What is a CFLE?

A CFLE or Certified Family Life Educator is a family life educator who has met requirements for certification established by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). The CFLE designation is a new and exciting advancement in the field of family life education, giving family life educators professional credentials and standards.

While CFLEs may work specifically in one discipline, such as parent education or marriage enrichment, their understanding of the many areas that affect today's families enables them to be more effective in their efforts to educate and work with individuals and families.

Brief History

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) has done much to define and professionalize the field of family life education in order to help the field grow. This brief timeline highlights key steps and the development of the CFLE program:

1963 -- NCFR initiates the process of defining family life education.

1966 -- NCFR establishes a committee for standards and certification in the field of family life education.

1970's -- National Commission of Family Life Education (NCFR task force) publishes "Family Life Education Programs, Principles, Plans, Procedures: A Framework for Family Life Education" a measuring stick identifying the subjects taught in the field.

1981 -- NCFR began framing "Standards and Criteria for Certification of Family Life Educators" to help clarify the knowledge and skills needed for effective practice.

1982 -- The Certified Family Life Educator Certification program approved by the NCFR Board of Directors.

1985 -- First Certified Family Life Educator application review. Since that time, 1049 applicants have completed the process and currently work in all 50 of the United States and 7 other countries (Canada, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan).

1996 -- NCFR begins academic program reviews, reviewing university and college degree programs for adherence to the CFLE criteria. Graduates of approved programs can qualify to apply for provisional approval following an Abbreviated process. To date 55 programs from 43 schools are approved for this Abbreviated process.

1999 -- NCFR introduces limited time Experience Recognition process which allows experienced family life educators to apply through a streamlined process until June 2001.

2003- There are now 1285 active CFLEs and 72 university programs approved to train CFLEs. The Certified Family Life Educator has become a designation that is widely recognized and valued. Many CFLEs are prepared to teach and strengthen the next generation of families.

Why become a CFLE?

· To increase the credibility of the field of family life education and its role in strengthening families.

· To distinguish yourself among family life educators.

· To represent extensive experience in family life education.

· To signify academic training in 10 substance areas.

· To better inform and aid families of the world.

CFLEs are needed in the following realms:

Corporate World
Counseling
Education System
Entrepreneurship
Extension System
Family Life Education
Healthcare System
Homefront
Military
Neighborhood and Community
Public Policy
Religious Sector
Social Service

See our Profile Educators to catch a glimpse of what some CFLEs are doing.

Certification Process

Standard Process

Education & Experience Requirements:
Minimum baccalaureate degree. If degree is social-science related, minimum of 2 years full-time experience. If degree is non-social science, minimum of 5 years full-time experience.

Application:
For this process applicants submit a portfolio documenting specific academic and practical work in the 10 substance areas and professional development (such as conference attendance or organization membership). An application packet is required and may be obtained here from NCFR for a small fee.

Abbreviated Process

This process is for graduates of undergraduate or graduate programs approved by NCFR. See NCFR’s list of approved programs.

Education and Experience Requirements:
Completion of an NCFR approved academic degree.
2 years of full-time experience.

Acceptable experience is defined as paid employment that involves prevention and education for individuals and families, that leads to more productive and satisfying living. Volunteer work may be considered but it must be in addition to paid employment and should be supported with some kind of training or formal preparation.

Employment is typically demonstrated through curriculum and material development, and the development or presentation of workshops, courses or programs involving life skills; i.e. communication, parenting, financial management, sexuality, etc.

Family life education can also involve program administration and policy development. Counseling, therapy, day care, preschool, teaching and/or administration and case management are not typically considered to be family life education.

Applicants need to have the equivalent of two years of full-time experience in family life education in order to be fully certified. NCFR considers 30+ hours per week to be full time. The total number of hours needed to qualify for Full certification is 3,120. Experience can be earned through part-time or full-time work, but needs to total approximately 3,120 hours. It is not necessary to document and break out work experiences on an hourly basis. This number is provided simply as a guideline.

