Certified Insurance Service Representative National Designation Program

The CISR program is a CE credit-approved, nationally recognized designation program that takes a practical, hands-on approach to learning. This designation is recognized nationwide as an important credential—one that benefits individuals, their agencies, and their customers.

The CISR designation program includes nine course offerings. To earn the CISR designation, participants must attend class and pass exams for 5 of the 9 courses. However, anyone is welcome to attend the classes without taking the exams. There is no special order in which courses must be taken. If you are more familiar with a given topic, you may want to begin with that course. The five courses/exams required for the CISR designation must be completed within 3 years.

Developed by the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance, students who are committed to continuing education and career growth can obtain the highest level of professional insurance education. This uniquely powerful training is designed to help you conquer the challenges of today by making customer service representatives more professional, more productive and more profitable. The CISR program is offered in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut exclusively by PIA.

Visit the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance for more information on this designation program.

CISR courses

Customers won't forget an account manager or CSR who has the CISR designation—because they deliver service that is truly noticeable. The CISR program is for all insurance personnel who make customer service their priority.

Commercial Casualty I—This course strengthens your ability to have productive, assured interactions with your commercial customers in the area of commercial casualty exposures and coverages. You will improve your understanding of legal liability and what creates liability exposures. The focus of this course is the Commercial General Liability Coverage Form. This course also addresses additional insured exposures and the coverage available to meet these needs.

Commercial Casualty II—This course, like Commercial Casualty I, strengthens your ability to have productive, assured interactions with your commercial customers in the area of commercial casualty exposures and coverages. In this course the focus is the Business Auto Policy, the Workers Compensation Policy, and Excess Liability Policies. You will improve your understanding in each of these areas.

Insuring Commercial Property—Commercial property insurance is one of your business customers' greatest concerns. You'll improve your cross-selling abilities with up-to-date knowledge of commercial property coverage, and reduce E&O exposures. This course gives you the skills to address these issues with greater ease and confidence.

Insuring Personal Residential Property—This course gives you the expertise you need to guide your customers through the often complex and confusing process of purchasing homeowners insurance - and help them make decisions that insure their most valuable assets.

Insuring Personal Auto Exposures—After taking this course, you will be able to assist your clients in identifying their exposures and more effectively advise them in the processes of analyzing, obtaining, and modifying their personal automobile policies.

Other Personal Lines Solutions—Learn how to tailor insurance and risk-management programs to meet client needs. This course examines coverage exclusions and limitations in the most current ISO Homeowners 3—Special Form and the ISO Personal Auto Policy. Learn to address exposures created by business activities, the ownership or use of recreational vehicles and watercraft, and the need for additional coverage through Personal Umbrella Liability and Catastrophe Coverage. This course is best taken after CISR Personal Residential Property & CISR Personal Auto Exposures.

Topics:

• Business Activities of Personal Lines Clients—Unique exposures to in-home businesses, types of loss, risk management considerations, and methods of insuring exposures.
• Recreational Lines – Identify exposures faced by personal lines clients with recreational vehicles and watercraft.
• Personal Umbrella/Excess Liability—Understand Personal Umbrella Liability/Excess Liability Coverage concepts and identify and compare policy differences.
• Personal Lines Catastrophe Coverage—Coverage solutions and risk mitigation methods or resources available to personal lines consumers for catastrophic perils.
• Personal Lines Emerging Risks—Basics of how emerging risks develop, risk management process essentials, and how to apply the risk management process to an emerging risk.

Life and Health Essentials—This course will help build a better understanding of what your clients need to know about life and health insurance. Explaining the benefits of having the proper life and health insurance is key to the financial wellbeing of your clients' families and businesses.

Be better prepared to answer questions about analyzing the need for and placement of life insurance. Health insurance includes a diverse assortment of policies, from medical expense coverage to vision care and dental coverage, plus a variety of delivery systems and health plans designed to manage the high cost of care.

Elements of Risk Management—Insurance professionals need training in the risk management process for two reasons. First, insurance is an integral part of their client's overall risk management program. Second, services provided by carriers, agencies and brokerages are often significant items in the organization's cost of risk.

This course will cover each of the five powerful steps in this process, which protects not only the organization's assets, but also its mission and its brand.

Agency Operations ^{^UM/FF}—This course helps make you an indispensable team player in any insurance agency. As you work with colleagues and customers, you will do so with enhanced self-assurance and a greater understanding of the dynamics within insurance organizations. Also, understanding how agencies operate is essential training for both insurance agency and company personnel.

Advanced learning options

CISR Elite—If you hold the CISR designation and pass the other four CISR course exams, you will earn the CISR Elite designation! These additional passes must be achieved in a three year time frame. Obtaining the status of being a CISR Elite is evidence of commitment to the agency, the client, and the participant's personal growth. Earning the CISR Elite designation represents increased specialized knowledge, increases earning power, enhances professional status, and creates more value for your agency or company.

William T. Hold Seminars—Exclusive, advanced training for experienced CSRs. Developed especially for CISRs as part of the Founders Series, these innovative one-day courses are special advanced learning opportunities for insurance professionals. William T. Hold Seminars satisfy the annual CISR update requirement and are open to anyone (not just those with the CISR designation).

Frequently asked questions