Accredited Advisor In Insurance (AAI): What It is, Advantages

What Is an Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI)

An Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI) is a credential earned by insurance professionals after a course of study and a series of examinations.

Understanding Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI)

Accredited Advisor in Insurance is a professional designation earned by insurance producers who demonstrate superior knowledge of their field compared to average agents. Insurance professionals earn the title by passing a series of three tests administered by the Insurance Institute of America. The knowledge gained from the course of study required to pass these tests can aid insurance agents selling sophisticated products or dealing with unusually complex insurance situations.

The AAI program came about through a collaboration between the Insurance Institute of America and the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America. The Institutes Risk & Insurance Knowledge Group runs the designation program.

The Institutes estimates it will take a minimum of nine to 15 months in order to complete the program, which covers courses on multiline insurance, agency leadership, and agency sales management, along with a course on the foundations of insurance production. Prospective insurance professionals also must pass a 50-question online ethics exam. The group suggests students plan for five to seven weeks of study time on each course and offers printed textbooks and course guides. Some state insurance associations also offer the courses in a seminar format.

Advantages of AAI

Increased earnings drives many individuals to pursue the status of Accredited Advisor in Insurance. The advanced knowledge base required to pass the exam assures potential employers of the capability of an accredited advisor. Insurance companies that deal routinely with complex client or insurance scenarios may seek out potential hires with the AAI credential to ensure they deal appropriately with sophisticated and lucrative potential sales opportunities.

Other Insurance Designations

Other continuing education programs for the insurance space overseen by the Institutes include Associate in Claims (AIC) and Associate in Claims-Management (AIC-M) programs to improve technical skills related to handling claims, as well as Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Associate in Commerical Underwriting (AU) programs. Some programs also qualify students for credits at certain colleges, allowing agents to use their continuing education credits toward eligible degree programs.

Insurance regulators require insurance professionals to complete a certain number of hours of continuing education programming as part of the renewal process for their professional licensing. These requirements typically include an ethics component as well. Licensing requirements vary from state to state, and do not always transfer if an insurance professional moves from one state to another.