Debtor Education/Personal Financial Management Course Explained
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There are two required courses you must take to file bankruptcy and get your debts discharged. The second course is a personal financial management course, also called the debtor education course. You need to take it and file the certificate of completion with the court within 60 days of your meeting with your trustee. The course teaches skills to help you budget and avoid financial pitfalls after bankruptcy.
Written by Amy Carst. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated September 2, 2025
If you are considering bankruptcy, you are required to complete two educational courses, one before filing and one after. The first is a credit counseling course, and the second is a financial management (also called debtor education) course.
What Is the Debtor Education (Personal Financial Management) Course?
The debtor education course, also known as the personal financial management course, is essentially an instructional course on how to more effectively budget and manage your finances.
All bankruptcy filers must take this course. You won't get your bankruptcy discharge until you taken the course and submitted the certificate of completion to the court.
Although courses vary somewhat from district to district, most typically cover:
How to prepare and manage a budget
How to manage money and credit wisely
How to understand consumer protection laws
How to prepare for and handle an unexpected financial crisis
You will likely learn at least a few useful tips from the course to help you repair and rebuild your personal finances. But, as with the credit counseling course, debtor education courses occur in one sitting, and they are relatively short, with most taking no more than two hours to complete.
Is the Debtor Education Course Different From the Credit Counseling Course?
Yes.
You're required to take two courses when you file bankruptcy. The first course is a credit counseling course. This course helps you understand all your debt-relief options, so you can decide whether bankruptcy is the best choice for you.
You must take this course before you file your bankruptcy case with the court. You'll need to include the certificate of completion with your other bankruptcy forms when you file.
When Can I Take the Debtor Education Course? Is There a Deadline?
You can take the debtor education course after you've filed your bankruptcy case and within 60 days of your meeting of creditors.
If you don't complete the course before the 60-day deadline, the court won't give you your bankruptcy discharge.
You must file your certificate of completion for the course with the court, so they know you've met this requirement. Some course providers will send the certificate on your behalf, but it's best to double-check this!
In Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the certificate of completion should be filed before you have made your final plan payment, so there is no delay in getting your Chapter 13 discharge.
What if I Forgot To Take the Course, Do I Have To Start Over?
You may not have to start over from scratch if you don't take course or miss the deadline. You can file a motion requesting that the court reopen your case. If the court grants this request, you'll pay a fee to have your case reopened. Then you can file the certificate and get your discharge.
How To Find an Approved Provider
Every state has a list of approved debtor education providers, categorized by district. You must take a course through an approved provider, otherwise it won't be accepted by the court and you will have to take it a second time.
If you live in North Carolina or Alabama, the Bankruptcy Administrator for your district approves the course providers.
If you live in a remote location, have a disability, or do not have reliable transportation, you can generally take the debtor education requirement as an online course or over the phone, as well as in person. As long as the servicer is an approved provider, your physical location when taking the course is irrelevant.
