Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR & CISR Elite)
The Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR) Designation is a nationally recognized designation program. It is a practical program that stresses the understanding and analysis of risks and exposures. Topical areas of study are commercial lines, personal lines, life & health, and risk management. A student participating in these programs should have a basic knowledge of insurance.
How To Earn the CISR Designation:
- Designees must complete five out of nine-course offerings and pass the corresponding exams for each class.
- You may take the courses in any order.
- Anyone may attend the courses and receive the CEUs without taking the exam.
- To earn the CISR designation, you must complete the five programs within three calendar years following the passage of the first exam.
Go on to Earn the CISR Elite Designation:
- Once you have earned the CISR designation, work toward the CISR Elite designation by completing the four additional CISR courses and then ...
- Pass the corresponding exams. These additional passes must be achieved in a three-year time frame.
Obtaining the additional status of being a CISR Elite is evidence of commitment to the agency, the client, and your personal growth. Earning CISR Elite designation represents increased specialized knowledge, increased earning power, enhanced professional status, and creates more value for your agency or company.
CISR Courses
CISR Agency Operations
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
This course is geared towards students who have a basic understanding of insurance and how an agency works but want to make themselves indispensable team players in the agency. This class will also let you work with others with enhanced self-assurance and a greater understanding of the dynamics within insurance organizations.
CLASS TOPICS:
- Legal & Ethical Requirements
- The Insurance Agency
- The Insurance Industry and Marketplace
- Communication
- Agency Workflow
- Account Management
- Errors & Omissions
CISR Commercial Casualty I
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
This course is geared towards students who have a basic understanding of insurance and want to focus on the Commercial General Liability form and additional insured exposures. This course is designed to strengthen your ability to have productive, assured interactions with your commercial customers regarding commercial casualty exposures and coverages. You will improve your understanding of legal liability and what creates liability exposures.
CLASS TOPICS:
- Essentials of Legal Liability
- CGL Introduction
- Commercial General Liability Coverage Parts
- CGL Other Provisions
- Additional Insureds
CISR Commercial Casualty II
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
This course is geared towards students who have a basic understanding of insurance and want to focus on the business auto policy, the workers' compensation policy, and excess liability policies. This course will strengthen your ability to have productive, assured interactions with your commercial customers regarding commercial casualty exposures and coverages.
CLASS TOPICS / Part I:
- Business Auto Exposures and Coverages
- Workers Compensation & Employers Liability Insurance Policy
- Commercial Umbrella and Excess Liability Policies
CISR Commercial Property
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
This course is geared toward students who have a basic understanding of insurance and want to improve their skills in addressing one of your business customers' most significant concerns, commercial property insurance. You'll improve your cross-selling abilities with up-to-date knowledge of commercial property coverage and reduce E&O exposures.
CLASS TOPICS:
- Fundamentals of Commercial Property Insurance
- Building and Personal Property Coverage Form
- Causes of Loss Forms
- Basics of Time Element Insurance
- Basics of Commercial Inland Marine Insurance
CISR Elements of Risk Management
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
This course is geared towards students who have a basic understanding of insurance and want to be trained in the basics of the risk management process. (Remember that insurance is an integral part of a client's overall risk management program, and the services provided by carriers, agencies, and brokerages are often significant items in an organization's cost of risk.)
CLASS TOPICS:
- The Risk Management Process & Risk Terms
- Risk Identification
- Risk Analysis
- Risk Control
- Risk Finance
- Risk Administration
CISR Life and Health Essentials
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
This course is geared towards students who have a basic understanding of insurance and want to understand better what your clients need to know about life and health insurance.
CLASS TOPICS:
- Introduction to Life Insurance
- Term Insurance
- Permanent Life Insurance
- Health Insurance Concepts
- Consumer Driven Plans
CISR Personal Automobile
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
This course is geared towards students who have a basic understanding of insurance and want to assist clients in identifying their exposures and more effectively advise them in analyzing, obtaining, and modifying their personal automobile policies. Please note that the content is specific to Massachusetts auto insurance.
CLASS TOPICS:
- Introduction to the Personal Auto Policy
- Liability Coverages
- Medical Payments Coverage
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists Coverage
- Coverage for Damage to Your Auto
- Provisions
CISR: Other Personal Lines Solutions
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
This course is geared towards students who have a basic understanding of insurance but want to address the exposures created by watercraft, recreational vehicles, and business activities encountered when working with personal lines clients. The course will also analyze the critical coverage offered through personal umbrella or excess liability policies.
CLASS TOPICS:
- Watercraft Exposures & Coverages
- Recreational Vehicles
- Business Activities of Personal Lines Clients
- Personal Umbrella/Excess Liability
CISR Personal Residential
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
This course is geared towards students who have a basic understanding of insurance and want to be able to guide your customers through the often complex and confusing process of purchasing homeowners insurance - and help them make decisions that insure their most valuable assets.
CLASS TOPICS:
- Introduction to the Homeowners Policy
- Homeowners Policy Section I
- Homeowners Policy Section II
- Tenants, Unit-Owners, and the Dwelling Policy
Continuing Education (CE)
The CISR program has been approved in all states with mandatory continuing education. Every seminar is submitted to each state for their review. Individual states determine the final issuance of continuing education credits (CEs). Please call the Society at 800-633-2165 for the CEs granted by your state. CEs are subject to change without notice. Registrants must attend each course in its entirety to receive continuing education credits. Partial credit is not given. Late arrivals will not receive any continuing education credits.
View and download the CE Reference Guide for all 50 States.
Update Requirements
Once you earn a CISR designation, an annual update is required to keep it current. By taking one of the approved courses, you must complete the update by the end of your birth month every year. MAIA offers the following approved courses:
CISR-William T. Hold (WTH) Seminar
Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR) Course
Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) Institute
CIC-James K. Ruble Graduate Seminar
Workforce Training Fund
The Workforce Training Fund is a state fund that provides financial resources to Massachusetts businesses to train current and newly hired employees. Several MAIA classes are approved for the Workforce Training Fund Express Program. Read the Express Program Application Process Summary HERE. Eligible MAIA courses are listed under the Provider Name "Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents" in the Express Course Directory. Applicants should submit an online application at least 21 days before the desired training start date. You may address any questions to: [email protected].
IMPORTANT: ALL CISR TESTS ARE NOW ONLINE
Beginning January 1, 2022, all CISR in-person classroom course exams will be online. Participants can access the online exam through the learning portal on their PROfile page.
The CISR exam window will be 4:15 PM the day of the class through Thursday at 11:59 PM CST the week following the class. The instructor will stay to proctor for those who attend a CISR in-person classroom course and would like to take the online exam on the day of the class. However, you must bring your electronic device to access the exam. Those who want to take the test later must find a proctor for the exam.
Exam takers must submit proctor information in their National Alliance profile account before taking the exam. There is a new "Proctor" button for this purpose in the course history section.
Full details and how-to videos are available on The National Alliance website at: https://scic.com/proctor-monitor-rules.