Take the final step toward earning your Accredited Personal Finance Coach® certification or enroll to complete needed mentor coaching hours.
Through a combination of one-on-one and group mentoring sessions, plus independent experience with real clients, participants reinforce their coaching skills in preparation for the final APFC® performance evaluation.
This course is also open to practitioners who need mentor coaching hours for certification, credentialing, or continued professional development.
Course Structure and Timing
Our courses are delivered in a cohort-based format, designed to support shared learning, reflection, practice, and connection. Each cohort moves through the program together, creating space for meaningful engagement, dialogue, and peer learning throughout the training experience.
The next APFC® Certification & Mentoring cohort will be held as an intensive starting September 26 2026. The scheduled session dates and times are listed below.
| Session | Date | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group Mentoring Session One | September 26, 2026 | Saturday | 9:00 AM–12:00 PM PT |
| Group Mentoring Session Two | October 17, 2026 | Saturday | 9:00 AM–11:00 AM PT |
| Group Mentoring Session Three | November 7, 2026 | Saturday | 9:00 AM–11:00 AM PT |
All session times are in Pacific Standard Time.
Registration opens July 01.
Enrollment closes August 31.
1:1 Mentorship: 3 one-hour sessions
Group Mentorship: 7 total hours spread across multiple sessions
Total Mentoring Hours: 10
Learning Experience and Completion
Outside of the mentorship sessions, you will have up to two years to complete your experience hours and final evaluation to earn your APFC® certification.
What to expect in this course
1:1 Mentoring Sessions
Before each one-hour session with your Mentor Coach, you’ll submit a 20-30-minute audio recording of a coaching session. You’ll receive feedback based on the ACC Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scales framework, helping you identify your strengths and areas for growth.
Group Mentoring Sessions
Attend a total of 7 hours of group mentorship to engage in peer-to-peer coaching practice. In each 30-minute demo, you’ll alternate as coach and coachee. Your Mentor Coach will observe and provide both verbal and written feedback to help you make adjustments to your approach.
Self-Paced Requirements
100 Experience Hours
We’ll help you figure out how to find clients so you can apply your coaching skills during real paid or pro bono sessions. These independent experience hours are an opportunity to practice everything you’ve learned throughout your training.
Evaluation Submission
For your final performance evaluation, you’ll submit one audio and one video recording with transcripts of a full coaching session with a real client for an assessment of your coaching skills based on ICF Core Competencies.
Co-requisite Completion/Financial Competency Requirement
To earn the APFC® certification, participants must demonstrate financial competency. This requirement may be completed before or during the APFC® program, but documentation must be submitted before the APFC® certification is awarded.
This requirement may be met through one of the following:
- An approved financial credential, such as AFC®, CFP®, ChFC®, CFA, CFT, or CPA
- Completion of a certificate, certification, or degree program in personal finance, financial counseling, financial planning, financial education, accounting, economics, or a related field
- Substantial academic coursework in personal finance, financial counseling, financial planning, financial education, accounting, economics, or a related field
The financial credentials listed above are provided as examples and are not intended to represent all credentials that may satisfy this requirement.
Documentation may include a certificate, credential verification, transcript, or other official record showing completion.
If you are unsure whether your prior education or credential applies, email certification@sagefinancialsolutions.org for review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any prerequisites for APFC® Certification?
To enroll in this course, you’ll need to have completed 67.5 hours of formal training through our APFC® program or another ICF-accredited financial coaching program. This includes only structured training hours, not mentor coaching or experience hours. Not sure if you’re eligible? Email your transcript to us for review.
How many spots are available?
This course is designed for small groups of 15 students to ensure personalized attention, a supportive learning experience, and a sense of community.
What’s the time commitment for this part of the APFC®program?
During course 2, you’ll complete a total of 24 live training hours and approximately 10 hours of self-study growth work. If you enroll in all three APFC® Program courses, you’ll complete a total of 177.5 training and experience hours.
With APFC® certification, am I eligible for the ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential?
Yes! APFC® certification meets the Level 1 ICF-accredited training requirement. To apply for ACC, submit your Level 1 ICF application with your APFC® certificate as proof of the training you completed. After your application is reviewed and approved, you’ll take the ICF Credentialing Exam for the ACC credential.
How do I maintain my APFC® certification?
To keep your Accredited Personal Finance Coach® certification active, you’ll need to complete 35 hours of continuing education over three years. You can meet this requirement through our 5-hour refresher courses or by submitting certificates from approved programs, including those from the CFP® Board, Financial Planning Association, ICF, and other similar professional organizations. These courses should cover personal finance fundamentals, coaching methodologies, therapeutic approaches to financial behavior, and professional ethics to ensure you stay well-rounded and equipped to coach effectively.
What if I miss a live session? Can I make up for it?
We understand that things come up! If you know you’ll miss more than two hours of live instruction, please reach out to your trainer in advance to discuss your options. We want to make sure you stay on track and get the most out of your experience.
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Course Includes
- 21 Lessons
- Course Certificate
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