Continuing education through the NACCC is a three-step process. All certified credit counselors must complete 16 approved continuing education credits within a two-year span to remain certified. The first step in the process is to order the continuing education courses from the Institute for Financial Counseling. The second step is to simply complete the coursework. Counselors can complete online courses at their own convenience. Counselors who wish to complete courses offered by organizations other than the Institute for Financial Counseling must submit an online approval form and receive preapproval for credit. Courses completed through the institute need not be reported. The final step is to complete an application for certification renewal, listing all continuing education units completed.
It is important for credit counselors to ensure that they are taking the right courses for continuing education. The NACCC guidelines stipulate that each unit is the equivalent of one hour of coursework. Acceptable courses of study must deal with personal financial management, debt or credit-related issues. The NACCC also approves courses that cover topics related to how credit counselors complete their jobs such as communications courses or those concerning ethics. The NACCC approves these courses when credit counselors submit a request using the NACCC's online approval form. Credit counselors may earn continuing education credits through online courses, live seminars or even correspondence courses that use CDs, DVDs and written manuals. The NACCC approves or rejects all applications for continuing education requirements within 14 days.
The NACCC notes that the continuing education requirement exists to help counselors maintain a proper level of professionalism and stay up to date on trends in the industry. Continuing education requirements protect both consumers and counselors when new laws may affect how counselors help clients. The NACCC also advises that credit counselors keep records of their continuing education units in case discrepancies arise in the approval process.