Designations

Accredited Adviser In Insurance

With in-depth insurance product knowledge and a strong focus on customer service skills, AAI is the premier designation for all agency professionals.  Additionally, there are no annual dues, and no annual update is required. 

The AAI designation can help you increase commissions, avoid E&O claims, earn CE credits, and increase your insurance knowledge.

The Institutes has updated the online self-study program and can be found through the “Online Self Study” link. 

Recommended for:

• Agents
• Brokers
• Agency Principals
• Producers
• Account Managers
• Customer Service Representatives

What can I expect?

9 classes, each with a corresponding exam that can be completed in as little as 9-12 months.  IIAV offers all 9 classes once each calendar year.  You will also need to complete an online ethics course to earn the designation.

• AAI81A – Principles of Insurance
• AAI81B – Personal Insurance
• AAI81C – Commercial Property Insurance
• AAI82A – Commercial Liability Insurance 
• AAI82B – Commercial Insurance
• AAI82C – Specialized Insurance and Bonds
• AAI83A – Agency Operations and Sales Management
• AAI83B – The Insurance Productions Environment
• AAI83C – Agency Management Tools and Processes

Stay ahead of the competition with this nationally recognized designation!

Course Waiver Information*

The AAI 81 (segment A, B and C) exams will be waived if student meets one of the following criteria:

• Currently holds the IIA Certificate in General Insurance (INS)
• Has Completed CPCU 553 or 555 (CPCU 2), CPCU 551 (CPCU 3), and CPCU 552 (CPCU 4)
• Holds the CIC designation*

RPLU – Registered Professional Liability Underwriter

• Completion of AAI program waives module C-02-CGL
• Commercial General Liability of RPLU program.

To view AAI classes on our calendar and to register, click here.

Order Retake Exams

Accredited Adviser in Insurance – Management

Why AAI-M?

Learn new leadership skills that will help align your agency’s operations with its organizational goals.  Additionally, there are no annual dues and no annual update is required. 

The course is written from an agency perspective and is designed to help agency professionals develop in a leadership role.  It is not a requirement of the AAI designation; it is an additional credential that you can earn after completing the AAI designation.

Recommended for:

• Agents
• Brokers
• Agency Principals
• Producers
• Account Managers

What can I expect?

1 self-study course with a corresponding exam that can be completed in as little as 5-7 weeks.

AAI 87: Agency Leadership & Strategic Alignment: The aligned organization cultivates organizational alignment, employee development, managing across organizational boundaries, creating competitive advantage, strategic agency management, relationship management, and business continuity planning.

To register for the class and/or take the exam, follow this link and scroll past the AAI information to the AAI-M section. 

Accredited Customer Service Representative

Why ACSR?

Demonstrate your commitment to excellence in customer service and professionalism. ACSR is the premier designation for all agency professionals who interact with customers on a regular basis.  This designation offers you the chance to narrow your focus on a specific area: personal lines, commercial lines, and/or life & health.  Additionally, there are no annual dues, and no annual update is required. 

The ACSR designation can help you increase product knowledge, improve selling and account rounding skills, enhance your productivity and confidence, as well as achieve higher levels of professionalism and customer service.

IIAV offers two different ways to earn your ACSR designation. The Institutes has updated the online self-study program and can be found through the “Online Self Study” link.

Recommended for:

• Agents
• Brokers
• Agency Principals
• Producers
• Account Managers
• Customer Service Representatives

What can I expect?

5-6 classes, each with a corresponding exam that can be completed in as little as 9-12 months.  IIAV offers all personal and commercial lines classes each calendar year in hybrid format.  These courses may be completed in any order and combination of formats.  You will also need to complete an online ethics course to earn the designation.

