CLU® Chartered Life Underwriter Specialized Insurance Designation

CLU® Chartered Life Underwriter Specialized Insurance Designation
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CLU
Chartered Life Underwriter
Best For
Professionals with clients who need holistic insurance and risk planning.
Complete In
As Few as Four Months
Format
Study the curriculum at your own pace, engage through virtual office hours, and receive support from the nation’s preeminent retirement planning thought leaders. Learn about
Personal Pathway
100% Online
Tuition
Starting at
$985/course
Packages starting at $3,395
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Achieve Risk Management Mastery
Specialize for Success
Deliver expert-informed, client-focused guidance on planning solutions and prepare clients for any eventuality.
Take the Fast-Track
CFP® professionals and ChFC®s can earn their CLU® faster with only two courses!
Flexible Online Learning
Complete each course in as few as four weeks and earn your designation in as few as four months.
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Specialize in Life Insurance Planning
Tour the Program Now
Join our faculty and successful alumni for a video tour of the CLU® Program and see how you can get life insurance expertise for strategic applications.
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CLU
Program Overview
Enroll Now
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Course Delivery
Earn your insurance planning designation online while studying the curriculum at your own pace and get support from our academic advising team and the top thought leaders in the industry today.
Finish Fast:
An accelerated learning path enables you to complete each course in as little as four weeks!
All-Online Resources:
All-virtual lessons organized in sequential units and supported by short videos, knowledge checks, quizzes, and case studies.
Grading:
Earn a final course grade of 70% or higher to pass, and quizzes count toward your final grades.
Testing:
There is no high-stakes final cumulative exam in the CLU® Program; each course features its own exams, quizzes, and knowledge checks.
Stackable Learning:
CFP
professionals and Chartered Financial Consultant
(ChFC
) designees can complete the CLU
Program with only two courses!
NEW! -
AI learning assistance
through SPARK, a built-in generative tool delivering on-demand support and insights and built for accuracy and application
Admissions Requirements
There are no prerequisite courses required to begin the CLU
Program, and no admissions requirements other than a high school diploma or the equivalent. Three years of experience in financial planning or a related profession are required to use the designation.
To receive the CLU
designation, you must:
1. Successfully complete the four required courses
2. Agree to comply with The American College
Code of Ethics and Procedures
Participation in the annual
Professional Recertification Program
(PRP) is required to maintain the designation.
What You'll Learn
Life insurance is a vital part of holistic financial planning for both individuals and businesses. The all-online CLU® Program offers an in-depth understanding of the practical, legal, and ethical aspects of life insurance and its techniques and tools, including:
In-depth knowledge of life insurance concepts and law within the context of overall risk management
Skills to help clients address their estate planning needs
An understanding of solutions that address the life insurance needs of business owners and professionals, including key person and related employee benefits
Enroll Now
Take a Tour
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Tuition Overview
Single Courses
Starting at $985
Packages
Starting at $1,850
Single Courses
Just $985 per course
Single courses in the CLU® Program are only $985 each. To complete the full program, complete the four required courses (or only two required courses if you are a CFP® Professional or ChFC® designee). Eligible courses include:
HS 311 Fundamentals of Insurance Planning (Required)
— Focuses on the role of planning for risk management needs.
HS 323 The Tools and Techniques of Life Insurance Planning (Required)
— Focuses on life insurance policies and annuities and their use in financial planning.
HS 330 Fundamentals of Estate Planning (Required)
— Provides a basic understanding of the estate and gift tax system.
HS 331 Planning for Business Owners and Professionals (Required)
— Covers tax and legal aspects of organizing a business while also providing a basic understanding of the estate and gift tax system.
View Course Details
Two-Course Package
$1,850
For those who hold the CFP® certification or the ChFC® designation, the CLU Program may be completed with only two courses (a $120 savings from individual course purchases!). Courses include:
HS 323 The Tools and Techniques of Life Insurance Planning (Required)
— Focuses on life insurance policies and annuities and their use in financial planning.
HS 331 Planning for Business Owners and Professionals (Required)
— Covers tax and legal aspects of organizing a business while also providing a basic understanding of the estate and gift tax system.
View Course Details
Four-Course Package
$3,395
Purchase the full CLU® Program containing all four required courses for only $3,395 (a $545 savings from individual course purchases!). Courses include:
HS 311 Fundamentals of Insurance Planning (Required)
— Focuses on the role of planning for risk management needs.
HS 323 The Tools and Techniques of Life Insurance Planning (Required)
— Focuses on life insurance policies and annuities and their use in financial planning.
HS 330 Fundamentals of Estate Planning (Required)
— Provides a basic understanding of the estate and gift tax system.
HS 331 Planning for Business Owners and Professionals (Required)
— Covers tax and legal aspects of organizing a business while also providing a basic understanding of the estate and gift tax system.
