All individual bankruptcy filers are required to complete pre-bankruptcy credit counseling and a pre-discharge financial management course. These may not be provided at the same time. Credit counseling must take place before you file for bankruptcy; the financial management course must take place after you file.
Certificates of completion for both credit counseling and the financial management course are required before the filer's debts can be discharged. Only credit counseling organizations and financial management course providers that have been approved by the Bankruptcy Administrator may issue these certificates.
For information about how to be approved as a credit counseling course provider, please consult our instructions on the approval process.