Personal Lines:

• ACSR Mod 1 Homeowners Insurance
• ACSR Mod 2 Personal Auto
• ACSR Mod 3 Personal Lines Related Coverage
• ACSR Mod 4 Agency E&O*
• ACSR Mod 5 Professional Development and Account Management

Commercial Lines

• ACSR Mod 4- Agency E&O*
• ACSR Mod 5 Professional Development and Account Management
• ACSR Mod 6 Commercial Property
• ACSR Mod 7 Commercial Liability
• ACSR Mod 8 Commercial Auto
• ACSR Mod 9 Commercial Lines Related Coverage

Life & Health

• ACSR Mod 4- Agency E&O*
• ACSR Mod 5 Professional Development and Account Management
• ACSR Mod 10 Life Insurance
• ACSR Mod 11 Retirement Planning
• ACSR Mod 12 Disability & Health Insurance

*The ACSR Mod 4 does not qualify your agency for loss control credit through IIAV’s insurance program.  You must take one of the E&O Risk Management courses.  

Course Waiver Information*

Completing the ACSR Personal Lines track plus passing the ACSR 10 and ACSR 11 exams waives AAI 81B. The ACSR Commercial Lines track waives AAI 82A. To view ACSR classes on our calendar and to register. 

ORDER RETAKE EXAMS

Agribusiness and Farm Insurance Specialist

ONLINE SELF STUDY –  For 10% off use the Big I Discount Code: F075778

Why AFIS?

This program was developed to provide an opportunity for insurance professionals to gain specialized expertise in agribusiness and farm insurance and risk management.  Completing the AFIS certification will ensure you understand the most important insurance needs of agribusinesses and farms. 

The AFIS designation can help you achieve recognition as an expert on the insurance and risk management needs of agribusiness and farm operations, provide you with information and CE to stay on top of industry trends, entitles you to discounts on conferences, webinars, and online courses, and allows you access to industry experts through exclusive online communities.

Recommended for:

• Agents
• Brokers
• Customer Service Representatives
• Risk Managers or Insurance Managers
• Chief Financial Officers & Controllers
• Underwriters & Adjusters
• Risk and Insurance Consultants
• Safety and Risk Control Professionals
• Surplus Lines Brokers
• Attorneys Dealing with Agribusiness and Farm Issues

What can I expect?

The core curriculum is composed of five basic- to intermediate-level insurance and risk management continuing education courses directly focused on the unique needs of agribusinesses and farms. Completing the core curriculum qualifies an individual to use the AFIS certification for 12 months. To maintain the certification, the AFIS certification holder must complete only 6 hours of AFIS continuing education credit every 12 months thereafter. Every third year, those 6 hours must be obtained by attending an Emmett J Vaughan Agribusiness Conference.

Required Courses

• AFIS 1: Farm Property
• AFIS 2: Farm Liability
• AFIS 3: Farm Auto, Workers Compensation, and Umbrella Insurance
• AFIS 4: Special Farm Property Insurance Lines
• AFIS 5: Miscellaneous Farm Insurance Lines

Reaccreditation

Option 1:  Take an online reaccreditation course (one of the core courses you may want as a refresher or the Agricultural Insurance and Risk Management course)

Option 2: Attend an approved educational event.

Construction Risk & Insurance Specialist

2026 CRIS CLASSES

Courses are taught by Carlton L. Gill, Jr., CPCU, ARM, CLU, CRIS. Carlton is a producer for Towne Insurance Agency.

IIAV Partners with Kinsale Insurance Company to host these events at their local office. Their office is located at 2025 Staples Mill Road, Richmond, VA. 

Why CRIS?

This program is a specialized curriculum focusing on the insurance and risk management needs of construction projects and contractors. 

The CRIS designation makes it much easier for insurance agents, brokers, CSRs, and in-house risk managers or insurance buyers to gain specialized expertise in construction insurance and risk management. Obtaining the CRIS certification will increase the competence, confidence, and credibility of insurance professionals who sell or underwrite insurance for contractors.

Recommended for:

• Agents and brokers
• Account managers
• Customer service representative (CSR)
• Underwriters or adjusters
• Risk managers or insurance managers of a construction company
• Contractor CFO, controllers, or other executives who buy insurance
• Construction safety professional
• Risk and insurance consultants
• Construction lawyers
• Risk managers of other organizations with substantial construction activities

What can I expect?

