Enroll Now” to register.

CFEI® Professional Development Course

$297
  • Includes everything to earn your certification:
  • Training & Materials
  • Examination Preparation & Examination
  • Certificate & Certification Documentation
Enroll Now

Guarantee, Terms & Renewal

A 30-Day No Questions Asked Guarantee; Plus a 1-Year 100% Guarantee.

You agree to the terms of the CFEI® program and upon purchase our bound by the agreement. Read the complete terms and conditions.  Every third year, training and testing are required to maintain CFEI® status. Starting year 2 (365 days after order), your annual investment is $97 to maintain enrollment and includes all the training, tools, and testing you need to keep your earn your certification and then keep it up-to-date after graduation.

Terms of the 1-year, 100% Guarantee: Graduates of the Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ program complete the most comprehensive, highest quality and top recognized credentials of any financial educator training program on the market available today. This is backed with a 1 year, 100% money back guarantee. Read Full 1-Year Guarantee terms.

Ongoing Training Update

Ongoing Training & Testing Requirements

You must re-pass the certification test 3 years after earning your certification; this requirement must be completed within 9 months of your anniversary date to maintain good standing.

Certified Financial Literacy Professional℠ Certification
Accredited Financial Literacy Professional℠ Certification
Certified Personal Financial Wellness Consultant℠ Certification
Accredited Personal Financial Wellness Consultant℠ Certification
Accredited Personal Finance Instructor℠ Certification

Qualified Educators – Cornerstone of the Financial Literacy Programming

Interested in gaining your financial literacy certification? The NFEC provides options through coursework that gives you not only stellar credentials, but also the confidence and expertise to teach personal finance effectively. These packages provide practical lessons that maximize your impact as an educator and also meet standards for the highest academic rigor.

Graduates of this financial literacy certification program bring a valuable service to their communities by providing people with access to top-quality financial education. Our certified instructors – whether they deliver education to groups or individuals – are all focused on improving people’s financial wellness.

Standards of the Financial Literacy Certification Program

To standardize benchmarks for the financial education industry, the NFEC developed a framework that defines the skills and qualifications of a top-notch financial educator. These standards set forth the performance criteria that help educators become more effective instructors and coaches and provide them clear barometers for learner outcomes. The standards also offer an awareness tool to highlight the importance of having highly-skilled financial educators.

Financial Literacy Certification Program Aids Volunteer to Reach Goals

The following example highlights how the NFEC’s financial literacy certification empowers aspiring educators to reach their goals.

A young man had been serving as a community volunteer for some time, but wanted to learn how to bring financial education to other adults in his area. He didn’t know where to start, so he decided to do an online search. Right away he discovered the NFEC financial literacy certification program, which would deepen his knowledge about personal finance topics while giving him the credibility and self-confidence to teach effectively.

He graduated from the Certified Financial Education Instruction℠ program and, while still volunteering, also struck out on his own. Having done a couple of successful events, he was ready to brand his program. Since the NFEC provides free branding for CFEI graduates, he received custom materials with his colors and logo featured. He used these to promote some of the campaigns that graduates automatically become eligible to participate in, such as the Cash for Candy Halloween activity and survey promotions.

Financial Literacy Certification (CFEI®)

The NFEC’s Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ program helps individuals acquire the expertise, credibility, and self-assurance they need to teach money management lessons effectively. Those that earn the CFEI® financial literacy certification report that they experience greater enjoyment teaching and achieve better results among the audiences who attend their presentations.

The CFEI® coursework meets standards for the highest academic rigor while providing practical lessons that increase your impact as a financial educator. You will develop skills and learn techniques that help you motivate, engage, and move participants of all ages to take positive financial action.

Graduation from the NFEC’s financial literacy certification program demonstrates that you are qualified to teach the subject matter and increases your credibility as a financial education instructor. Graduates of the coursework take their place among the most highly-qualified personal finance educators in the nation, with proven ability to teach essential money management concepts effectively to people of all ages.

Qualified Educators – Cornerstone of the Financial Literacy Programming

Personal finance is a unique subject that requires specialized expertise to teach effectively; the educator directly influences both short-term student outcomes and long-term impact on their financial wellbeing. A key provision in the National Financial Capability Strategy, a report that compiled the overall strategies identified by 47 agencies to guide nationwide financial literacy promotion, is the training and deployment of qualified financial educators.

Researchers agree that effective educators help learners achieve better outcomes.

Teacher effectiveness has a cumulative, financially measurable effect on student achievement; those effects are long-lasting and sustainable.

[1] Teacher and Classroom Context Effects on Student Achievement

Students of qualified educators may expect higher lifetime earnings and greater security at retirement as well as improved mental and physical health and wellbeing.

