AP CAREER KICKSTART

Adopt AP Business with Personal Finance

This new career course teaches business management and personal financial literacy through entrepreneurial projects and simulated work-based experiences.

What Is AP Business with Personal Finance?

AP Business with Personal Finance introduces students to the knowledge and skills they’ll need to grow their careers, manage money, and get a head start toward the most popular college major in the U.S. Developed in partnership with college faculty and industry leaders, the yearlong course offers students the opportunity to earn college credit and an employer-endorsed credential. 

A student holds a backpack and smiles

Why Offer the Course?

Launching in the 2026-27 school year, AP Business with Personal Finance will teach workforce-ready skills that prepare students for careers in a range of businesses—from startups and large corporations to regional and local organizations. 

Key benefits:

  • Through projects and case studies, students will learn business fundamentals, decision-making skills, and personal finance standards. 
  • Students can earn credit at colleges and universities.
  • Students can earn an employer-endorsed credential for use in further study or an entry-level job.   
A male teacher with a big smile

AP Business with Personal Finance Exam

Students with qualifying exam scores gain two benefits.

College Credit and Placement

Students with qualifying exam scores can earn credit at colleges and universities.

Employer-Endorsed Credential

Students with qualifying exam scores earn a credential they can apply toward further training or in the workforce.

During the course, students will:

Develop their own entrepreneurial idea through the Business Canvas Project

Practice advising on financial decisions like college loans, home ownership, and retirement planning

Achieve the National Standards for Personal Financial Education

“The AP Business with Personal Finance course is designed to help students become more creative, entrepreneurial, and equipped to build their own businesses and careers. The course introduces an innovative approach by encouraging students to apply integrative thinking and pattern recognition to their academic and professional paths.”

Philip Freeman, Founder and CEO, Murphy’s Naturals, Inc., & The Loading Dock