BEST S REVIEW Directory for Continuing Education

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Agent/Broker

Insurance professionals have opportunities to increase their knowledge of the

industry through classes leading to an insurance designation and programs leading

to a degree.

Designations

,

Designators

&

Degrees

Directory for Continuing Education

B

EST’S

R

EVIEW

Accredited Adviser in Insurance (AAI)

Description: Earning this designation helps producers increase

commissions, improve insurance knowledge, avoid errors and omissions claims and earn continuing education credits for license renewal.

Qualifications: Candidates must take three classes and a two-hour

exam with 85 computer-administered, multiple-choice questions.

Awarded by: American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty

Underwriters and the Insurance Institute of America.

Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS)

Description: Earning this designation trains financial professionals

in building lasting client relationships and gathering assets under management.

Qualifications: Candidates must complete the program, pass the

final examination and sign a code of ethics commitment and decla-ration form.

Awarded by: College for Financial Planning

Accredited Customer Service Representative (ACSR)

Description: The Accredited Customer Service Representative

(ACSR) program is a nationally recognized program created by the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America and AICPCU/IIA. It provides participants with a strong insurance founda-tion and equips them with the skills needed to succeed in today’s agency environment. The ACSR program offers three courses of study: personal lines, commercial lines and life/health. Completion of any of the three tracks leads to the ACSR designation. Students may choose the designation line most appropriate for their needs, or they may choose to complete all three.

Qualifications: The ACSR program offers three concentrations of

study: Personal Lines, Commercial Lines and Life/Health. Choose between online, classroom or self-study courses. Two core modules and up to four specialty modules must be completed to finish the program.

Underwriters and the Insurance Institute of America

Accredited Estate Planner (AEP)

Description: This designation is awarded to attorneys, chartered life

underwriters, certified public accountants, certified trust and financial advisers, chartered financial consultants and certified financial planners.

Qualifications: Candidates must meet stringent experience and

educational qualifications, including two graduate-level courses administered by The American College.

Awarded by: National Association of Estate Planners & Councils

Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC)

Description: Accredited financial counselors have certified skills to assist

individuals and families in the process of financial decision making.

Qualifications: Candidates must pass an exam, present three

let-ters of reference and have two years of admissible financial coun-seling experience.

Awarded by: Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education

Accredited Pension Administrator (APA)

Description: This designation is for administrators of retirement and

other employee benefit plans.

Qualifications: Candidates must complete six study courses and

pass examinations covering all aspects of plan administration.

Awarded by: National Institute of Pension Administrators

Accredited Pension Representative (APR)

Description: This designation is for retirement plan personnel,

financial consultants/planners and investment advisers, focusing on fundamentals of retirement plans with an emphasis on defined-con-tribution plans and investment philosophy.

Qualifications: Candidates must complete two study courses and

examinations.

Awarded by: National Institute of Pension Administrators

Associate Financial Advisor (AFA)

Description: This designation is for new producers in their first year

of business.

Qualifications: Candidates must complete select 100-level courses

equaling 30 credits.

Awarded by: LIMRA International

Associate in Claims (AIC)

Description: This designation, developed with the National

Associa-tion of Independent Insurance Adjusters, focuses on technical claim-handling abilities as well as communication and negotiation skills.

Qualifications: One or more CPCU exams may be a required or

elective part of this course; CPCU exams are 3-hour computer-administered essay exams.

Associate in Commercial Underwriting (AU)

Description: This program complements current underwriting skills

with resources and options available to commercial underwriters.

Qualifications: Candidates take three or four classes, depending on

their background and/or prior courses, and must pass a two-hour exam with 85 computer-administered, multiple-choice questions.

Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding (AFSB)

Description: This program, developed with the National Association

of Surety Bond Producers and the Surety Association of America,

Insurance Professional

Designations

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expands understanding of both contract and noncontract surety, as well as crime insurance.

Qualifications: One or more CPCU exams may be a required or

elective part of this course; CPCU exams are three-hour computer-administered essay exams.

Associate in Information Technology (AIT)

Description: This program, which replaced the Associate in

Auto-mation Management, is designed to increase knowledge and confi-dence when working with IT professionals and technical issues.

Qualifications: Candidates take three courses, with waivers

avail-able for AAM courses, and take a two-hour exam with 85 computer-administered, multiple-choice questions.

Awarded by: American Institute for Chartered Property

Casu-alty Underwriters and the Insurance Institute of America

Associate in Insurance

Accounting and Finance (AIAF)

Description: This program builds a

foun-dation to understand insurance accounting and finance. It covers practices, principles and procedures for preparing insurer finan-cial statements according to requirements of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and other regulatory bodies.

Qualifications: One or more CPCU exams may be a required or

Associate in Insurance Accounting & Finance

(Life/Health Track) (AIAF)

Description: This designation is given to professionals working in

accounting or financial areas, or information services professionals who work with financial data for internal or external customers.

Qualifications: Candidates must complete five AIAF program

cours-es and pass an exam.

Awarded by: LOMA (Life Office Management Association)

Associate in Insurance Services (AIS)

Description: This program provides a basic understanding of

con-tinuous improvement principles. It is recommended for study by a group of people employed in the same organization.

Qualifications: Candidates must pass the two-hour AIS 25 exam,

which contains 60 multiple-choice questions, and must earn one of several other designations.

Associate in Management (AIM)

Description: This program includes human resource management,

analysis of current business issues, and general management prin-ciples and practices. The courses in this program are best suited for mid-level managers.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates will have successfully completed

three classes. Two hours are allotted for 85 computer-administered, multiple-choice questions. Candidates also must answer 150 ques-tions from posted articles.

Associate in Marine Insurance

Management (AMIM)

Description: This is to build a foundation in both inland and ocean

marine. It was developed with the Inland Marine Underwriters Asso-ciation and the American Institute of Marine Underwriters.

Associate in Personal Insurance (API)

Description: Students gain an understanding of the personal

insur-ance business, including underwriting, marketing practices, the personal insurance environment, personal insurance profitability, the product development process and portfolio management.

four courses. The two-hour exam consists of 85 computer-adminis-tered, multiple-choice questions.

