Approval by the U.S. Department of Justice Executive Office of United States Trustees does not endorse or assure the quality of our services.
Would it help to talk this through?
A certified counselor will go through your own numbers with you.
Register for Bankruptcy Courses#
Course 1: Pre-Bankruptcy Credit Counseling
Course 2: Post-Filing Debtor Education
Or call Cambridge Credit Counseling at (800) 403-3433.
The Two Required Courses#
Under the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, people who plan to file for bankruptcy must, with limited exceptions, complete credit counseling from a government-approved organization within 180 days before filing. They must also complete a debtor education course after filing in order to have their debts discharged. Cambridge Credit Counseling is approved to administer both the pre-filing credit counseling course and the post-filing debtor education course, and both are available online. Consumers filing bankruptcy must complete both courses to receive the certificate needed to file and complete a bankruptcy petition.
Counseling and Education Requirements#
In general, you must file a certificate of credit counseling completion when you file for bankruptcy, and evidence of completion of debtor education after you file for bankruptcy but before your debts are discharged. Only credit counseling organizations and debtor education course providers that have been approved by the U.S. Trustee Program may issue these certificates. To protect against fraud, the certificates are produced through a central automated system and are numbered.
Pre-Bankruptcy Credit Counseling
A pre-bankruptcy counseling session should include an evaluation of your personal financial situation, a discussion of alternatives to bankruptcy, and a personal budget plan. A typical counseling session should last about 60 to 90 minutes. Cambridge Credit Counseling is required to discuss any fees with you before starting the counseling session. Once you have completed the required counseling, you will get a certificate as proof, and Cambridge Credit Counseling will not charge an extra fee for the certificate.
Post-Filing Debtor Education
Cambridge Credit Counseling’s debtor education course includes information on developing a budget, managing money, using credit wisely, and other resources. The course is provided online only and takes longer to complete than the pre-filing counseling, about two hours. Once you have completed it, you will receive a certificate as proof. This certificate is separate from the certificate you received after completing your pre-filing credit counseling, and Cambridge Credit Counseling does not charge an extra fee for it.
The Fee and How It Can Be Waived or Reduced#
Cambridge Credit Counseling charges $50.00 per household per session for its Pre-Bankruptcy Credit Counseling course and $50.00 per household per session for its Post-Filing Debtor Education course, and both are available free or at a reduced rate based on ability to pay. The fee is per household, not per person, so a married couple filing together pays once. Households with income below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for their household size are presumed eligible for a fee waiver. Households above that line may still qualify for a reduced fee if they can show a temporary financial hardship, such as a recent job loss or drop in income, unexpected medical costs, disability, separation or divorce, the death of a household wage earner, or another documented financial circumstance that significantly impacts the household’s ability to pay. Waivers and reductions are assessed on the household’s current income, expenses and overall financial condition, and Cambridge Credit Counseling will not refuse services to anyone due to inability to pay.
The poverty guidelines used are those last published by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The U.S. poverty guidelines can be found here. The income of a spouse is included in calculating income, whether or not a joint petition is filed, unless the spouses are separated and a joint petition is not filed. The income of any other family member listed as a dependent will also be included. To see if you qualify for a fee waiver, call Cambridge Credit Counseling and speak with a representative at (800) 403-3433.
No Credit Pull, No Impact on Your Credit Rating#
Cambridge Credit Counseling does not pull a consumer’s credit report to provide bankruptcy counseling or debtor education, and it does not report participation in these courses. This means the courses have no effect on a consumer’s credit rating.
When You Receive Your Certificate#
A certificate of completion for Cambridge Credit Counseling’s pre-filing bankruptcy credit counseling course is valid for up to 180 days after the date the counseling was completed. Consumers need this certificate, along with completion of the post-filing debtor education course, to file and complete a bankruptcy petition.
Approval from the Justice Department#
Cambridge Credit Counseling is approved by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Executive Office for U.S. Trustees (EOUST) to offer the educational courses required for consumers to file and complete a bankruptcy petition. This approval covers both the pre-filing credit counseling course and the post-filing debtor education course, which Cambridge Credit Counseling offers online.
Required Disclosures#
Cambridge Credit Counseling is approved to issue certificates in compliance with the Bankruptcy Code in AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, ND, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY, and USVI; however, the United States Trustee does not endorse or assure the quality of any one particular agency’s services. The Trustee has reviewed only Cambridge Credit Counseling’s Budget and Credit Counseling Briefing services and Personal Financial Management Instruction Course and has not approved any other services Cambridge Credit Counseling offers.
Upon completion of your course, Cambridge Credit Counseling is obligated to promptly provide you with a copy of your certificate. You will only receive this certificate upon successful completion of the Budget and Credit Counseling Briefing, which includes completing the mandatory interaction with a counselor when the online portion of the briefing has been completed. It is your responsibility to ensure that your attorney has received your certificate by the date required for your filing. If you do not file a bankruptcy petition before your certificate expires, you may be required to complete pre-filing counseling again in order to file personal bankruptcy.
Cambridge Credit Counseling provides Budget and Credit Counseling Briefings in English. If you require counseling in a language other than English, visit the USTP’s list of approved agencies and locate an agency that provides services in a language you are fluent in.
Cambridge Credit Counseling does not offer legal advice or opinion on the suitability or availability of bankruptcy as an option for you. The information it provides is a general discussion of the subject matter and does not constitute legal opinion about your particular situation. If you want legal or tax advice, you will need to seek appropriate assistance from other parties.
Paying for the course
Payment of the fee must be received by Cambridge Credit Counseling in advance of or at the time of the counseling briefing. The fee is payable by electronic payment as presented in the web based application or by telephone.
