CASL® Program Requirements

To earn the Chartered Advisor for Senior Living® (CASL®) designation, the following are required:

• Complete CASL® coursework within five years from the date of initial enrollment (or five years from the date of January 1, 2006, if previously enrolled in the CASL® program).
• Pass the exams for all required and elective courses. You must achieve a minimum score of 70% to pass.
• Meet the experience requirements: Three years of business experience immediately preceding the date of use of the designation are required. An undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited educational institution qualifies as one year of business experience.
• Take the Professional Ethics Pledge.
• When you achieve your CASL® designation, you must earn your recertification every two years.

CASL® Exam Information

CASL® exams are administered electronically at nationwide testing centers throughout the year by The American College via the Pearson VUE testing center network.

The exam consists of 100 objective questions based on the curriculum and is two hours in length. Typically, there are three types of questions in the CASL® exam-straight-answer, multiple-option, and all-except questions.

Your results will be provided immediately upon exam completion.

Course Descriptions

Required Courses

328: Investments

This course is significant to all financial planners because it outlines the fundamentals of investments. It provides an in-depth look into the securities markets, futures markets, risk and return measures, portfolio performance evaluation, and debt instruments. After completing this course, students will have an enhanced understanding of stocks, bonds, options, derivatives, and combination securities.

330: Fundamentals of Estate Planning

Provides an overview of gift and estate tax principles and strategies. Specific topics discussed include lifetime gifts and transfers at death, the federal gift tax, the gift and estate tax marital deductions, buy-sell agreements, and calculating the federal estate tax. After completing this course, students will gain a better understanding of the estate planning process and specific strategies used to develop client-specific estate plans.

350: Understanding the Older Client

Prepares financial planners to meet the unique needs of their aging customers by discussing the economic, historical, demographic, political, biological, and psychological perspectives of aging. Issues such as caring for and communicating with the older client and preparing for and dealing with death are also covered.

351: Health and Long-Term Care Financing for Seniors

Gives a detailed overview of medical and long-term care financing alternatives available to older clients. Key topics discussed in this course include Medicare, Medicaid, veterans' benefits, long-term care insurance features and financing, and consumer-directed health insurance and medical expense insurance.

352: Financial Decisions at Retirement

Covers critical topics, including Social Security, tax-advantaged retirement plans, nonqualified plans and IRAs, investing before and after retirement, annuities, pension distributions, and calculating retirement needs. After completing this course, students will be well-versed in today's growing retirement planning marketplace.

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