Associate in Premium Auditing (APA)

Description: This increases knowledge of insurance contracts,

auditing procedures appropriate to a variety of complex situations, principles of insurance accounting and the relationship of

premium auditing to other insurance operations.

Qualifications: One or more CPCU exams may be

a required or elective part of this course; CPCU exams are three-hour computer-administered essay exams.

Awarded by: American Institute for Chartered

Property Casualty Underwriters and the Insurance Institute of America

Associate in Regulation and Compliance (ARC)

Description: Students gain a better understanding of the insurance

regulatory environment and the effect regulation has on the business of insurance.

Qualifications: One or more CPCU exams may be a required or

Associate in Reinsurance (ARe)

Description: Students learn reinsurance principles and practices

and gain an understanding of reinsurance terms and pricing, reinsur-ance treaties and facultative certificates.

Associate in Risk Management (ARM)

Description: This program builds a strong foundation in the science

of risk management. Students gain practical skills to avoid, reduce and manage risk and learn to adapt those skills to meet changing needs.

three courses. The two-hour exam for each course consists of 85 computer-administered, multiple-choice questions.

Associate in Risk Management for

Public Entities (ARM-P)

Description: Students will understand the differences between

pub-lic and private sector risk management.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates will have successfully

com-pleted four courses and the ARM designation. A two-hour exam for each course consists of 85 computer-administered, multiple-choice questions.

Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance (ASLI)

Description: The ASLI program prepares a person to meet the

challenges and opportunities presented by the use of the surplus lines market. Earning this designation can be beneficial to industry veterans who wish to enhance their prestige and marketability. It can also benefit those who are relatively new to nonadmitted companies and who want to demonstrate a commitment to understanding their clients’ needs.

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43

Agent/Broker

Qualifications: One or more CPCU exams may be a required or

Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society

(ACAS)

Description: Curriculum focuses on strategic, financial and

opera-tional risk and the integration of hazard risk with these risks.

Qualifications: Candidates must fulfill the examination requirements

by successful completion of, or credit for, Exams 1-7, and have credit by Validation by Educational Experience for the required top-ics of economtop-ics, corporate finance and applied statistical methods. After completing examination requirements, all prospective Associ-ate members must make formal application to the Casualty Actuarial Society. Candidates need to obtain letters of reference from two CAS members. After all requirements are met and application is made, each candidate is voted on by the CAS Executive Council.

Awarded by: Casualty Actuarial Society

Associate of the Conference of

Consulting Actuaries (ACA)

Description: A candidate for membership must be

substantially engaged in consulting actuarial practice, in work as an actuary of a governmental unit, in work as an Enrolled Actuary, in work at an insurance company or in teaching actuarial science and sat-isfy any one of three independent criteria.

Qualifications: A candidate for membership as

an Associate must have attained the designation of ASA (Associate of the Society of Actuaries), or ACAS (Associate of the Casualty Actuarial

Soci-ety), or EA (Enrolled Actuary), or MAAA (Member of the American Academy of Actuaries), or MSPA (Member of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries); or the equivalent designation for any international actuarial organization.

Awarded by: Conference of Consulting Actuaries

Associate, Annuity Products & Administration

(AAPA)

Description: This program is for those who work in all areas of

annuities.

LOMA’s five annuity-specific courses.

Associate, Customer Service Program (ACS)

Description: Students gain the ability to regularly interact with

inter-nal or exterinter-nal customers.

Qualifications: Several line-of-business tracks allow completion

of the program with a concentration that fits a position within the financial services industry. Each track consists of five courses: three required and two from a specified set of electives.

Associate, Financial Services Institute (AFSI)

Description: Students gain a comprehensive business education in

the context of the financial services industry.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates will have successfully completed

five courses within the Fellow, Financial Services Institute Program, including exams.

Associate, Insurance Agency Administration

(AIAA)

Description: This program is for employees in agency branch

offices, field offices and brokerages, or home office employees who interact with agency offices. Students gain knowledge of organiza-tion, customer service, technology; compliance and ethical issues, leadership and employee supervision.

six courses.

Associate, Insurance Regulatory Compliance

(AIRC)

Description: This designation indicates knowledge of how states

and the federal government regulate insurance companies, financial examinations and market conduct examinations, state filing compli-ance, federal securities laws and how they apply to the sale of finan-cial products, and what specific regulations govern insurance.

six courses.

Associate, Life Management Institute (ALMI)

Description: This designation indicates a comprehensive business

education in the context of the life and health insurance industry.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates will have successfully completed

five courses within the Fellow, Life Management Institute program curriculum.

Associate, Reinsurance Administration (ARA)

Description: Students gain knowledge of reinsurance

principles; the importance of the treaty in reinsurance; the development, administration and auditing of reinsurance products; and the importance of

rein-surance to the inrein-surance industry.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates will have

successfully completed six courses.

Associate, Society of Actuaries (ASA)

Description: The preliminary SOA examinations provide an

understanding of fundamental mathematical concepts and how they are applied, with recognition of the dynamic nature of these fundamental concepts. In addition, a set of computer-based modules exposes a broad range of techniques the actuary can recognize and identify as to their application and inherent limitations.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates will have successfully completed

six examinations, three courses validated by educational experience, a series of online modules and exercises, and a professionalism course.

Awarded by: Society of Actuaries

Automobile Claim Law Associate (ACLA)

Description: This program examines in detail the basis for liability

and coverage in auto claims. The program also addresses the inter-action between the principles of law and coverage under the most common personal and business auto policies. Students will learn how legal liability and coverage disputes have been and are likely to be resolved in the courts.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates will have completed the

Automo-bile Claims and Coverage Program and accompanying exam.

Awarded by: American Educational Institute

Automobile Claim Law Specialist (ACLS)

Description: The program examines in detail the basis for liability

and coverage in auto claims. The program also addresses the inter-action between the principles of law and coverage under the most common personal and business auto policies. The student will learn how legal liability and coverage disputes have been and are likely to be resolved in the courts.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates will have completed the

Automo-bile Claims and Coverage Program and accompanying exam.

