The GPIDEA financial and housing counseling certificate is offered through the School of Family Studies and Human Services. The program is totally on-line combining self-study with a mentoring classroom-type experience. The student will develop skills to help clients address financial challenges, meet financial goals, and create a path to financial freedom. The student is required to develop a written debt management plan and prepare a portfolio of community resources. The certificate qualifies students to sit for the Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC) or Certified Housing Counselor examination offered by the Association for Financial Counseling Planning and Education (AFCPE).

This program is a collaborative, multi-institution effort with course work delivered via the Internet/World Wide Web. Participating universities are Kansas State University, Iowa State University, Montana State University, North Dakota State University, Oklahoma State University, South Dakota State University, University of Nebraska, and University of Missouri-Columbia. These land-grant universities are members of the Great Plains-Interactive Distance Education Alliance and have a history of success in distance education.

Six classes, 18 hours, are required to complete the certificate. The classes may be transferred into the GPIDEA M.S. in Family Financial Planning