For decades, professional designations have helped shape standards across industries—from accounting to project management to financial services. In equipment finance, the Certified Lease & Finance Professional (CLFP) designation became the benchmark. What began as a small group of committed professionals more than 35 years ago has evolved into a global community of nearly 1,800 designees worldwide.
Today, the industry’s talent needs are changing rapidly. Companies are navigating increased complexity, higher expectations for competence and ethics, and a competitive environment in which cultivating skilled professionals is no longer optional—it's mission-critical. That is the backdrop for the formal affiliation between the CLFP Foundation and the Equipment Leasing & Finance Association (ELFA). The motivation is simple: aligning the industry’s premier credential with the industry’s leading trade association creates a stronger, more connected talent pipeline for everyone.
Why Formal Affiliation? The Rationale Behind the Partnership
CLFP and ELFA have long been natural complements. ELFA provides advocacy, research, and industry leadership. CLFP delivers rigorous education, testing, and professional standards.
The rationale for affiliation grew from a shared question: How can we ensure the equipment finance workforce of tomorrow is more prepared, more diverse, and better supported than ever before?
The affiliation achieves several goals:
• Long-term sustainability. As ELFA and CLFP legally affiliate—while CLFP retains its legal identity, brand, and certification governance—we secure stability and investment for future growth.
• Enhanced resources. ELFA’s infrastructure (HR, IT, legal, finance, communications) enables CLFP to focus on what it does best: delivering and protecting the integrity of the certification program.
• A unified industry talent strategy. ELFA’s workforce development initiatives and CLFP’s certification pathway are now aligned to support education, early-career engagement, and professional development more seamlessly.
• Protection of the credential. A soon-to-be-formed dedicated Certification Commission ensures independence in exam development, eligibility, scoring, recertification, and disciplinary matters. The credential’s rigor is preserved and insulated from outside influence.
In short, the affiliation strengthens—not changes—the CLFP designation.
How Has the CLFP Community Responded?
If there’s one thing the CLFP community is known for, it’s passion. The response to this news has been overwhelmingly positive, marked by pride, optimism, and thoughtful engagement. There have also been some who are concerned; that’s only natural.
In the weeks following the announcement, CLFP-In-Good-Standing members were invited to vote on the Affiliation Agreement—an important step in honoring the Foundation's democratic roots. Approval voting has moved forward steadily, with designees asking thoughtful questions about governance, accreditation, and the certification's future. The theme has been clear: supportive, inquisitive, invested.
Immediate and Long-Term Goals
Affiliation is not the finish line—it’s the starting point.
In the immediate term, the focus is on continuity and integration:
• A smooth operational transition of staff and systems to ELFA.
• Standing up the Transitional Board and the Certification Commission.
• Ensuring all CLFPs retain their certification status without interruption.
• Maintaining program stability.
Looking ahead, several long-term goals come into focus:
• Accreditation. Pursuing ANSI accreditation to further elevate the credential globally.
• Global expansion. Supporting growth beyond the U.S., including the upcoming Canadian CLFP and additional international partners.
• Workforce development. Creating clear pathways from student programs and university partnerships into certification and industry roles.
• Enhanced educational offerings. Leveraging shared expertise to develop advanced credentials, specialty designations, and more robust continuing education.
• Diversity and access. Strengthening the pipeline through HBCU partnerships, scholarships, and inclusive programming.
All of this supports a single vision: a stronger, more unified equipment finance industry built on shared standards, shared values, and shared commitment to professional excellence.
The Bottom Line
The affiliation between CLFP and ELFA reflects confidence in the industry's future and in the power of a well-prepared workforce. It preserves what makes CLFP special—its rigor, its community, its culture of volunteerism—while positioning the credential for greater reach and impact.
The heart of CLFP has always been its people. This affiliation ensures that those people will continue to shape the industry for generations to come.
