Financial Services Credential Verification
How to Verify a CLU Designation
The CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter) is the oldest and most recognized designation in life insurance and risk planning. It is issued by The American College of Financial Services. Verification is available through the College's alumni verification tool, but understanding the CE maintenance requirements is essential.
Quick answer
Verify CLU designation through The American College of Financial Services alumni verification tool at theamericancollege.edu/verify. Search by the designee's name to confirm active status. The CLU requires ongoing continuing education to remain in active standing — a lapsed CLU may not use the designation.
What the CLU designation is
The CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter) has been awarded by The American College of Financial Services since 1927, making it one of the oldest professional financial designations in the United States. It focuses on life insurance planning, risk management, business insurance, and estate planning from an insurance perspective.
CLU requirements:
- › Education: Complete 8 college-level courses (approximately 24 credit hours) covering life insurance, estate planning, taxation, business planning, and related topics
- › Experience: Three years of full-time business experience
- › Ethics: Agree to The American College's Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility
The CLU is most prevalent in life insurance sales, estate planning, business succession planning, and retirement income planning. It is a strong signal of deep insurance product knowledge — distinct from the CFP's broader financial planning focus.
How to verify a CLU designation
Step 1: Use The American College verification tool
Navigate to theamericancollege.edu/verify. This is The American College's official designee verification portal covering CLU, ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant), RICP (Retirement Income Certified Professional), and other American College designations.
The search is free and publicly accessible. Search by the designee's name to confirm active designation status.
Step 2: Confirm active designation status
The verification tool returns designees who are in active standing — meaning they have completed continuing education requirements and agreed to the Code of Ethics for the current period. A former CLU who has not kept up CE requirements may not appear in the active directory.
If the candidate claims a CLU but does not appear, ask them to provide their American College student ID number and request direct verification from the College.
CLU continuing education requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| CE hours | 30 hours of continuing education every two years |
| Ethics requirement | Annual ethics attestation required |
| Renewal cycle | 2 years; staggered based on graduation year |
No mandatory licensure — CLU is a designation
The CLU is an educational designation, not a license. Holding the CLU does not authorize the sale of life insurance — that requires a state-issued life and health insurance license from the state department of insurance. For insurance sales roles, verify both the CLU designation and the active state insurance producer license separately.
Other American College designations
The American College issues several related designations, all verifiable through the same portal:
ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant)
Broader financial planning designation covering estate planning, tax strategies, retirement, and risk management. Similar to the CFP in scope but issued by The American College rather than the CFP Board. No single comprehensive exam — coursework-based. Requires the same 30-hour CE cycle.
RICP (Retirement Income Certified Professional)
Focuses specifically on retirement income planning strategies, Social Security optimization, annuities, and distribution planning. Increasingly common for advisors serving pre-retiree and retiree clients.
CASL (Chartered Advisor for Senior Living)
Focuses on financial and non-financial needs of older adults, including long-term care, housing, Medicare, and elder law. Less common but valuable in aging services financial planning.
CLU vs. CFP: which credential matters for which role
| Role | CLU relevance | CFP relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Life insurance specialist | High | Moderate |
| Estate planning advisor | High | High |
| Business succession planner | High | Moderate |
| Comprehensive financial planner | Moderate | High |
| Fee-only RIA advisor | Low | High |
Verify the educational background too
Many life insurance and financial planning roles require a bachelor's degree alongside designations. Use VerifyED to confirm that a candidate's degree comes from a legitimately accredited institution — and catch diploma mill credentials in your financial services hiring pipeline.
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