Board Certified in Estate Planning (BCE)

Description: This designation indicates knowledge of estate

accu-mulation, preservation and distribution for brokers, advisers and planners.

a 60-hour, self-study program. The three final exams are given at Thomson Prometric Centers and administered by the NASD. Stu-dents must also complete two open-book case studies. The BCE program is fully accredited.

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Business Process Advisor (BPA)

Description: The Center’s newest designation, Business Process

Advisor (BPA), is all about fast-tracking. Designed as a training tool for companies that provide customer solutions to local and inter-national clients, offer back office support, or work with overseas support services, this program gets managers and staff up to speed quickly.

Qualifications: To earn the BPA, students must complete a

six-course series aimed at orienting newcomers to insurance principles and operations. Students start with required courses covering the fundamentals of health insurance, learn customer service strategies, and master the basics of care management terminology and organi-zational structure. Electives provide options for more advanced-level studies focusing on medical management, call centers, and HIPAA.

Awarded by: America’s Health Insurance Plans

Casualty Claim Law Associate (CCLA)

Description: The program examines in detail the basis for liability in

specific substantive and procedural areas of law. The program also addresses the interaction between these principles and the most common coverages, such as automobile and general liability. Stu-dents will learn how legal liability and coverage disputes have been and are likely to be resolved in the courts.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates will have completed the Liability

Program and accompanying exam.

Casualty Claim Law Specialist (CCLS)

Description: The program examines in detail the basis for liability

in specific substantive and procedural areas of law. The program also addresses the interaction between these principles and the most common coverages, such as automobile and general liability. The student will learn how legal liability and coverage disputes have been and are likely to be resolved in the courts.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates will have completed the Liability

Program and accompanying exam.

Certified Annuity Advisor (CAA)

Description: This program offers knowledge of annuities for the

pro-fessional financial and insurance services adviser and home office staff.

an enrollment assessment exam, pre-class independent reading assignment modules that require 18 to 24 hours, courses in a class-room setting or on a self-study basis, and a proctored final exam.

Awarded by: Advisors Certification Services

Certified Annuity Specialist (CAS)

Description: Students gain knowledge of fixed-rate and variable

annuities.

a 60-hour, self-study program. The final exam is given at Thomson Prometric Centers. The exam is administered by the NASD. Students must also complete an open-book case study. The CAS program is fully accredited.

Awarded by: Institute of Business & Finance

Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS)

Description: This program is for professionals in the employee

benefits and compensation field. The program offers the opportunity to earn designations in three areas of specialization: group benefits (GBA), retirement (RPA) and compensation management (CMS).

Qualifications: To earn a designation in each of the specialty tracks

and, at the same time, receive credit toward the CEBS designation, eligible candidates will have successfully completed eight courses and taken a two-hour exam at computer-based testing locations throughout the country.

Awarded by: International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans

Certified Estate Advisor (CEA)

Description: This designation indicates expertise in estate planning. Qualifications: Eligible candidates must hold a CPA, CFP or a

profes-sional license (attorney, securities, insurance, real estate). They must

complete a self-study program and pass a 75-question exam.

Awarded by: National Association of Financial and Estate Planning

Certified Estate Planner (CEP)

Description: This designation indicates estate planning expertise

among financial and legal professionals.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates have successfully completed

a series of eight courses. CEP status is based upon the education received and maintained by each individual.

Awarded by: The National Institute of Certified Estate Planners

Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

Description: This designation indicates knowledge of competent,

professional and ethical financial planning.

Qualifications: As of 2007 a bachelor’s degree in any discipline is

required to attain CFP certification. Other requirements include at least three years of qualifying full-time work experience. The candi-date must master more than 100 integrated financial planning topics. Candidates can complete a course of study offered by an education institution with a curriculum registered with the CFP Board. Regard-less of program type, the curriculum taught must be the equivalent of at least 15 semester credit hours. Generally, the course work in a certificate level program can be completed in 18 to 24 months. The 10-hour exam is divided into three sessions. It is administered three times a year at about 50 locations in the United States.

Awarded by: Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards

Certified Fund Specialist (CFS)

Description: The designation, the oldest in the mutual funds

indus-try, indicates knowledge of studies, research reports, industry trends, new ideas and products, sales presentations and marketing tips.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates have successfully completed a

60-hour, self-study program. The final exam is given at Thomson Prometric Centers. The exam is administered by the National Asso-ciation of Securities Dealers. Students also must complete an open-book case study.

Awarded by: Institute of Business & Finance

Certified in Long-Term Care (CLTC)

Description: Students gain knowledge of long-term-care insurance.

The program is recognized by state regulators through the granting of continuing education credits, as having provided essential infor-mation necessary to the appropriate sale of long-term-care insur-ance.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates have successfully completed a

two-day master class or a correspondence course followed by an exam that is required for certification.

Awarded by: Corporation for Long-Term Care Certification

Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC)

Description: This designation recognizes expertise in various types

of insurance coverage. Course content is tailored to particular regions.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates have successfully completed five

institutes on agency management, commercial casualty, commercial property, life and health and personal lines. Each institute is 20 hours of instruction, followed by an examination.

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Agent/Broker

Certified Insurance Service Representative

(CISR)

Description: This designation demonstrates an understanding of

insurance coverages and the ability to analyze risks and exposures. Topics of study include commercial casualty exposures, commercial property, personal residential property, personal auto exposures and agency operations.

courses, exam.

Awarded by: National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research

Certified Investment Management Analyst

(CIMA)

Description: This program offers expertise in asset allocation,

manager search and selection, investment policy and performance measurement.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates have successfully completed the

course work in a classroom setting or online and a comprehensive, four-hour examination.

