The first bankruptcy course must be taken before filing bankruptcy—specifically within 180 days before you file your petition and is offered by DebtorCC.org The second bankruptcy course must be taken after you file bankruptcy but before you receive your discharge and is offered by DebtorEdu.com. These are two separate courses with different timing requirements, and taking them in the correct sequence at the right times is essential for successfully completing your bankruptcy case and obtaining debt relief.
Understanding when to take each bankruptcy course is crucial because missing the timing requirements can delay your case, result in certificate rejection, or even prevent you from receiving your discharge. The timing rules exist for important legal and educational reasons, and following them correctly ensures your bankruptcy process proceeds smoothly without unnecessary complications or setbacks.
This comprehensive guide explains exactly when you should take each bankruptcy course, how long certificates remain valid, what happens if you miss timing deadlines, and strategic considerations for optimizing when you complete each course based on your specific bankruptcy situation and chapter type. You should always consult with a legal professional as nothing in this guide is considered legal advice.
Before diving into timing, it's essential to understand that bankruptcy law requires two separate educational courses, each serving a different purpose and having distinct timing requirements.
The first bankruptcy course, officially called pre-filing credit counseling or bankruptcy credit counseling, must be completed before you file your bankruptcy petition. This course is provided by DebtorCC.org and is approved by the United States Trustee Program in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
The purpose of the first course is to ensure you understand your financial situation, review your budget with a certified credit counselor, explore alternatives to bankruptcy, and make an informed decision about whether bankruptcy is the right choice for your circumstances. The course typically takes about 60 minutes to complete and includes both online coursework and a brief consultation with a live counselor.
Upon completion, you receive a certificate that must be filed with the bankruptcy court as part of your initial petition. Without this certificate, the court will not accept your bankruptcy filing.
The second bankruptcy course, officially called debtor education or personal financial management, must be completed after you file bankruptcy but before you receive your discharge. This course is provided by DebtorEdu.com and is also approved by the United States Trustee Program in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
The purpose of the second course is to provide you with essential financial management skills, including budgeting, money management, wise use of credit, and strategies for avoiding future financial problems. This course is designed to help you maintain your financial stability after bankruptcy and make the most of your fresh start. The course takes approximately 2 hours to complete.
Upon completion, you receive a certificate that must be filed with the bankruptcy court before the court will grant your discharge and eliminate your debts.
The timing of the first bankruptcy course is governed by strict federal requirements that you must follow to ensure your certificate is valid and accepted by the court.
Federal bankruptcy law requires that you complete pre-filing credit counseling within 180 days (approximately 6 months) before filing your bankruptcy petition. This means the date you complete the course and receive your certificate must be no more than 180 days before the date you file your bankruptcy case.
The 180-day validity period serves several important purposes. It ensures the financial information you discuss during counseling is current and reflects your actual situation at the time of filing. It guarantees that the budgeting and financial analysis completed during the course remains relevant to your bankruptcy decision. It also prevents people from completing the course years in advance and filing bankruptcy under completely different circumstances.
While the law allows you to complete the first course up to 180 days before filing, most bankruptcy experts recommend completing the course just a few days or weeks before you plan to file your bankruptcy petition. This optimal timing provides several advantages.
Your certificate remains fresh and valid with no risk of expiration. The financial information you discuss with your counselor accurately reflects your current situation. The budgeting analysis and exploration of alternatives are most relevant when you're actually ready to file. Your memory of the course content is recent, which can help you better understand the bankruptcy process. You avoid the need to retake the course if your filing plans change or get delayed.
Many people complete the bankruptcy credit counseling course just days before filing, and some even complete it the same day they file their bankruptcy petition. DebtorCC provides immediate certificate delivery during business hours, making this same-day completion possible for those who need to file quickly.
Certain situations may affect when you should complete the first bankruptcy course.
If you're facing an urgent deadline such as foreclosure sale, wage garnishment hearing, or repossession, you may need to complete the course quickly—even the same day you plan to file—to get your certificate in time. The availability of 24/7 online courses through DebtorCC makes this possible even outside traditional business hours, though you'll need to speak with a counselor during business hours to receive your certificate.
