Become Certified
Wondering why you should become a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE)? Learn about the benefits.
You can also reference this slide deck (PDF) or book chapter for information about how to become a CFLE.
Minimum Requirements to Become a CFLE
Applicants for the CFLE credential must have completed at least a bachelor's degree at an accredited college/university.
Accredited means a recognized regional agency for the accreditation of a baccalaureate institution. Acceptable agencies include: Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), New England Commission of Higher Education, Inc (NECHE), Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS COC), and Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior College and University Commission (WASC WSCUC).
Two Levels of Certification
Provisional Certification
Provisional certification is available to applicants who can demonstrate content knowledge in each of the 10 Family Life Education content areas, but who have not yet earned enough work experience hours in Family Life Education to qualify for full-certification status.
Full Certification
Full certification is available to CFLE applicants who can demonstrate both content knowledge and sufficient work experience in Family Life Education. Learn more about work experience for full certification.
Two Ways to Become a CFLE
1. Graduate From a CFLE-Approved Program
The CFLE-approved program application is for recent college graduates — graduated within two years of their CFLE application date — of CFLE-approved academic programs.
2. Take the CFLE Exam
The CFLE exam is available for those who are not recent graduates of a CFLE-approved academic program.
Application Guides
Use the guides below to preview various CFLE applications and the associated steps.
Watch Video: How to Become a CFLE
Degrees Earned Outside the U.S.
Applicants with a degree earned outside of the United States must provide evidence of degree equivalency to a degree earned in the United States. Credentials should be evaluated by an official credential evaluation service that is a member of the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). Find a list of AICE members on the AICE website.
Degrees earned in Canada must be accredited through the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC).
Order Copies of the CFLE Brochure
Promote the Certified Family Life Educator credential with free copies of the CFLE trifold brochure!