CPIA Designation Program

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Please note: Registration processing will not be completed without full payment at the time of registration form submission. Submission of a registration form without proper payment will not hold your spot in a program.

The Certified Professional Insurance Agent designation program

Sign-in: 8:30 a.m.; Class 9 a.m—5 p.m.
Registration fees: $185 member, $250 nonmember, per session.

Earn a nationally-recognized designation without taking any exams.

E&O loss prevention credit:

If you attain and maintain the CPIA designation, you may qualify for the E&O discount from Utica Mutual.

Students are encouraged to complete the sessions in consecutive order, but it is not mandatory to do so. There is no time limit for completing the seminars. (There is an update requirement that must be met every other year after completion of the designation requirements.)

CPIA core Insurance Success Seminars:

CPIA 1-Position for Success
- Conn.– LRE 2, PC 5;
- NJ–7;
- NY–7 PC, BR, C3, PA, LA, C1, LB, LSB.

CPIA 2-Implement for Success
- Conn.–LH 2, PC 5;
- NJ–7;
- NY–7 PC, BR, C3, PA, LA, C1, LB, LSB.

CPIA 3-Sustain Success
- Conn.–LRE 1, PC 6;
- NJ–7;
- NY–7 PC, BR, C3, PA, LA, C1, LB, LSB.

^UM - Denotes his course has been approved for E&O loss prevention credit by Utica Mutual. Call the PIA E&O Department for details: 800-424-4244.

Student feedback:
"I think it was a great program and I’m proud of my designation."

"It is very informative and provides insight in how to close the sale on a piece of business."

'Excellent, especially for new producers as a first designation."

'After only one course I was excited to take other courses. I believe having designations are important for me and to our clients and companies."

'Excellent program insightful and i didn’t realize how much I needed it.'

'Great program. Probably the most interesting and useful courses I’ve attended."

About the seminars - CPIA FAQ

What is the CPIA designation? The AIMS Society's Certified Professional Insurance Agent (CPIA) Designation is first-of-its kind, hands-on, how-to training. To earn the CPIA designation, candidates are required to participate in a series of three, one-day Insurance Success Seminars.

The three Insurance Success Seminars are:

Position for Success (CPIA 1)

Implement for Success (CPIA 2)

Sustain Success (CPIA 3)

What will I learn? The Insurance Success Seminars are designed to enhance the ability of producers, sales support staff and company personnel to efficiently create and distribute comprehensive insurance programs. Participants leave with ideas that will produce results immediately.

How do I earn it? To earn the CPIA designation, candidates participate in a series of three one-day Insurance Success Seminars

Is there a test involved? No, there are no exams.

What is the level of experience needed to participate? CPIA is designed for producers, sales support staff and company personnel.

Will it be valuable to "seasoned" insurance industry veterans? Yes!

CPIA program testimonial

"A lot of people have asked me exactly what CPIA is about. To me, it is about establishing a culture of success in your agency. Where do we find business opportunities, what techniques do we use to differentiate ourselves from our competition, and how do we proceed with the day to day operation of managing a book of business? As an agency principal or even a producer, it doesn't do a lot of good to bring business in the door if it's not going to stick around.

The CPIA program presents a systematic approach to running your agency—and when applied, gets all of your employees on the same page with regards to what your strengths are, how to avoid error and omissions, how to handle your claims, what process to take to handle your renewal business, how to make ethical decisions, and how to handle complaints.

It provides a framework by which you can examine how you wish to run your business, and then implement those ideas. It is a course that I would recommend to every member of your staff. The CPIA program has proven to be a useful tool in the management of my business and the growth of my customer base."

—David L. Sidle II, CIC, CPIA
President-David L. Sidle Agency, Inc.
Watkins Glen, NY

What about update requirements? Upon completion of the series of three Insurance Success Seminars , CPIA designation candidates are notified of their eligibility. Candidates are awarded the designation and will be notified by letter from the AIMS Society. Diplomas are presented during the Annual Conferment Ceremony held in conjunction with the annual PRO-to-PRO. If a new designee is unable to attend the ceremony, diplomas are mailed after the conference.

Do I need to take the programs in order? It is recommended that they be taken in order, however, this is not mandatory.

Once earned, am I a CPIA for life? No. In order to maintain the CPIA designation, completion of an update is required every other year. However, if you maintain AIMS Society membership, this update requirement may be waived. See http://www.aimssociety.org for details.

Is the CPIA program approved for continuing education credits? Yes. The CPIA designation seminars are approved for CE credit. See schedule for CE details.

