About NCFR

Founded in 1938 as the first multidisciplinary family organization in the United States, the NCFR was established to provide a professional association for those involved in the family field and to promote interaction among its members. In 1981 the NCFR recognized the need for professional standards for family life educators and subsequently developed the Standards and Criteria for Certification of Family Life Educators. The Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) designation is highly respected in the family field.

Who Are Certified Family Life Educators?

Family life educators provide skills and knowledge to enrich individual and family life. Certification as a family life educator or CFLE recognizes a proven background and understanding in each of the ten family life substance areas. While CFLEs may work specifically in one discipline, such as parent education or marriage enrichment, their understanding of the many areas that affect today's families enables them to be more effective in their efforts to educate and work with individuals and families. The CFLE is a highly regarded credential that assures knowledge, expertise, and professionalism in the family field.

The ten CFLE substance areas are:

• Families in Society
• Internal Dynamics of Families
• Human Growth/Life Span Development
• Human Sexuality
• Interpersonal Relationships
• Family Resource Management
• Parent Education and Guidance
• Family Law and Public Policy
• Ethics
• Family Life Education Methodology