Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) Designation Program

Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) Pre-requisite course

$ 1050 + applicable taxes for Advocis Members.
Non members pay $2,625 + applicable taxes.
  • Content on-demand
  • 4 year window for completion of all 12 modules
  • Access to corporate trainer and recorded webinars
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Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) Designation Program

The Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation has been widely recognized for 90 years as a superior mark of excellence in the financial services industry. CLU designation holders are regarded as elite professional financial advisors who raise the bar in developing effective solutions for individuals, business owners, and professionals in the areas of risk management, wealth creation and preservation, estate planning, and wealth transfer.

The CLU designation is conferred in Canada exclusively by The Institute for Advanced Financial Education (“The Institute™”). The Institute is the leading designation body in Canada for financial services practitioners in the specialty areas of Advanced Estate and Wealth Transfer, and Living Benefits.

The Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) is an approved designation for use of the title Financial Planner in Ontario.

To earn the CLU designation, you must have successfully completed the Financial Planning Fundamentals Program (CLU Pre-requisite course) as well as the three CLU Designation Courses (255, 256, 257).

The final CLU designation course (CLU 257) is a semester based course.

You may only register for CLU 257 once you have successfully completed both of the previous CLU courses (255 and 256) in addition to the Financial Planning Fundamentals Program (CLU Pre-requisite course).

Advocis offers course exemptions for prior learning and equivalencies. For more information, consult the program policies page.

Financial Planning Fundamentals - 910 Pre-Requisite
Advanced Concepts In Tax & Law For Personal Planning - 255 CLU Course 1
Tax & Legal Principles for Businesses and their owners - 256 Course 2
Advanced Estate Planning - 257 CLU Course 3

1. CLU candidates must have first successfully completed the Financial Planning Fundamentals Program (CLU Pre-requisite course). Candidates must then complete the three CLU Designation Courses (255, 256, 257).

2. Once you have successfully completed all required courses, you must complete a CLU Designation Candidate Agreement form and a CLU Experience Requirement form. Both completed forms must be submitted to The Institute for review. These forms will be emailed to you once you have successfully completed all required CLU courses.

3. Once you have completed the educational course requirements, met the work experience requirement, completed all necessary forms, and paid your CLU designation dues, you will be able to hold yourself out as a CLU designation holder.

A minimum of 30 continuing education (CE) credits each calendar year, two credits of which must be from a recognized Ethics program. A minimum of 15 CE credits must be accredited by The Institute; a maximum of 15 CE credits can be professional development. General Professional Development CE credits must be industry-related (courses, seminars, etc.), and may be subject to The Institute’s review. Any deficiency in one year must be made up by the end of the next calendar year, in addition to the full year’s necessary requirement of CE credits.

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