AP Career Kickstart

Introducing AP Business Principles/Personal Finance

This two-semester, standalone course qualifies students for college credit and was designed to fulfill the National Standards for Personal Financial Education.

What Is AP Business Principles/Personal Finance?

Designed like most AP courses for a full academic year of 160 single class periods, AP Business Principles/Personal Finance introduces students to the fields of entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, accounting, and management through real-world business application, case studies, and project based learning, fulfilling the National Standards for Personal Financial Education (created by the Council for Economic Education and the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy).

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Why Offer the Course?

The course, available starting in the 2026-27 school year, teaches workforce-ready skills that prepare students for success in a range of careers and a variety of workplaces—small local businesses, the financial industry, a family farm, a large corporation, or other types of businesses and nonprofits.

Key benefits:

  • Regardless of the career a student pursues, the required project-based work and assessments ensure students gain fundamental business knowledge, decision-making skills, and in-depth learning of personal finance standards. 

  • The college credits that AP students receive at thousands of universities accelerate college completion and degree attainment. 

  • Students receive an industry-recognized credential, signaling students’ attainment of knowledge and skills valued by employers. 

Complete the Interest Form
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During the course, students will:

Engage in project based learning

Develop their own entrepreneurial Business Canvas Project

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

Achieve the National Standards for Personal Financial Education

Get Involved

We’ve developed the course in partnership with colleges, universities, employers, high schools, career and technical student organizations, and trade organizations. If you’d like to lend your expertise, sign up to learn about ways to participate. 

Complete the Interest Form