View Course Details
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Why Enroll With Us?
You Seek Credibility with Clients
Receive Practical, Legal, and Ethical Knowledge
Gain an in-depth understanding of life insurance's intricacies and applications to meet client goals in financial planning, estate planning, business continuity, key person, and related employee benefits.
You Seek Academic Excellence
Experience The Gold Standard for Life Insurance
For nearly 100 years, the CLU® designation has been the top choice for financial professionals seeking knowledge on how to become and succeed as a professional utilizing life insurance as part of a holistic strategy or plan.
You Want Recognition Among the Elite
Join a Peer Group of Planners Committed to Excellence
The CLU
Program has produced a powerful network of peers — with over 113,000 designees serving as life insurance planning specialists.
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What Your Peers Say
81%
Higher growth in client retention than advisors with no designations.
97%
Found the program useful to their further career development.
41%
Higher growth in production than advisors with no designations.
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The CLU
Program deepened my expertise and confidence as a life insurance professional. It's practical, rigorous, and essential for anyone serious about serving clients with excellence.
Jerry Robinson, CLU
Anyone in the business should make the educational investment to obtain the CLU
designation. The coursework and curriculum were illuminating.
Joshua Golzalez, CFP
, ChFC
, CLU
The CLU
Program improved my understanding of the financial solutions clients need at all life stages. The curriculum was well-designed, with relevant and insightful content, and the digital capabilities offered convenience.
Andrew McGuire, CPA, CLU
01
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Course Overview
Courses to Complete
Four
Typical Completion Time
As Few as Four Months
HS 323 The Tools and Techniques of Life Insurance Planning (Required)
Focuses on life insurance policies and annuities and their use in financial planning.
Upon completion of this course, you'll be able to:
Understand individual insurance products
Examine the organization, operations, and investments of insurance companies
Determine how to advise based on client need
Have a better understanding of insurance reserves regulation
Integrate tools and strategies for annuities
HS 330 Fundamentals of Estate Planning (Required)
Provides a basic understanding of the estate and gift tax system.
Upon completion of this course, you'll be able to:
Understand various aspects of estate and gift tax planning
Navigate transfers of property, either by trusts, wills, or power of appointment, and the use of the marital deduction
Determine valuation of assets and use of buy/sell agreements
Understand ethical standards
Qualify clients with interviews and fact finders
Develop personal estate plans
HS 331 Planning for Business Owners and Professionals (Required)
Covers tax and legal aspects of organizing a business while also providing a basic understanding of the estate and gift tax system.
Upon completion of this course, you'll be able to:
Understand compensation planning for the business owner
Covers various aspects of business succession planning
Navigate estate planning and estate freezing techniques
Determine valuation of assets and use of buy/sell agreements
Understand the lifetime disposition of a business interest
HS 311 Fundamentals of Insurance Planning (Required)
Focuses on the role of planning for risk management needs.
Upon completion of this course, you'll be able to:
Understand fundamental principles of risk management
Cover principles of insurance
Evaluate risks in human capital, liability, and property along with financial wealth
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Learn From the Who's Who of Life Insurance Planning
David F. Pierce
DMIN, MSFS, MSM, MA, AEP®, CLF®, ChFC®, CLU®, Certified Financial Fiduciary®
Adjunct Professor
Read Bio
Sophia Duffy
JD, CPA, AEP®
Associate Professor of Business Planning and Program Director, Tax Planning Certified Professional® (TPCP®) Program
Charles E. Drimal Estate Planning Professorship Chair
Read Bio
James Karthaus
CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, MA
Assistant Professor of Financial Planning, CFP® Certification Education and ChFC® Programs
Read Bio
Mark McLennon
JD, CLU®, ChFC®, CFP®, CPA/PFS
Assistant Professor of Tax and Estate Planning, O. Alfred Granum Chair in Practice Management
Read Bio
Steve Parrish
JD, RICP®, CLU®, ChFC®, AEP®
Adjunct Professor
Read Bio
Paul Wetmore
MBA, LUTCF®, CLU®, FSCP®
Assistant Professor
Read Bio
Frank Summers
CFP®, ADPA
Adjunct Professor
Read Bio
Ray Fallen
MBA, CLU®, ChFC®, RICP®, CPCU®
Adjunct Professor
Read Bio
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David F. Pierce
DMIN, MSFS, MSM, MA, AEP®, CLF®, ChFC®, CLU®, Certified Financial Fiduciary®
Adjunct Professor
Read Bio
Sophia Duffy
JD, CPA, AEP®
Associate Professor of Business Planning and Program Director, Tax Planning Certified Professional® (TPCP®) Program
Charles E. Drimal Estate Planning Professorship Chair
Read Bio
James Karthaus
CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, MA
Assistant Professor of Financial Planning, CFP® Certification Education and ChFC® Programs
Read Bio
Mark McLennon
JD, CLU®, ChFC®, CFP®, CPA/PFS
Assistant Professor of Tax and Estate Planning, O. Alfred Granum Chair in Practice Management
Read Bio
Steve Parrish
JD, RICP®, CLU®, ChFC®, AEP®
Adjunct Professor
Read Bio
Paul Wetmore
MBA, LUTCF®, CLU®, FSCP®
Assistant Professor
Read Bio
Frank Summers
CFP®, ADPA
Adjunct Professor
Read Bio
Ray Fallen
MBA, CLU®, ChFC®, RICP®, CPCU®
Adjunct Professor
Read Bio
