Consumer Affairs—Accredited Financial Counselor Certificate

The Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®) Certificate focuses on the knowledge and skills necessary for a career in financial counseling. The coursework fulfills the educational requirements to sit for the AFC® certification exam that leads to the Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®) certification offered by the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education.

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Program Goals:

• To prepare students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®).
• This program will allow Family and Consumer Studies students pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Consumer Affairs to earn a certificate in their major prior to transfer.

Learning Objectives:

• Students completing the certificate will be able to create a financial goal setting plan with a client.
•  Students competing the certificate will be able to counsel a client on strategies to manage their debts.
• Students completing the certificate will be able to educate a client on the basics of investing. 

The required coursework for the Consumer Affairs--Accredited Financial Counselor Certificate is designed to provide the students with base and specialized knowledge and skills to work with individuals and families as an AFC (Accredited Financial Counselor). Core skills include subject matter expertise in a variety of areas including financial goal setting, budgeting, banking, credit, debt management, housing, insurance, investing, and major purchase acquisitions. 

Once students complete their required coursework, they will be able to sit for the AFC exam. Once they pass the exam and complete their 1000 experience hours as required by AFCPE (the accrediting body) they will become an AFC and can establish a private practice or work for a company or non-profit. 

Note: Part of the 1000 experience hours will be earned in the 3-unit FCS 91 Work Experience course. 

FCS 41 Life Management (3 units); Year 1 Fall

FCS 51 Consumerism: The Movement, Its Impact, and Issues (3 units); Year 1 Spring

FCS 61 Housing in Global Perspectives (3 units); Year 1 Fall

FCS  70 Financial Counseling (3 units); Year 1 Spring

FCS 80 (or BUSA 71) Personal Financial Planning (3 units); Year 1 Fall

FCS 91 Work Experience in Family and Consumer Science (3 units); Year 1 Spring

Total = 18 units

FCS (Family and Consumer Studies) Program

None. Once approved this would be the only Accredited Financial Counselor Certificate in the Los Angeles Region and also in the state.

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