Many adults turn to a financial counselor for guidance when they need to improve their finances. In this course, you will learn credit counseling and financial assessment techniques, key aspects needed to earn the designation of "Certified Financial Health Counselor".
Requirements:
Hardware Requirements:
- This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.
- Computer must have stable Internet access.
- Speakers and video capabilities are required for viewing lecture videos.
- Access to webcam for final exam proctoring.
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.
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.
Staying financially healthy is important regardless of the economic climate. To provide financial health counseling, one must have a strong knowledge of core financial and credit concepts. This course will prepare you for a career in financial counseling as an independent counselor or a consultant to other businesses supporting individuals.
You will learn skills that can be applied to counseling disciplines such as housing counselor, student loan counselor, or financial coach. Upon successful completion of this course, you will earn a Certified Financial Health Counselor designation from the National Association of Certified Credit Counselors. Earning this designation establishes that you have achieved a standard of excellence in training for the credit counseling, coaching, or personal finance industry.
- The Defining Role of the Financial Counselor
- The Components of Financial Well-Being
- Establishing the Client/Counselor Relationship
- Rapport Building
- Poverty, Culture and Socioeconomic Variables
- Active Listening
- Asking the Right Questions
- Taking Control of Finances
- The Problem-Solving Process
- Where the Client is Now
- Where the Client Wants to Go
- How the Client will Get There
- Demystifying Consumer Credit
- Banking Basics
- Credit Basics
- Choosing Credit Wisely
- Using Credit Wisely
- Understanding Credit Reports
- Credit Scoring
- Understanding and Dealing with Debt
- Getting Into Debt
- Debt Collection
- The Consequences of Unpaid Debt
- Getting Out of Debt
- Bankruptcy
- Financial Counselor Today
- Ethics
- Consumer Resources
- Consumer Protection Legislation
- Housing Part 1
- Housing Part 2
- Housing Part 3
- Student Financial Aid
- Retirement Planning
What you will learn
- Credit industry and scoring knowledge
- Credit/financial counselor ethics
- Banking and finance essentials
- Counseling, motivation and communication techniques
- Fundamentals of consumer protection law
- Housing, retirement, and student loan information
How you will benefit
- You will learn effective counseling techniques for guiding clients towards reaching financial goals
- You will learn banking and credit fundamentals needed to educate clients and help them eliminate debt and improve credit scores
- Contains credit counselor ethics and other information to help future counselors work ethically, professionally and legally
- You will receive the Certified Financial Health Counselor designation after passing the final exam
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.