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, opposite and overleaf 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 – Award for the Foundation Insurance Test
Stephen, 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)
On passing FIT, Stephen receives a Record of Achievement and a completion certificate, indicating he has completed the Award for the Foundation Insurance Test. 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 –Award in London Market Insurance
Jay has just started working for a Lloyd’s syndicate as a technical assistant. He deals with underwriters, brokers and coverholders so needs
a broad understanding of the London market, as well as a more detailed understanding of some of the technical issues.
He sits ‘London market insurance essentials’ to gain the essential grounding, followed by ‘London market insurance principles and
practices’ to broaden his knowledge and gain more detailed technical knowledge.
Jay is awarded the Award in London Market Insurance. He is also exempt from unit IF1 (the compulsory unit for the Certificate in Insurance)
so should he wish to further his studies to complete the Certificate, he can do so by sitting one other Certificate unit of choice to gain the
necessary credits. If he continues to complete the Certificate and joins as a member of the CII, he will be entitled to use the designation
Cert CII (London Market).
Example 3 – 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.
| (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 entitled
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 4 – Diploma in Insurance
Chris, an account handler in a commercial brokerage, enters and passes at Diploma level the compulsory units, ‘Insurance business and
finance’, and ‘Insurance law’. He then passes further Diploma units, ‘Insurance broking practice’, ‘Commercial property and business
interruption’ and ‘Liability insurances’. This amounts to a total of 120 Diploma level credits, meeting the requirements for passing the Diploma in Insurance.
| |
(P92) |
(P05) |
(P81) |
(P93) |
(P96) |
| |
Insurance business and finance
|
Insurance law
|
Insurance broking practice |
Commercial property
and business interruption
|
Liability insurances
|
| |
25 credits |
25 credits |
20 credits |
25 credits |
25 credits |
| Diploma in Insurance (minimum 120 credits required) |
Chris 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 Chris continue his studies.
Example 5 – Advanced Diploma in Insurance
Josie 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 Award in London Market Insurance and the Diploma in Insurance, passing the Diploma units ‘Insurance
business and finance’, ‘Insurance law’ and ‘Commercial property and business interruption’, and the Advanced Diploma unit ‘Advanced
underwriting’. The Award in London Market Insurance provides 25 credits, the Diploma units provide a total of 75 credits and the Advanced
Diploma unit 30, amounting to 130 credits in all.
| (LM1) |
(LM2) |
(P92) |
(P05) |
(P93) |
(960) |
| London market insurance essentials |
London market insurance principles and practices |
Insurance business and finance |
Insurance law |
Commercial property and business interruption |
Advanced Underwriting |
| 10 credits |
15 credits |
25 credits |
25 credits |
25 credits |
30 credits |
Diploma in Insurance (minimum 120 credits required) |
In order to complete the Advanced Diploma, Josie requires another 160 credits (with at least 100 of these at Diploma level or above and 60 of these to come from further Advanced
Diploma units). She enters and passes the Advanced Diploma units ‘Economics and business’, ‘Risk management’, ‘Advanced claims’, and
‘Insurance corporate management’ as well as further Diploma units ‘Commercial insurance contract wording’ and ‘Reinsurance’. The Advanced
Diploma units are worth 30 credits each, and the Diploma units are worth 50 further credits, giving a total of 170 and amounting to 300 credits
in all. Josie meets the 290 credit threshold for Advanced Diploma, including the specified combination of credits.
| (530) |
(655) |
(820) |
(990) |
(P21) |
(P97) |
| Economics and business |
Risk management
|
Advanced claims
|
Insurance corporate management |
Commercial insurance contract wording
|
Reinsurance |
| 30 credits |
30 credits |
30 credits |
30 credits |
20 credits |
30 credits |
| Advanced Diploma in Insurance (minimum 290 credits required) |
Josie 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 6 – Fellowship (including the MSc in Insurance and Risk Management)
Mena 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. As a member of the CII this allowed her to attain
the designation ‘ACII’.
Upon completing five years’ work experience, she applied for and was awarded ‘Chartered Insurer’ status. Mena 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, Mena decides to enrol on the Fellowship programme.
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 |
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 |
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 |
For her ‘major achievement’, Mena decides to obtain an additional professional qualification: the CII/Cass Business School MSc in
Insurance and Risk Management. Through the MSc Mena explores the growing relationship between insurance, risk management and
financial services developing her technical understanding.
As a holder of the Advanced Diploma, Mena 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.
Mena completes her MSc and fulfils all the Fellowship requirements. She is awarded the Fellowship on completion and, as a member of the
CII, is entitled to use the designation ‘FCII’. She is also entitled to use the designation ‘MSc’.