Awarded by: Investment Management Consultants Association

Certified Pension Consultant (CPC)

Description: Conferred to benefits professionals working in plan

administration, pension actuarial administration, insurance and financial planning.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates have at least three years of

pen-sion plan consulting experience. They must demonstrate compe-tence in specific areas of pension and related employee benefits consulting through completion of the CPC examination series offered by ASPPA.

Awarded by: American Society of Pension

Pro-fessionals and Actuaries

Certified Professional in

Financial Services (CPFS)

Description: The continuing evolution toward

an international competitive environment has had significant ramifications for insurance and financial services organizations throughout Indonesia. Banks, insurance and mutual fund companies are combining and packaging products to attract consumers at large. To develop and sustain effective international operations, LOMA created the Certified Professional in Financial Services (CPFS) education program to increase pro-fessionalism in the various fields of financial services: banking, insurance, securities, financial planning and more.

Qualifications: Students who successfully complete the five

CPFS courses (four core classes and one elective) will be award-ed a certificate and may use the designation CPFS within Indo-nesia as required by the Department of Finance and designated associations. CPFS courses also earn credit toward LOMA’s FFSI (Fellow Financial, Services Institute) designation.

Certified Professional Insurance Agent (CPIA)

Description: This designation stands for professionalism,

commit-ment to professional training and results, and technical knowledge.

Qualifications: Candidates are required to participate in a

series of three, one-day Insurance Success Seminars, designed to enhance the ability of producers, sales support staff and company personnel to efficiently create and distribute effective insurance programs. Upon completion of the seminars, CPIA designation candidates are notified of their eligibility. Candidates are awarded the designation and will be notified by letter from the AIMS Society. Diplomas are awarded during the Annual Conferment Ceremony held in conjunction with the annual PRO-to-PRO Executive Retreat. The designation does require a bien-nial update. This update requirement can be satisfied through participation in any one of the three core Insurance Success Seminars, participation in any one of the Advanced Insurance Success Seminars, by attending the AIMS Society’s annual PRO-to-PRO Executive Retreat, or by maintaining Individual or Agency membership.

Awarded by: American Insurance Marketing and Sales Society

Certified Professional Insurance Woman/Man

(CPIW/M)

Description: This program offers education and professional

devel-opment, technical knowledge and leadership skills.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates have been members in NAIW for

at least two years, have been employed in the insurance industry for at least five years and completed the required educational programs.

Awarded by: National Association of Insurance Women (International)

Certified Risk Manager (CRM)

Description: Students gain expertise in all areas of managing risks,

hazards and exposures.

courses. Each course involves two and one-half days of instruction, followed by an exam.

Awarded by: National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research

Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)

Description: This designation recognizes broad-based knowledge

of health, social and financial issues important to seniors, and the dynamics of how these factors work together in seniors’ lives.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates have successfully completed the

required courses in a classroom, online or on a self-study basis. In addition, they must pass a closed-book, proctored exam.

Awarded by: Society of Certified Senior Advisors

Chartered Advisor for Senior Living (CASL)

Description: This designation recognizes comprehensive knowledge

of financial, health, psychological and sociological issues con-fronting older clients.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates have successfully

completed five courses in either a classroom setting or on a self-study basis as well as the exams.

Awarded by: The American College

Chartered Enterprise

Risk Analyst (CERA)

Description: This new designation can be earned

by professionals who complete a curriculum encom-passing a comprehensive demonstration of enterprise risk management. CERAs are qualified for risk manager leadership positions in all types of organizations, including insurance, benefits, broader financial services and the energy, manufacturing, transporta-tion and health care industries.

Qualifications: To earn the new international credential, CERA

candi-dates are required to successfully complete five examinations, as well as an educational module and professionalism course, to help prepare for leadership in the identification, measurement and management of risk within complex, risk-bearing enterprises. The CERA marks the first new credential since the SOA’s founding. The original Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and Associate of the Society of Actuar-ies (ASA) credentials were established in 1949. Completing the CERA curriculum takes an estimated three to four years, and successful can-didates will also become Associates of the Society of Actuaries.

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

Description: This program is intended to supplement the education

and work experience of investment professionals. Curriculum empha-sizes the knowledge and skills needed to be involved in asset valua-tion or portfolio management.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates hold a bachelor’s degree or the

equivalent. They have successfully completed three sequential, six-hour examinations over at least two years. (Level I is offered twice a year, in June and December. Levels II and III are offered once a year, in June.) In addition, they have worked as an investment professional for at least three years. That work experience may be prior, concurrent or subsequent to exam completion. (An increase in the work experience requirement to four years will be phased in through 2007.) Candidates commit to abide by the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct and must reaffirm that pledge annually. Also, they must maintain membership-in-good-standing with the CFA Insti-tute. The institute estimates candidates will need 10 to 15 hours per week for 18 weeks to prepare adequately for the Level I or the Level II examination. The minimum length of time taken to sequentially pass

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all three exams is two years. On average, it takes more than four years for candidates to earn the CFA charter.

Awarded by: CFA Institute

Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC)

Description: Students gain expertise in insurance, tax credits,

retire-ment planning, portfolio manageretire-ment, estate administration and other subjects.

self-study or live classes. Six core courses and two electives are required. Each course concludes with a two-hour exam, adminis-tered at more than 3,000 exam centers around the country. Three years of full-time business experience is required.

Chartered Leadership Fellow (CLF)

Description: This designation indicates expertise in developing

effective business plans, setting performance goals, motivating oth-ers, recruiting talent and retaining top performers.

three years of experience in a leadership position in the financial services field, a curriculum that includes self-study and seminar, and exams.

Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU)

Description: This program focuses on life insurance products

designed to meet the needs of individuals, business owners and professionals, including income replacement, estate planning and wealth transfer.

core classes and three electives in a classroom setting or on a self-study basis as well as the required exams. Three years of full-time business experience is required for all Huebner School designations. The three-year period must be within the five years preceding the date of the award.

Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor (CMFC)

Description: This industry-recognized mutual fund designation is

the result of collaboration between the College for Financial Plan-ning and the Investment Company Institute. This program provides a thorough knowledge of mutual funds and their various uses as investment vehicles.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates have successfully completed a

study program and exam. They sign a code of ethics commitment and declaration form.

