AFCPE Grants 20 Continuing Education Credits for Accredited Financial Counselorssm Who Complete the ICFE's New Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist Program

San Diego, CA. - The ICFE's new "Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist " training and certification program has been accepted for 20 Continuing Education (CE) credits by the Association for Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE ) for those individuals who have earned the highly respected Accredited Financial Counselorsm (AFCsm) designation from the AFCPE .

The ICFE "Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist " (CITRMS ) educational and certification testing program comprehensively prepares and equips AFCsm's, law enforcement professionals, financial planners and CPA's, resolution advocates, notaries, lawyers, credit and debt counselors, through education, testing and computer software training, with the knowledge and skills necessary to help consumers and businesses fully assess and minimize their present risk of credit and identity theft.

Financial advisors, planners, and counselors are on the front lines of helping their clients secure their financial futures. The rampant epidemic of Identity Theft, cyber-crime, and other types of consumer fraud poses a serious threat to that financial security, and the impact can be truly devastating.

The acceptance of this course for CEs by the AFCPE , The CFP Board of Standards and Practices, the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants and PACE clearly demonstrates that in today's environment, it is critical for financial services professionals to educate and assist their clients in addressing all aspects of risk management - not only in the traditional sense - today it must include credit and identity theft risk management.

The program enrollment includes an Independent Study Guide, the CasePlanner Software, an ICFE PowerPoint Show on ID Theft Risks, and a 100 question written examination. An 80 percent passing grade is necessary for enrollees to become ICFE Certified and earn the CEs.

There are five areas of study and testing:
1) Understanding Identity Theft
2) Managing the Public Dossier: Credit Reports, Specialty Reports and Public Records
3) Identity Theft Risk Management and Resolution Including CasePlanner Software
4) Consumer Protection Law Summaries
5) Identity Theft Risks and Issues for Businesses

The ICFE has also certified about 1000 professionals nationwide as ICFE Certified Credit Report Reviewers , which is also approved for 12 CEs for AFCsms by the AFCPE .

The ICFE Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist program is available in printed format directly from the ICFE at ICFE.info, and also in an online learning format through the ICFE's online education partner, The Institute of Fraud Risk Management TIFRM.com.