5 required classroom sessions, each with a corresponding exam.  These courses can be taken in any order and IIAV offers all 5 classes once each calendar year. 

After you earn the CRIS certification, you will be required to obtain 6 hours of continuing education credit every 12 months.

Required courses:

• Commercial Auto, Surety, CIPs, and Miscellaneous Lines
• Commercial Liability Insurance for Contractors
• Contractual Risk Transfer in Construction
• Property Insurance for Contractors
• Workers Compensation for Contractors

Reaccreditation courses offered by IIAV:

• Any of the above courses
• Additional Insured Issues
• Design-Build Risks & Insurance

 Reaccreditation requirements

Additional IRMI Certification options can be found here.

Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist

IIAV has teamed up with The National Underwriter Company to offer the CLCS Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist designation program through the ABEN Education Network. Created with the learning needs of new insurance producers, agents, managers, CSRs and corporate staff in mind, the CLCS is the most complete professional learning program available for industry professionals seeking to master the subject of commercial lines coverage. Earn 9 CE hours for completing all five parts to this designation.  

The CLCS Designation Program Covers 5 Different Modules:

• Business Auto 
• Commercial General Liability 
• Commercial Property 
• Workers Compensation 
• Insurance Principals

Benefits of the CLCS Designation:

• Gain fundamental knowledge necessary to begin working in the insurance industry
• Fill the knowledge gap between entry-level and advanced positions in underwriting and claims
• Understand and be able to apply comprehensive concepts in a practical way
• Become well versed in the main aspects of the commercial world of insurance
• Learn about insurance principles, commercial auto, general liability, commercial property, and workers compensation topics
• Readily digestible, easy learning format 
• Focus only on industry and commercial concepts to move into a competency level that would otherwise take years using a more traditional approach
• Competently assume a functional role for the agency or carrier

Meet the Instructor:

Christine G. Barlow, CPCU, is Managing Editor of FC&S, a division of National Underwriter Company and ALM. Christine has over thirty years’ experience in the insurance industry, beginning as a claims adjuster then working as an underwriter and underwriting supervisor handling personal lines. Before joining FC&S, Christine worked as an Underwriting Supervisor for Maryland Auto Insurance Fund, and as Senior Underwriter/Underwriter for companies Montgomery Mutual, Old American, Charter Group, and Nationwide.

Sign up for this on-demand course HERE

Management Liability Insurance Specialist

Earn the designation

Why MLIS?

This program helps you demonstrate to your clients that you are their source for all aspects of management liability, including D&O, EPL, cyber, and fiduciary liability insurance.  Recently updated with an all-new cyber course and the latest laws, ruling changes, coverages, and exposures, it provides all the information you need to succeed.

The MLIS continuing education program provides specialized expertise in the fundamentals of professional liability insurance and the more specific nuances of directors and officers (D&O) liability, employment practices liability (EPL), and fiduciary liability exposures and insurance. The MLIS certification will help you stand out from the competition by understanding these specialized lines often called “management liability” or “executive liability” insurance.

Recommended for:

• Anyone who designs, sells, buys, litigates, or underwrites D&O, fiduciary, or EPL insurance
• Retail insurance agents or brokers
• Risk managers and insurance managers
• Risk and insurance consultants

What can I expect?

To obtain the MLIS certification, you complete the five core courses, each with a corresponding exam.  Completing the core curriculum qualifies you to use the MLIS certification for 12 months.

To maintain the certification, you must complete only 3 hours of approved professional or management liability insurance continuing education every 12 months.

Required courses:

• Cyber and Privacy Liability Exposures and How to Insure Them
• EPL – Understanding the Exposures and Insurance Coverage
• Fiduciary Liability:  What You Need to Know About Exposures and Insurance
• How to Insure D&O Liabilities
• Understanding D&O Exposures

For a list of approved online reaccreditation courses, click here.

To view MLIS classes on our calendar and to register, click here.