1. (1) Certification by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling or the Financial Counseling Association of America shall meet the requirements of T.C.A. § 47-18-5506(9).

2. (2) Notwithstanding the previous paragraph, the assistant commissioner may approve a training program or certifying organization providing certification to be a certified counselor and/or certified debt specialist if the assistant commissioner finds, based on the totality of the information provided, that the training program or certifying organization meaningfully authenticates the competence of individuals providing services under the Act. Approval by the assistant commissioner shall be valid for a period of two (2) years from the date of approval, at which time the training program or certifying organization shall make a new request for approval. A training program of certifying organization shall provide the following information in its request for approval:

   1. (a) The name of the certifying organization or entity providing the training program;
   2. (b) The phone number, mailing address and e-mail address—if applicable—of the certifying organization or entity providing the training program;
   3. (c) A list of other states that have approved the training program or certifying organizations to be approved;
   4. (d) The number of years that the training program or certifying organization has offered certification for debt-management counseling;
   5. (e) A complete list of the curriculum required to be completed, the topics covered, the number of hours to complete the program, and the number of persons currently certified; and
   6. (f) Such other information as the assistant commissioner may request in order to determine that the training program or certifying organization meaningfully authenticates the competence of individuals providing services under the Act.

Authority: T.C.A. § 47-18-5532. Administrative History: Original rule filed October 28, 2016; effective January 26, 2017. Rule renumbered from 0780-08-01. Amendments filed March 17, 2026; effective June 15, 2026. MANAGEMENT SERVICES