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◆ For borrowers and families

Your student loans just changed. Here's how to find someone who actually knows the rules.

SAVE ended. New repayment plans launched July 1, 2026. Older plans are closing to new borrowers. If you have been told to “just call your servicer,” understand this: servicers can explain what a program does, but they are not permitted to advise you on what you should do.

Find an active CSLP® professional ↗
Public register of certificantsActive status shownEnforced code of conduct
What the designation means to you

A credential, not a marketing badge

A Certified Student Loan Professional® is a credentialed financial professional who has completed a four-section program of specialized training, passed a proctored examination, and agreed to a published code of conduct that we enforce. They are not a debt relief company. They are your advisor.

Check that the designation is active. The CSLP® must be renewed every year, because the rules change every year — that is the entire point of the credential. Our directory shows each professional's current status, and lapsed designations are flagged. If someone claims the CSLP® and is not listed as active, they are not current on the 2026 rules.
Protect yourself

Don't be fooled by “debt relief”

Six questions to ask before you engage anyone.

  1. How is this person compensated, and by whom?
  2. Are they licensed — CFP®, CPA, EA, RIA or equivalent — and can you verify it?
  3. How much experience do they have specifically with student loans?
  4. Are they charging an upfront fee for something the Department of Education does for free?
  5. Will they look at your whole financial picture, or just your loans?
  6. If they claim the CSLP®, does the directory show them as active?
Rule of thumb: nobody legitimate needs to be paid upfront to enroll you in a federal repayment program. Get a second opinion. Always.
Why one-size answers fail

Two borrowers with identical balances can need opposite strategies

Repayment decisions turn on loan mix (Direct, FFEL, Perkins, private), disbursement dates, income, family size, filing status, employment, and your goals. That is the whole reason this credential exists.

Worth knowing

What changed, in plain terms

SAVE ended in March 2026About 7.5 million borrowers had to choose a new repayment plan. If you were on SAVE, your payment and forgiveness timeline both changed.
RAP launched July 1, 2026A new plan, alongside a Tiered Standard payment. Whether it beats IBR for you depends on income, family size and forgiveness timing.
PAYE and ICR are closingFully gone for new borrowers by July 1, 2028. Leaving PAYE is a one-way door — don't do it without advice.

Search the directory for an active CSLP® ↗

Find someone who does this every day.

Search the public register by state, designation or name — and check for active status before you take advice.

Find an active CSLP® ↗