Top Certification Designation for Individuals Who Desire to Teach Financial Skills: Certified Financial Education Instructor® (CFEI®)

Teaching personal finance effectively demands specialized skills because each learner will have a different background related to managing money. The Certified Financial Education Instructor® (CFEI®) certification is designed to qualify instructors to adapt lessons in alignment with audiences’ unique financial habits, emotions, and current situations. This training imparts not only the content knowledge, but also the teaching strategies that give instructors credibility and build trust.

Well-qualified personal finance educators underpin the success of any financial education program. Effective instructors with solid credentials achieve better learner outcomes, earn more respect, and have much greater impact.

The CFEI programming improves instructors’ presentation skills, personal finance knowledge, and confidence to teach financial wellness for maximum success.

Designed for a Variety of Instructional Goals

The NFEC’s Certified Financial Education Instructor® program addresses the objectives of a variety of personal finance training options – from large-scale initiatives, to classes, to workshops and seminars, to small group sessions.

The CFEI® training gives educators the credibility, expertise, and confidence to teach financial education lessons effectively. Graduating from this certification program showcases both your qualifications to teach the content and your positioning as a top financial education instructor in your community.

Instructors who have earned the CFEI® designation say they experience more enjoyment while teaching and that participants in their personal finance programs accomplish better results.

Topics & Requirements

The CFEI® training curriculum meets top benchmarks for academic rigor while also teaching personal finance knowledge that is practical and applicable. Graduates demonstrate that they have the skill and pedagogy to motivate, engage, educate, and move learners to take positive action toward managing their finances.

The certification coursework consists of approximately 40-60 hours of training (4 CEU/Continuing Education Units). To graduate, you also must successfully complete a final exam. Trainees have the option to test out of some parts of the training. The program has two main sections:

1. Content Knowledge: Understanding of foundational financial literacy topics (e.g. budgeting, savings, credit/debt, higher education, investing).

2. Educational Techniques: To ensure that learners are prepared to take positive action, knowledge of best practices for financial education and research-based teaching principles empowers instructors to engage and connect with students.

Standards

The CFEI® program is backed by the top standards for instructors in the industry. The NFEC collaborated with the Danielson Group, creators of the top-referenced educator standards in the educational field, to develop the first and only national standards for financial educators: The Framework for Teaching Personal Finance.

This Framework lays out the skills and performance standards that characterize optimal capabilities educators should possess. The standards identify the requirements for financial educators that have been empirically shown to produce the highest gains in learner test scores.

Designed around the standards described in the Framework for Teaching Personal Finance, the CFEI® training qualifies financial education instructors who comply with the highest standards of academic knowledge and practice.

Who We Serve

  • Educators – Pre-K through College
  • Financial Professionals – Advisors; Agents; Banking Professionals
  • Philanthropists – Donors; Parent Advocates; Activists
  • Entrepreneurs – Small Businesses; Service Expansions
  • Nonprofit Staff – Volunteers; Content Writers; Administrators
  • Community-based Leaders – Family & Youth Services; Faith-based Organizations; Community Groups

Guaranteed Top Financial Educator Training

Graduates of the Certified Financial Education Instructor® program get the most comprehensive, best-quality, and well-recognized credentials of any financial educator training program available today. We back up this claim with a 30-day unconditional guarantee plus a full one-year, 100% money back guarantee. If, within one year after the purchase date, you provide details about a course that exceeds our training in those three areas and we agree – we will issue you a 100% refund. If you’re looking to earn certification from the leading training program – designed by the organization that developed national standards – this guarantee sets your mind at ease.

What’s Included in the CFEI® Course

Training & Resources

Receive all the resources and training necessary to earn the Certified Financial Education Instructor® designation. The training consists of comprehensive lessons and activities that increase your capability to deliver effective financial education, delivered via:

eLearning Education Center
Full production videos, interactive learning activities, and projects

Standards
Digital access to the Framework for Teaching Personal Finance, guidelines for financial education instructors

Project-based Learning
Presentations are customizable to integrate your own priorities and teaching style

Final Exam &
Graduation

The final exam for certification is delivered online. You must pass with a score of 75% or better to graduate. If you do not pass the first time, you may take the exam again. Graduates receive:

  • Certified Financial Education Instructor® Digital Logo
  • Letter Indicating Continuing Education Credits Earned (40 CEUs)
  • Use of the Title “Certified Financial Education Instructor®” and Acronym “CFEI®”
  • U.S. Residents Receive Certification in the Mail; International Receive Electronically

Personal Consultation & Call Support

The NFEC is vested in our graduates’ success. That’s why we offer support to help CFEIs plan and build their financial wellness initiatives. This support includes information about obtaining funding, business planning, programming options, and all facets of program development. Graduates receive support in the following ways:

  • Personal Consultation Call: 30-minute one-on-one consultation call for each graduate.
  • Continuing Education: The Online Learning Center (OLC) remains available to graduates for continuing education purposes.
  • Advocacy Promotion & Special Events: Graduates stay informed about the NFEC monthly advocacy campaigns and special programs.
  • Live Webinars: Optional live webinars are offered every Friday for ongoing training and Q & A sessions.

Raise Awareness, Advocate, & Attract Funding

The NFEC offers a package to each CFEI® graduate to help you leverage our advocacy promotions, raise awareness, and secure funding for your initiatives. These resources also establish your reputation as a well-qualified financial educator. We promote your efforts to our website visitors (more than 50,000 page views each month) and showcase your role as a financial wellness advocate by offering these resources complimentary:

  • Custom Webpage: Featuring your professional bio and photo, organization, and/or a specific event
  • Leadership & Expertise: Highlight your content creation, case studies, and advocacy efforts to demonstrate your impact
  • Promotional Campaigns: Graduates are eligible to participate in NFEC seasonal promotions such as Financial Educators Day (April), Cash for Candy (Halloween & Easter), and 6 other campaigns
  • Spotlight Pages: Spotlight features are written to showcase your webpages, programs, and events and promoted across NFEC social media accounts

Enroll in the CFEI® Certification Program

The CFEI® training is currently in its fifth iteration and its development was completed in consultation with more than 100 experts. These professionals brought expertise in education, finance, psychology, and specialized personal finance areas – all in strong alignment with evidence-based educational standards.

This certification program gives you the knowledge, skills, self-assurance, and credibility to teach financial education for maximum impact. You may enroll by completing the registration below or contact us using the method you prefer.

By enrolling in the CFEI® course, you have the opportunity to join a cadre of advocates working toward solutions to improve global financial wellness. This advocacy movement was defined in the NFEC’s National Financial Capability Strategy. Your investment supports a variety of initiatives funded according to the organization’s social enterprise business model.

Enroll now in the Certified Financial Education Instructor® Course to earn these valuable credentials and optimize the impact of your personal finance teaching. Qualified educators form one of the cornerstones of successful financial education – so you can make a meaningful difference in people’s financial lives. Click “Enroll Now” to register.

Ongoing Training Requirements

CFEI® graduates must retake and pass the certification test 3 years after earning their initial certification. This requirement must be completed within 9 months of the anniversary date when you first earned certification to maintain good standing.

CFEI® Professional Development Course

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