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◆ CFP Board approved for 13 CE credits

Elevate your financial service practice with student loan expertise.

The premier certification program for financial professionals.
Become a Certified Student Loan Professional (CSLP®) and advise clients on repayment, taxes, forgiveness and the consequences of both.

Enroll in the 2026 edition Explore the curriculum
Four-section curriculumProctored CSLP examCFPs receive 13 creditsAnnual recertification
What it does for your practice

A liability your clients may already have, that many are not qualified to advise on

Student loan debt sits in the middle of the decisions you are already being paid to make — filing status, cash flow, retirement contributions, a home purchase, a business. Certification turns that from a question you refer out into a service you own.

A service you can charge forRepayment and forgiveness analysis becomes a defined engagement inside your practice, not unpaid advice at the end of a meeting.
A reason to be chosenPhysicians, attorneys, dentists, pharmacists, veterinarians, and academics carry six-figure student loan balances and actively look for someone who understands them.
A public listingActive designees appear in the CSLP® directory, where borrowers and other advisors search by state and credential.
Peers who work the hard casesThe community forum is where designees resolve the situations the rulebook does not cleanly cover.
Who it's for

You're already 75% there

The designation is for licensed and credentialed financial professionals. You already read regulations, and hold client trust. What you likely do not have is a defensible framework for the one liability nobody at your client's loan servicer is allowed to advise them on.

Servicers can explain what consolidation does. They cannot tell your client whether it's the best time to do it. That gap is your opportunity — and student loan expertise is still scarce, which is exactly what makes it valuable.

Anyone may take the coursework. Only credentialed professionals may hold the designation.

Why now

The largest repayment overhaul in a generation is already underway

Certification has never mattered more than it does this year. Every one of these numbers is a client conversation someone has to have — and most advisors cannot have it.

7.5Mborrowers exiting SAVEAfter the plan ended in March 2026, every one of them needs a new repayment decision.
2028PAYE and ICR fully gonePhasing out under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Some doors close permanently.
5 figuresthe cost of one wrong callWhen a client loses forgiveness eligibility or overpays, the number is rarely small.
The curriculum

Four sections, built in the order the work actually happens

CSLP 100

Foundations

Loan types, limits, rates, consolidation, capitalization and every fixed repayment plan.
CSLP 200

Income-Driven Repayment

IBR, RAP, PSLF buybacks, the account adjustment and the forgiveness clock.
CSLP 300

Tax & Financial Advising

Filing status, AGI mechanics, business owners, home purchases and employer benefits.
Transition

2026–2028 RulesNew

SAVE, RAP, PAYE, ICR and Parent PLUS pathways as they actually stand today.

Explore the full curriculum →

The standard

Four requirements. No shortcuts.

Designations are only worth what stands behind them. Here is exactly what standing behind the CSLP® requires.

01 Licensing

An active financial credential — CFP®, CPA, EA, CFA®, CLU®, ChFC®, AFC®, Registered Investment Advisor, a state insurance license, or an active Series registration (6, 7, 65, 66 and others).

02 Education

The complete curriculum — all four sections. Most candidates finish in four to five weeks.

03 Examination

A proctored comprehensive final: 100 multiple-choice questions on student loan rules and case analysis. It is a real exam.

04 Ethics

Agreement to the Code of Professional Conduct, enforced through a published complaint and disciplinary process, and reaffirmed at every annual renewal.

Read the Code of Professional Conduct and complaint process →

Proof

From advisors who hold the designation

Choosing to get my CSLP® was one of my best decisions. I had been helping clients with student loans for about four years and I thought I pretty much knew it all. Not even close. I have gained many new clients who found me by searching the database on the website.Jennifer Prosise, MBA, CFP®, CRES
My business is primarily working with physicians. I realized quickly I did not have the knowledge or resources to assist them with their #1 concern. This program has given me the knowledge, the resources and the community to help my clients navigate the complexities of student loans.Logan Varella, RIA
The CSLP® courses give us tools and in-depth education to provide clear and objective solutions to borrowers. Mastering this information gives us a competitive edge in a very competitive market. More importantly, this skill set empowers us to do good.Patricia Hughes, CFP®, CPA
By taking a systematic, scaffolded approach, I was able to go from the basic knowledge I had to the incredibly complicated scenarios we so often see. I would recommend it to anyone who seeks to serve clients who have student loans.Ryan Frailich, CFP®
I thought I had an above average knowledge of the student loan landscape, but I was VERY mistaken. The final exam is tough, but once completed you will have the knowledge and confidence to better advise your clients with student loan balances.Mary Rush, CFP®
This program helped me develop the skills needed to assist clients and prospects with student loans, along with an online community that is very supportive and insightful. Everybody is eager to learn and help.Melissa Dotson, CFP®
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Enrollment for the 2026 edition is open.

13 CE credits and the Transition section covering the rules your clients are living through right now.

Enroll now