◆ The CSLA Institute
A standards body for student loan advice
We set the education, examination, experience and ethics requirements for the Certified Student Loan Professional® designation, maintain the public register of certificants, and adjudicate complaints against them.
Why we exist
Designations are only as good as the body behind them
Student loan advice sits in a gap: servicers may explain programs but not recommend them, and general financial training barely touches federal repayment law. The Institute exists to define what competent student loan advice is, test for it, publish who has met the standard, and remove the designation from anyone who abuses it.
The people
Built by practitioners
JH
Jantz Hoffman, MBA — Founder & Executive Director
LinkedIn ↗
Since 2010, Jantz has helped student loan borrowers and financial advisors understand the nuances of loan repayment. Over the years, he has consulted with thousands of independent advisory firms and individuals to help solve complex repayment situations. Through his experience and awareness of the growing challenges student loan borrowers face, the need to address the knowledge gaps in the financial advisory community became obvious.
Mr. Hoffman is a Registered Investment Advisor and has been assisting clients with student debt since 2010. He has appeared on PBS Nightly Business Report and been cited in the NY Times as well as other publications as an expert in student loan repayment.
Mr. Hoffman was the managing partner of Delta Capital, a commodities trading advisor, and has worked for several hedge funds. Mr. Hoffman received a bachelor’s degree from Humboldt State University and a master’s degree in business from Colorado State University.
LinkedIn ↗
Since 2010, Jantz has helped student loan borrowers and financial advisors understand the nuances of loan repayment. Over the years, he has consulted with thousands of independent advisory firms and individuals to help solve complex repayment situations. Through his experience and awareness of the growing challenges student loan borrowers face, the need to address the knowledge gaps in the financial advisory community became obvious.
Mr. Hoffman is a Registered Investment Advisor and has been assisting clients with student debt since 2010. He has appeared on PBS Nightly Business Report and been cited in the NY Times as well as other publications as an expert in student loan repayment.
Mr. Hoffman was the managing partner of Delta Capital, a commodities trading advisor, and has worked for several hedge funds. Mr. Hoffman received a bachelor’s degree from Humboldt State University and a master’s degree in business from Colorado State University.
LT
Larry Taylor, Ph.D. — Co Founder, Director Marketing & Technology
LinkedIn ↗
Larry works at the intersection of psychology, digital marketing, and AI systems. He has worked as a startup founder, small business advisor, and Fortune 500 company I.T. professional. His industry expertise is grounded in financial service businesses and healthcare operations.
Aside from his role with the CSLP® Program, he has an active practice advising small professional service companies on AI as a growth system.
His doctoral research measured how trust forms between organizations and the people they serve online. He holds a Master's and a Ph.D. in Psychology with an emphasis in digital media.
LinkedIn ↗
Larry works at the intersection of psychology, digital marketing, and AI systems. He has worked as a startup founder, small business advisor, and Fortune 500 company I.T. professional. His industry expertise is grounded in financial service businesses and healthcare operations.
Aside from his role with the CSLP® Program, he has an active practice advising small professional service companies on AI as a growth system.
His doctoral research measured how trust forms between organizations and the people they serve online. He holds a Master's and a Ph.D. in Psychology with an emphasis in digital media.
HJ
Heather Jarvis, J.D. — Faculty
LinkedIn ↗
Heather Jarvis is an attorney and a nationally recognized expert specializing in student loan law. She has provided award-winning student loan education and consultation for universities, associations and professional advisors and is sought after for her sophisticated knowledge and accessible teaching style.
Heather has practiced public interest law for more than a dozen years. Beginning in 2005, Heather focused her advocacy work on reducing the financial barriers to practicing public interest law.
Heather has contributed to student debt relief policy for the House Education Committee and others in Congress, and has dedicated her professional efforts to advancing public service loan forgiveness which allows recent graduates to dedicate their careers to the greater good. Heather leads efforts to establish and expand student debt relief programs and to inform borrowers, schools, and employers about how to benefit from available debt relief programs.
Widely recognized by school professionals and media representatives as an expert source of information, Heather has trained thousands of students and professionals and is sought after for her sophisticated legal knowledge and accessible teaching style.
LinkedIn ↗
Heather Jarvis is an attorney and a nationally recognized expert specializing in student loan law. She has provided award-winning student loan education and consultation for universities, associations and professional advisors and is sought after for her sophisticated knowledge and accessible teaching style.
Heather has practiced public interest law for more than a dozen years. Beginning in 2005, Heather focused her advocacy work on reducing the financial barriers to practicing public interest law.
Heather has contributed to student debt relief policy for the House Education Committee and others in Congress, and has dedicated her professional efforts to advancing public service loan forgiveness which allows recent graduates to dedicate their careers to the greater good. Heather leads efforts to establish and expand student debt relief programs and to inform borrowers, schools, and employers about how to benefit from available debt relief programs.
Widely recognized by school professionals and media representatives as an expert source of information, Heather has trained thousands of students and professionals and is sought after for her sophisticated legal knowledge and accessible teaching style.
What we maintain
Four functions
The standardEducation, examination, licensing and ethics requirements for the designation, revised as the rules change.
The examinationA proctored 100-question comprehensive final and an annual renewal exam.
The public registerA searchable directory of certificants with current status, so borrowers can verify before they trust.
EnforcementA published complaint process and a Disciplinary Committee that can revoke the designation.
The network
Certified professionals practice across the country
They appear in our public directory, which borrowers use to find qualified help — and which advisors consistently report as a source of new clients.
Meet the standard.
Enrollment for the 2026 edition is open — $1,495, including the new Transition section.
Enroll in the 2026 edition