For the most up to date info on experience requirements see www.ncfr.org/cfle/c_family_life_education_experience.htm.

Application:
Submit the following:

1. Official Transcript
Must show completion of approved undergraduate or graduate degree. No “C” grades will be accepted in required courses.

2. Approved Course Checklist (in pdf format just below your school name here.)

3. Abbreviated Process Application Form

4. Experience Letter
This letter should be addressed to NCFR and explain the scope and content of your experience. Include with your letter supporting documentation of your experience-a resume or vita, letters of reference, and samples of your work (e.g., any written materials, such as brochures, lesson plans or evaluations).

Deadlines:
Applicants applying for provisional status may submit just their transcript, checklist and application form after completion of the degree. See a provisional certificate here. Applicants may use the CFLE credential in their work toward full certification.

Applicants must upgrade to full status by submitting the experience letter/documentation within 5 years. Applicants applying directly for full status submit all requirements together after completion of the degree and experience requirement.

Maintenance

CFLEs must maintain their certification by fulfilling the following requirements:

· Payment of Annual Maintenance Fee
Each year CFLEs submit a fee to NCFR and receive a date sticker to affix their certification (see sample full certificate here- this is on the .org page). Maintenance fees allow NCFR to provide CFLE benefits.

· Experience
CFLEs must be actively involved in family life education. This may be paid employment or volunteer work.

· Education
CFLEs must continue to build their skills and knowledge by participating in continuing education activities. NCFR requires 100 hours of continuing education (or 10 CEUs) over a five-year period. (Continuing education activities are usually counted in units of 10 hours called CEUs-Continuing Education Units.)

NCFR further requires that the continuing education activities meet the following conditions:

· Activities must be outside one's normal work responsibilities.

· Each activity must be related to one of the 10 substance areas and cannot all relate to the same area. (A minimum of 2 areas must be covered.)

· Each activity must be of the following types and cannot all be of the same type (a minimum of 2 types is required):

Academic Preparation (e.g. university coursework, 3 credits = 3 CEUs)
Professional Development (e.g. attendance at a professional conference or in-service training)
Work Experience (e.g. special creative projects or additional work involvement)

Re-Certification

CFLEs must re-certify every five years. CFLEs receive a CEU record with their certificate. CFLEs should track any continuing education activities over the five-year period on this record. It is not required that special CEU certificates be obtained, only that hours of involvement are recorded. This record must be submitted along with the re-certification fee. If all required conditions are met and the CFLE is current on payment of annual maintenance fees, a new certificate and CEU record will be mailed.

CFLE Application Fees

NCFR Member / Non-Member
Application Packet (Regular Process) $8 / $10
Regular Process Provisional Certification $100 / $200
Abbreviated Process Provisional Certification $65 / $95
Full Certification
(Regular or Abbreviated Process and upgrade from Provisional Certification) $200 / $300
Experience Recognition Process $225 / $325
Annual Maintenance $40 / $65
Re-Certification (every 5 years) $40 / $65

NCFR Membership Applicants may apply for NCFR membership at the same time as they apply for certification. Membership application requires a form that may be submitted on-line or by mail and membership fees based on membership type. Members receive privileges and their choice of NCFR's academic journals. The following are common membership choices:
Student
1 journal $50
2 journals $75
Associate (1 journal) $88
Supporting (no journal) $53

(For the most up-to-date and complete information, see www.ncfr.org.)

Deadlines:

NCFR's Certification Review Committee reviews regular applications only twice a year. Submission deadlines are March 3rd and September 3rd. Applicants who apply for provisional status (document education requirement only) must upgrade to full status (document experience requirement) within 5 years.

For more information contact NCFR

Dawn Cassidy, Certification Director
763-781-9331 Ext. 12
3989 Central Ave NE, Suite 550
Minneapolis, MN 55421
cassidyd@ncfr.org

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