Occupation · SOC 13-2071
Credit Counselors
Advise and educate individuals or organizations on acquiring and managing debt. May provide guidance in determining the best type of loan and explain loan requirements or restrictions. May help develop debt management plans or student financial aid packages. May advise on credit issues, or provide budget, mortgage, bankruptcy, or student financial aid counseling.
Median wage
$50,480
$38,980–$77,920
Projected growth
+3.5%
Average growth
Annual openings
110
per year
Employed (US)
28,110
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
98 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningWritingCritical ThinkingService OrientationActive LearningJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingPersuasionNegotiationTime ManagementSocial PerceptivenessMathematicsLearning StrategiesCoordinationSystems EvaluationMonitoringSystems AnalysisInstructingManagement of Personnel ResourcesOperations AnalysisTechnology DesignManagement of Financial ResourcesProgrammingQuality Control AnalysisManagement of Material ResourcesTroubleshootingScienceRepairingOperations MonitoringOperation and ControlInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageMathematicsAdministrativeEducation and TrainingEconomics and AccountingPsychologyComputers and ElectronicsCommunications and MediaAdministration and ManagementSales and MarketingTherapy and CounselingSociology and AnthropologyLaw and GovernmentTelecommunicationsForeign LanguageProduction and ProcessingPersonnel and Human ResourcesPhilosophy and TheologyPublic Safety and SecurityTransportationHistory and ArcheologyGeographyEngineering and TechnologyDesignFood ProductionPhysicsMechanicalFine ArtsMedicine and DentistryChemistryBuilding and ConstructionBiology
Technology & tools
Chat softwareCooperative Processing Resources DMS Professional SuiteCoreLogic DebtorTraceEmail softwareFreddie Mac Loan ProspectorICCO CreditSoftIntegrant DebtLogicLexisNexisLexisNexis AccurintMerlin Information Services databasesMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft DynamicsMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordOracle PeopleSoftParagon Financial Services Paragon Financial SystemPrime Debt Soft Debt SettlementPrime Debt Software Credit RepairSAP softwareWeb browser software
Representative tasks
Getting InformationWorking with ComputersDocumenting/Recording InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationProcessing InformationPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming Administrative ActivitiesIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesAnalyzing Data or InformationOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersThinking CreativelyAssisting and Caring for OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersCoaching and Developing OthersInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersTraining and Teaching OthersScheduling Work and ActivitiesDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesDeveloping and Building TeamsSelling or Influencing OthersMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationHandling and Moving ObjectsStaffing Organizational UnitsControlling Machines and ProcessesPerforming General Physical ActivitiesInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Client financial data — collect and organize under direct supervision during intake interviews conducted by telephone or in person.Income and expense calculations — perform using spreadsheet software to determine a client's available monthly income under guided review.Credit reports and basic financial documents — review and summarize key items with oversight in a consumer credit counseling office.Debt management program rules and service policies — explain to clients using approved scripts and standardized materials under supervisor direction.General financial topics such as credit report ratings and collection actions — describe accurately to clients using agency-approved reference guides.Preliminary debt repayment priorities — identify by applying standard protocols to distinguish high-interest obligations from lower-priority debts.Client intake data — enter accurately into database user interface and query software following established data-entry procedures.Active listening techniques — apply during client interviews to capture relevant financial details and flag concerns for senior counselor review.Basic budget worksheets — draft for client review using office suite or spreadsheet software under the direction of an experienced counselor.Consumer protection laws and bankruptcy basics — reference correctly when responding to routine client questions in supervised counseling sessions.
developing
Monthly income and debt obligation calculations — conduct independently using financial analysis software to assess a client's repayment capacity across a standard caseload.Comprehensive debt management plans and spending budgets — create for clients with common financial profiles, adapting templates to individual goals and creditor requirements.Client financial situations — assess routinely by reviewing income, assets, debts, credit reports, and expense data gathered through in-person and telephone interviews.Debt repayment sequencing strategies — apply independently, prioritizing obligations to prevent bankruptcy or foreclosure while reducing overall cost to the client.Service options including debt management enrollment, loan programs, and budget adjustments — explain clearly and compare objectively to help clients make informed decisions.Creditor concession policies and negotiation parameters — communicate accurately to clients and apply during routine creditor correspondence on behalf of caseload clients.Written counseling summaries and client action plans — prepare using word processing software, maintaining accuracy and professional tone for client files and agency records.Time management techniques — apply to balance a multi-client caseload, meeting session deadlines and follow-up commitments with reduced supervisory oversight.Financial education topics such as wage attachments and consumer protection law — deliver to individual clients or small groups using presentation software in agency settings.Social perceptiveness — demonstrate by recognizing client emotional or situational stressors during counseling sessions and adjusting communication approach accordingly.