Course descriptions

CPIA 1-Position for Success
During this program, participants are encouraged to focus on internal and external factors affecting the development of effective business development plans. Factors discussed include a review of the state of the insurance marketplace; analysis of competitive pressures; necessary insurance carrier underwriting criteria; and consumer expectations and understanding.

CE credits: Conn.– LRE 2, PC 5 (C58201); NJ–7 (500648); NY –7 LA, C1, LB, BR, C3, PC, PA (NYCR–211567); NH– 5 GEN, 2 Ethics.

CPIA 2 - Implement for Success
During this session, participants will be provided with specific tools for analyzing consumer needs; will learn to utilize risk identification techniques to gather pertinent prospect information; will develop skill necessary to assimilate information gathered into a customized protection program; and will participate in exercises designed to promote effective delivery of proven solutions.

CE credits: Conn.–LH 2, PC 5 (C54421); NJ–7 (500649);NY– 6 BR, C3, PC, PA (NYCR–211568); NH– 7 GEN.

CPIA 3 - Sustain Success
This program focuses on fulfilling the implied promises contained in the insuring agreement. Students will review methods of providing evidence of insurance coverage; will discuss policies and procedures for controlling errors and omission including policy review and delivery, endorsements, claims-processing, and handling of client complaints. This course includes a review of the Professional Expectations; the Law of Agency; and Legal and Ethical Standards. Throughout EACH all-day seminar, tips for preventing E&O are highlighted and discussed.

CE credits: Conn.–LRE 1, PC 6 (C54422); NJ–7 (500650); NY– 7 LA, C1, LB, BR, C3, PC, PA (NYCR–211566); NH– 5 GEN, 2 Ethics.

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CPIA program practical benefits:

Beneficial for ALL insurance personnel, especially CSRs;
Register for one, two, or all three programs—No exam to take;
Learn how to work effectively with different personality types;
Learn how to properly analyze customers' needs;
Get tips for preventing errors & omissions: The CPIA designation is approved by Utica Mutual for E&O loss prevention credit. This credit is applied once the designation is achieved. Please call PIA's E&O department for details

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PIA receives AIMS Society award for support of CPIA program
The Professional Insurance Agents of Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey and New York State Inc received the American Insurance Marketing and Sales Society’s 2010 President’s Award, recognizing excellence in industry marketing practices. The enthusiastic support and promotion of the Certified Professional Insurance Agent designation program earned the Glenmont-based four-state PIA affiliates this honor. The award will be presented on March 5 in New Orleans, in conjunction with the AIMS Society’s annual awards ceremony and dinner.

The CPIA designation is conferred by the American Insurance Marketing and Sales Society (AIMS). To earn the CPIA designation, candidates are required to successfully complete all three Insurance Success Seminars. (Exams are NOT required to earn the designation.)

The Insurance Success Seminars are designed to enhance the ability of producers, sales support staff and company personnel to efficiently create and distribute comprehensive insurance programs. Participants leave with ideas that will produce results immediately.

^UM—The CPIA designation is approved by Utica Mutual for E&O loss prevention credit. This credit is applied once the designation is achieved. Please call PIA's E&O department for details.

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Continuing Education provider nos.

AIMS Society provider nos:
N.Y.–NYPO-100359
N.J. –10340
Conn.–11830

Notification of Completion of the Designation Requirements
Upon completion of the series of three Insurance Success Seminars, CPIA designation candidates are notified of their eligibility. Candidates are awarded the designation and will be notified by letter from the AIMS Society. Diplomas are awarded during the Annual Conferment Ceremony held in conjunction with the annual PRO-to-PRO Executive Retreat. If a new designee is unable to attend the ceremony, diplomas are mailed after the retreat.

About the AIMS Society
The AIMS Society is a national organization dedicated to providing interactive marketing and training, ongoing resources and networking opportunities to insurance professionals. Ready to join the AIMS Society? View the membership brochure here.

Partners in Excellence
Through this program, insurance companies can enhance their commitment to excellence by affording agents and employees the opportunity to develop the marketing and skills necessary to make product knowledge pay off. The AIMS Society's Insurance Success Seminars provide a common source for hands-on, how-to training for a variety of insurance professionals including agents, agency support staff, underwriters and marketing representatives. Results include increased productivity and profitability and cohesiveness between carriers and agents during the marketing process. The Insurance Success Seminars training modules have been rated very highly by both producers who have taken them and by participating company representatives. The one-day format and nominal cost to attend each module has made them particularly useful and popular.

ADA- In accordance with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, all registrants are invited to advise us of any disability and any requests for accommodation of that disability. Your request should be submitted as far in advance as possible by contacting this office at (800) 424-4244.

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