San Diego, CA. - The ICFE added about 75 pages of new content to the Independent Study Guide for its Credit Report Reviewer certification course. Changes in the credit reporting industry coupled with the impact of credit scoring, which has left many consumers clueless, underscores the importance of keeping the self-improvement programs up-to-date. ICFE courses are designed especially for financial, legal, credit and debt counseling professionals.

American businesses link future plans on the continued growth of consumer credit. More emphasis is on credit scoring, which has been revised several times, the latest to thwart fraudulent manipulation of authorized user accounts, otherwise known as "piggybacking."

The ICFE regularly updates its courses and publications and the most recent program to be expanded is the ICFE's popular Certified Credit Report Reviewer (CCRR) program. The ICFE recently added about 75 pages of content of the Independent Study Guide and the final exam, also expanded, is now 50 questions. The program is accepted for continuing education credits and continuing legal education credits by many organizations and state regulatory licensing agencies. About 2700 financial counselors, credit union officials, military counselors and other professionals have completed in the course.

A new PowerPoint Show on the sticky subject of Universal Default was also added to the wallet-sized CD Rom included with the program materials. The CD Rom also includes another PowerPoint Show on Identity Theft and over 40 sample dispute and credit inquiry letters, taken from the ICFE Do-It-Yourself Credit File Correction Guide, and new "credit freeze request" letters. Five of ICFE Guides are included with the program materials.

There is a rapidly growing need for professionals to learn about credit reports and the new laws that govern them. They also need to learn risk management techniques and how to protect customers, clients and consumers against the predations of credit and identity thieves.

One element missing until recently is a standardized credential in credit reporting/reviewing that can be recognized and relied upon by consumers, lenders, businesses and legal people, even law enforcement. The Institute of Consumer Financial Education (ICFE) has bridged that gap with its CCRR certification.

The ICFE's course, accepted for CE credits with many major organizations, on credit reports and reviews guide students in exploring the complexity of these issues and how they can negatively impact and harm consumers.

Getting the ICFE Certified Credit Report Reviewer (CCRR) credentials are now becoming essential for all credit, debt, privacy specialists, financial and insurance counselors who are working with the public because it helps consumers become more aware of these important issues and avoid being hurt by ignorance.

The nonprofit ICFE has examined and issued credentials to over 5,000 individuals, including privacy consultants, law enforcement, military counselors, lawyers, paralegals, financial planners and credit counselors, real estate agents and mortgage brokers since 2005.