Bankruptcy Classes: What You Must Take and When

You can't complete a bankruptcy filing without taking two mandatory courses. The first happens before you file. The second happens after. Both cost money, but both have workarounds if you're broke. Neither takes more than two hours.

Here's what each class does, when to take it, and how to find an approved provider that won't waste your time.

The Two Required Bankruptcy Classes

The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 introduced these requirements. Congress wanted to slow people down before they filed and educate them after. You can debate whether that's paternalistic, but it's the law.

Class 1: Pre-Filing Credit Counseling

You take this one before you file your bankruptcy petition. It's meant to confirm you've explored alternatives to bankruptcy. In practice, it's a 60-90 minute session where a counselor reviews your income, expenses, and debts. They might suggest a debt management plan. You're free to ignore it.

Most people take this course online in one sitting. You get a completion certificate at the end, and you must file that certificate with your bankruptcy paperwork. No certificate, no case.

Class 2: Post-Filing Debtor Education

This one happens after you file but before your case closes. It's sometimes called a "financial management course." It covers budgeting, using credit responsibly, and avoiding the mistakes that landed you in bankruptcy court.

You have until the court closes your case to complete it. In Chapter 7, that's usually 60-90 days after your 341 meeting of creditors. Miss this deadline and the court will dismiss your case without discharging your debts.

When To Take Each Class

Timing matters. Take the first class too early and your certificate expires. Take the second class too late and you lose your discharge.

Credit Counseling: Within 180 Days Before Filing

Your certificate is valid for six months. If you take the class on March 1, you must file by August 28. File on August 29 and you'll need to retake the class.

Most people take this course a few days before they plan to file. That way, if the court clerk kicks back your paperwork for a fixable error, your certificate doesn't expire while you're making corrections.

Debtor Education: Before Your Case Closes

The law gives you a deadline tied to your 341 meeting, but courts interpret this differently. Some districts require the class within 60 days of your 341 meeting. Others give you until the case closes.

Safe move: Complete this class within 30 days of your 341 meeting. That gives the court time to process your certificate and enter your discharge order. If you're using Talk About Debt's bankruptcy screener, we'll remind you when to take it.

How Much Bankruptcy Classes Cost

Providers charge between $10 and $50 per course. Most charge around $20. You pay twice: once for credit counseling, once for debtor education.

If you can't afford the fee, every approved provider must offer a fee waiver. You have to ask for it. Some providers make this easy. Others bury the option or require you to submit proof of income. Shop around.

The American Bankruptcy Institute offers both courses for about $15 each and processes fee waivers quickly. Money Management International charges $20-$25 but has a reputation for slow customer service. Your mileage will vary by district.

Where To Find Approved Providers

Not all bankruptcy courses are created equal. You must use a provider approved by the U.S. Trustee Program. If you take a class from an unapproved provider, the court will reject your certificate. You'll have to pay again and retake the class.

Check the Official List

The U.S. Trustee Program maintains a searchable database of approved providers at justice.gov/ust. Filter by your state and judicial district. If you live in Alabama or North Carolina, check your local bankruptcy administrator's website instead. Those two states operate under a different system.

What To Look For in a Provider

Approved doesn't mean good. Some providers offer terrible user experiences: broken websites, unresponsive support, delayed certificates. Here's what to check:

• Delivery method: Most providers offer online, phone, or in-person courses. Online is fastest. Phone works if you lack reliable internet. In-person is rare and usually unnecessary.
• Certificate delivery time: You need your certificate immediately. Some providers email it within minutes. Others mail it within 3-5 business days. Ask before you pay.
• Fee waiver process: If you need a waiver, ask how it works. Some providers grant waivers on the honor system. Others require pay stubs or a signed affidavit.
• Reviews: Search "[provider name] bankruptcy reviews." If you see complaints about delayed certificates, choose someone else.

What Happens During Each Class

Both courses are more tedious than difficult. You won't be tested. You won't fail. You just have to show up and stay awake.

Credit Counseling Session

You'll spend 60-90 minutes answering questions about your income, expenses, and debts. The counselor will input your numbers into a budgeting tool. If you have any money left over after expenses, they'll suggest a debt management plan.

A debt management plan is where the agency negotiates with your creditors to lower interest rates and set up a repayment schedule. It's not a bad option if you're on the fence about bankruptcy. But if you're already committed to filing, you can decline.

At the end, the counselor will issue a certificate. Most online providers generate it automatically. If you're doing the session by phone, ask how long it takes to receive your certificate. You need it before you file.

Debtor Education Course

This is a 2-hour online course split into modules: budgeting, credit management, consumer protection laws, and smart financial habits. It's self-paced. You can pause and resume.

Some providers make you watch videos. Others make you read slides and answer multiple-choice questions. You can't skip ahead, but you also can't fail. As long as you click through to the end, you'll get your certificate.

What If You Don't Take the Classes?

You don't get a discharge. That's it. The court will close your case, your debts remain, and you've wasted your filing fee.

In Chapter 7, the trustee will still liquidate any non-exempt assets. In Chapter 13, you'll lose the protection of the automatic stay and creditors can resume collection. You gain nothing and lose time and money.

If you realize you forgot to take a class, call the court clerk immediately. Some judges allow late submissions if you have a good reason. Others don't. Better to take the classes on time.

Exceptions to the Requirement

The rules allow three narrow exceptions. They almost never apply.

Active Military in a Combat Zone

If you're deployed in a combat zone, you can request an exemption from credit counseling. You'll need to file a motion explaining your situation. The court may waive the requirement or extend your deadline.

Disability or Incapacity

If you're unable to complete credit counseling due to a disability, mental illness, or physical incapacity, you can request an exemption. You'll need a signed statement from a licensed physician or psychologist confirming your condition. The court reviews these requests on a case-by-case basis.

No Approved Provider in Your District

If no approved provider offers services in your district, the court may waive the requirement. This is extremely rare. Nearly every district has multiple approved providers offering online and phone options.

How To File Your Certificates With the Court

Your credit counseling certificate gets filed with your bankruptcy petition. If you're using a bankruptcy attorney, give them the certificate. They'll include it with your paperwork.

If you're filing pro se, attach the certificate as an exhibit when you file electronically or hand it to the clerk if you're filing in person. The certificate has a unique ID number. Write that number in the appropriate field on Official Form 101, the bankruptcy petition.

Your debtor education certificate gets filed separately, after you complete the course. Most courts allow electronic filing through the CM/ECF system. If you're pro se and don't have CM/ECF access, mail the certificate to the court or hand-deliver it.

Once the court receives your debtor education certificate, the judge will issue your discharge order. That usually happens within 7-14 days.

Can You Take Both Classes on the Same Day?

No. The first class must happen before filing. The second must happen after. Even if you wanted to take both on the same day, the system won't let you. Your debtor education provider will ask for your bankruptcy case number before they'll issue a certificate. You won't have a case number until after you file.

What If You're Filing Joint Bankruptcy?

Both spouses must complete both courses. You can take the classes together or separately, but each person needs their own certificate. Some providers offer joint sessions at a discounted rate. Ask when you sign up.

If only one spouse files, only that spouse needs to complete the courses. But if you're filing jointly and one spouse skips a class, the court will dismiss the entire case.

Next Steps

If you're close to filing, take the credit counseling course now. Search the U.S. Trustee's approved provider list, pick one with good reviews, and complete the session. Save your certificate. You'll need it within the week.

If you're still deciding whether to file, visit our bankruptcy guide to understand what filing will and won't do for you. Bankruptcy isn't right for everyone, but the classes themselves won't tell you that. They're a hoop to jump through, not a decision-making tool.