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There’s Even More to Explore
Download the Brochure
Read more about the CLU
Access the Program Demo
Hear from a peer, a professor, and take a tour
Hear from our experts on the latest in life insurance
View Life Insurance Thought Leadership
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CLU
Program FAQs
The Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) designation is a specialized certification for life insurance underwriting and planning offered by The American College of Financial Services. The CLU® certification gives financial professionals an in-depth understanding of life insurance products, underwriting, and solutions as a key part of a goal-based financial plan. This underwriting certification includes insights on life insurance for business continuity, employee benefits, and estate planning. It is similar in some respects to the Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (LUTCF) designation; however, the CLU® designation offers a more focused course of study on the practical, legal, and ethical aspects of life insurance throughout clients’ lifecycles.
To become a successful life insurance underwriter through the CLU® designation program, you must complete the four-course program, including all associated classwork and a final exam for each course. These online courses make earning this financial planning certification easier to tailor to your busy schedule.
The CLU® Program is being updated to provide a clearer and more streamlined learning path. The revised program will feature four required courses instead of five. In this update, HS 311 will become a required course, HS 324 will be retired, and the elective fifth course is being removed. While the changes take effect on April 1, 2026, The College has already removed the option to enroll in HS 324 to prepare for the transition. The refreshed four-course curriculum officially begins on April 1, 2026.
The new CLU® Program required courses are as follows:
HS 323 The Tools and Techniques of Life Insurance Planning
HS 311 Fundamentals of Insurance Planning
HS 330 Fundamentals of Estate Planning
HS 331 Planning for Business Owners and Professionals
With these changes, it is now possible to complete the CLU® Program in as little as four months.
Already enrolled in HS 324 or have other questions? Contact an academic advisor and see your options at CLUadvising@TheAmericanCollege.edu.
Yes! If you have already completed The College’s Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) or CFP® Certification Education Programs, your HS 311 and HS 330 courses count toward the revised CLU® requirements. This means you are only two courses away from earning your CLU® designation!
The Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) designation can be completed in 15 months or less and is considered a specialized life insurance underwriting certification for professionals who want expertise in all aspects of life insurance planning. According to FUSE Research’s 2024 Designation Outcomes Study, advisors who earn the CLU® designation report 81% higher growth in client retention, 36% higher growth in earnings, and 41% higher growth in production over a three-year period than their peers with no designations.
The CLU® designation includes information on life insurance concepts and law within the context of overall risk management, necessary knowledge to help clients address their estate planning needs, and solutions that address the life insurance needs of business owners and professionals, such as key person and related employee benefits.
Specializing in life insurance and life insurance underwriting provides financial protection for your clients’ loved ones in the event of their death, incapacity, or other situations. It ensures that clients are not burdened with significant financial stress during already difficult times. Life insurance can help cover funeral costs, outstanding debts, and everyday living expenses, such as mortgage payments or education fees, allowing your clients’ families to maintain their quality of life. Additionally, it can provide long-term security by replacing lost income and ensuring that your clients and their dependents can continue to meet their financial goals and needs, even after they are gone.
As one of the oldest professional designations in financial services with a history dating back nearly 100 years, the Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) designation is considered the industry’s gold standard life insurance underwriting certification and provides the necessary knowledge to convey all these points and more to your clients.
While The College’s CLU®, ChFC®, and CFP® Certification Education Programs offer different educational outcomes and areas of specialization, shared courses make it easy to grow in expertise and work toward completing multiple programs at once. The three programs share several common courses, including two from the CLU® Program that also count toward the CFP® Certification Education and ChFC® Programs and vice versa. By earning the CLU® designation, you are six courses away from earning your ChFC® and five courses away from completing the CFP® Certification Education Program.
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Take the Next Step
As a CLU
, you'll stand out with in-depth knowledge on the practical, legal, and ethical aspects of life insurance and insurance plans, along with the techniques and tools for life insurance's wide application.
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footnotes
FUSE Research Network. The American College of Financial Services Designation Outcomes Study. 2024. Based on reported three-year growth.
The American College of Financial Services. End of Program Completer Survey. February 2026.