CUNA Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP)

Connect. Grow. Counsel.

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 CU 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) have seen a significant drop in delinquency rates. 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 CUNA FiCEP.

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How to earn the CCUFC designation

Step 1. Choose your method of certification that best suits your learning style and budget.

Your options include:

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 4 weeks prior to the requested exam date.

Step 4. Take the two required exams (online or by paper). 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. NOTE: The Part 1 and Part 2 exams need to be taken before December 31, 2020. A new 5th Edition FiCEP Book and exam will be released in January 2021.

Recertification

Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) designees must recertify every three years to ensure knowledge about financial counseling is current. Learn more about FICEP recertification requirements. 

Who should get certified?

The CCUFC designation is earned through the FiCEP program, and is designed for credit union staff who work in the financial counseling, collections and loan departments, or any other staff 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