[2]Baby Boomer Retirement Security
[3]Correlates of Health and Financial Literacy in Older Adults without Dementia.

Studies have identified the basic characteristics of good teachers and shown that better teachers help students achieve measurably higher test scores regarding a wide variety of academic subjects.

[4] Classroom Instruction That Works

Better-qualified teachers produce better-qualified graduates across a wide range of academic disciplines.

[5] Impact of Teachers on Lifetime Earnings.
[6] Linking Teacher Evaluation and Student Learning.

The more effective the teacher, the greater the
student gains.

[7] The Dallas Value-Added Accountability System Report.

Distinguished financial educators who graduate from the NFEC’s financial literacy certification program are not merely dispensers of knowledge; they are learning facilitators who can mold and modify participants’ behavior to guide them toward financial wellness. These certified instructors understand that the subject of personal finance is unique in that it elicits emotional reactions from participants, and are able to deliver training that helps people work toward their personal financial goals.

CFEI® Financial Literacy Certification Qualifications

The NFEC welcomes individuals with a passion for teaching personal finance and a desire to help people build the skills they need to achieve financial wellness. The NFEC has successfully trained people from various backgrounds to be financial education instructors. From seasoned financial professionals and experienced educators to those with no educational or financial backgrounds, the NFEC works with people of all abilities.

For individuals without a background in education or finance, the training is more challenging; however, they still gain the knowledge and skill sets they need to confidently teach personal finance. We regularly train volunteers, students for peer education programs, and entrepreneurs new to financial education. We even trained a high school student who successfully completed the CFEI® program in order to teach youth at a homeless shelter – Read Camille Ko’s Story.

The financial literacy movement needs qualified financial education instructors and we appreciate your interest in becoming an integral part of addressing the financial health of our nation’s citizens.

CFEI® Course Details: Topics & Continuing Education Units

The CFEI® course includes 2 components: 1) Methods of Teaching (pedagogy) and 2) Content Knowledge.

Graduates of the CFEI® coursework successfully complete practical lessons that help them present financial education topics in a group or one-on-one setting. The coursework is listed as a Professional Designation on FINRA’s website* and provides 3 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for a total of 30 Professional Development Hours (PDH).

CFEI® Certification Meets National Standards for Financial Education Instructors

The Framework for Teaching is backed by evidence-based research and widely accepted by educators, administrators, policymakers, and academics. The Framework identifies skill sets qualified educators should possess and performance levels that define instructor capabilities. The Framework for Teaching is the most widely-used teaching model in the United States, and has been adopted as the single model, or one of several approved models, in more than 20 states.

The NFEC partnered with Danielson Group consultants to modify Charlotte Danielson’s Framework for Teaching to meet the specific needs of Financial Education Instructors. This collaboration yielded the first and only national standards for financial educators – the ‘Framework for Teaching Personal Finance’. The Framework identifies the responsibilities of financial educators proven by empirical studies and theoretical research to produce the highest gains in participant test scores, and provides clear benchmarks to enhance educators’ongoing professional development.

The Framework for Teaching Personal Finance is a research-based set of components aligned with InTASC standards and grounded in a constructivist view of learning and teaching. This Framework breaks down teaching financial literacy into 22 components recognized as best practices in the industry. To date the NFEC is the only organization to clearly define the knowledge, performance expectations, and skill sets in which financial educators should demonstrate competency.

Meet the Course Instructors

The CFEI’s Curriculum Advisory Board and team of educators are diverse and include traditional educators, personal finance experts, and financial professionals. This collaboration between more than 50 experts has yielded a professional development course that bridges the gap between theory-based education and practical application.

Diane Larsen

Diane Larsen is a NFEC Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ and award winning economics teacher at Mater Dei High School where she has taught for 26 years and was one of the first graduates of the financial literacy certification course. She was selected as Jump$tart Coalition Outstanding Educator and the only California teacher chosen by CEE and the U.S. State Department to travel to South Africa to teach and review other economics teachers in an exchange program. Her students have won high honors in the California State Stock Market Simulation placing 1st in 2008, 2009, and twice in 2012. Last year she had trained 5 of 10 teams in the top ten in the State and had a team win the National Stock Simulation. Diane’s students have scored in the upper 10% in the National Financial Literacy Challenge with one in the upper 1% of the nation. Her teams have been regulars in the CCEE Capital Markets Competition and last June had a team place in the top 6 in the Money Wise Teen competition sponsored by CCEE.

