AFC case studies
AFC · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®) credential is issued by the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE®), a national nonprofit, and was established in 1994. AFCPE describes it as a structured, rigorous credential grounded in behavior-change counseling technique, so the practitioner's incentive is the client's outcome rather than a commission. It is designed for people who help individuals and families build a financial foundation and reach their goals - professionals in government and military financial readiness programs, higher education and academia, private practice, and nonprofit and community-service organizations. Certification rests on four steps that AFCPE says may be completed in any order: Education (multiple pathways satisfy the educational requirement to sit for the exam), Exam (one proctored examination offered on a rolling basis at over 300 locations nationwide), Experience (1000 hours required, with many ways to earn them and past experience potentially counting), and Ethics (signing the AFCPE Code of Ethics). The AFC case studies are 5 cases and about 2,782 words.
1The Scholarship Eligibility Dilemma
You are the financial aid director at a small liberal arts college. A donor has established a scholarship for 'students who demonstrate financial need and academic merit.' The donor's letter specifies that preference should be given to 'students from underrepresented backgrounds.' The college's policy defines 'underrepresented' as first-generation college students, students from low-income families, and students from racial or ethnic groups historically underrepresented in higher education.
598 words, about 3 min2The Exam Accommodation Request
You are the coordinator for a professional certification exam. A candidate, Alex, has requested a 50% extra time accommodation due to a documented learning disability.
575 words, about 3 min3The Inexperienced Volunteer
You are the volunteer coordinator for a community health clinic. The clinic relies on volunteers to provide basic health screenings at health fairs.
528 words, about 3 min4The Donor's Naming Rights Request
You are the director of development for a nonprofit environmental organization. Green, has offered a $1 million gift to fund a new climate research center.
586 words, about 3 min5The Data Privacy Breach
You are the manager of a small nonprofit that provides job training to low-income adults. The organization collects sensitive personal data, including social security numbers, income information, and health data, from participants.
495 words, about 2 min