How does the framework work in practice?

In recognition of the enormous diversity within the general insurance market, the qualifications framework has been designed to be as flexible as possible, allowing candidates from across the industry to choose a route that satisfies their needs and preferences.

To provide a flavour of how the framework works in practice, here are a few examples of how qualifications can be obtained for different types of roles within the industry. As can be seen, the requirements and aspirations of individuals from all sectors and at all levels can be accommodated.

Example 1 – Foundation Insurance Test

Steve, a recent recruit to the call centre of a direct household insurer, studies and passes the Foundation Insurance Test as part of his induction programme.

This single unit course gives him an essential grounding in insurance:

• how the market operates;
• core principles and procedures; and
• key personal insurance products.

FIT also includes full membership of the CII providing a range of benefits which can assist him in studying for FIT and provide essential support in his working life.

Foundation Insurance Test (6 credits)

Steve receives a ‘Record of Achievement’ on passing FIT. His credits will also count towards study for the Certificate in Insurance should he wish to continue his studies, developing greater technical knowledge.

 

Example 2 – Certificate in Insurance

Jill, a motor claims handler in a call centre, enters and passes three Certificate units: the compulsory paper ‘Insurance, legal and regulatory’and the optional units ‘Insurance claims handling process’ and ‘Motor insurance products’. With each unit worth 15 credits, Jill passes the 40-credit threshold for completion of the Certificate.

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(IF1)	(IF4)	(IF5)
Insurance, legal and regulatory	Insurance claims handling process	Motor insurance products
15 credits	15 credits	15 credits
Certificate in Insurance (minimum 40 credits required)

Jill is awarded a Certificate in Insurance upon completion. As a member of the CII and also a holder of the IF4 claims unit she is invited to apply to use the designation ‘Cert CII (Claims)’. The credits obtained for completing the Certificate will count towards study for higher level CII qualifications should she continue her studies.

Example 3 – Diploma in Insurance

John, an account handler in a commercial brokerage, enters and passes at Diploma level the compulsory units, (P92) Insurance business and finance, and (P05) Insurance law. He then passes the Diploma unit, (P81) Insurance broking practice and Advanced Diploma units, (745) Principles of property insurances, and (930) Insurance broking.

The Diploma units provide a total of 70 credits, with the Advanced Diploma units worth 30 credits each (total 60), amounting in total to 130 credits. John passes the 110 credit threshold for Diploma, including the specified combination of credits.

	(P92)	(P05)	(P81)	(745)	(930)
	Insurance business and finance	Insurance law	Insurance broking practice	Principles of property insurances	Insurance broking
	25 credits	25 credits	20 credits	30 credits	30 credits
Diploma in Insurance (minimum 110 credits required)

John is awarded a Diploma in Insurance on completion and as a member of the CII is entitled to use the designation ‘Dip CII®’. His credits will count towards study for Advanced Diploma should John continue his studies, including 60 credits at the Advanced Diploma level.

Example 4 – Advanced Diploma in Insurance

Sarah works for a Lloyd’s syndicate as a property underwriting assistant and has aspirations of becoming a property underwriter. To this end, she now wants to study for the Advanced Diploma.

She has already completed the Lloyd’s and London Market Introductory Test (LLMIT) and the Diploma in Insurance, passing the Diploma units ‘Insurance business and finance’, ‘Insurance law’ and ‘Reinsurance’, and the Advanced Diploma unit ‘Principles of property insurances’. LLMIT provides 15 credits, the Diploma units provide a total of 80 credits and the Advanced Diploma unit 30, amounting to 125 credits in all.

(LLMIT)	(P92)	(P05)	(P97)	(745)
Lloyd’s and London Market Introductory Test	Insurance business and finance	Insurance law	Reinsurance	Principles of property insurances
15 credits	25 credits	25 credits	30 credits	30 credits
Diploma in Insurance (minimum 110 credits required)

In order to complete the Advanced Diploma, Sarah requires another 165 credits (with at least 150 of these to come from Advanced Diploma units). She enters and passes the compulsory Advanced Diploma unit ‘Risk, regulation and capital adequacy’ and then selects further Advanced Diploma units ‘Risk management’, ‘Claims management’, ‘Underwriting management’ and ‘Marketing’ as well as a further Diploma unit ‘Commercial property and business interruption’. The Advanced Diploma units are worth 30 credits each, and the Diploma unit is worth 25 units, giving a total of 175 and amounting to 300 credits in all. Sarah meets the 290 credit threshold for Advanced Diploma, including the specified combination of credits.

(510)	(655)	(820)	(815)	(945)	(P93)
Risk, regulation and capital adequacy	Risk management	Claims management	Underwriting management	Marketing	Commercial property and business interruption
30 credits	30 credits	30 credits	30 credits	30 credits	25 credits
Advanced Diploma in Insurance (minimum 290 credits required)

Sarah is awarded an Advanced Diploma in Insurance on completion and, as a member of the CII, she is entitled to use the designation ‘ACII®’. She can also apply for ‘Chartered Insurer®’ status and has the option to continue her studies towards Fellowship if she wishes.

Example 5 – Fellowship (including the MSc in Insurance and Risk Management)

Lucy works as a regional underwriting manager within a large commercial insurer. She joined from university onto a Graduate Training Programme and, as part of her training, completed the Advanced Diploma in Insurance, attaining the designation ‘ACII’.

Upon completing five years’ work experience, she applied for and was awarded ‘Chartered Insurer’ status.

Lucy is keen to continue to advance her career. She sees ongoing structured professional development as essential to the fulfilment of her ambitions.

Three years after completing the Advanced Diploma, Lucy decides to enter for CII Fellowship. This involves her meeting a number of requirements related to advanced professional development:

Continuing professional development (CPD)	Submission of three years’ CPD records
Business ethics programme (BEP)	Completing a distance learning course providing a framework for the ethical and moral issues that she faces in the workplace
Statement of personal achievement (SPA)	The submission of a statement summarising the learning and development she has gained through the Fellowship programme and how her future prospects will be helped through her achievement
Major achievement	Undertaking one of the following: an insurance-related dissertation; a work-based project report; a further academic or professional qualification; or a portfolio of published works

For her ‘major achievement’, Lucy decides to obtain an additional professional qualification: the CII/Cass Business School MSc in Insurance and Risk Management.

Through the MSc Lucy explores the growing relationship between insurance, risk management and financial services developing her technical understanding.

As a holder of the Advanced Diploma, Lucy can take a fast-track route to completion of the MSc via exemptions from four of the compulsory nine core modules. She must take five core modules and select five elective modules or one elective module plus a dissertation.

As a part-time student she completes this in nineteen months, rather than the two years it will typically take non-Advanced Diploma holders.

Lucy completes her MSc and fulfils all the Fellowship requirements. She is awarded the Fellowship on completion and, as a member of the CII, is invited to apply to use the designation ‘FCII®’. She is also entitled to use the designation ‘MSc’.

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