Credit Counseling & Debtor Education: The Two Required Courses

Two short courses are non-negotiable in every consumer bankruptcy: pre-filing credit counseling and post-filing debtor education. They are the smallest line items in the process — about an hour each, roughly $15 to $25 apiece — but the deadlines around them are unforgiving. Miss either one and the case is dismissed or the discharge is denied.

Course one: pre-filing credit counseling

Required by 11 U.S.C. § 109(h). You must complete this course from a U.S. Trustee-approved provider within the 180 days before you file. The certificate is filed with your petition; without it, the clerk will reject the case.

• Available online, by phone, or in person
• Takes 60–90 minutes
• Costs $15–$25; fee waivers available if you qualify
• Certificate is valid for 180 days from completion

The course reviews your budget, debts, and whether an alternative to bankruptcy might work. Completing it does not obligate you to file — many people take it and decide not to.

Course two: post-filing debtor education

Required by 11 U.S.C. § 111. You must complete a personal financial management course after your case is filed and before your discharge is entered. In Chapter 7, the deadline is 60 days after the 341 meeting. In Chapter 13, the deadline is before the last plan payment.

• Different provider list than the pre-filing course
• Takes about two hours
• Costs $15–$25
• Certificate is filed with the court by your attorney

Miss this deadline and the case closes without discharge — meaning your debts are not wiped out even though the trustee finished the case. Reopening the case to file the certificate late costs a $260 court fee plus attorney time.

Approved provider lists

Only providers on the U.S. Trustee's approved list count. The official lists are published at justice.gov/ust and updated monthly. Beware of ads for "bankruptcy counseling" from providers not on the list — the certificate is worthless.

Fee waivers

Providers must waive or reduce fees for households whose income is below 150% of the federal poverty line. Ask specifically for the fee waiver form when you sign up — it is rarely offered up front.

What the courses are actually like

Neither course is difficult. The pre-filing course walks through a short budget worksheet and asks about your income, expenses, and reasons for filing. The post-filing course is a longer video-and-quiz format on saving, credit, and household budgeting. You do not fail either — they are educational, not gatekeeping.

Get the pre-filing course out of the way the day you decide filing is likely. It removes the one deadline that regularly holds up emergency filings.

Our recommendation

We give every client a shortlist of reputable, low-cost approved providers for both courses. If you complete the pre-filing course before your first appointment, bring the certificate — it is one less item to chase and shortens the time from consultation to filing by several days.