Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE)

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) offers the only program to certify family life educators.

The Family Science option in the HDFS major at NDSU is a CFLE Approved Academic Program. HDFS Students in the family science option who have taken the courses listed below and who have earned a baccalaureate degree may apply for Provisional Status as Certified Family Life Educators and following two years of experience in family life education, may apply for Full Certification.

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Certified Family Life Educator information

Following is a list of the NDSU HDFS courses that are required to become a CFLE

HDFS 186Consumer in Society3 cr.
or HDFS 357Personal and Family Finance3 cr.
HDFS 230Lifespan Development3 cr.
HDFS 242Couples, Marriages and Families3 cr.
HDFS 250Introduction to Research Methods3 cr.
HDFS 275Diversity and Multiculturalism in Individual and Family Life3 cr.
HDFS 341Parent-Child Relations3 cr.
HDFS 353Children, Families and Public Policy3 cr.
HDFS 389Pre-Field Experience2 cr.
HDFS 462Methods of Family Life Education3 cr.
HDFS 448Issues in Sexuality3 cr.
HDFS 496Field Experience for 120 hours of direct FL education (FS required courses)3 cr.


What is Family Life Education?
Family life education is any organized effort to provide family members with information, skills, experiences, or resources intended to strengthen, improve or enrich their family experience.  Family life education professionals consider societal issues including economics, education, work-family issues, parenting, sexuality, gender and more within the context of the family.

What is a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE)?
The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) provides certification for the profession of family life education. Certification recognizes a background and understanding in each of ten family life content areas:

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

Where do CFLEs work?
CFLEs are able to provide a variety of family science services to ever-changing family needs. Professions include: Human Services, Parent Education, Caregiver & Long Term Care Programs, Faith Communities, Marital and Pre-marital Education, Schools & Educational Settings, Family Law Settings, Adoption Agencies, Curriculum Development, Emergency Preparedness, Non-profit Administration, Grant-Writing, Public Policy Settings, Medical Settings

What is a CFLE Approved Academic Program?
NCFR recognizes schools offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs with course work that follows the Standards and Criteria required for approval as a Provisional Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE). Students who graduate with appropriate coursework from approved CFLE programs are eligible to apply for certification.



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