Property and Casualty Insurance Agents and Brokers

Certification or Licensing

Those agents who wish to seek the highest professional status may pursue the designation of chartered property casualty underwriter. To earn the designation, agents must complete at least two years in the field successfully, demonstrate high ethical practices in all work, and pass a series of examinations offered by the American Institute for Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters. Agents and brokers may prepare for these examinations through home study or by taking courses offered by colleges, insurance associations, or individual companies.

The Risk & Insurance Education Alliance (formerly the National Alliance For Insurance Education & Research) (https://www.riskeducation.org) offers the certified insurance counselor and certified insurance service representative designations to agents and brokers who complete short seminars about issues in the field. Contact the alliance for more information.

All agents and brokers must obtain licenses from the states in which they sell insurance. Most states require that the agent pass a written examination dealing with state insurance laws and the fundamentals of property and casualty insurance. Often, candidates for licenses must show evidence of some formal study in the field of insurance. Most states also require licensed insurance agents to complete continuing education in the field every two years, on subjects such as insurance laws, insurance policies, consumer protection, and ethics.