The National Foundation for Credit Counseling

ACCC is a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), and our counselors have been certified through the NFCC’s certification program.

What is the NFCC?

The NFCC is the largest and longest-serving nonprofit financial counseling organization in the United States. Founded in 1951, the NFCC is dedicated to helping Americans gain control of their finances and achieve financial fitness.

NFCC programs and services are available through a national network of nonprofit member agencies like American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC). NFCC membership is considered the Gold Standard in the financial counseling sector – it’s the brand that consumer advocates point to when recommending financial counseling.

Standards of membership

To be eligible for membership in the NFCC, an organization must:

  • Be a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
  • Provide financial counseling services that comply with all applicable federal and state laws regulations.
  • Maintain accreditation through the Council on Accreditation (COA) or ISO 9001 certification through Bureau Veritas.
  • Comply with NFCC’s member quality standards.
  • Be qualified under the laws of the state in which the organization operates.

Counselor certification

Agencies that are members of the NFCC agree to certify their counselors through the NFCC certification program. An NFCC certification means that counselors have attained the professional knowledge and skills required to provide quality services. The program requires an initial certification and continuing education in service-related areas and mandatory recertification every two years for credit counseling and every year for housing and student loan counseling.

Counselors who have received NFCC certification will have the skills to help consumers address a wide range of financial issues. When you work with an NFCC-certified counselor, your counselor will be able to help you:

  • Establish goals and create action steps to achieve them.
  • Develop a working budget that may be revised during times of financial crisis.
  • Work with creditors to manage unsecured debt and explore alternatives that meet your needs and goals.
  • Evaluate the affordability of potential housing options.
  • Explore the steps required to obtain and maintain homeownership.
  • Understand your rights and responsibilities as a consumer.
  • Navigate the student loan repayment process.
  • Identify community resources and referrals that may help to improve your financial well-being.
  • Understand the collection and foreclosure process.
  • Develop strategies to overcome financial difficulties.
  • Learn techniques to cope with unplanned expenditures and prepare for the future.
  • Understand the credit reporting process and ways to improve credit scores.

Advocacy

In addition to supporting member organizations, the NFCC also serves as a consumer advocate. Working with large financial institutions, the NFCC seeks to advance issues like improving financial education, counseling, and debt repayment.