Certificate in Insurance (IF1, IF2, IF3)

IF1 Insurance, legal and regulatory

The objective of this unit is to develop knowledge and understanding of basic insurance principles and practice. Please note that study texts purchased from October 2008 will be applicable to exams taken in the period January to December 2009. If you purchased the 2008 edition, it will be necessary to purchase the study update service to receive the 2009 edition.

IF2 General insurance business

The objective of this unit is to develop knowledge and understanding of basic insurance products and practice.

IF3 Insurance underwriting process

The objective of this unit is to develop knowledge and understanding of the role of underwriting.

Building knowledge, developing core competence

The Certificate in Insurance is a core qualification for insurance staff working across all sectors of the industry (and the logical progression from the introductory-level Foundation Insurance Test®). It provides a grounding in:

• basic insurance principles including the regulatory environment;
• the key insurance disciplines of underwriting and claims; and
• popular products including: motor, household, healthcare and packaged commercial insurances.

It supports role-specific learning which will assist you to develop the relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to succeed. By covering a broad range of core topics, the Certificate allows you to develop the knowledge and confidence you need before you begin to focus your subsequent studies and specialise according to your ambitions and career requirements.

This qualification is the first step towards becoming professionally qualified and, as such, its value is widely recognised by employers throughout the insurance industry.

On completion you will be entitled to apply to use the designation ‘Cert CII®’ (CII membership and Continuing Professional Development requirements apply).

Note: sector specific designations ‘Cert CII (London Market)’ and ‘Cert CII (Claims)’ are available to candidates completing the Certificate that have passed the Lloyd’s and London Market Introductory Test (LLMIT) or Insurance claims handling process (IF4) unit, respectively. Faculty membership requirements also apply.

Flexible and comprehensive

As a Certificate candidate, you can select units from across the CII qualifications framework. This means you have access to the entire range of units currently available.

They offer something for everyone, whatever sector of the insurance industry you work in and whatever your particular specialisation or preferred career path. These range from the fundamentals of insurance practice and legislation through to personal lines product families, classes of commercial insurance and specialisms such as risk management and marine.

All qualifications are modular in structure, enabling you to select units of study according to your preference and career requirements. Each unit has a credit value and the accumulation of the stipulated number of credits leads to the award of the Certificate. Successful completion allows you to apply to use the designations ‘Cert CII®' (CII membership and Continuing Professional Development requirements apply).

Meeting market expectations

Importantly, the certifiicate has been designed to assist you and your employer to comply with both the existing and future regulatory training and competence requirements. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) requires you to demonstrate that you are competent in the work you do, and thereafter to maintain this competence.

This approach is designed to ensure that you have the appropriate knowledge and skills to perform your job effectively. Qualifications can play an important role in helping to meet the requirements by serving as an objective measurement of your technical awareness and understanding.

Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) Ofqual is the new regulator of qualifications, exams and tests in England. They are also the regulators for the recognised awarding bodies (such as the CII). For further information refer to the Ofqual website: www.ofqual.gov.uk, The Certificate in Insurance is accredited, with Ofqual at Level 3 in the National, Qualifications Framework.

The Certificate is only accredited where it is completed using Certificate units IF1-IF8.

Why the Certificate in Insurance?

The certificate delivers many advantages:

• Demonstrate to your employer, peers and customers your commitment to personal learning and development..
• Can form part of an overall programme to meet the regulator’s training and competence requirements.
• Supports lifelong learning as prior study is recognised as you progress through the qualifications framework, taking accumulated credits with you.
• Supports personalised learning programmes as you select the topics most appropriate to your role, rather than follow a rigid pre-set learning programme.
• A ‘Record of Achievement’ is awarded for each unit passed, providing portable and permanent evidence of learning undertaken.
• Certificate in Insurance awarded upon completion.
• Upon completion of these qualifications you can apply to use the corresponding designation. These are respected throughout the industry and increasingly acknowledged by the public as demonstrating professional standing (CII membership and Continuing Professional Development requirements apply).
• Having successfully completed the Certificate in Insurance you will hold credits that can be used towards the Diploma in Insurance.

Is the Certificate in Insurance right for me?

The Certificate is open to anyone, irrespective of educational background or experience. It is suitable for a diverse range of people, including:

• Anyone wishing to gain a broad understanding of insurance principles, key disciplines and products.
• Employees who have no formal insurance qualifications but wish to objectively demonstrate insurance knowledge and understanding.
• Anyone working in specific technical claims handling or underwriting roles within a call or service centre environment.
• Insurance staff employed in support functions such as human resources, marketing, IT and finance, wishing to develop an understanding of the industry in which they work.
• Staff working for an organisation whose primary business is not insurance, but which offers insurance advice and products as part of its overall service to customers.
• Providers of services to insurers or insurance intermediaries.
• Staff taking an Apprenticeship or Advanced Apprenticeship in Retail Financial Services can use the CII’s Certificate in Insurance units to meet the technical certificate requirement.

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