U.S. Bankruptcy Courts

Approval Process for Credit Counseling and Debtor Education Courses
United States Bankruptcy Administrator Program

(Alabama and North Carolina)

United States bankruptcy administrators in Alabama and North Carolina are accepting applications for approval of credit counseling agencies or debtor education course providers as required by the Bankruptcy Abuse and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 ("2005 Bankruptcy Act").

The 2005 Bankruptcy Act requires all individual debtors who file bankruptcy on or after October 17, 2005, to undergo credit counseling within six months before filing for bankruptcy relief and to complete a financial management instructional course after filing bankruptcy.

The 2005 Bankruptcy Act directs the bankruptcy administrator to assess and approve credit counseling agencies and debtor education course providers, according to statuory criteria, and requires the Clerk of Bankruptcy Court to maintain a publicly available list of approved credit counseling agencies and debtor education course providers.

Bankruptcy Administrators

Credit Counseling

• Instructions for Application for Approval as a Nonprofit Budget and Credit Counseling Agency (pdf)
• Application for Approval as a Nonprofit Budget and Credit Counseling Agency (pdf)

Debtor Education Courses

• Instructions for Application for Approval as a Provider of a Personal Financial Management Instruction Course (pdf)
• Application for Approval as a Provider of a Personal Financial Management Instruction Course (pdf)

The United States Bankruptcy Administrator Program, a bankruptcy estate administration program established by the federal judiciary, presently serves only the six federal judicial districts in the States of Alabama and North Carolina.

The bankruptcy administrator program is separate from the U.S. trustee program in the Department of Justice, and information on the application process for credit counseling agencies and debtor education course providers in any jurisdictions other than Alabama and North Carolina can be found on the Department of Justice web site at www.usdoj.gov/ust.