Risk Managers

High School

If you are interested in becoming a risk manager, you should plan on getting a bachelor's degree and may at some point consider getting an advanced degree, such as master's of business administration (MBA) or a master's in risk management degree. In high school, therefore, you should take classes that will prepare you for college as well as help you explore this type of work. Take plenty of mathematics classes. Also, take accounting, business, and economics if your school offers these classes. To round out your education, take a variety of science, history, government, and computer classes. And of course, take English classes, which will help you hone your research and writing skills and make you ready for college-level work.

Postsecondary Training

Risk managers generally need a college degree with a broad business background. Depending on the college or university you attend, you may be able to major in risk management or insurance. Many schools offer courses or degrees in insurance and risk management. If your school does not offer these degrees, consider a major in other management or finance areas, such as accounting, economics, engineering, finance, law, management, or political science. No matter what your particular major, your class schedule will most likely include economics, accounting, and mathematics, such as calculus. It is also important to take computer classes that teach you how to deal with using a variety of software programs. Insurance and even banking classes will give you an understanding of these industries and the financial tools they use. Increasingly, some employers are seeking risk managers with a postgraduate degree in finance or real estate or an MBA.

Other Education or Training

Continuing education classes, workshops, online tutorials, and webinars are offered by the American Institute for Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters, National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research, Public Risk Management Association, and RIMS—The Risk Management Society. Topics include risk assessment, risk control, insuring commercial property, and insuring personal residential property. Contact these organizations for more information.