A credential available to students enrolled in the undergraduate human development and family studies program is now recognized by two United States government agencies.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Office of Head Start, an organization through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, have both formally endorsed the Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE).
The credential is available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies. The program is offered online through Penn State World Campus by the Penn State College of Health and Human Development.
Program coordinator and associate teaching professor Roxanne Atterholt said graduating from a CFLE-approved program opens doors to diverse career paths for students.
“The benefit of CFLE certification is that it allows our students to market themselves to employers, clients, and others as meeting a nationally recognized standard in the field,” she said.
To be recognized, program curriculum must align with approved course work required by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR).
The council said these recognitions highlight the growing demand for Family Life Educators in a variety of fields, including health care, education, social services, corrections, and the military, among others.
The endorsement highlights opportunities for all students, including those who are military-affiliated. Any veteran who takes the CFLE exam or graduates from a CFLE-approved program can apply to have their fees reimbursed through the GI Bill®. Also, the CFLE credential is now searchable on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs database, as well as the federal Head Start Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) database.
Penn State World Campus offers a Penn State education online, with a comprehensive portfolio of more than 200 degrees and certificates.
Learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies offered online through Penn State World Campus.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
