What is a CFLE?

The Certified Family Life Educator (or CFLE) credential is obtained through the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). It is a nationally recognized standard in Family Life Education and validates a professional’s experience and knowledge as a Family Life Educator. The two ways to become a CFLE are to graduate from a CFLE-approved program, which includes FSU’s Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science, or take the CFLE exam.

CFLEs have proven knowledge in 10 areas including:

  • Families and Individuals in Societal Contexts
  • Internal Dynamics of Families
  • Human Growth and Development Across the LifespanCFLE
  • Human Sexuality
  • Interpersonal Relationships
  • Family Resource Management
  • Parent Education and Guidance
  • Family Law and Public Policy
  • Professional Ethics and Practice
  • Family Life Education Methodology

What is Family Life Education?

Family Life Education is the professional practice of equipping and empowering family members to develop knowledge and skills that enhance well-being and strengthen interpersonal relationships through an educational, preventive, and strengths-based approach.

The skills and knowledge needed for healthy family functioning are widely known:

  • strong communication skills
  • knowledge of typical human development
  • good decision-making skills, positive self-esteem
  • healthy interpersonal relationships

The goal of Family Life Education (abbreviated FLE) is to teach these skill and knowledge areas to family members across the lifespan, and foster positive individual and family development so families can function optimally.

Click here to see the NCFR's Family Life Education Fact Sheet

Overview

The B.S. in Human Development and Family Science is an NCFR-approved program for the provisional CFLE credential, meaning our program and coursework at the College of Health and Human Sciences can fully prepare you to become a CFLE.

Recent graduates can apply for provisional or full CFLE certification through the NCFR. Interested students must complete all courses on our checklist with grades of C- or better (in addition to an internship/practicum of at least 120 hours) to qualify for the CFLE application process.

Applicants must apply online through the CFLE-approved program application process within two years of graduation, and all courses on the checklist must have been completed no more than seven years prior to graduation.

Applicants eligible to apply through the CFLE-approved program process do not need to take the CFLE exam.

Benefits of Becoming a CFLE

While Certified Family Life Educators (CFLEs) may work specifically in one field, such as parent education or marriage enrichment, their understanding of the many issues that affect today’s families enables them to be more effective in educating and working with individuals and families. The CFLE credential recognizes the educational, preventive, and enriching nature of their work.

Additionally, standards identified for certification help increase awareness and understanding of Family Life Education as a profession.

A CFLE credential increases your credibility by showing you’ve met the high standards and criteria needed to provide quality family life education, validates your education and experience, recognizes your expertise, gives you access to a variety of NCFR resources, and more.

Click here to learn more about the benefits of becoming a Certified Family Life Educator.

Program Checklist

CFLE-Approved Program Coursework

Click here for more information on the Family Life Education Content Areas listed below, including content and practice guidelines.

CFLE Content Area Coursework
1. Families & Individuals in Societal Contexts FAD 2230 – Family Relationships: A Life-Span Development Approach AND
FAD 4265 – Family Diversity
 
2. Internal Dynamics of Families FAD 3432 – Stress and Resilience in Individuals & Families AND
FAD 4265 – Family Diversity
 
3. Human Growth & Dev across the Lifespan CHD 2220 – Child Growth and Development AND
CHD 3243 – Contexts of Adolescent Development AND
FAD 3343 – Contexts of Adult Development and Aging
 
4. Human Sexuality Prior to Fall, 2020:
FAD 4451 – Human Sexuality Education OR
SOW 4152 – Human Sexuality
Fall, 2020 and beyond:
FAD 4451 – Human Sexuality Education
 
5. Interpersonal Relationships FAD 4601 – Foundations of Counseling AND
FAD 2230 – Family Relationships: A Life-Span Development Approach
 
6. Family Resource Management FAD 3432 – Stress and Resilience in Individuals & Families AND
FAD 4455 – Family Life Education
 
7. Parent Education & Guidance CHD 4537 – Parenting  
8. Family Law & Public Policy CHD 4615 – Public Policy: Child & Family Issues  
9. Professional Ethics & Practice FAD 4932 – Pre-Professional Development AND
FAD 4455 – Family Life Education
 
10. Family Life Education Methodology FAD 4455 – Family Life Education  
Internship/Practicum (minimum 120 hours)  FAD 4805 – Practicum in Family and Child Science

 

Click here for the printable PDF checklist.

Find more information and forms at: ncfr.org/cfle-approved-program.

Careers

There likely are numerous instances of Family Life Education occurring in your community on any given day. Family Life Educators work in health care settings, community education, faith communities, junior and senior high schools, colleges and universities, social service agencies, corporate settings, government agencies, corrections, retirement communities, and the military, and more.

Category Services
Business, Consumer & Family Resources Employee Assistance programs, Corporate Day Cares, Consumer Protection Agencies, Family Financial Counseling & Planning Agencies, Food Assistance Programs, Research positions.
Community-Based Social Services Youth Development Programs, Adoption Agencies, Foster Care Programs, Teen Pregnancy Services, Welfare Assistance, Vocational Rehabilitation & Job Training, Adult Day Care, Gerontology and Long-Term Care Programs.
Early Childhood Education Day Care Centers, Head Start Programs, Montessori Schools, Child Development Organizations.
Education Public School Teaching in Family & Consumer Sciences with state licensure, University Teaching, Family Science Research, Family Life Education, Sexuality Education, Parenting Education, Marriage & Family Enrichment Programs, Curriculum Development, community education.
Faith-Based Organizations Ministry, Family Life Education, Parenting Education, Youth Programs.
Family Intervention Individual & Family Therapy Support Services, Crisis & Hotline Services, Divorce Mediation, Abuse Protection Services, Drug & Alcohol Prevention Programs, Residential Treatment Programs.
Government & Public Policy Family Policy Analysis, Child Welfare Advocacy, Cooperative Extension Specialist, Military Family Support Services, Departments of Child & Family Services, Parent Coordination.
Health Care & Family Wellness Public Health Programs & Services, Hospital Based Family Support, Nutrition Education, Prenatal and Maternity Services, Holistic Health Centers, Long-Term Care Settings, Hospice Programs.
International Education & Development International Family Policy, Peace Corps and NGO Leadership, Global Family Planning Programs, International Human Rights Advocacy, Immigration & Migrant Families Services.
Research Grant Proposal Writing, Academic and Government Research in Family Science, Population Studies & Demographic Research, Community-Based Research for Non-Profit Family Agencies, Program Evaluation & Assessment.
Writing & Communication Curriculum & Resource Development in Family Life Education, Media and Technology Settings, Newspaper & Magazine Writing.

 

Career Opportunities in Family Science

 

CFLE Club

Coming soon!

Contact

For more information, contact:

Kani Diop-Lo

Kani Diop-Lo, Ph.D.
kdiop@fsu.edu
Associate Teaching Professor
HDFS Graduate Program Director
FSU-NCFR-CFLE Coordinator