If you haven't hired a bankruptcy attorney yet, you might want to wait until after your initial consultation before taking the course. Your attorney can advise you on the optimal timing based on your specific situation and ensure you're truly ready to file. However, if you're certain you'll be filing bankruptcy and want to get started, you can complete the course before meeting with an attorney.
If you and your spouse are filing jointly, you can take the course together for one household fee through DebtorCC. Coordinating your schedules to complete it together ensures both certificates are issued simultaneously and remain valid for the same period.
If you complete the first bankruptcy course but then wait more than 180 days before filing your bankruptcy petition, your certificate expires and becomes invalid. The bankruptcy court will not accept an expired certificate, and you will need to retake the entire course and obtain a new certificate before you can file.
This requirement cannot be waived, even if your circumstances haven't changed or you remember the course content. The law mandates current counseling within the 180-day window, and there are no exceptions for expired certificates beyond the rare emergency circumstances discussed later in this guide.
Retaking the course means spending additional time completing the coursework and counseling session again, paying another course fee, and potentially delaying your bankruptcy filing further. To avoid this unnecessary expense and delay, strategic timing of your first course is essential.
The timing requirements for the second bankruptcy course are different from the first course and vary depending on whether you're filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
The fundamental timing requirement for the second bankruptcy course is straightforward: you must complete it after you file your bankruptcy petition but before the court grants your discharge. Attempting to take the second course before filing will result in an invalid certificate that the court will not accept.
This sequencing requirement exists because the second course is designed to provide financial management education after you've committed to the bankruptcy process. The course teaches skills specifically intended to help you manage your finances during and after bankruptcy, making it most valuable once your case is actually filed.
In Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases, which typically move through the court system relatively quickly, you should complete the second course within a few weeks to a few months after filing your petition.
Most Chapter 7 cases follow this general timeline. About 3-4 weeks after filing, you'll attend your Meeting of Creditors (also called the 341 meeting) where you meet with the bankruptcy trustee. The second course should ideally be completed shortly after this meeting. About 60-90 days after the Meeting of Creditors, the court issues your discharge if there are no complications. You must complete the second course and file your certificate before this discharge date.
Many bankruptcy attorneys recommend completing the debtor education course within 2-4 weeks after filing, well before the discharge deadline. This early completion provides a comfortable buffer in case any issues arise with your certificate or filing.
Some trustees or courts have specific deadlines for filing your second course certificate, often 45 or 60 days after the Meeting of Creditors. Your bankruptcy attorney will inform you of any specific deadlines that apply to your case. Missing these deadlines can delay or prevent your discharge.
In Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases, which involve a 3-5 year repayment plan, the timing rules are more flexible but the final deadline is much further out.
Technically, you can complete the second bankruptcy course at any time after filing your Chapter 13 case, as long as it's before you make your final plan payment. This means you could wait several years before taking the course. However, waiting until the end of your repayment plan is strongly discouraged for several important reasons.
If you wait until the last minute and encounter any problems with course completion or certificate delivery, you could miss the deadline and prevent your discharge after years of making plan payments. Taking the course early ensures you don't forget about this requirement as years pass. The financial management skills taught in the course are most beneficial when applied throughout your Chapter 13 plan period, not after it's complete. Some courts or trustees may impose earlier deadlines than the final payment date.
Most bankruptcy attorneys recommend that Chapter 13 filers complete the post-bankruptcy course within the first few months after filing, similar to Chapter 7 cases. This ensures the requirement is satisfied early in the process and allows you to benefit from the financial education throughout your repayment plan.
After completing the second bankruptcy course through DebtorEdu, you must ensure your certificate is filed with the bankruptcy court by the deadline. DebtorEdu provides your certificate immediately upon completion and can send it directly to your attorney if you provide their information during registration.
In Chapter 7 cases, your attorney will typically file the certificate with the court on your behalf as soon as they receive it. Some online course providers, including DebtorEdu, offer optional direct filing with the court. The certificate must be filed before the court issues your discharge, which is usually about 60-90 days after the Meeting of Creditors.