Cambridge Credit Counseling is funded by fees charged for pre-bankruptcy Budget and Credit Counseling Briefings and pre-discharge Personal Financial Management Instruction Courses, as well as by client fees and creditor contributions from non-bankruptcy related Debt Management Plans, and grants related to its housing counseling or other charitable and educational efforts in the community.
Counselors are required to achieve and maintain certification as a Certified Personal Finance Counselor through the Partnership for Financial Education (PFE) or the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) within 6 months of employment. To maintain its staff’s certifications, Cambridge Credit Counseling arranges for at least 20 continuing education units (CEUs) every two years, an amount that satisfies the continuing education requirements of PFE and NFCC.
Filing for bankruptcy protection or participating in a Debt Management or Debt Settlement Plan may have an adverse effect on your credit rating.
Cambridge Credit Counseling does not pay or receive referral fees for referral of clients. To complete your Budget and Credit Counseling Briefing, you will be required to speak with a counselor.
When to take the pre-filing course
At least 60 days prior to filing bankruptcy, you may utilize a nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency approved by the United States trustee to negotiate a reasonable alternative repayment schedule for you. In the event your creditors refuse to negotiate a reasonable repayment schedule with the approved agency, their claims against you may be reduced by the court by up to 20%. Please consult with an attorney for more information. Cambridge Credit Counseling does not offer debt reduction plans designed to accommodate this section of the bankruptcy code described in 11 U.S.C. §502(k). Cambridge Credit Counseling may refer you to another approved agency for these services, and you may incur additional fees to the other approved agency in connection with such a referral; however, Cambridge Credit Counseling is not aware of any other approved agencies that offer this service at this time.
Privacy Notice#
Cambridge Credit Counseling does not disclose any nonpublic personal information about its customers or former customers to anyone, except as permitted or required by law. It may disclose your information to the Trustee in connection with the Trustee’s oversight of the agency, or during an investigation of complaints, during on-site visits, or during quality of service reviews. Access to nonpublic personal information about you is restricted to those employees who need to know that information to provide services to you, and it is guarded by physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulations. Cambridge Credit Counseling will never give your email address to anyone for any reason unless compelled to do so by legal authority. Read Cambridge Credit Counseling’s full Privacy Notice.
What to Do Next#
If you are preparing to file for bankruptcy, Cambridge Credit Counseling can help you complete the pre-filing credit counseling course and the post-filing debtor education course required by law. If your income qualifies, the fees for these courses may be waived. Cambridge Credit Counseling also offers credit counseling as a free service for consumers looking for ways out of debt, with no obligation to enroll in a Debt Management Plan afterward. You can call (800) 235-1407 to speak with a counselor and learn more about your options.
Common questions
What two courses does Cambridge Credit Counseling offer for bankruptcy?
Cambridge Credit Counseling offers a pre-filing credit counseling course and a post-filing debtor education course. Consumers filing bankruptcy must complete both to receive the certificate needed to file and complete a bankruptcy petition.
How much does Cambridge Credit Counseling charge for bankruptcy counseling?
Cambridge Credit Counseling charges $50.00 per household per session for the Pre-Bankruptcy Credit Counseling course and $50.00 per household per session for the Post-Filing Debtor Education course.
Can the bankruptcy counseling fee be waived?
Yes. Households with income below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for their household size are presumed eligible for a fee waiver. Households above that line may still qualify for a reduced fee if they can show a temporary financial hardship, such as a recent job loss or drop in income, unexpected medical costs, disability, separation or divorce, the death of a household wage earner, or another documented financial circumstance that significantly impacts the household's ability to pay. Waivers and reductions are assessed on the household's current income, expenses and overall financial condition, and Cambridge Credit Counseling will not refuse services to anyone due to inability to pay.
Does bankruptcy counseling from Cambridge Credit Counseling affect my credit score?
No. Cambridge Credit Counseling does not pull your credit report or report your participation in these courses, so they have no effect on your credit rating.
How long is the pre-filing counseling certificate valid?
A certificate of completion for Cambridge Credit Counseling's pre-filing bankruptcy credit counseling is valid for up to 180 days after the date the counseling was completed.
Where this information comes from
- Bankruptcy Counseling | Cambridge cambridge-credit.org Checked 2026-08-04.
- John Henle, Cambridge Credit Counseling, email of 24 September 2026; 28 CFR 58.21(b)(1) and 58.34(b)(1) Checked 2026-09-24.
- Gary Washington, Director of Bankruptcy Counseling, Cambridge Credit Counseling, by email 2 September 2026. Checked 2026-09-02.
- About Cambridge Credit Counseling cambridge-credit.org Checked 2026-08-04.
- Cambridge Credit Counseling cambridge-credit.org Checked 2026-08-04.
- Cambridge Credit Counseling cambridge-credit.org Checked 2026-08-04.
- cambridge-credit.org bankruptcy page cambridge-credit.org Checked 2026-08-03.
- 1st Time Homebuyers | Cambridge cambridge-credit.org Checked 2026-08-04.
- Credit Counseling Certifications | Cambridge Credit cambridge-credit.org Checked 2026-08-04.
- Selecting a Consumer Credit Counseling Agency | Cambridge Credit cambridge-credit.org Checked 2026-08-04.
- Terms & Conditions| Cambridge Credit cambridge-credit.org Checked 2026-08-04.
- Financial Literacy | Cambridge Credit cambridge-credit.org Checked 2026-08-04.
- Frequently Asked Questions | Cambridge Credit cambridge-credit.org Checked 2026-08-04.
- Best Credit Counseling Service | Cambridge Credit cambridge-credit.org Checked 2026-08-04.