Student Loan Certification. What Is Taking So Long? Q: What is student loan certification? A: It means that a school has verified your enrollment and approved your student loan. When you apply for a student loan, your student loan provider will send a Certification Request electronically to your financial aid office. The financial aid office reviews these requests and then certifies that you are enrolled at least half time and that you are making satisfactory academic progress. Q: How long does student loan certification take? A: It depends on the school. Student loan certification can take as little as a few minutes or a few weeks. It should never take more than 30 days. If you think that your student loan certification has been delayed for more than two weeks, contact your financial aid office. Q: After student certification, who receives the student loan funds? A: With federal loans and most private student loans, the money goes straight to the school. After your account is funded there may be leftover funds. The school can return this money to you and you can use it for any education-related expenses. Education-related expenses can include anything from a new laptop to housing or transportation costs. Q: Can leftover student loan funds be used to pay off credit cards? A: Yes, leftover student loan funds can be used for any expenses that are related to your education. Leftover student loan money is basically your cash that can be used however you see fit.