In Chapter 13 cases, the certificate must be filed before you make your final plan payment and request a discharge. Since this could be 3-5 years after filing, it's essential to keep your certificate in a safe place if you complete the course early, or ensure your attorney maintains it in your case file.
Beyond the basic legal requirements, several strategic factors can help you determine the optimal timing for completing each bankruptcy course.
Your bankruptcy attorney's preparation timeline is one of the most important factors in determining when to take the first bankruptcy course. Preparing a bankruptcy petition requires gathering extensive financial documentation, completing detailed forms, and ensuring all information is accurate. This preparation process typically takes several weeks.
Most attorneys recommend that you don't complete the first bankruptcy course until they're nearly ready to file your case. This coordination ensures your certificate doesn't expire while your attorney finishes preparing your petition. It also means the financial information discussed during counseling matches what appears in your bankruptcy documents.
Ask your attorney when they expect to be ready to file your case, then plan to complete the first course a few days to a week before that target filing date. This provides a comfortable buffer while keeping your certificate fresh and valid.
If you're facing an urgent situation that requires immediate bankruptcy filing, the timing of the first course becomes critical. Emergency situations that may require rapid completion include foreclosure sales scheduled within days, wage garnishments that just started or are about to begin, vehicle repossession notices, utility disconnections, or lawsuits and judgments that are imminent or just entered.
In these emergency situations, you may need to complete the first bankruptcy course the same day you plan to file. DebtorCC's online platform is available 24/7, allowing you to complete the coursework at any time. However, you must speak with a live counselor during business hours (Monday-Friday 9am-Midnight EST, Saturday-Sunday 9am-5pm EST) to receive your certificate.
If your emergency occurs outside these hours, you can complete as much of the online coursework as possible, then speak with a counselor as soon as they're available. In extreme emergencies, some bankruptcy courts allow filing without the certificate if you can demonstrate that exigent circumstances prevented its completion and you're actively working to obtain it, but this is rare and requires court approval.
If you and your spouse are filing bankruptcy jointly, both of you must complete both bankruptcy courses and each receive individual certificates. You can take the courses together or separately, but there are advantages to coordinating your timing.
DebtorCC allows married couples to register and complete the first course together for one household fee of $19.95. Taking the course together ensures both of your certificates are issued on the same date and remain valid for the same 180-day period. This simplifies timing coordination with your attorney and filing deadline.
Similarly, DebtorEdu allows couples to complete the second course together for one household fee. Completing the second course together after filing ensures both certificates are obtained simultaneously and filed together, preventing any confusion or delay in receiving your discharge.
If you initially registered for either course individually but realize your spouse needs to complete it as well, most providers allow you to add your spouse to your account before completing the course and receiving your certificates.
If you're planning to file bankruptcy around major holidays or at the end of the year, consider how these timing factors might affect your course completion and certificate processing.
Courts may have reduced hours or closures around holidays, potentially affecting filing deadlines. Attorney offices may have limited availability during holiday periods. Customer service hours for course providers may be reduced on certain holidays. Mail delivery of certificates, if you choose that option, may be delayed during holiday periods.
To avoid complications, try to complete the first course well before major holidays if you need to file during or shortly after a holiday period. This ensures your certificate is ready whenever court and attorney offices reopen.
While the general timing rules apply to most bankruptcy filers, certain special circumstances may affect when and how you complete the required courses.
Federal bankruptcy law provides limited exemptions from the credit counseling requirement for individuals who are unable to complete the course due to disability, incapacity, or active military duty in a combat zone.
To qualify for a disability or incapacity exemption from the first course, you must file a certification with the court stating that you are unable to complete credit counseling due to disability, mental incapacity, or physical incapacity. A qualified healthcare professional must certify that your condition prevents you from completing the counseling. The condition must be expected to last at least 60 days or be permanent.
Even with these exemptions, there is no exemption from the second course (debtor education) once your case is filed. All filers who receive a discharge must complete the financial management course unless the court finds extraordinary circumstances.
