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
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
Order the Exam
Purchased and administered through our partner, CTECS.
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.
Credit for Prior Learning
The U.S. Entrepreneurship Certification Examination is accepted as 3 hours of Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) at community colleges and other postsecondary institutions nationwide. Email Dr. Cheryl Ayers at cheryl42@vt.edu for details.
Professional Development
The Online Entrepreneurship Institutes for high school teachers and adult educators (two separate Institutes) are offered annually. These national and state-specific Institutes are aligned with the U.S. Entrepreneurship Certification Examination, equipping participants with the content knowledge, instructional strategies, curriculum, and 400+ classroom-ready resources that they need to teach entrepreneurship while preparing high school students and adult learners to pass the exam. 3 Hours of university undergraduate or graduate credit is optional for $135. Email Dr. Cheryl Ayers at cheryl42@vt.edu for details.
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.
Download the free manual (PDF)
📓
Study Guide /
Curriculum Framework
Independent learning and self-directed review guide or curriculum framework for teaching one to two-semester courses in personal finance.
📋
E-SESS Participant Guide
E-SESS online assessment platform instructions for exam takers.
📝
Two Practice Exams
Assess the same personal finance content, just written on different literacy levels.
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.
Order the Exam
Purchased and administered through our partner, CTECS.