Also called the Financial Management Course. Required after filing, before your discharge is granted.
Covers personal financial management, budgeting, savings, and responsible credit use. It is designed to help you build better financial habits after bankruptcy.
After filing, before discharge is entered. Missing this deadline can prevent your discharge from being granted. Do not wait until the last minute.
Most U.S. Trustee-approved agencies offer fully online completion in approximately two hours. Some offer phone-based completion as well.
Your case may be closed without a discharge being entered. Reopening a case to file a late certificate typically involves fees and additional steps.
You may use the same provider you used for credit counseling, but you can also choose any different approved agency for your district.
Waiting too long after filing and missing the deadline to submit the debtor education certificate.
Using a provider not approved for your specific district — verify at justice.gov/ust.
Not submitting the certificate to the court after completion — the certificate must be filed, not just completed.
Married couples each need their own certificate — one completion does not cover both spouses.
Example providers shown for reference. Always verify approval at justice.gov/ust.
JustiPal™ does not verify court acceptance. Confirm your provider is approved by the U.S. Trustee Program for your district at justice.gov/ust.
Record your completion and keep your discharge requirements on track.