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Home〉Programmes〉Certificate in Insurance Product Advice (APA)
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Certificate in Insurance Product Advice (APA)

The entry-level qualification on our pathway that gives you the foundation needed to build a career in insurance.

Key Semester Dates Apply Now

Overview

Whether you’re working in personal, commercial, or private medical insurance, the APA designation signifies that you possess the knowledge needed to work independently and advise customers in your qualified product area.

Who is this programme for?

  • New entrants or those returning to the insurance industry who need to meet the requirements of The Central Bank of Ireland’s Minimum Competency Code 2017 (MCC)
  • School leavers or graduates looking to start a career in insurance
  • Career changers hoping to transition into the insurance sector
  • Grandfathered Persons who wish to reinforce their experience with an insurance qualification

Entry-level and technical requirements

  • Be at least 18 years of age and hold a Leaving Cert or UK equivalent, including a pass in Maths/Irish
  • Or, Have 6+ months of experience working in the industry
  • Or, have Mature Student Status (23+ years of age)

All our programmes are delivered in English, requiring students to have a high level of English language proficiency.

If you are new to insurance and wish to apply for your first CIP module, you will need to become a member of The Insurance Institute first. Check with your employer if they sponsor membership; if not, you can apply directly. 

Key Details

Designation

  • APA (Personal, Commercial and/or Health Insurance)
  • Awarded by: The Insurance Institute

Qualifications

  • Certificate in Insurance Product Advice (Level 7 Special Purpose Award)
  • Awarded by: Atlantic Technological University, Sligo
  • European Credit Transfer System (ETCS): 15 credits

Modules

  • 3 in total (2 core modules, 1 elective module)

Delivery

  • Online

Duration

  • Semesters start in February, June and September and are 12 weeks in duration

Assessment

€360  Per module + membership fee
Apply
Applications Open

Career Pathway

The Insurance Institute has programmes to suit each stage of your career, designed to help develop the skills you need both now and into the future.

 
Qualification Career Pathway
  1.  
    Step 1

    Certificate in Insurance Product Advice (APA)

    Entry-level qualification on our framework that gives you the foundations to build a successful career in insurance.

  2.  
    Step 2

    Certificate in Insurance Practice (CIP)

    If you already hold an APA, the CIP designation will equip you to advance your career by broadening your product and industry knowledge.

  3.  
    Step 3

    Higher Diploma in Insurance Management (MDI)

    Grow in confidence with our advanced professional qualification, which helps you achieve more by enhancing your technical insurance knowledge and developing key management skills such as critical thinking, report writing, research, and problem-solving.

Modules

To be awarded the Certificate in Insurance Product Advice qualification, you must complete three programme modules (two core and one product). Completing a product module indicates your chosen area of specialization within insurance (Personal, Commercial, or Health Insurance). You can complete multiple product modules to broaden your knowledge and enhance your career prospects.

Core modules

You need to complete these TWO core modules.

Module Code: CIP-01

The Nature of Insurance

  • The Irish insurance market
  • Risk & risk management
  • Insurable risks & their insurance solutions
  • Underwriting: the people & processes
  • The insurance contract & policy
  • The legal environment
  • Duties and responsibilities in the claims process
  • Calculating the claim payment: who should pay & how much?
Module Code: CIP-02

Compliance and Advice

  • Why & how we regulate
  • Impact of regulation
  • Agency & relationship management
  • Impact of The Central Bank Consumer Protection Code
  • Insurance documentation
  • Other legal requirements
  • Ethics & competency
  • Dispute resolution

Product modules

Once you have completed your core modules, you then choose ONE elective product module.

Module Code: CIP-03

Personal General Insurance

  • Knowing the consumer & suitability
  • Motor insurances
  • Household insurances – definitions, insurable values & information gathering
  • Household insurances
  • Travel & protection insurances — Private health insurance
  • The claims process
Module Code: CIP-04

Commercial General Insurance

  • Knowing the client & suitability
  • Commercial motor insurances
  • Commercial property insurances
  • Insurable values & presentation of information
  • Commercial property insurances – policy cover
  • Other property-related insurances
  • Commercial liability insurances
  • The claims process
Module Code: CIP-05

Health Insurance & Associated Insurances

  • Healthcare provision
  • Challenges into the future of health insurance
  • Private health insurance (community-rated)
  • Risk-rated health insurance
  • Knowing the consumer & suitability
  • Health insurance claims & administration
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As a first time student with The Institute, I wanted to say thank you. The webinars were excellent and the lecturer made the content very easy to understand with real life examples to put things into context. ‒ Ashley J. Claims Broker

Delivery

The Certificate in Insurance Product Advice will give you the basic knowledge and confidence you need to start your career and is delivered via live online classes and self-directed learning.

Programme delivery

Quitch Mobile App

Quitch

A mobile app that improves retention and boosts exam performance.

Accessible Textbook

Textbook

Accessible print and digital formats to help better visualise the material.

Online Study Supports

Online study supports

Micro-learning activities, learning plans, guideline answers, and mock exams.

Lectures

Lectures

Live and on-demand lectures with industry experts.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Upon successfully completing the qualification, you will be awarded the APA designation. Once you accept this designation, you will be able to advise customers unsupervised. To maintain your designation, you must complete Continuing Professional Development (CPD) annually, as outlined in the Central Bank of Ireland Minimum Competency Code 2017.

Your CPD requirements depend on the semester in which you completed your final exam:

In your first year:

  • Acceptance after January & May exams: 4 hours
  • Acceptance after September exams: no requirement

After your first year:

  • You must complete 15 hours of CPD
    • 1 hour must be Ethics
    • 1 hour per specified function that you perform

The Insurance Institute offers a variety of live and online CPD options to help members meet their CPD requirements.

Learn more about CPD

Download the Certificate in Insurance Product Advice (APA) Guide

This helpful guide will provide you with all the information you need about getting started with the Certificate in Insurance Product Advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Visit our Key Semester Dates page to find important dates for your diary, including when applications open and close, when results will be released, and the dates and times for exams and submissions.

  • The exam paper consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and is scored out of 100.

    Exam marking:

    • Correct Answer: +3 marks
    • Incorrect Answer: -1 mark
    • No Answer: 0 marks

    Overall Pass Mark: 40%

  • All fees related to the Accredited Product Adviser (APA) can be found here

  • Yes, our Certificate in Insurance Product Advice (APA) is recognized on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and is accredited by ATU Sligo as a Level 7 (15 ECTS) Special Purpose Award.

  • Qualification
    A qualification is an academic award conferred by an educational body e.g. the Certificate in Insurance Practice is awarded by ATU Sligo. Holders of an academic qualification have successfully completed a particular course of study, but this does not automatically mean that they are competent to practice a trade or profession – that's where the designation comes in.

    Designation
    The term "designation" refers to the letters used after one's name upon successful completion of a qualification, indicating a compliant and knowledgeable professional - it is your licence to trade. Designations can be removed if certain conditions, like maintaining membership and meeting CPD requirements, are not met. The Central Bank of Ireland's Minimum Competency Code 2017 outlines the regulatory CPD requirements for maintaining compliance and designations awarded by The Insurance Institute.

    • E-book
    • Webinars and online tutorials
    • Chapter-by-chapter key points
    • Online mock exam with feedback
    • Access to the Quitch app for chapter-by-chapter knowledge testing      
    • Microlearning resources for challenging topics 

  • If you have completed courses and qualifications that included content relevant to some of our qualifications,  you may be entitled to an exemption.

    Please contact our Member Services team to discuss this further at memberservices@iii.ie 

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