proficient
Complex client financial situations involving multiple creditors, irregular income, or pending legal action — assess autonomously using full review of financial records, credit reports, and ERP or financial analysis software.Individualized debt management and financial recovery plans — design for non-routine cases, integrating bankruptcy considerations, foreclosure prevention strategies, and long-term budget restructuring.Negotiation with creditors on behalf of clients — conduct independently to secure concessions such as reduced interest rates, waived fees, or modified repayment terms.Strategic recommendations for meeting financial goals — formulate and present to clients by synthesizing deductive and inductive reasoning across multiple financial scenarios.Critical judgment on appropriate intervention type — exercise across the full scope of cases, distinguishing clients suited for debt management programs from those requiring referral to legal or bankruptcy counsel.Client financial literacy gaps — diagnose and address through targeted counseling using tailored learning strategies calibrated to each client's background and comprehension level.Information retrieval and search software — use proficiently to research current creditor policies, interest rate programs, regulatory changes, and available financial assistance resources.Inductive reasoning — apply to identify emerging financial risk patterns across a caseload and adapt counseling strategies before clients reach crisis points.Professional written reports and case documentation — produce independently at high quality, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and agency audit requirements.Network conferencing software and remote counseling platforms — use effectively to deliver full-scope financial counseling services to clients in diverse geographic or access-limited circumstances.
advanced
Agency-wide credit counseling competency frameworks and training curricula — develop and implement to elevate counselor performance across all job levels and service lines.Organizational debt management program policies and creditor relationship strategies — set and refine in coordination with executive leadership to optimize client outcomes and agency viability.Complex ethical and legal dilemmas encountered in consumer credit counseling practice — resolve at the organizational level, establishing precedents that guide practitioner judgment across the agency.Cross-functional teams of counselors, financial analysts, and compliance officers — lead and coordinate to deliver integrated financial wellness services at organizational scale.Performance data from financial analysis and ERP systems — analyze at the aggregate level to identify service gaps, benchmark counselor effectiveness, and drive continuous quality improvement.Strategic partnerships with creditors, nonprofit networks, and regulatory agencies — cultivate and manage to expand client access to concession programs, loan resources, and legal referral pathways.Emerging trends in consumer debt, bankruptcy law, and economic conditions — monitor and translate into updated agency protocols, staff learning strategies, and client-facing educational resources.Organizational budget, funding streams, and resource allocation decisions — oversee to sustain and scale high-quality counseling services within regulatory and accreditation requirements.Public-facing financial education initiatives and community outreach programs — design and champion to advance financial literacy goals beyond individual client interactions at a sector level.Mentorship and professional development structures for counseling staff — establish and sustain, modeling advanced judgment, integrity, and empathy as organizational standards of practice.
Also known as
41 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Accredited Financial CounselorBranch Credit CounselorCertified Consumer Credit and Housing CounselorCertified Credit and Housing CounselorCertified Credit ConsultantCertified Credit CounselorConsumer Credit CounselorConsumer Lending ManagerCredit AssociateCredit Balance SpecialistCredit Card SpecialistCredit CounselorCredit RepresentativeCredit Review SpecialistCredit Services RepresentativeCredit Services SpecialistCredit SpecialistCredit Support CounselorCredit Support SpecialistDebt and Budget CounselorDebt CounselorDebt Management CounselorFinancial Aid Administrative AssistantFinancial Aid AdvisorFinancial Aid CoordinatorFinancial Aid CounselorFinancial Aid OfficerFinancial Assistance AdvisorFinancial Health CounselorHome Lending AdvisorHousing CounselorLoan AdvisorLoan ServicerLoan Servicing AssistantLoan Servicing AssociateLoan Servicing SupervisorMortgage AdvisorMortgage CounselorPersonal Finance CounselorStudent Financial Aid Counselor