About AAPL Courses and Credentialling

We offer AAPL‑backed credentialing through our Certified Private Lender Associate (CPLA), Certified Fund Manager (CFM), and Certified Private Lender Broker (CPLB) programs to strengthen your understanding of established best practices and help you stand out as a committed professional in the private lending industry.

In addition to these designation programs, AAPL now provides members packaged learning courses at no additional cost. Access to both credentialing and packaged learning requires an active Named Membership in good standing. Designation courses remain $349 each, separate from annual membership dues, and ongoing membership is required to keep any earned credential active.

Please note that while CPLA, CFM, and CPLB credentials are backed by AAPL—the oldest and largest membership association for private lenders—these programs do not count toward any pre‑licensing or continuing education requirements associated with government‑administered licenses. Our credentialing is not a license to practice, nor are these programs accredited.

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Credentialling Programs

The CPLA course provides a comprehensive overview of the principals of private lending and includes detailed information about federal law and industry regulation. It is offered both online in self-paced video modules totaling 4 hours 47 minutes and as an in-person, full-day course at our Annual Conference. Topics covered:

  • Business Purpose Lending
  • Underwriting
  • Legal Documentation
  • Loan Servicing
  • Loss Mitigation
  • Introduction to Private Lending Securities Law
Register for CPLA Online
Register for In-Person CPLA

CFM 101 [ONLINE ONLY]* This introduction to fund management bridges industry practice, investment theory, and professional standards to provide investment analysis and portfolio management skills. It is designed to help you answer “Is a mortgage fund my next growth opportunity?” Topics covered:

  • Pros, Cons and Considerations
  • Structure
  • Creation and Launch of a Fund
  • On-going Administration
  • AAPL Code of Ethics
  • Designation Marketing

*CFM 101 does not overlap the concepts illustrated in the foundational CPLA course, so if you are new to our industry, we recommend taking CPLA first.

Register for CFM 101 Online

CFM 201 [IN-PERSON ONLY]** This course expands on industry practices and deep-dives into investment theory and professional standards. Topics covered:

  • Advanced-Level Structures and Fund Design Concepts
  • Pros, Cons, and Considerations for the Various Forms of Leverage
  • Managing Multiple Funds
  • Ongoing Compliance and Maintenance
  • Best Practices for Solicitation and Investor Relations
  • Fund Scaling

** CFM 101 is a required prerequisite to take the CFM 201 course. The 201 course is currently offered in-person only at our Annual Conference.

Register for In-Person CFM 201

The Certified Private Lender Broker designation is designed for experienced/established mortgage brokers entering the private lending space. Instructors provide a detailed view of how processes differ from conventional mortgages and the role brokers play throughout the life cycle of the loan. It is offered online in self-paced video modules totaling 7 hours 22 minutes. Topics covered:

  • Private lending fundamentals, including business purpose loans and compliance
  • File documentation
  • Underwriting
  • Fraud prevention
  • Loan servicing
  • Exits and workouts
  • Ethics and standards of conduct
Register for CPLB Online

Packaged Learning

The AAPL/Truepic Media Fakes & Misrepresentation packaged learning offering is designed to educate private lenders on common fraud types enabled by fake or misrepresented photos and video, how it impacts lenders’ bottom line, and detection methods and limitations.

Topics covered include:

  • The major fraud categories and impact analysis
  • Staged or manipulated inspection photos
  • AI generated photos and videos
  • How fraud detection technology works
Register for Media Fakes

Bulk Course Registration

For member companies wishing to send five or more employees through our credentialling programs, we offer a bulk purchase option:

  • You may enroll employees in any course with a minimum purchase of five registrations.
  • Your employees do not need to carry Named Member status for their individual credentialling to be activated upon passing the course.
  • Each registration is half price ($175 each) or $875 per five.
  • Any unassigned registrations will expire one year from purchase date.
  • You may mix-and-match between courses (ex: 3 CPLA, 1 CFM 101, 1 CPLB).
  • You must maintain a Corporate or higher membership to purchase in bulk and keep credentialling active for all employees who pass the course.
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