High School
Recommended high school courses include business and mathematics. Speech and English classes will help you hone your communication skills. Taking a foreign language such as Spanish will come in handy if you need to speak with policyholders who do not speak English fluently.
Postsecondary Training
College graduates generally are preferred for insurance claims jobs, but persons with special experience may not need a degree. No specific college major is preferred, but certain ones may indicate a possible specialty. For example, an engineering degree would be valuable in industrial claims, and a legal background would be helpful in claims involving workers' compensation and product liability. In most companies, on-the-job training is usually provided. All insurance claims representatives should be comfortable working with computers, so be sure to develop your computer skills in college.
Certification
Some colleges offer certificates in fraud and data analytics, insurance, fire investigation, and related areas. Contact schools in your area to learn about available programs.
Other Education or Training
Continuing education classes, webinars, and workshops are provided by AHIP, The Institutes, Insurance Institute of Canada, International Claim Association, LOMA International, National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters, and the National Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters, Contact these organizations for more information.
- Accountants
- Auditors
- Business Managers
- Financial Institution Officers and Managers
- Financial Quantitative Analysts
- Forensic Accountants and Auditors
- Fraud Examiners, Investigators, and Analysts
- Health Care Insurance Navigators
- Insurance Fraud Investigators
- Insurance Policy Processing Workers
- Insurance Underwriters
- Life Insurance Agents and Brokers
- Property and Casualty Insurance Agents and Brokers
- Regulatory Affairs Managers
- Risk Managers
