Accredited Financial
Counsellor Canada
Empower Lives with Ethical Financial Guidance
Become AFCC Certified
Make a difference by helping individuals achieve financial security.
Join a community that values ethical practice and client empowerment.
The Professional Mark that Canadians Trust
Are You AFCC Certified?
Empower yourself. Empower Others.
Book a call today and Get Certified.
Using your smartphone and your Camera App, scan the QR code to book a meeting with a member of our Certification Department in Canada. An AFCC Alumni will gladly help.
Otherwise, you can click the following button to be taken to the booking page directly.
Meet The Standard in Canada Become AFCC Certified.
Show Canadians that you hold the mark of excellence through the AFCC designation. Start today and achieve the mark that is appropriate for this speciality of client care.
Accredited Financial Counsellor Canada (AFCC) certification program, exclusively available and offered through the Canadian Association for Financial Empowerment (CAFE), sets the Standard for financial literacy and counselling excellence in Canada.
The AFCC certification is designed to equip professionals with the comprehensive knowledge, practical skills, and ethical framework required to guide Canadians toward their desired financial empowerment.
Professionals across Canada seek the AFCC designation to demonstrate their ability, expertise, but also their commitment to a Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
AFCCs both guide and create a space that is fundamental to conduct the nuanced and oftentimes delicate conversations required with an AFCC practitioner and the trust of their client. Often the individual or family may be part of a vulnerable group in which all of us as global citizens have even more responsibility to conduct the interaction with the highest degree of ethics, compassion and support. Without judgement. Without bias.
“At the heart of our mission at CAFE, lies the Accredited Financial Counsellor Canada (AFCC) program, a cornerstone of our commitment to excellence and empowerment.
The question we must ask ourselves is,
'Who should become an AFCC, and why?”
- Lauren Cañafranca, AFCC
Scan the QR code to book a meeting with our Certification Department.
Professional Excellence
In Financial Literacy Counselling
As an Accredited Financial Counsellor Canada (AFCC), you are at the forefront of financial empowerment. You offer personalized financial education, meeting clients where they are and guiding them through all viable options. Your role extends beyond advice; you provide continuous support to help clients manage their finances effectively.
This dedication fosters long-term financial stability and success, positioning you as a cornerstone in the financial well-being of Canadians. Your expertise transforms lives, enabling clients to achieve their financial goals with confidence.
Committed to Client Care
Ethical Standards and Client Care in Canada
AFCC professionals are unwavering in their adherence to a stringent code of ethics and standards of practice. Your commitment to integrity and competence ensures that you act in the best interests of your clients, free from conflicts of interest and personal gain.
This ethical foundation guarantees clients receive unbiased, high-quality financial advice, promoting trust and long-term financial health. By upholding these standards, you not only protect your clients but also elevate the profession, setting a benchmark for excellence in financial counselling.
Client Centric and Human First
AFCCs United = Communities Empowered
By becoming an AFCC, you align with a national network of dedicated professionals who share a commitment to financial empowerment and ethical care. Financial issues typically present in most professions, but in addition to life events, there often are a variety of root causes that may need to be addressed to assist your clients through navigating appropriately as you work together towards their financial empowerment. Leaning on your fellow AFCCs will connect you to many other different businesses that offer adjacent services but do so under the same Code of Engage in ongoing education, training, and networking opportunities through Empowerment CAFÉ.
WHAT IS THE AFCC PROGRAM?
The AFCC designation marks the highest standard of excellence in the field of financial counselling and education. It recognizes the unique skills, knowledge and integrity of highly trained financial practitioners in the areas of personal finance, consumer credit, money management and financial counselling. AFCC is a commitment to ongoing professional development, adhere and attest to a professional Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice to help provide a level of accountability and due-diligence in protecting any that are vulnerable in relation to their circumstances.
The AFCC meets the client where they are. They are required to effectively analyze, triage and create lasting financial behavioural and attitudinal change reflective of the client's goals and pursuits.
The Canadian Association for Financial Empowerment is the exclusive licensee of the Accredited Financial Counsellor Canada (AFCC) program in partnership with the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE) in the United States who offer the American program, the Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC) program for professionals in or working with clients within the United States. The AFCC Mark is a Registered Trademark of the AFCPE.
While CAFE is the Certification Body for Canada and provides all AFCC oversight, programming and advancements relating to the evolving Canadian Financial Literacy and Counselling certification, CAFE is partnered with our American colleagues and fellow global leaders in holding the Standard. In North America and working globally, we strive to ensure Financial Literacy and Counselling excellence is able to always rise and continue to meet the needs of a growing global community.
Financial distress does not discriminate and we invite all leaders and industry allies to join with us to increase the access and urgency for financial empowerment through certification.
Accredited Expertise
The Canadian Association for Financial Empowerment (CAFE) has a storied legacy in setting and maintaining high standards in financial counselling. Since the 1960s, we have led the way in accrediting non-profit Credit Counselling agencies. Our rigorous standards ensure that AFCCs are not only well-trained but also continually updated on the latest in personal finance, credit, and debt management.
The AFCC designation symbolizes a commitment to excellence, backed by continuous education and strict examination requirements. This accreditation process guarantees that you are among the best in the field, capable of delivering exceptional financial counselling services.
As the certification and accreditation body in Canada, we were one of 5 Social Services that combined the very best of us in Best Standards of Practice and Governance so that the collective of social services could all reach to be the best in the country.
Through CCA administering our program, CAFE continues to hold the leading standards module for financial counselling and ensures no foul play that is possible through conflicts of interest by other approaches by other industries.
A Culturally Nuanced Certification
AFCCs are uniquely equipped to understand and navigate Canada's diverse financial landscape. You provide relevant and localized advice that meets the unique needs of communities across the country. The AFCC designation is more than a credential; it's a commitment to addressing the financial challenges faced by Canadians with sensitivity and expertise.
By joining us, you become part of a dynamic network dedicated to improving financial literacy and stability across Canada using uniquely Canadian virtues that set us apart and above others.
Professional Continuing Education
AFCCs are dedicated to continuous professional development, ensuring they stay at the forefront of financial trends and regulations. Our growing online community is a hub of knowledge, featuring a comprehensive collection of stories and insights from AFCC leaders. In times of financial crisis, your role becomes even more critical.
We invite you to join us in this mission, leveraging your expertise to empower clients and foster financial resilience. As an AFCC leader, you can lead Learning Labs, demonstrating your specialty and helping the network connect and grow. Together, we can create a future where financial empowerment is accessible to all Canadians.
To learn more, view under our RESOURCES tab the AFCC Guide to CEUs in Canada. If you have questions, you can book a meeting with our certification team who would be happy to assist with any questions.