These exemptions are rare and strictly construed by courts. Simply being elderly, having limited education, or finding the course inconvenient does not qualify as a valid exemption. If you believe you may qualify for an exemption, consult with your bankruptcy attorney about filing the necessary certifications.
Both DebtorCC and DebtorEdu offer courses in English and Spanish, accommodating the two most common languages spoken by bankruptcy filers in the United States. If you're more comfortable in Spanish, you can complete both required courses in Spanish, and your certificates will be equally valid and accepted by all bankruptcy courts.
The courses are also available in multiple formats including text, video, and audio to accommodate different learning styles and accessibility needs. If you have hearing, vision, or other disabilities that require special accommodations, contact the course provider's customer service team to discuss available options.
The 24/7 online availability of both courses also provides accessibility for people with mobility limitations, those in remote locations, or individuals whose work schedules make attending in-person counseling difficult or impossible.
Service members on active duty in military combat zones may qualify for temporary exemptions or extensions for completing bankruptcy courses. If you're serving in a combat zone and need to file bankruptcy, consult with a military legal assistance attorney about available accommodations and timing requirements.
Family members of deployed service members generally do not qualify for exemptions and must complete the required courses according to normal timing rules, though they may face special considerations regarding financial circumstances during deployment.
Understanding the most common mistakes people make regarding course timing can help you avoid these pitfalls and ensure your bankruptcy proceeds smoothly.
One of the most frequent timing mistakes is completing the first bankruptcy course too early—weeks or months before you're actually ready to file. This often happens when people first start researching bankruptcy and want to be proactive, or when they underestimate how long it will take their attorney to prepare their case.
Taking the course too early creates several problems. Your certificate may expire before you file, requiring you to retake the entire course and pay again. The financial information discussed during counseling may no longer accurately reflect your situation by the time you file. Your circumstances may change, making bankruptcy unnecessary or requiring a different chapter than originally planned. You may forget important information from the course by the time you actually file.
To avoid this mistake, wait until your attorney confirms they're nearly ready to file your case before completing the first course through DebtorCC. If you're filing without an attorney (pro se), ensure you've gathered all necessary documentation and are truly ready to file before taking the course.
Another common mistake is attempting to complete both bankruptcy courses back-to-back or taking the second course before filing bankruptcy. This often happens due to confusion about course requirements or attempts to "get everything done at once."
Taking the second course before filing creates a critical problem: your certificate will be invalid and the court will not accept it. You will have wasted the course fee and time, and you'll need to retake the entire second course after filing to obtain a valid certificate. There are no exceptions to this rule—the second course must be completed after filing.
To avoid this mistake, clearly understand which course you need at each stage. Before filing, you only need the first course from DebtorCC. After filing, you need the second course from DebtorEdu. The course providers' websites clearly indicate which course is appropriate for your current situation.
While taking the second course too early is a problem, waiting too long creates different but equally serious issues. Some people procrastinate after filing, assuming they have plenty of time to complete the requirement, only to realize too late that they're approaching the deadline.
In Chapter 7 cases, waiting too long means you may miss the discharge deadline entirely, which typically comes 60-90 days after the Meeting of Creditors. If you complete the course but your attorney doesn't file the certificate in time, your discharge will be delayed or denied. In Chapter 13 cases, waiting until the end of your 3-5 year plan means any last-minute problems could prevent your discharge after years of making plan payments.
To avoid this mistake, complete the second course through DebtorEdu within 2-4 weeks after filing in Chapter 7 cases, or within the first few months in Chapter 13 cases. This provides ample time to address any issues that might arise and ensures you don't forget this crucial requirement.
If you previously filed bankruptcy and completed the required courses, you might assume those certificates can be used for a new bankruptcy case. This assumption is incorrect and can cause serious timing problems.
Each bankruptcy case requires fresh completion of both courses. Certificates from a previous bankruptcy case cannot be reused, even if the previous case was dismissed without discharge. You must complete both courses again according to the timing requirements for your new case.
This requirement exists because your financial circumstances likely changed since the previous case, the courses' educational content needs to be current to your situation, and bankruptcy law requires recent counseling to ensure informed decision-making about each filing.
