What Is a Certified Insurance Counselor Designation And Why Is It Important?
The insurance industry continues to be increasingly competitive. Insurance encompasses a wide variety of coverage and policies on top of shifting customer needs and demands. The collection of all of this can be extremely confusing especially if you are considering what type of coverage as well as the unique exposures that need to be assessed for each client. That is why it is becoming more and more important that the agents continue to develop their insurance knowledge through professional designations like Certified Insurance Counselor.
But what is Certified Insurance Counselor designation and what makes it so important? Get to know more about this topic in today’s blog entry.
Certified Insurance Counselor Designation Defined
A Certified Insurance Counselor designation is a certification program for insurance agents to provide them with the information they need to properly advise clients on risk and coverage. Through this program, an agent or advisor will go through specific courses to understand the exposures and risks involved in every insurance coverage as well as gain the necessary skills and competencies to come up with the be coverage decisions that are suitable to the situation of every client.
The Certified Insurance Counselor Program consists of 7 courses and examinations (which an agent is required to complete 5 courses and examinations) to equip all insurance agents with all the information and insight they need to effectively work with client. It is distinguished designation recognized in all the U.S. and in most countries all over the world.
Once the agent has completed 5 of the courses, he or she will receive a certificate and a Certified Insurance Counselor designation pin to recognize their accomplishment and their commitment to becoming a trusted advisor to every client they are dealing with.
How Will This Benefit the Client?
Working with a Certified Insurance Counselor designated agent is more beneficial to clients because:
- It helps build trust and confidence – a kind of trust that you get even if you haven’t explained anything to the client yet.
- It allows agents to present different insurance coverage and analyze the exposures and risks that can happen concerning the various coverage scenarios being chosen.
- Their certification is a testament to being an expert in the field of insurance.
- This designation lets them earn respect and credibility with other insurance practitioners which gives an impression to clients that you are the right guy to turn to for their insurance needs.
- Customers will be assured of getting the best risk assessment and thorough coverage advice.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Certified Insurance Counselor designation is a necessity for expanding the agent’s insurance knowledge, so they are able to deliver comprehensive insurance advice to clients. It also provides the agent eligibility to attend specialized programs exclusive only for Certified Insurance Counselor designees. This program is crucial for advancement at work and a more fulfilling career in insurance.
Check out this article Total CSR for more articles and insight on insurance education and training.
About the Author
Justin Goodman has spent the past 20 years in insurance. He is the co-founder and CEO of Total CSR and co-founder and Managing Director of Project 55. By the age of 29, he was recognized as one of the top five construction insurance experts nationwide by Risk and Insurance Magazine. He also was named to Insurance Business Magazine’s Hot 100 and most recently the 2024 Insurance Journal Agent of the Year. Justin has trained over 50,000 CSR’s, account managers and producers through his work at Total CSR. He has a passion for developing the next generation of insurance professionals. When not with his family, he devotes his free time to speaking engagements and advising agency owners across the country.
