What Is the Personal Financial Management Instructional Course?
The Personal Financial Management Instructional Course is a federal requirement for anyone filing for bankruptcy. It is commonly called the debtor education course or the second bankruptcy course. You must complete it after filing your case and before the court will grant your discharge.
Bankruptcy Logic is approved by the U.S. Department of Justice to offer this course nationwide.
What Does the Course Do?
The course teaches practical personal finance skills — budgeting, money management, credit, and how to handle financial setbacks — to help you build a stable financial future after bankruptcy. It is an educational requirement designed to help you succeed after your case is resolved.
Who Has to Take It?
Anyone seeking a discharge in a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy case is required to complete the course. If you and your spouse filed jointly, both of you must complete the course. Joint filers may complete it separately or together.
How Does It Work?
The course is completed entirely online at any time of day. It consists of five modules followed by a final exam. You move through the content at your own pace. There are no per-section timers, but the course enforces the federal two-hour minimum overall. The course is available in English and Spanish. An audio version is available in English as a free accommodation for vision-impaired users.
When you finish, your certificate of completion is issued promptly and delivered by email.
Quick Facts
Detail | Information |
Official name | Personal Financial Management Instructional Course |
Also called | Debtor education, second bankruptcy course, post-filing course, pre-discharge course |
Provider | Bankruptcy Logic (bankruptcylogic.com) |
Approved by | U.S. Department of Justice — Executive Office for U.S. Trustees (EOUST) |
Required for | Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy filers |
Minimum length | 2 hours |
Modules | 5 modules + final exam (10 questions from a bank of 50) |
Format | Online, self-paced; English and Spanish; audio available in English for vision-impaired users |
Cost | $19.95 per household |
Certificate | Issued promptly upon completion; delivered by email |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same as the credit counseling course I took before filing? No. The pre-filing credit counseling course is a separate requirement taken before you file. The debtor education course is taken after filing. They are two different courses with two different certificates. Both are required.
Is this course optional? No. Federal law under the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA) requires completion of this course before a discharge can be granted. The bankruptcy court will not issue a discharge without it.
Does the course replace legal advice? No. Bankruptcy Logic provides an educational course only. Instructors cannot provide legal or tax advice. For questions about your specific bankruptcy case, consult your attorney or the bankruptcy court directly.