Chartered Private Wealth Adviser (CPWA)

Description: The designation will certify financial advisers who work

with clients who have between $5 million and $25 million to invest. The CPWA expands on Greenwood Village, Colo.-based IMCA’s existing 18-month-long, three-part wealth management certificate program, which has been in effect for three years.

Qualifications: The designation requires applicants to have five

years’ experience in the financial services industry; a bachelor’s degree or at least one of six other professional designations, includ-ing certified financial planner; and to agree that they will abide by IMCA’s code of ethics. Course work will include classes in tax plan-ning; tax-efficient portfolio construction and management; execu-tive-compensation plans; management-concentrated stock options; retirement planning; asset protection; charitable planning; estate and gift taxation; and advanced estate planning.

Awarded by: Investment Management Consultants Association

Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU)

Description: This designation indicates a broad understanding of

property/casualty insurance as well as a concentration in commercial or personal risk management. It includes in-depth expertise in personal financial planning and financial services institutions.

Qualifications: The CPCU program consists of 11 courses.

Can-didates must pass eight courses to earn the CPCU designation. All candidates must complete the five foundation courses. In addition, the candidate will select either the commercial or personal insurance

concentration and complete the three courses in the concentration of their choosing. Candidates may not combine courses from both con-centrations. They must submit a resume showing they were engaged in acceptable insurance activities for any 36 months (minimum of 17½ hours per week) during the five years immediately preceding the con-ferment of the CPCU designation. Most exams are approximately 30 administered essay questions. For two others, 100 computer-administered, multiple-choice questions.

Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC)

Description: This designation indicates expertise in various

prin-ciples in the retirement planning field, including estate planning and asset management.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates have successfully completed

the program and exam. They sign a code of ethics commitment and declaration form.

Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS)

Description: This program is targeted to professionals who design,

install and maintain retirement plans for the business community.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates have successfully completed a

study program and exam. They sign a code of ethics commitment and declaration form.

Chartered Senior Financial Planner (CSFP)

Description: This designation is available to licensed insurance

agents who wish to work in the areas of retirement planning and asset protection.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates have successfully completed

three days of study in a classroom setting.

Awarded by: Association of Chartered Senior Financial Planners

Dental Benefits Associate (DBA)

Description: Carrier managers, carrier staffers or technical

profes-sionals working within the field of dentistry gain an understanding of dental benefits, plan design, and current trends impacting dental benefit insurance coverage, as well as an increased understanding of the impact of fraud and legal requirements on both coverage and plan management.

Qualifications: Three core classes on dental benefits and fraud, and

an HIPAA primer.

Disability Healthcare Professional (DHP)

Description: This program expands the specialized course of study

offered in the Disability Income Associate program by focusing on disability income insurance, group and individual health insurance.

courses and an exam.

Disability Income Associate (DIA)

Description: This designation indicates expertise in the

fundamen-tals of the health insurance industry, the role of disability insurance and recent disability trends.

course work that includes contract analysis and case studies as well as proctored exams for each course.

Diversified Advanced Education (DAE)

Description: This program is for people who have held the Certified

Pro-fessional Insurance Woman/Man designation for at least five years and held continuous membership in the sponsoring organization for at least the preceding five years.

Qualifications: Requirements may vary. Among the ways to earn DAE:

25 hours of insurance or continuing education; professional development courses either as student or teacher; one class leading to an industry designation either as student or teacher.

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47

Agent/Broker

Employee Healthcare Benefits Associate (EHBA)

Description: Students gain in-depth knowledge of benefit planning

options that employers can combine in different ways to meet the needs of their employees. They also learn how a number of trends have changed the environment of health care and related benefits for retirees.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates have successfully completed a

class and an exam.

Fellow of the Casualty

Actuarial Society (FCAS)

Description: This designation indicates expertise in strategic, financial

and operational risk and the integration of hazard risk with these risks.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates have fulfilled the requirements of

Associateship (ACAS) and successfully completed nine examinations.

Awarded by: Casualty Actuarial Society

Fellow of the Conference of

Consulting Actuaries (FCA)

Description: A candidate for membership

as a Fellow must be substantially engaged in a consulting actuarial practice, employed as an actuary of a governmental unit or in work as an Enrolled Actuary or at an insurance company or in teaching actuarial science, and must satisfy any one of three indepen-dent criteria.

Qualifications: Members must complete

30 continuing education credits each year through a combination of general and pro-fessionalism credits, as long as at least three professionalism credits are included in the total.

Awarded by: Conference of Consulting

Actuaries

Fellow, Financial Services

Institute (FFSI)

Description: This designation demonstrates expertise in financial services. Qualifications: Eligible candidates have completed seven core

courses and customized, job-specific education through the FFSI’s Professional Achievement Credits.

Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI)

Description: This designation requires the completion of a

com-prehensive business education program for insurance and financial services professionals.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates will have successfully completed

a self-study, 10-course, professional development program and a proctored final exam.

Fellow, Society of Actuaries (FSA)

Description: Through completion of the FSA program, the actuary

gains expertise in the financial risk of life insurance, health programs, retirement system, enterprise risk management, finance, or invest-ment specialties, along with a course in ethics/professionalism and business applications.

Qualifications: The FSA designation is achieved by completing the ASA

requirements plus two examinations and four computer-based modules.

Fellow, Society of Pension Actuaries (FSPA)

Description: This program is for actuaries to certify their

profes-sional competence in actuarial and consulting aspects of pensions.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates will have successfully completed

an examination series for actuaries that includes advanced actu-arial practice, financial and fiduciary aspects of qualified plans and advanced retirement plan consulting.

Awarded by: American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries

Financial Services Specialist (FSS)

Description: This designation indicates practical sales skills and

introductory-level technical knowledge.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates are members of the National

Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors who have success-fully completed three core courses, three electives and an exam.

