For The Insurance Experts - CII

starrystarry

I would have thought your best route would be via your current employer. Many insurance companies will run trainee underwriter programs, putting you though in-house training plus the exams. Have you told your current employer you're interested in underwriting?

cjgoodsell

Yeah I have done but who I work for the qualifications are not recognised as we are a non-advisory broker so they dont see the need for them. Its a shame really even if I did complete them and still with my current employer I couldnt advise but I would have more knowledge than anyone else.

starrystarry

That is a shame. With things as they are in financial services at the moment, now isn't the easiest time to be looking for new opportunities but it does sound like your options are limited with your current employer.

You seem really keen so I'm sure you'll succeed if you persevere. Don't let your lack of GCSEs put you off doing the exams, you're obviously intelligent. Good luck!

cjgoodsell

Thanks... Just going to put my head down do the papers during my spare time while still working so be it if it takes me 5 years to do (or less) at least I would have something else on my CV which when it picks up again I will stand in a better position than others to ge the job!

starrystarry

Sounds like a good plan to me.

moleymoo

Hi there - I'm the exam rep for my area of the company so can hopefully help - I would actually say start with the cert as it's 'easy' credits and once you've done the IF1 and IF2 exams you only need one more at Diploma level before you've got your cert. From there move on to Diploma and then it's up to you if you progress onto full ACII level exams. I finished mine about 2 years ago (after 5 years of study) and the ACII exams whilst difficult are passable - to a certain extent it all depends on how good you are with exams themselves IYKWIM.

The CII are changing some of the exams - phasing some out and replacing them with others - but the actual 'difficulty' level will remain the same for each.

Hope this is some help, PM me if you'd like any more info?

MM x

brianrhill

If you haven't studied for a while it may be a good idea to use the easier exams to get you into the swing of studying rather than biting off more than you can chew.

Brian