These practical strategies can help you time both bankruptcy courses optimally for your specific situation.
Work with your bankruptcy attorney to create a clear timeline from initial consultation to filing. This timeline should include milestones such as document gathering completion, petition preparation completion, planned filing date, and optimal first course completion date (a few days before filing).
Having this timeline in writing helps you plan when to complete the first bankruptcy course and avoids the risk of completing it too early or scrambling at the last minute. Update the timeline if delays occur to ensure your certificate remains valid.
After filing your bankruptcy case, immediately set reminders to complete the second course. In Chapter 7 cases, set a reminder for 2-3 weeks after filing to complete the course. In Chapter 13 cases, set a reminder for 1-2 months after filing, and consider additional reminders every 6 months to ensure you haven't forgotten this requirement.
Calendar reminders, phone alarms, or task list entries can prevent you from forgetting this crucial requirement and potentially losing your discharge after completing the rest of the bankruptcy process.
Save the website links for both course providers where you can easily find them when needed. For the first course, bookmark www.debtorcc.org. For the second course, bookmark www.debtoredu.com. Keep your attorney's contact information readily available in case you have questions about timing.
Having this information easily accessible prevents last-minute scrambling to find the right websites or contact information when you're ready to complete each course.
While the online coursework for both bankruptcy courses is available 24/7, you'll receive your certificate most quickly if you complete the course during business hours when counselors are available. DebtorCC provides immediate certificate delivery upon completion when counselors are available (Monday-Friday 9am-Midnight EST, Saturday-Sunday 9am-5pm EST).
Planning to complete your course during these hours, especially if you're facing tight filing deadlines, ensures you receive your certificate without delay.
Knowing exactly how long your certificates remain valid and what happens when they expire is essential for proper timing.
The certificate from your first bankruptcy course remains valid for exactly 180 days from the date you complete the course and receive the certificate. This 180-day period cannot be extended, and there are no grace periods. If you file bankruptcy on day 181 or later, your certificate is expired and invalid.
The validity period begins on the date shown on your certificate, which is the date you completed the course and counseling session. This date is clearly printed on the certificate and is the date the court uses to determine validity.
Courts strictly enforce this 180-day rule. Even if you filed one day late and the certificate expired just yesterday, the court will not accept it. You must retake the entire first course through DebtorCC and obtain a new certificate before you can file.
Unlike the first course certificate, the second course certificate does not expire. Once you complete the debtor education course and receive your certificate, it remains valid indefinitely until it's filed with your bankruptcy case.
This lack of expiration is particularly important for Chapter 13 filers who might complete the course early in their 3-5 year repayment plan. The certificate issued shortly after filing remains valid when you need to file it years later before receiving your discharge.
However, the certificate must be from a provider that was approved at the time you took the course and must be properly completed and signed. Keep your certificate in a safe place, as you'll need to file it with the court before receiving your discharge.
If your first course certificate expires before you file, or if either certificate is lost, damaged, or determined to be invalid for any reason, you must retake the entire course to obtain a new valid certificate.
There are no shortcuts or certificate renewals. The course must be completed in full again, including all coursework, counseling sessions, and any required components. You must pay the course fee again, as the previous fee covered the previous completion that is no longer valid.
Both DebtorCC and DebtorEdu maintain records of course completions and can provide duplicate certificates if your original is lost or damaged, provided the completion was valid and recent. However, if sufficient time has passed that the first course certificate would be expired, a duplicate of the expired certificate doesn't solve the problem—you need a new completion with a current date.
You must take the first bankruptcy course (pre-filing credit counseling) before filing your bankruptcy petition, specifically within 180 days before you file. Most bankruptcy experts recommend completing it just a few days or weeks before filing to ensure your certificate remains valid and the financial information discussed accurately reflects your current situation. Taking the course too early risks certificate expiration, while waiting until the last minute can cause problems if urgent filing becomes necessary.