Fraud Claim Law Associate (FCLA)

Description: This program is for claims professionals, fraud

investiga-tors and special investigative unit personnel. It covers fraud as it relates to casualty, property and workers’ compensation claims, and also covers early fraud recognition, referral for special investigation and understand-ing of insurance policy requirements in order to combat fraud effectively while honoring policy obligations.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates will have completed Fraud and

Legal Principles Programs and exam(s).

Fraud Claim Law Specialist

(FCLS)

Description: This program is for claims

professionals, fraud investigators and spe-cial investigative unit personnel. It covers fraud as it relates to casualty, property and workers’ compensation claims, and also covers early fraud recognition, referral for special investigation and understanding of insurance policy requirements in order to combat fraud effectively while honoring policy obligations.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates will have

completed Law of Claims Fraud Investiga-tion and Defense Program and accompany-ing exam.

Health Care Anti-Fraud

Associate (HCAFA)

Description: This program is for fraud managers and others in

relat-ed fields to demonstrate they have the skills nerelat-edrelat-ed to detect and stop health insurance fraud. Courses include types of health care fraud and abuse, methods of detection, investigation and prevention of health care fraud and pertinent legislation.

three courses and an exam.

Health Insurance Associate (HIA)

Description: Students gain knowledge of the marketing,

administra-tion and evaluaadministra-tion of various kinds of health insurance as well as the principles, contracts, underwriting and marketing of these cover-ages. Curriculum includes cost management, pricing, claims admin-istration, policy issue and renewal, government regulation and fraud.

six courses and an exam.

Healthcare Customer Service Associate (HCSA)

Description: This designation demonstrates problem-solving skills

and familiarity with proven strategies for resolving customer service problems as well as the basics of managing, training and hiring cus-tomer service staff.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates will have successfully completed

four courses and an examination.

HIPAA Associate (Health Insurance Portability

and Accountability Act) (HIPAAA)

Description: Students gain a working knowledge of that part of

HIPAA known as the administrative simplification provisions. Cur-riculum includes HIPAA terminology, overview of the Privacy Rule, patients’ and individual’s rights, and guidelines on uses and disclo-sures of protected health information.

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two courses and an examination.

HIPAA Professional (Health Insurance Portability

and Accountability Act) (HIPAAP)

Description: Students gain advanced knowledge of the HIPAA

Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information in preparation for the role of privacy officer. The curriculum includes documentation; HIPAA terminology and the HHS Clarification of the Standards; and an elective to better understand the implications of HIPAA on either home care, medical practice or insurers.

three courses and an examination.

Insurance Training Professional (ITP)

Description: This designation recognizes excellence in

profes-sional trainers. Requires both training and insurance experience/ knowledge.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates must be members of the

Soci-ety of Insurance Trainers and Educators. Candidates must show insurance knowledge through a certificate or designation or an insurance/financial services course of at least 20 hours or a resume outlining a minimum of 10 years of insurance company

experience in core competencies; evidence of training or accredited degree in adult education or a closely related field with significant education course work or 20 or more semester hours in an undergraduate or graduate education degree program; and a minimum of five years’ experience as a trainer/educator.

Awarded by: Society of Insurance Trainers and

Educators

Legal Principles Claim Specialist

(LPCS)

Description: The program provides a foundation for a

thorough understanding of the rules of law which apply to claims.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates will have completed

the Legal Principles Program and accompanying exam.

Life Underwriters Training Council

Fellow (LUTCF)

Description: This designation indicates sales training,

basic planning concepts, communication skills and knowledge of a wide range of life insurance products and services.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates are members of the

National Association of Insurance and Financial Advi-sors who have successfully completed courses, an ethics class and an examination.

Long-Term Care Professional (LTCP)

Description: This program provides an understanding of the role of

insurance in rising term-care needs, methods of financing long-term care, claims and administration associated with the coverage.

four courses and an examination.

Managed Healthcare Professional (MHP)

Description: Students gain knowledge and skills necessary to

pursue a management position in the health insurance industry including an understanding of the broad management role and organizational structures, operations and administration of man-aged care.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates have successfully completed six

courses and an exam.

Marine Hull Claims Professional (MHCP)

Description: The designation provides a means for people involved in the

adjustment of marine claims to attain a newly created professional qualifi-cation. The new designation recognizes that the industry needs profession-als to meet the demands of clients, brokers and, increasingly, the regulatory environment. The designation offers recognition to individuals who provide the claims adjusting services for United States marine insurers.

Qualifications: The designation is open to Resident Associates and

Junior Members who have been continuously and actively employed as adjusters or as underwriter’s claims examiners/adjusters mentored by a Full Member for at least three years as a Resident or one year as a Junior and have successfully completed a written exam.

Awarded by: Association of Average Adjusters of the United States

Master Financial Advisor (MFA)

Description: This program is for experienced producers who want

to demonstrate they have the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct financial planning.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates complete a selection of 300-level

courses equaling 30 credits.

Awarded by: LIMRA International

Medical Management Associate (MMA)

Description: This program is for health insurance professionals

who wish to demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and reasons for medical management and its impact on the insurance

industry. It also is for educators, providers of health care services, industry vendors, employees of preferred provider organizations, third-party administrators a nd others whose businesses and practices are affected

by developments in health care.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates have

success-fully completed six courses and an examination.

Awarded by: America’s Health Insurance

Plans

Member, American Academy of

Actuaries (MAAA)

Description: This designation denotes professionalism

and credibility. Most states recognize the MAAA desig-nation as a qualification for signing insurance company annual statements.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates must meet

educa-tion requirements, be a member of an approved actuary society and have at least three years of full-time actu-arial work.

Awarded by: American Academy of Actuaries

Member, Society of Pension Actuaries

(MSPA)

Description: This program is for consultants and

administrators, actuaries and other benefit professionals.

Qualifications: Eligible applicants have at least three years

of responsible actuarial experience, as required for Enrolled Actuary status, and have successfully completed three examinations.

Private Annuity Trusts Adviser (PATA)

Description: This designation entitles financial advisers to assist

clients with the implementation of National Association of Financial and Estate Planning Private Annuity Trusts.

