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◆ 2026 Edition · Completely rewritten

One credential. Four sections. Current as of July 1, 2026.

The CSLP® is a single comprehensive course, not a survey — from the mechanics of the federal loan system, through every income-driven repayment option, into the tax and planning questions that decide real client outcomes, and finishing with the 2026–2028 transition rules no advisor has had to handle before.

55modules, four sectionsVideo presentations with downloadable materials.
13CE creditsApproved by the CFP Board on completion.
4–5weeks, typicallySix months of access included.
73%first-time pass rate100-question proctored final, 2026.
The full curriculum

Every module in the 2026 edition

Four sections, in order. Nothing is withheld until after you pay.

CSLP 100 — FoundationsModules 1–16

The full federal loan landscape: what a client actually has before you advise on any of it.

  1. 1NSLDS Data Download Tool and Instructions
  2. 2Federal Student Loan Programs
  3. 3Federal Student Loan Borrowing Limits and Eligibility
  4. 4Federal Loan Interest Rates
  5. 5Getting a Federal Student Loan
  6. 6Non-Federal Student Loans
  7. 7Federal vs Private Loan Consolidation
  8. 8Interest Capitalization
  9. 9Weighted Average Payment Allocation
  10. 10Grace, Deferment, and Forbearance
  11. 11IDR Repayment Foundations and History
  12. 12Graduated Repayment Plan
  13. 13Extended Student Loan Repayment Plan
  14. 14Extended Graduated Student Loan Repayment Plan
  15. 15Tiered Standard Payment
  16. 16Student Loan Operations
CSLP 200 — Income-Driven RepaymentModules 17–29

Every IDR option in depth, including RAP vs IBR tradeoffs and the forgiveness clock.

  1. 17PSLF Buybacks: A Comprehensive Guide
  2. 18Dependents and Family Size Under IDR Plans
  3. 19Advanced IDR: RAP vs IBR Tradeoffs
  4. 20IDR History: RAP and the Evolving Repayment Landscape
  5. 21Account Adjustment
  6. 22IBR 10% Version
  7. 23IBR Legacy Version 15%
  8. 24Repayment Assistance Plan
  9. 25RAP vs IBR: Understanding the Forgiveness Clock After RISE
  10. 26Advanced IDR
  11. 27Rise Repayment System
  12. 28Case Examples: Dependents and Family Size Under IBR and RAP
  13. 29On Time Payments in Federal Student Loan
CSLP 300 — Tax & Financial AdvisingModules 30–45

Where student loans collide with tax filing, retirement, business ownership, and home purchases.

  1. 30Case Intake
  2. 31Case Management
  3. 32How to Help Clients Access Student Loan Records
  4. 33Part 1: LRAP
  5. 34Part 2: Employee Benefits: Section 125 and Section 127
  6. 35Part 3: LRAPs and Service-Based Student Loan Assistance
  7. 36Business Owners and Student Loans Part 1
  8. 37Business Owners and Student Loans Part 2
  9. 38Business Owners and Student Loans Part 3
  10. 39Finding Credible Sources
  11. 40Student Loans and Home Purchases
  12. 41Tax Tradeoffs in Student Loan Advising
  13. 42AGI, Filing Mechanics, MFS, and Bracket Walk-Throughs
  14. 43Domicile, Community Property, and Form 1098
  15. 44Student Loan Tax Treatment Over Time
  16. 45Current Law Updates, OBBB Deductions, Section 127
Transition — The 2026–2028 RulesNewModules 46–55

New for the 2026 edition: ten modules plus a downloadable introduction. SAVE, RAP, PAYE, ICR and the one-way doors your clients are walking through right now. Most modules were updated in late July 2026.

  1. –Transition Rules Introduction (PDF)
  2. 46Why Legacy IDR Still Matters During the Transition
  3. 47IDR Plan Map: Repay/SAVE Uncertainty
  4. 48PAYE Basics: How PAYE Works
  5. 49PAYE Transition: A One Way Door
  6. 50How ICR Works
  7. 51ICR During Transitions: Parent PLUS, PAYE, Legacy ICR
  8. 52PSLF During Legacy Plan Transition
  9. 53Choosing Among PAYE, ICR, RAP and Fixed Plans During Transition
  10. 54Transition Year Case Studies
  11. 55Borrower Eligibility
Why the Transition section matters

“IDR is gone” is wrong — and acting on it costs clients money

When SAVE ended, some advisors assumed every income-driven option had disappeared. Borrowers already on PAYE and ICR can stay, for now. Whether a loan was disbursed before or after July 1, 2026 determines which plans a borrower can ever access again. PAYE, in particular, is a one-way door. Ten modules cover exactly this.

After you finish

What you'll be able to do

Pull and read a client's complete federal loan history from NSLDS before giving any advice.
Model RAP against IBR, including the forgiveness clock, rather than guessing.
Advise business owners and their families on how loans interact with entity structure and income.
Handle filing-status and community-property questions without deferring to “ask your CPA.”
Answer, correctly and on the spot, what a client should do about SAVE ending.
Be listed in the public CSLP® directory that borrowers search.
FAQ

Questions candidates ask before enrolling

Do I need a license to take the course?

No. There is no licensing requirement to complete the coursework. You may not represent yourself as a CSLP® or advise under the designation until you hold an active financial license.

How long does it take?

Most candidates complete the course and exam in four to five weeks. You have six months of access; consistent pacing produces the best results.

What is the exam like?

A proctored comprehensive final of 100 multiple-choice questions covering student loan rules and case analysis. You have 30 days from completion to sit it. Retakes are $150.

Are CE credits available?

Yes — 13 credits, approved by the CFP Board, on program completion.

Can I take the exam without completing the coursework?

It is permitted but not advised. The exam tests applied case analysis, not recall.

What happens after I pass?

You receive a digital certificate valid for one year, a listing in the advisor directory, and access to the CSLA community forum. You renew annually for $325 to keep the designation and continue receiving course updates.

Enroll in the 2026 edition.

$1,495 · six months of access · 13 CE credits · the Transition section included.

Enroll now — $1,495