What Can You Learn from NTLA University About Tax Lien Investing?

Updated

NTLA University is the education arm of the National Tax Lien Association (NTLA), the non-profit trade organization founded in 1997 to represent the tax lien and tax deed industry. According to the NTLA website, it covers the full range of tax lien investing topics — from a basic overview of the tax sale lifecycle to more advanced subjects like due diligence and ROI calculation — and is described there as "America's trusted tax lien educator." It is aimed at both professionals and novices, and the NTLA delivers it through monthly webinars and on-demand online education.

What NTLA University Covers

The site frames the curriculum as a progression rather than a single course:

  • Foundational material — a basic overview of the tax sale lifecycle, which is the sequence of events from a delinquent property tax bill through the tax sale, the lien or deed issuance, and the redemption or foreclosure process.
  • Advanced material — topics such as due diligence (researching a property, its title, and local rules before bidding) and ROI calculation (working out what a lien or deed is actually worth after interest, fees, and costs).

The stated goal is that investors can "start investing in tax liens and tax deeds with confidence," so the content is positioned as preparation for actual participation in tax sales, not just background reading.

How the Education Is Delivered

Format What it is Best for
Monthly webinars Live sessions on a recurring schedule Keeping current and asking questions in the moment
On-demand online education Recorded or self-paced material Learning on your own schedule, revisiting basics
CTLP® credentialing Educational advancement credentialing to become a Certified Tax Lien Professional Professionals who want a recognized designation

The CTLP® (Certified Tax Lien Professional) credential is the formal credentialing track the NTLA offers. If your goal is a credential rather than general knowledge, that is the path to look at; if your goal is working knowledge before a first tax sale, the webinars and on-demand courses are the more direct route.

Who It Is For

The NTLA describes its membership and audience as investors, lenders, service providers, and government officials. NTLA University mirrors that breadth: novices get the lifecycle overview, while working professionals get due diligence and ROI material that assumes you already understand the basics. The NTLA also runs conferences that the site says give "exclusive access to leaders in the tax lien and tax deed investing industry," so education and networking are treated as complementary rather than separate.

What to Check Before You Rely On It

  • Current schedule and access terms — the site promotes webinars and on-demand education but does not state pricing or access conditions on the pages reviewed here. Check the NTLA University section and the membership/subscribe links for what is included with membership versus purchased separately.
  • Credential requirements — confirm the current requirements and any fees for the CTLP® designation directly with the NTLA, since credentialing programs change.
  • State-specific rules — tax lien and tax deed law varies by state and locality. General education from a national association is a starting point, not a substitute for the statutes and procedures of the jurisdiction where you intend to bid.

If you want a structured introduction to tax lien investing from an industry trade body, NTLA University is a reasonable first stop; if you need jurisdiction-specific rules, pair it with your county or state tax sale materials.