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U.S. Personal Finance Certification Examination
The U.S. Personal Finance Certification Examination is an entry-level assessment that is customized for high school students and adult learners to measure a foundational understanding of personal finance knowledge and skills, including wealth-building strategies such as investing and retirement planning. Two exam options are available based on the reading level of exam takers for more equitable accessibility and accurate assessment of their preparedness to achieve financial literacy and a prosperous financial future.
TARGET AUDIENCES
The U.S. Personal Finance Certification Examination is an education and workforce development credential for high school, special education, adult and literacy education, correctional education, workforce training, postsecondary education programs, and others.
LITERACY LEVELS
The U.S. Personal Finance Certification Examination offers two exams—Exam A and Exam B—written on different literacy levels, but both exams assess the same important personal finance content required for successful money management by high school students and adult learners. Both exams earn the same Certificate of Certification and Digital Badge.
EXAM OPTIONS
The U.S. Personal Finance Certification Examination offers two exam options based on the reading level of the exam taker; however, both exams assess the same important personal finance knowledge and skills.
EXAM A
Reading Level: Lower middle school
Exam Takers: High school students reading below grade level and adult learners with limited literacy
Education Programs: High school, special education, adult and literacy education, workforce training, Adult Basic Education (ABE), English as a Second Language (ESL)
EXAM B
Reading Level: High school
Exam Takers: High school students and adult learners
Education Programs: High school, post-secondary, adult education, workforce training, High School Equivalency (HSE)/General Education Diploma (GED), Integrated Education Training (IET)
TOPICS
The personal finance knowledge and skills assessed on the U.S. Personal Finance Certification Examination (Exam A and Exam B) covers the following 12 content areas:
- Financial Decision Making
- Budgeting
- Income
- Taxes
- Banking
- Spending
- Credit
- Debt
- Scams & Identity Theft
- Insurance
- Savings
- Investing & Retirement
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STANDARDS BASED
The U.S. Personal Finance Certification Examination is based on the National Standards for Personal Financial Education by the Jump$tart Coalition and Council on Economic Education; the National Standards for Adult Financial Education by the Institute for Financial Literacy; Money Principles for All Americans by the Financial Literacy and Education Commission; and, Career & Technical Education (CTE) personal finance competencies.
INDUSTRY APPROVED
The U.S. Personal Finance Certification Examination is an industry-approved certification exam. The exam questions were developed, reviewed, and revised by national academic experts and industry leaders from the following stakeholder groups: banking, credit unions, insurance, credit cards, wealth management, certified financial planning, universities, community colleges, adult education (ABE, ESL, HSE/GED), correctional education, workforce development, immigrant services, tribal nations, and high schools. Details in the Exam Manual.
PREPARATION RESOURCES
The Exam Resources Package includes the following preparation resources:
- Free Exam Manual
- Credential Administrators, Examination Review Panel, Examination Overview & Administration, Examination Blueprint & Resources Package, and Personal Finance Competencies
- Study Guide / Curriculum Framework
- Independent learning and self-directed review guide or curriculum framework for teaching one to two-semester courses in personal finance
- Two Practice Exams
- Assess the same personal finance content, just written on different literacy levels
- Vocabulary List
- List of vocabulary words for the 12 content areas of personal finance measured on the exam
- E-SESS Participant Guide
- E-SESS online assessment platform instructions for exam takers
A complimentary copy of the Exam Resources Package is available to administrators and educators for previewing purposes. Email Dr. Cheryl Ayers at cheryl42@vt.edu for details.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
NOTE: The Online Personal Finance Institutes for high school teachers and adult educators (two separate Institutes) are offered annually. The Institutes are aligned with the U.S. Personal Finance Certification Examination, equipping participants with the content knowledge, instructional strategies, curriculum, and 400+ classroom-ready resources that they need to prepare high school students and adult learners to pass the Exam. 3-Hours of university undergraduate or graduate credit is optional for $135.
