AFAM Certification - FAQ

CAN I ASK QUESTIONS DIRECTLY TO THE INSTRUCTOR?

No. For a variety of reasons, including but not limited to liability considerations, Students are not permitted to ask questions directly to instructors or request clarification of course content. Because AFAM training programs consist of pre-recorded webinars, this type of training has certain inherent limitations. As such, Student questions are not answered during or after the presentations, and AFAM does not provide additional clarification or explanation of course content, even if a Student believes that any portion of the material is unclear or requires further explanation. However, each presentation may include direct links to authoritative sources and reference materials that allow Students to research topics independently and explore the subject matter in greater depth. These resources are provided so Students can obtain additional information and remain informed about current rules, guidelines, and industry updates throughout the year. Please Note: If a Student is specifically seeking or would ultimately prefer a training program that allows them to ask course questions or request clarification on course material, a AFAM Academy training program may not be the right fit for their needs.

ARE AFAM CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS STATE OR FEDERAL ISSUED?

No. All AFAM certification programs are for “professional development” purposes only, and are NOT to be considered a license, nor a State or Federal issued certification.

WHAT IS YOUR REFUND POLICY?

No refunds or credits will be issued if a student and/or customer has logged into any recorded/“live” webinar course or has requested a Certificate of Completion for the course/certification/bootcamp/bundled package purchased. If a student and/or customer has not logged into a recorded/“live” webinar course or has not requested a Certificate of Completion, the customer is entitled to a full refund (minus a $75 administrative cancellation fee) provided a refund request is received in writing or via e-mail by AFAM within (5) calendar days from the date of purchase. NOTE: there are no refunds on corporate sponsorship packages that include advertising, “brand awareness” initiatives, email marketing, banner ads, etc. Before purchasing any AFAM certification program, we recommend you thoroughly read our Refund Policy & Terms of Use.

WHAT ARE THE SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS?

You will need the following: 1) a Computer, 2) Internet, 3) Computer Speakers and 4) Webcam/Microphone. Please check beforehand to make sure these items are working properly.

DO I NEED TO GET RECERTIFIED EACH YEAR?

Yes. You must recertify each year to keep your AFAM Certification active, and as such, you will have the option each year to renew your AFAM Certification. If you choose to do so, a $299 recertification charge will apply; at which time, you will be required to take a new timed 1-hour online proctored exam. The $299 recertification charge will also provide you with an additional 1-year access to an updated version of the required AFAM Certification training classes conducted by AFAM Academy. NOTE: The updated version of the required AFAM Certification training classes conducted by AFAM Academy typically only contain minor changes from the previous year since mortgage regulations, laws, forms, guidelines, etc. do not necessarily change from year to year.

DO YOU GUARANTEE I WILL FIND A JOB?

No. Aside from the current state of any given job market, there are many factors that go into a student landing a job after obtaining AFAM certification — which are out of AFAM’s control (i.e. a student’s professionalism, interpersonal skills, enthusiasm, employment track record, etc.). With this is mind, we do not provide job placement assistance, nor do we guarantee you will find a job. However, upon request we do provide students with “job search resources” which can help aid in finding a job within the mortgage industry. Please be mindful our “job search resources” are simply a minor, value-added component of what you are purchasing as they are a collection of free resources (i.e. resume builder websites, job posting sites, etc.).

DO I NEED A WEBCAM FOR THE EXAM?

Yes. You will need a webcam for the timed, 1-hour online “proctored” AFAM certification exam.

HOW LONG DO I HAVE ACCESS TO THE ONLINE TRAINING PORTAL & RELATED SERVICES?

1-Year. Once a student enrolls, the student will have one year of access to the AFAM Academy Online Training Portal & related services, which will start from when the student first logs into the AFAM Academy Online Training Portal — not from date of purchase. This one-year period applies to the webinars, course materials, exams and customer support.

DO YOU OFFER JOB PLACEMENT OR CAREER COUNSELING?

No. AFAM does not provide job placement assistance or career counseling of any kind. Students who enroll in our certification programs should understand that, while our courses are designed to enhance professional knowledge and career preparedness, AFAM does not guarantee employment, provide job outlooks, define specific job roles, or facilitate job placement or job-matching services. Students are solely responsible for pursuing employment opportunities and making their own career decisions. Employment outcomes depend on a variety of external factors beyond AFAM’s control, including but not limited to job market conditions, geographic location, individual experience, professionalism, communication skills, and the ability to network and interview effectively. As such, completion of a AFAM certification should be viewed as one component of broader career development efforts, and not as a direct path to employment.

DO EMPLOYERS RECOGNIZE AFAM CERTIFICATION?

Yes. However, it’s important to note you’ll inevitably encounter employers who feel a certification is “just a piece of paper” since it does not factor in a candidate’s professionalism, employment track record, enthusiasm, interpersonal skills, etc. Having said that, according to a multiple surveys conducted by Indeed.com regarding obtaining professional development certification: job seekers said the "help my career progression" was the biggest reason for earning their certification and it helped them make more money and/or helped them get a job.

If your goal is to find a mortgage job or obtain a promotion at your current job, we can say our “professional development” certification can help to make you more marketable. Furthermore, many recruiters and hiring managers value our certification because it helps to validate a candidate is fully trained to effectively manage AI Agents, and has acquired the necessary AI Agent Management skills needed to make a smooth transition into the agent management. From our perspective, we feel without getting updated on mortgage regulations/guidelines and without obtaining Agent Management knowledge from a targeted training/certification program, you’ll often risk being viewed as a non-plug ‘n go candidate by prospective employers.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU UPDATE COURSE MATERIALS?

Yearly. We make every effort to keep our Students updated and do this in a variety of ways. We start with an annual review of each course to determine if full, partial or no revamping is needed, and will revise the course(s) once a year accordingly. We also include source links within each presentation, so Students throughout the year can get updated on their own. Finally, we post weekly training videos and articles within our weekly e-newsletter, AFAM Intelligence, which often cover breaking mortgage news & proposed legislative changes.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I FAIL A AFAM CERTIFICATION EXAM?

Each AFAM certification exam is a timed 1-hour open-book online "proctored" (via WebCam) 30-question exam (multiple choice/true & false). You must get 75% or higher to pass the exam. NOTE: you may re-take the exam up to 3 times. If you fail the exam three times, you must wait 1 year before you can re-register for the same AFAM certification program -- the 1-year waiting period will start from the date of the third failed exam.

HOW ARE THE EXAMS CONDUCTED?

Each certification program contains a timed 1-hour 30-question (multiple choice & true/false) online proctored exam — which is administered at the end of the program, once you’ve completed all of your required training classes. You will need a webcam for the exam only and show proof of ID to the proctor at time of exam.

WHAT ARE YOUR ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS?

To obtain a AFAM Certification, the Student must meet the two (2) eligibility requirements set forth by AFAM (as identified below), provide full payment of the AFAM Certification fees and follow any other applicable requirements, as outlined in the AFAM Certification Handbook.

1. Government Issued ID: All Students pursuing AFAM Certification must have a government issued ID which gets presented to the exam Proctor to verify Student’s identity. Note: AFAM reserves the right to request additional documentation to verify identity.

2. Online Accessibility: All Students pursuing AFAM Certification must have access to a computer (desktop or laptop) with internet access.