Personal and Family Finance

The Personal and Family Finance credential emphasizes the knowledge and skills necessary for success in managing personal and family financial matters in daily life. The credential documents student achievement of financial literacy competencies required for high school graduation and validates competencies required for employment. 

The Personal and Family Finance credential is aligned to the National Standards for Personal Financial Education developed by the Jump$tart Coalition and Council for Economic Education (CEE).

The Personal and Family Finance credential is appropriate for programs in secondary and post-secondary education, community-based education, and employer-based staff development.   Eligible candidates for the pre-professional credentials have not attained a bachelor’s degree. Individuals with a bachelor's degree or higher are eligible for the AAFCS professional certifications. 

  • Financial Responsibility and Decision Making
  • Risk Management and Insurance
  • Planning and Money Management
  • Credit and Debt
  • Income and Careers
  • Saving and Investing

Assessment Blueprint

Assessment Bulletin

Includes detailed information on assessment design, scoring, content, sample test items, and resources

Alignment Matrices

21st Century Student Outcomes

Career Ready Practices

Employability Framework

Administration Format: Online

Paper & Pencil Available: No

Number of Test Items: 70 scored items and 10 non-scored (for research purposes)

Time Allowed (minutes): Untimed; Average time is 45-65 minutes

Can the instructor/teacher take this test? No*

* AAFCS Pre-PAC policy does not allow teachers to sit for the exam and earn the credential. If there is a state or district mandate/policy in place requiring the assessment/certification for teachers, then a written waiver of the requirement would need to be received and approved by AAFCS. For states/districts who have an approved waiver, AAFCS sets limitations on the actual test administration.

Click here for the list of current certification scores The national cut score for pre-professional certification eligibility is established annually by AAFCS. Scores can be used to demonstrate competency, identify gaps in performance, enhance programs and curricula, and demonstrate accountability to stakeholders. Through articulation agreements, scores may be used as the basis for advanced placement and/or credit-by-exam at post-secondary institutions. When the assessment is submitted, the results are immediately available to the test candidate. The results provide an overall percentage score, a breakdown of scores corresponding to domains, and indicate if the pre-professional credential was achieved.


AAFCS credentials are based on industry standards. The Development Panel was comprised of industry professionals and educators. The following stakeholders participated on the development panel for the credentialing assessment.

Todd Christensen, Debt Reduction Services, Boise John Meeks, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Raleigh, NC Mary Ann Campbell, Money Magic, Little Rock, AR
Missy Tysinger, Wachovia Corporation, Charlotte, NC Jason Alderman, VISA U.S.A., San Francisco, CA William Cheeks, Jump$tart Coalition, Powder Springs, GA
William Cheeks, Jump$tart Coalition, Powder Springs, GA Jeanne Hogarth, Federal Reserve Board, Washington, DC Nichole Chinadle, Family Economics & Financial Education (FEFE), Tucson, AZ
Pamela Bennett, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR Faye Griffiths-Smith, Cooperative Extension System, North Haven, CT Anna Goff, Farmington School District, Farmington, AR
Kathryn Cox, Wake County Schools, Raleigh, NC

Email Pre-PAC

Direct Telephone Line: 703-636-7641