American consumers continue to need reliable financial advice from budgeting to navigating financial hardships. CUNA Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP) provides credit union staff with the skills and knowledge required to guide members to financial security.

With certified financial counselors on staff, credit unions are better able to:

• Help those experiencing financial difficulties
• Demonstrate the credit union difference
• Attract new members
• Grow product and service revenue
• Reduce delinquencies and charge-offs

Since 2011, credit unions with at least one Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) averaged a 52.7% drop in delinquency rate, while credit unions without a designee averaged 47% over the same period. That's an almost 6% difference in favor of credit unions with CCUFC designees on staff. Download this complimentary case study to learn how Ascension Credit Union enhanced their commitment to the "people helping people" philosophy by committing to extensive financial counseling knowledge through the CUNA FiCEP. 

FiCEP is designed for credit union staff who work in the financial counseling, collections and loan departments, or any other staff members who are committed to helping members gain control of their financial future.

Through FiCEP training you will discover the:

• Three types of counseling options: remedial, preventive and productive
• Myths and truths about money
• First steps in counseling a member and analyzing their financial condition
• Systematic plan for spending, bill-paying and saving that reduces debt
• Importance of encouraging members to review their credit report on an annual basis
• Ability to "enter the member's world" and connect the impact of their perceptions to their financial well-being
• Six-step process can help your endeavors by building a strong counseling relationship

The Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) designation is earned by passing two proctored exams. The designation requires recertification every three years. Learn more about proctored exams.

Step 2. Study the curriculum contained within the 8 modules.

Step 3. Request the exams. Select a proctor, schedule an exam date and complete a proctored exam request form.

Step 4. Take the two required exams (online or by paper). Each exam consists of 100 multiple choice questions. Your certificate will be mailed to you 6-8 weeks after passing the exams. At that point, you may begin using the CCUFC designation after your name.

The American Council on Education's College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE Credit®) has evaluated and recommended college credits for eight of CUNA designations. Founded in 1918, ACE is the major coordinating body for all the nation's higher education institutions, representing more than 1,600 college and university presidents and more than 200 related associations nationwide. It provides leadership on key higher education issues and influences public policy through advocacy. For more information, visit the ACE CREDIT website at www.acenet.edu/credit.