How long does the course take?
The online, self-directed portion of the Credit Counseling course takes about 45 minutes. Once you are done with this part, you have a choice between communicating with your counselor via email, chat, or phone, with the phone option being the quickest way to finish up your counseling.
Can I take the course together with my spouse?
Yes, our system is totally flexible. You can take it together, or separately.
If you take either course together, it is required that both of you are present while you complete the course.
How quickly do I get my certificate?
Certificates are issued immediately upon course completion. There is no extra charge for getting the certificate issued immediately.
Do you email the certificate to my lawyer?
Yes, provided that you let us know during the registration process who your attorney is.
We have a very large number of attorneys in our system. You can either enter your attorney's information or select them from our list. This service is FREE.
Do you file my certificate with the court?
We cannot file your Certificate of Credit Counseling because it needs to be part of your bankruptcy petition.
Does my information get shared with the court?
No. The bankruptcy court does not have any access to the information you provide.
In exceptional cases, we are required to disclose debtor information to the United States Trustee in connection with the United States Trustee's oversight of Summit Financial Education, or during the investigation of complaints, during on-site visits, or during quality of service reviews.
Will this affect my credit score?
No. There is no reporting of the completion of this course to any credit bureau.
Are you approved in my state?
Summit Financial Education is approved* by the Executive Office for U.S. Trustees to provide the debtor education course and to issue certificates evidencing the completion of the course in every state, with the exception of Alabama and North Carolina, which do not fall under the jurisdiction of the EOUST.