Insurance producers understand the importance of continually improving knowledge and skills to better serve clients. One way to ensure that you stay on top of industry trends and best practices is by earning a professional designation, such as the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) certification.
Administered by The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research, the CIC designation is recognized as one of the most comprehensive and advanced insurance designations in the industry. It is designed for insurance producers who want to enhance their technical expertise, expand their insurance knowledge, and build stronger relationships with their clients.
Why should you earn a CIC designation?
Build Confidence
Earning this designation proves to your clients and peers that you have in-depth knowledge of the insurance industry and a commitment to staying current with industry trends and best practices. As a CIC-designated professional, you can be more confident in your ability to advise your clients on complex insurance risks and to provide appropriate coverage advice.
Increase Client Loyalty
Obtaining the CIC will give you a competitive edge in the marketplace. You will be recognized for your knowledge and expertise, which can lead to increased client loyalty, business growth, and profitability. Clients will see you as an expert who is passionate about what you do.
Earn Credibility
Moreover, the CIC designation is highly esteemed among insurance professionals. It is backed by decades of research, development, and testing, and is widely recognized as one of the most rigorous and comprehensive insurance designations available.
What risk and insurance courses are part of the designation program?
The designation program consists of seven courses, each focusing on a different area of insurance: Personal Lines, Commercial Casualty, Commercial Property, Commercial Multiline, Life & Health, and Agency Management, Insurance Company Operations. Each course is designed to provide you with in-depth knowledge and practical skills that you can immediately apply to your work.
This course covers everything from homeowners and auto insurance to umbrella policies and risk management. Participants learn about different coverage options, policy provisions, endorsements, and exclusions.
This course focuses on liability exposures, including general liability, commercial auto, workers’ compensation, and professional liability. Participants gain a deeper understanding of risk assessment, underwriting, coverage options, and claims handling.
Identify Commercial Inland Marine, Crime, Cyber and Employment Practices exposures. The course helps you learn about the coverage available to address these exposures as you develop insurance programs for your clients.
The Commercial Property course examines property exposures, such as buildings, equipment, inventory, and business income. You will learn about valuation methods, policy forms, endorsements, and coverage issues that are unique to commercial property risks.
A basics course that covers insurance products such as life insurance, disability income, and long-term care. Learners become knowledgeable about underwriting, contracts, and state regulation, to name a few areas.
A popular course for insurance producers, Agency Management focuses on agency operations and best practices, including sales, marketing, customer service, and staff management. This course provides valuable insights on how to build and maintain strong relationships with your clients.
CIC Insurance Company Operations
Learn decision-making strategies for satisfying regulatory requirements, meeting compliance standards, product development, underwriting, distributing and marketing, processing claims, and other vital company functions.
How is the CIC designation earned?
To earn the CIC designation, you must pass five courses within five years and maintain an annual update requirement to sustain the designation. A person can take four of the CIC courses and substitute in one course from the CRM or CPRM program. In addition, CIC designees must also have three years of experience in the insurance industry.
In conclusion, earning the CIC designation demonstrates your expertise in the insurance industry to clients and peers. It will help you grow your personal brand, increase your credibility, and stand out in a crowded marketplace. If you’re an insurance producer looking to take your career to the next level, consider the CIC designation – it could be the key to unlocking your full potential in the industry.
