In 2005 Congress enacted a law requiring individuals who file Bankruptcy to take a credit counseling course before filing and a course in financial management after filing but before receiving a discharge.
The Credit Counseling Course must be taken by a certified debt relief agency. When you receive your certificate of completion you will be eligible to file or receive a discharge.
The course takes around 2 hours to complete and may be taken online or over the phone at a agency such as access counseling. Your certificate is good for 180 days which means you must file your Bankruptcy within that time limit
The Credit Counseling Course costs between $15 and $50 from an agency so it is important to find which agency best suits your needs. In certain cases the fee may be waived if you can show the agency financial hardship.