Qualifications: This self-study course culminates with the

success-ful completion of a final exam that is taken either online or by a fax process.

Awarded by: Association of Chartered Senior Financial Planners

Professional Financial Advisor (PFA)

Description: This program is for producers in their second or third

year, providing the competencies required to expand their client base and sales using needs-based selling.

select 200-level courses equaling 30 credits.

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49

Agent/Broker

Professional, Customer Service (PCS)

Description: This program is for individuals in customer contact

posi-tions in the financial services industry, such as call center staff, cus-tomer service representatives, claims representatives and managers.

Qualifications: The self-study program requires the completion of

five courses.

Property Claim Law Associate (PCLA)

Description: This program provides the claims professional, whether

a property specialist or generalist, an understanding of the legal prin-ciples which are the foundation for handling all property claims. Stu-dents will learn how these principles have been and are now being applied by the courts to interpret contract language and decide dis-putes over various personal and commercial lines coverages.

the Legal Principles and Property Program and accompanying exam(s).

Property Claim Law Specialist (PCLS)

Description: This program provides the claims

profes-sional, whether a property specialist or generalist, an understanding of the legal principles which are the foundation for handling all property claims. Students will learn how these principles have been and are now being applied by the courts to interpret contract language and decide disputes over the various personal and commercial lines coverages.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates will have

success-fully completed required courses plus three electives and accompanying exam.

Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA)

Description: This program is for retirement plan professionals who

work primarily with 401(k) plans. They typically assist employers and consultants with recordkeeping, non-discrimination testing and administrative aspects of 401(k) and related defined contribution plans.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates must have at least two years of

pension-related experience and will have successfully completed an examination series.

Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA)

Description: This designation recognizes professionals who are

qualified to perform the technical and administrative functions of qualified-plan administration.

Qualifications: Candidates with at least two years of

pension-relat-ed experience may apply for this crpension-relat-edential after successful comple-tion of the examinacomple-tion series.

Qualified Plan Financial Consultant (QPFC)

Description: This designation is for financial professionals who

spe-cialize in retirement plans, helping them gain knowledge and experi-ence in the investment side of qualified retirement plans.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates must have at least three years of

investment-related experience or hold certain licenses. Applicants must demonstrate competence in specific areas of qualified retire-ment plans through completion of the examination series.

Registered Employee Benefits Consultant

(REBC)

Description: Students gain knowledge necessary to become a

professional in the sale and service of employee benefits plans. Individuals develop an understanding of the various types of group benefits and retirement plans.

Qualifications: The five required courses can be completed

through independent study. Each course concludes with a two-hour exam.

Registered Health Underwriter (RHU)

Description: This designation is for people involved in the sale

and service of disability income and health insurance. The program offers education on medical insurance, disability income insurance, long-term-care insurance and managed care.

Qualifications: The three required courses can be completed

through independent study. Each course concludes with a two-hour exam.

Registered Professional Liability Underwriter

(RPLU)

Description: This program provides a broad, basic understanding

of the professional liability disciplines. It covers technical issues from a practical point of view, including underwriting, risk manage-ment, legal issues, claims review and marketing/sales of profes-sional liability insurance.

Qualifications: The self-study program includes five parts:

Gen-eral and Umbrella Liability, Reinsurance, Classification and Rating Systems; Professional Liability Overview; Non-Medical Professional Liability; Medical Professional Liability; and Directors and Officers, EPL and Fiduciary Liability. Each exam consists of all multiple-choice questions.

Awarded by: Professional Liability Underwriting Society

RIMS Fellow (RF)

Description: Students gain skills and knowledge needed to

iden-tify and manage operational, financial, external and other risks in organizations.

Qualifications: Candidates need at least five years of industry

experience. Educational requirements include classes, workshops and online classes.

Awarded by: Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS)

Senior Claim Law Associate (SCLA)

Description: Students gain a foundation for understanding the rules

of law which apply to claims. The program is combined with three other focused programs to obtain the highest designation offered by the American Educational Institute.

the Legal Principles Program plus three of five available programs that focus on liability, property, workers’ compensation, fraud and automobile insurance.

Workers’ Compensation Claim Law Associate

(WCLA)

Description: This program introduces the claims professional

to the laws of workers’ compensation. The program offers a detailed discussion of the most important aspects of workers’ compensation necessary for effective handling of claims. Both the novice and experienced adjuster will achieve a working knowledge of the workers’ compensation and employers’ liabil-ity policy and obtain an understanding of how it has been inter-preted in the courts.

the Workers’ Compensation and Legal Principles Programs and accompanying exam(s).

Workers’ Compensation Claim Law Specialist

(WCLS)

Description: This program introduces the claims

professional to the law of workers’ compensation. The program offers a detailed discussion of the most important aspects of workers’ compensation necessary for effective handling of claims. Both the novice and

expe-rienced adjuster will achieve a working knowledge of the workers’ compensation and employers’ liability policy and obtain an understanding of how it has been interpreted in the courts.

Qualifications: Eligible candidates will have successfully

com-pleted the Workers’ Compensation Program and exam.

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Advisors Certification Services

8657 Douglas Ave., Suite 385 Des Moines, IA

www.annuityadvisor.org

America’s Health Insurance Plans

601 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, South Building, Suite 500 Washington, D.C.

www.ahip.org

American Academy of Actuaries

1100 17th St. NW, 7th floor Washington, D.C.

