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Online Personal Finance Institute

for Adult Educators & Service Providers

Register Now

In partnership with

Logo of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education with a stylized sun and the text 'Transforming Lives and Communities'.
Logo of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education with a stylized sun and the text 'Transforming Lives and Communities'.

Educators Learn

Personal finance content via a curated collection
of 450+ resources

Institute Classroom-Ready Assignments

Reusable with Adult Learners

Real-World

Instructional context for integration into other subjects

Zoom
Breakout Groups

For national networking & collaboration

National Networking and Collaboration

Live Zoom Classes

3:00-4:30pm ET | Aug. 24, Oct. 12, Nov. 30

Class recordings are also available

Who Should Attend?

Any adult service provider who works in adult education, basic skills and HSE/GED programs, literacy organizations, workforce development, career coaching, employment centers, social services, aging and vocational rehabilitation, benefits/work incentives, disability services, corrections, veterans affairs, American Job Centers, Goodwill Industries, United Way, immigrant services, disenfranchised youth programs (alternative education, juvenile justice, Job Corps, etc.), foster care, substance recovery programs, homelessness aide, community colleges, and other like-minded nonprofit and government organizations.

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Program Description

Part A

Aug. 24 – Oct. 16, 2026

25 Hours of Professional Development (8 Weeks)

Part A Topics:

Economic Decision-Making Skills

Money Values

Financial Goal Setting

Earning Income

Human Capital

Taxes

Budgeting

Reducing Expenses

Spending Decisions

Saving

Banking

Part B

Oct. 26 – Dec. 11, 2026

20 Hours of Professional Development (7 Weeks)

Part B Topics:

Credit

Borrowing & Debt

Bankruptcy

Scams

Identity Theft

Payday Lending

Insurance

Investing

Retirement

Paying for College

Consumer Rights & Responsibilities

Empower adult learners to become better money managers for a prosperous future!

A young woman with dark hair and a green shirt holding a credit card, smiling against an orange background.

The overarching goal of this online Institute is to streamline adult educators’ learning of personal finance content by reviewing classroom-ready curricula and resources, including lessons, videos, infographics, PPT slides, simulations, games, etc. That is, personal finance content and instructional strategies are learned simultaneously to reduce instructional preparation time. Vetted by 23 years of experience, this professionally curated collection of 450+ resources features the greatest hits in personal finance education and is geared toward adult learners with limited education and income. Basic economic concepts and reasoning skills are used a lens for making more informed and empowered financial decisions.

The experiential learning Institute is extremely flexible and accessible to a variety of adult education and workforce development audiences and easily customizable to different learning formats, including real-world contextualized instruction (e.g., GED math instruction), standalone semester courses, community workshops, one-on-one counseling sessions, etc. Online modules are self-paced with practical, applied, and reflective assignments that can be reused with adult learners. Live Zoom classes feature breakout groups for WIOA and cross-state/agency networking, collaboration, and resource sharing.

The Institute is aligned with the National Standards for Personal Finance Education by the Jump$tart Coalition and Council on Economic Education; 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.

Flexible completion

Flexible completion options include a statewide cohort on a set schedule or independent study at one’s own pace. Part A and Part B may be completed in any order to earn TIVA Certification, or either Part may be completed individually for professional development hours. TIVA Personal Finance Educator Certification, Certificate of Complete, and Digital Badge included.

Note

This Institute is aligned with the U.S. Personal Finance Certification Examination, equipping teachers with the content knowledge, instructional strategies, curriculum, and resources that they need to teach personal finance and prepare students to pass the exam. Exam details linked here (PDF).

The 1.5 million U.S. adult learners with limited education and income often have low levels of financial literacy, making them

6x

more likely to have trouble paying bills.

3x

more likely to be in significant debt.

3x

more likely to be unable to cover a $2,000 emergency expense.

5x

more likely to lack enough savings to cover one month of living expenses.

4x

more likely to spend 10+ hours/week dealing with personal finance challenges.

Financial management skills offer freedom, hope, and empowerment, creating a less stressful future filled with agency and financial choices while breaking intergenerational cycles of poverty and reducing the risk of financial dependence, exploitation, and fraud.

Full “Making the Case” article and references linked here (PDF).

Registration & Payment

Questions?

Please email Dr. Cheryl Ayers (cheryl42@vt.edu)

$450

for both Parts A & B

$225 for Part A or Part B

45 hours of professional development

Or optional 3 hours of undergraduate or graduate university credit available

Complete the Registration Form