Steve Repak

Steve Repak, is a Certified Financial Planner™, Army veteran, and author of Dollars & Uncommon Sense: Basic Training For Your Money. Steve graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Management Communications from Amridge University. Steve has been a frequent guest on Fox and Friends, Fox Business, and the 700 Club. Steve has been interviewed on NPR, Bloomberg, Market Watch, and Wall Street Journal Radio. Steve’s work has been featured in Forbes, Investor’s Business Daily, BusinessWeek, MSN Money and Yahoo Finance. Steve is currently a contributor to the Equifax® Finance Blog, Choose Now Ministries and The Life of a Single Mom Ministries. Steve is an advocate for financial literacy and a 15 year veteran in the financial services industry. Steve has demonstrated expertise as an educator from how his presentations are well received by the audience, and from the post-surveys collected which demonstrated the material made an impact.

Erica K. Jackson

Erica K. Jackson served as Director for the Center for Financial and Consumer Outreach (at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College) and holds a certification as a Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ (CFEI®). In this role, she was responsible for financial literacy programming, project management, and community outreach /collaborations. Jackson has also served as the inaugural Executive Director for Junior Achievement’s Northwest PA Regional Office. Over the years, Erica has partnered with several agencies and organizations to advocate for financial capability including: National Financial Educators Council, Pennsylvania Treasury, Pennsylvania Department of Banking, and Jump$tart Coalition. Because of her active involvement throughout the state, Erica has been recognized for her commitment and dedication. This includes: Distinguished Leadership Award – Honored by Governor Edward Rendell, U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Certificate, and Women Making History.

Gary Jaeckel

Gary Jaeckel’s passion for improving people’s financial capabilities took him from the corporate world to the financial literacy industry. He brings real world experience to the academic side of the financial literacy field with his background in the financial and securities industries and corporate finance. He is a recognized expert in teaching personal finance and is known as an advocate promoting personal financial education as a stand-alone course in all schools across the country. At NFEC, Gary was instrumental in developing the Framework for Teaching Personal Finance and his textbook, Teaching Personal Financial Education, is used as part of the NFEC’s curriculum. He has also authored another textbook, Personal Finances and the Economy which covers the major personal finance and economic content standards. Gary holds a Masters degree in international business and a Secondary Education Teaching Certificate.

Vince Shorb

Vince Shorb is CEO of the NFEC and one of the Council’s original founders. Shorb remains involved in educational development and raising awareness for the financial literacy movement. Before joining the NFEC, Shorb talked with more than 20,000 people about their personal financial situation and reviewed the personal financial statements of more than 10,000 clients. This real-world experience in the financial literacy field contributes to his deep understanding of the challenges people face today. His passion for helping people improve their financial capabilities combined with his expertise in the financial education industry propelled him into a leadership role in the industry. Shorb was instrumental in developing the Framework for Teaching Personal Finance, the CFEI® training program, founded the first national speakers association for personal finance experts, created a PSA campaign covered by TIME, was the lead consultant on initiative that will reach over a half-million people, has lead the Curriculum Advisory Board on development of over 250 hours of curriculum and enlisted the support of top celebrities – Shorb’s credentials make him among the most qualified financial literacy advocates in the world.

Thank You

The NFEC appreciates your interest in improving the financial capabilities of your community members. The more people you reach with money management training, the closer it brings us to accomplishing our mission of “creating a world where people are informed and able to make qualified financial decisions that improve their lives, the lives of those they love, and the lives of those they reach around the globe.

[1] W. L. Sanders, S. P. Wright and S. P. Horn, University of Tennessee, Journal of Personnel Evaluation in Education, Vol. 11 (1997), Teacher and Classroom Context Effects on Student Achievement: Implications for Teacher Evaluation.
[2] Annamaria Lusardi and Olivia S. Mitchell, NBER Working Paper No. 17078 (May 2011), Baby Boomer Retirement Security: The Roles
of Planning, Financial Literacy, and Housing Wealth.
[3] Bennett et al., BMC Geriatrics, 12:30 (2012), Correlates of Health and Financial Literacy in Older Adults without Dementia.
[4] R. J. Marzano, D. J. Pickering and J. E. Pollock, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Alexandria, VA (2001),
Classroom Instruction That Works: Research-based Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement
[5] Max Nisen, Business Insider (Sep. 16, 2013), Impact of Teachers on Lifetime Earnings.
[6] Pamela D. Tucker and James H. Stronge, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (2005), Linking Teacher
Evaluation and Student Learning.
[7] William J. Webster and Robert L. Mendro, Dallas Public Schools (1997), The Dallas Value-Added Accountability System Report.
[8] National Financial Educators Council (2016), National Financial Capability Strategy.

*FINRA does NOT approve or endorse any professional designation. Nor does a designation’s inclusion in this database imply that FINRA considers the designation to be acceptable for use by a registered representative.