www.actuary.org

American Educational Institute

170 Mount Airy Road Basking Ridge, NJ

www.aeiclaimslaw.com

American Institute for

Chartered Property Casualty

Underwriters and the Insurance

Institute of America

720 Providence Road, Suite 100 Malvern, PA

www.cpcuiia.org

American Insurance Marketing

and Sales Society

P.O. Box 35718 Richmond, VA

www.aimssociety.com

American Society of Pension

Professionals and Actuaries

4245 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 750 Arlington, VA

www.asppa.org

Association for Financial

Counseling and Planning

Education

1500 W. Third Ave., Suite 223 Columbus, OH

www.afcpe.org

Association of Average

Adjusters of the United States

126 Midwood Ave. Farmingdale, NY

www.usaverageadjusters.org

Association of Chartered

Senior Financial Planners

8174 South Holly St. #253 Centennial, CO

www.acsfp.com

Casualty Actuarial Society

4350 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 250 Arlington, VA

www.casact.org

Certified Financial Planner

Board of Standards

1670 Broadway, Suite 600 Denver, CO

www.cfp.net

CFA Institute

560 Ray C. Hunt Drive Charlottesville, VA

www.cfainstitute.org

College for

Financial Planning

8000 E. Maplewood Ave., Suite 200 Greenwood Village, CO

www.cffp.edu

Conference of

Consulting Actuaries

3380 Salem Lake Drive, Suite H Long Grove, IL www.ccactuaries.org

Corporation for

Long-Term Care

Certification

114 Williams St. Lancaster, SC www.ltc-cltc.com

Institute of

Business & Finance

7911 Herschel Ave., Suite 201 La Jolla, CA

www.icfs.com

International Foundation of

Employee Benefit Plans

18700 W. Bluemound Road Brookfield, WI www.ifebp.org

Investment Management

Consultants Association

5619 DTC Parkway, Suite 500 Greenwood Village, CO www.imca.org

LIMRA International

300 Day Hill Road Windsor, CT

www.limra.com

LOMA (Life Office

Management Association)

2300 Windy Ridge Parkway, Suite 600 Atlanta, GA

www.loma.org

National Alliance for Insurance

Education & Research

3630 North Hills Drive Austin, TX

www.scic.com

National Association of Estate

Planners & Councils

1120 Chester Ave., Suite 470 Cleveland, OH

www.naepc.org

National Association of

Financial and Estate Planning

525 East 4500 South, No. F100 Salt Lake City, UT

www.nafep.com

National Association of Health

Underwriters

2000 North 14th St., Suite 450 Arlington, VA www.nahu.org

National Association

of Insurance Women

(International)

6528 East 101st St., PMB No. 750 Tulsa, OK www.naiw.org

National Institute of Pension

Administrators

401 North Michigan Ave., Suite 2200 Chicago, IL

www.nipa.org

National Association of

Insurance and Financial Advisors

2901 Telstar Court Falls Church, VA www.naifa.org

Professional Liability

Underwriting Society

5353 Wayzata Blvd., Suite 600 Minneapolis, MN www.plusweb.org

Risk and Insurance

Management Society

1065 Avenue of the Americas, 13th Floor New York, NY

www.rims.org

Society of Actuaries

475 North Martingale, No. 600 Schaumburg, IL

www.soa.org

Society of Certified Senior Advisors

1777 South Bellaire St., Suite 230 Denver, CO

www.society-csa.com

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51

Agent/Broker

Society of Insurance Trainers

and Educators

2120 Market St., No. 108 San Francisco, CA

www.insurancetrainers.org

The American College

270 South Bryn Mawr Ave. Bryn Mawr, PA

www.theamericancollege.edu

The National Institute of

Certified Estate Planners

3811 Southland Ave. Kokomo, IN www.nicep.com

Actuarial Science,

Concentration in Insurance

Drake University

College of Business and Public Administration Administrator: Randall Blum

2507 University Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311-4505

Phone: 515-271-2011

www.drake.edu

Actuarial Science, Risk

Management and Insurance

Temple University

The Fox School of Business Number of faculty: 17

Administrator: M. Moshe Porat, Dean

Speakman Hall 111, 1810 North 13th St., Philadelphia, PA 19122

Phone: 215-204-1836

www.sbm.temple.edu

Finance - Insurance

University of Central Oklahoma Administrator: Dr. Randal Ice, Chair

100 North University Drive Edmond, OK 73034

Phone: 405-974-2000

www.ucok.edu

Finance, Insurance,

Real Estate and Law

University of North Texas

College of Business Administration Number of students: 35

Number of faculty: 2 full-time,

1 part-time, 1 adjunct

Administrator: O. Finley Grave, Interim Dean

P.O. Box 305339 Denton, TX 76203-5339

Phone: 940-565-3050

www.unt.edu

Insurance

Eastern Kentucky University Administrator: Dr. Peter R. Kensicki,

Chairholder of Insurance Studies College of Business & Technology

108 Business & Technology Center 521 Lancaster Ave.

Richmond, KY 40475-3102

Phone: 859-622-1579

www.cbt.eku.edu

Howard University’s School of Business Center for Insurance Education Number of students: 40 Number of faculty: 2

Administrator: Dr. Barron H. Harvey,

Dean, School of Business; Dr. James Donaldson, Dean of Arts & Sciences; Harold L. Gray, Sr. Director of the Center for Insurance

2400 Sixth St. NW Washington, D.C. 20059

Phone: 202-806-6100

www.howard.edu

St. Cloud State University Herberger College of Business

Administrator: Diana Lawson, Interim Dean

of the College of Business 720 Fourth Ave. South St. Cloud, MN 56301-4498

Phone: 320-308-0121

www.stcloudstate.edu

Thomas Edison State College

101 West State St. Trenton, NJ 08608-1176

Phone: 888-442-8372

www.tesc.edu

Insurance and Finance

University of Hartford Barney School of Business

Administrator: Dr. Ann Costello, Associate

Professor of Insurance 200 Bloomfield Ave. West Hartford, CT 06117-1599 Phone: 860-768-4503 www.barney.hartford.edu

Insurance and

Risk Management

Indiana State University College of Business

Number of students: 118 majors, 52 minors Number of faculty: 4

Administrator: Dr. Terrie E. Troxel

200 North Seventh St. Terre Haute, IN 47809-9989

Phone: 812-237-2028

www.indstate.edu/insurance

The University of Mississippi School of Business Administration Administrator: Larry Cox, Robertson Chair

of Insurance P.O. Box 1848

University, MS 38677-1848

Phone: 662-915-5475

www.olemissbusiness.com/insurance