For The Insurance Experts - CII

cjgoodsell

I'm looking to study the CII's in the new year but someone told me they are changing is that correct?

For those that have them how easy/hard are they?

dunstonh

The change is the increase to level 4 being the minimum requirement for new advisers (existing have until 2012 to get it). However, that is for investment level authorisation. Not insurance only

cjgoodsell

My ultimate aim is to get into insurance underwriting but to stand a better chance of getting in it would be preferable to have them. As I already work in insurance (broker) but we are taking a non-advisory route and they dont support poeple who want to sit these papers!

From what I understand Certificate in Insurance would be best for me as I currently work in the industry then work my way through to the diploma and so on!

raskazz

How long have you worked in insurance? It if more than a couple of years I would skip the Certificate and go straight to Diploma level. The Certificate units can be very simple to pass and you could waste time doing them when you could be doing something at a higher level which is more challenging and more rewarding.

cjgoodsell

I worked in insurance now for over 6 years,3years in private car only with a direct company and 3 years for a broker in car and household. I looked at the diploma and said I would need a min of 5 gcse c or above or the certificate of insurance.

The problem with me is that I never obtained 5 gcse of c and above. So would you say a chat with the customer services would be best before I do anything?

raskazz

The 'requirements' are only advisory - you are not barred from entering if you do not have either the Certificate or 5 GCSEs. Has anyone in your office taken any of the exams? If so, IMO it would be best to talk to them/borrow some of their old course material to get a better feel for where you ought to start.

cjgoodsell

Thanks, no-one in my office has taken them because our company doesnt recognise them as we have chosen the "non-advisory" route. We took over another broker where I know those employees did some of the papers once before just a case to get in touch with them.

starrystarry

I do wish the CII would stop !!!!!!ing about with the exams, changing things just for the sake of it. It's no wonder we all get so confused about it.

Like Raskazz said, some of the exams are easier than others but you don't want to waste your time doing ones that will be no use to you.

What sort of underwriting do you want to get into?

cjgoodsell

To begin with I would like to get into personal lines as thats where my knowledge and current experience is then move from there (thats my realistic aim). Ultimately would love to work for chubb insurance and get into the yacht underwriting or specialist underwriting.

People say that commercial underwriting is where to be but I'm not that sure!

starrystarry

Commercial underwriting is probably a good choice, there certainly seem to be a fair few vacancies in this area when I look on the job sites etc.

I'm a life & disability underwriter myself. The CII exam for that was no walk in the park, by far the most difficult one I've done.

If you specialise too much would you limit yourself in terms of what jobs you could apply for?

cjgoodsell

I'm not too sure, the reason I have chosen to do personal lines is because I work in that field atm. Then branch out into what I want to do when I have "got my foot in the door" Some recruitment consultant thinks me going into "EDI Support" is another way to get thru as employers put you thru those exams, but doesnt that mean more pressure and if you dont succeed 1st time you might not have a job?