You must take the second bankruptcy course (debtor education) after filing your bankruptcy petition but before receiving your discharge. For Chapter 7 bankruptcy, most attorneys recommend completing it within 2-4 weeks after filing, well before the typical discharge date of 60-90 days after the Meeting of Creditors. For Chapter 13 bankruptcy, while you technically have until before your final plan payment (3-5 years), completing the course within the first few months after filing is strongly recommended to ensure you don't forget this requirement and to benefit from the financial education throughout your plan period.
The certificate from your first bankruptcy course is valid for exactly 180 days (approximately 6 months) from the date you complete the course. You must file your bankruptcy petition within this 180-day window for the certificate to be accepted by the court. There are no extensions or grace periods. If your certificate expires, you must retake the entire course and obtain a new certificate with a current date before you can file bankruptcy.
No, you cannot and should not take both bankruptcy courses at the same time. Federal law requires that the first course be completed before filing bankruptcy, and the second course be completed after filing but before discharge. Taking the second course before filing will result in an invalid certificate that the court will not accept, wasting your time and money. You must take the courses in the correct sequence according to the timing requirements.
If you attempt to file bankruptcy without completing the first bankruptcy course and including the credit counseling certificate with your petition, the bankruptcy court will reject your filing or dismiss your case. The certificate is a mandatory requirement for filing, and your case cannot proceed without it. You will need to complete the course through DebtorCC, obtain your certificate, and refile your bankruptcy petition, which may result in delays and potentially additional filing fees.
If you do not complete the second bankruptcy course by the court's deadline, you will not receive your bankruptcy discharge. This means your debts will not be eliminated, and your case may be closed without providing you any debt relief. In some cases, the court may reopen your case if you complete the course late and file a motion explaining the delay, but this is not guaranteed and may require additional court fees and attorney costs.
Most bankruptcy attorneys recommend waiting until after your initial consultation before taking the first course. Your attorney can provide guidance on optimal timing based on your specific situation and ensure you're ready to file soon after completing the course. However, if you're certain you will file bankruptcy and want to get started, you can complete the first course before meeting with an attorney. The certificate remains valid for 180 days regardless of when you hire an attorney.
You can file bankruptcy immediately after completing the first bankruptcy course. There is no mandatory waiting period. As soon as you receive your certificate of completion from DebtorCC, you can include it with your bankruptcy petition and file your case. Many people complete the course and file their bankruptcy petition the same day or within a few days, especially if they have urgent filing deadlines or situations such as foreclosure or wage garnishment.
Yes, both required bankruptcy courses can be completed entirely online through approved providers. DebtorCC provides the first course (pre-filing credit counseling) online at www.debtorcc.org, and DebtorEdu provides the second course (debtor education) online at www.debtoredu.com. Both courses are available 24/7 and can be completed from any device with internet access, including computers, tablets, and smartphones. The online format is fully approved by the United States Trustee Program and satisfies all federal requirements.
Yes, if you and your spouse are filing bankruptcy jointly, both of you must complete both bankruptcy courses and each receive individual certificates. You can take the courses together for one household fee through both DebtorCC (first course) and DebtorEdu (second course), but each person receives their own certificate. Both certificates must be filed with the bankruptcy court. The advantage of taking courses together is that both certificates are issued simultaneously with the same validity period.
Certificates from previous bankruptcy cases cannot be reused for a new case. Each bankruptcy filing requires fresh completion of both courses, even if your previous case was dismissed or occurred recently. Your financial circumstances may have changed, and bankruptcy law requires current counseling for each case. You must complete both the first course (before filing) and second course (after filing) again for your new bankruptcy case.
Very limited exemptions exist for individuals who cannot complete the first course due to severe disability, incapacity, or active military duty in a combat zone. These exemptions are rare and strictly construed by courts. To qualify, you must file specific certifications with the court, including medical documentation of your condition. Even with exemptions from the first course, there is no exemption from the second course once your case is filed. Simply being elderly, having limited education, or finding the course inconvenient does not qualify for an exemption.
DebtorCC and DebtorEdu provide both required bankruptcy courses approved in all 50 states. Complete your courses online 24/7 and receive your certificates immediately. Join millions who have successfully completed their bankruptcy education requirements through our trusted platforms.
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