Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Certified Professional Financial Coach?
The Certified Professional Financial Coach™ is a professional financial coach who has demonstrated through training and experience that they are capable of providing a high level of service for their clients. They hold themselves and their financial coaching business to the highest standards of professionalism in the industry by being experts in the three pillars of financial coaching: business acumen, financial skills and coaching skills.
A Certified Professional Financial Coach™ is not someone who only coaches their friends and family members nor do they only provide financial coaching as a ministry service. Coaching is their career, and they are looking to expand their business and grow their client base.
What does the certification process entail?
Requirements for eligibility were created to ensure that the application process is fair. Each requirement was established to ensure coaches who are certified have a superior level of knowledge and proficiency necessary to provide financial coaching services. To earn the Certified Professional Financial Coach designation, all candidates must:
Application and Enrollment Dues
- Complete the application form
- Pay the registration fee
Educational Requirement
- Complete the Financial Coach Academy course. You can apply for certification after you have completed the course or in conjunction as you complete the course. Once you apply for certification, you have 12 months to submit your application and complete all requirements, including the course itself.
Experience Requirement
There are six modules in the Certified Professional Financial Coach™ program. Applicants must pass all six to become certified. They are:
- Answer, submit and pass the short essay questions
- Submit and pass the required supplemental business forms
- Submit and pass proof of coaching 10 clients (minimum of 6 paying clients), including three client testimonials
- Pass the multiple-choice examination
- Submit and pass two case studies
- Submit and pass your "Why" Video
For more information, on each module's requirements, see here.
Continuing Education
- Complete annual continuing education requirements (12 hours per year)
The requirements above can be met before or during your application window (12 months from date of applying). Certification will not be granted until all requirements have been completed successfully.
Final Certification
- Adhere to the Code of Ethics
- Annual renewal along with proof of Continuing Education requirements and the $99 renewal fee
For a complete listing of application requirements and guidelines, see the Application Handbook here.
Do I have to complete the Financial Coach Academy before applying for certification?
You can apply for certification after you have completed the course or in conjunction as you complete the course. Because the Financial Coach Academy is the educational component of the certification, we recommend you complete at least 75% of the FCA before you attempt the certification process. Once you apply for certification, you have 12 months to submit your application and complete all requirements, including the course itself.
How much does certification cost?
Fees are subject to change. As of January 2020, application and submission fees are $997 (or 6 payments of $185). Re-testing fees are $99 per module per retake. Annual renewal is $99/year. Continuing education costs are variable.
How is the Certified Professional Financial Coach™ different from other financial coaching certifications?
The Certified Professional Financial Coach designation focuses on business skills in conjunction with coaching skills and financial knowledge, unlike other certification programs that only focus on financial concepts and some coaching. It focuses on empowering those that are financial coaches as opposed to counselors and advisors.
Certified Professional Financial Coaches™ must demonstrate proven experience, skills, and business strategies that other financial coaching certifications don’t require. This ensures that only the highest quality of financial coaches can earn the designation of Certified Professional Financial Coach™.
What benefits are there to certification?
During the application process, you will have access to a private Facebook group for candidates and current coaches to help support you as you make your way through the certification process. In addition, there will be monthly mastermind calls with our board members to help answer your questions.
Once certified, you will have increased confidence, notoriety, credibility, and expertise because of the strict requirements of the Certified Professional Financial Coach™ application process, continuing education requirements, and our Code of Ethics.
You will also receive a professional certificate for public display and the Certified Professional Financial Coach™ logo for use in your marketing materials.
What happens when I submit or complete a module?
You will receive a confirmation email that we have received your materials. Please allow up to 2 weeks for grading per module. Once your material has been graded, you will receive a score sheet and be notified if you have passed the module.
What happens if I fail a module?
You get one free retake per module except for the multiple choice examination, which we charge a $99 retake fee. Subsequent retakes also will incur a $99 retake fee.
What happens once I am certified?
Once all of your requirements have been submitted, graded and passed, you will receive an email confirming that you have fulfilled all of the requirements and are able to use the designation of Certified Professional Financial Coach™ and all of the privileges associated with it. You will receive a certificate in the mail and digital copies of the certification logo for use on your marketing materials.
What are the requirements to maintain my certification?
You will be required to:
- maintain 12 hours of continuing education every year, beginning from the date of certification
- adhere to the Code of Ethics.
- pay an annual recertification fee of $99 to maintain your certification