What is AFIP?
The Association of Finance & Insurance Professionals is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989 that functions as the sanctioning body for the F&I trade in the U.S. and Canada — over 100,000 certifications issued. Its partner roster reads like the industry itself: Ally, Ford Credit, Zurich, Assurant, APCO Holdings, Northwood University. Product companies like EasyCare run AFIP prep courses for their dealer clients; large dealer groups list it in job requirements.
What it is not: a sales course. AFIP teaches the law — TILA/Reg Z, the Consumer Leasing Act, ECOA, FCRA, privacy and Safeguards, the Federal Odometer Act, Magnuson-Moss, ethics, and state law. Menu skills come from somewhere else; the license to sit in the chair without burning the store down comes from here.
Cost, exam, and renewals (2026)
| Tier | Cost | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Basic (CPFS) | $965 | 200 questions: 150 federal / 25 ethics / 25 state · 80% per module · up to 3 hours, proctored |
| Senior (SPFS) — 2-yr renewal | $865 | 175 questions + applied-ethics module |
| Master (MPFS) — 2-yr renewal | $765 | 75 case-based federal + 25 state |
| Lifetime Master (LMPFS) | $665 | Recurrent training every 2 years |
AFIP recommends at least 40 hours of study over six to eight weeks; results process within two business days, and the onsite pass rate is 88%. Every certification expires after two years — a lapsed credential, as the industry saying goes, carries no weight with a compliance auditor.
The New Jersey angle: NJ CAR's boot camp
NJ CAR — the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers — partnered with AFIP on a customized New Jersey curriculum: a two-day boot camp at its Ewing headquarters (856 River Road) covering the federal statutes plus state law, with the exam proctored live on day two. NJ CAR's own words: "AFIP certification is the cornerstone to the dealer's compliance program." Current dates and tuition aren't published online — call NJ CAR at 609-883-6330 or see njcar.org/academy/afip.
Why it matters here specifically: New Jersey's Attorney General actively enforces the Consumer Fraud Act against dealerships, and the state's lease-heavy market makes Consumer Leasing Act fluency mandatory. The exposure map is in our NJ compliance guide — AFIP is the credential that says a manager has studied that map. AFIP executive director Shannon Robertson's data point: dealers can reduce potential fines by up to 96% by demonstrating an active compliance program.
Is it worth it? The honest version
For: it's the most widely recognized independent F&I compliance credential; NJ's own dealer association teaches it; job postings list it as preferred or required; it costs less than one compliance mistake. Against: it's voluntary (no NJ law requires it), it teaches zero selling technique, and the two-year renewal is a recurring cost. The main independent alternative, ACE, runs $95–$695 with annual recertification — cheaper, but without AFIP's recognition or the NJ CAR pipeline. For a New Jersey F&I career, AFIP is the one that moves a resume.
Questions candidates ask
How much does AFIP cost?
What score passes?
How long does it take?
Is it required in NJ?
Sources
- AFIP — afip.com (founding, 501(c)(3), 100,000+ certifications, partners) · afip.com/fi-certification (pricing, exam, tiers, pass rate) · step-by-step guide (study hours, logistics)
- NJ CAR Academy AFIP page — njcar.org/academy/afip (curriculum, boot camp format, "cornerstone" quote, Ewing location)
- Shannon Robertson / compliance-program fine reduction — cbtnews.com "Compliance That Works" coverage (Feb 2026)
- ACE alternative pricing — ace.ecompliance.training/catalog
- NJ dealer regulations reviewed for licensing requirements — nj.gov/mvc dealer regulations (no individual F&I certification mandate found)
Pricing and program details verified against afip.com and njcar.org as of July 2026 and may change; confirm with AFIP or NJ CAR before enrolling. Not legal advice.