Certified Credit Counselor (Exam Included)   

Becoming a Certified Credit Counselor shows clients that you hold the financial knowledge and counseling techniques needed to teach them how to improve their financial well-being.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
• Speaker and video capabilities.
• Access to webcam for final exam proctoring.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Becoming a Certified Credit Counselor signifies that you have achieved a standard of excellence in the credit and personal finance counseling industry. Upon completing this course and passing the final exam, you will receive an industry-recognized Credit Counseling Certification from the National Association of Certified Credit Counselors (NACCC).

The knowledge gained in this course—core financial and credit concepts—is key to helping clients successfully take control of their finances. Certified Credit Counselors empower and counsel the financially stressed, implement financial plans with clients, and educate clients on finances.

This course also provides a foundation to explore additional counseling disciplines such as Housing Counselor and Student Loan Counselor. It prepares you for a career as a life coach and explores options for running your own consulting business.

1. The Defining Role of the Financial Counselor
   1. The Components of Financial Well-Being
   2. Establishing the Client/Counselor Relationship
   3. Rapport Building
   4. Poverty, Culture and Socioeconomic Variables
   5. Active Listening
   6. Asking the Right Questions
2. Taking Control of Finances
   1. The Problem-Solving Process
   2. Where the Client is Now
   3. Where the Client Wants to Go
   4. How the Client Will Get There
3. Demystifying Consumer Credit
   1. Banking Basics
   2. Credit Basics
   3. Choosing Credit Wisely
   4. Using Credit Wisely
   5. Understanding Credit Reports
   6. Credit Scoring
4. Understanding and Dealing with Debt
   1. Getting into Debt
   2. Debt Collection
   3. The Consequences of Unpaid Debt
   4. Getting Out of Debt
   5. Bankruptcy
5. Credit Counseling Today Supplement
   1. From Credit Cards to Credit Counseling
   2. Not Legal Advice or Therapy
   3. The Debt Management Plan
6. Keys to Success Review
   1. Section Review

What you will learn

• Counseling and communication techniques
• Poverty, Cultural and Socioeconomic Variables
• Understanding Consumer Protection Law
• Banking essentials
• Credit industry knowledge
• Credit scoring knowledge
• Credit counselor ethics
• Evaluating Alternatives to resolving debt

How you will benefit

• You will receive the NACCC Certified Credit Counselor designation after passing the final exam
• You will learn counseling techniques to help clients reach their financial goals
• You will learn banking and credit fundamentals to educate clients and help them eliminate debt and improve credit scores
• You will learn credit counselor ethics and other information to help future counselors work ethically, professionally, and legally

Bonnie Canty

Bonnie Canty is an attorney licensed in five states: Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, and New York. She obtained her Juris Doctorate degree from Hofstra School of Law and practices general law through her firm ABC Law, PLLC. She has been hired by several businesses and organizations to train, coach, and consult. Canty currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Society of Financial and Career Counseling Professionals and has been a Certified Financial Counselor for almost two decades.