The Institutes are well-respected and widely known throughout the world. Although our content is aligned with the US insurance market — the largest p/c insurance market in the world — most of the content can be applied to any insurance market. We have established a proven track record for offering current, trending, and practical, cost-effective knowledge solutions in an easy to understand format.
XPRIMM: Please let our readers know more about The Institutes and what opportunities it offers insurance professionals.

Stephen ANDERSON: The Institutes are the leading provider of risk management and property & casualty insurance knowledge solutions in the world. We are a not-for-profit organization that offers a comprehensive set of p/c insurance knowledge solutions that includes:

• 28 professional designations
• Over 300 online introductory, intermediate and advanced just-in-time courses for all stages of development
• Suite of online benefits courses (new)
• Custom solutions and assessment tools
• Annual industry events and conferences
• Online and print news platforms and research reports
• An active CPCU designee membership of over 18,000 professionals around the world

The CPCU designation is one of the most respected and globally recognized designation in the insurance world.
XPRIMM: Please tell us more about the benefits of holding a CPCU designation and who are the best candidates.

S.A.: Completing the CPCU program and attaining the CPCU designation reflects subject-matter mastery and global recognition. It's one of the most, if not the most, sought after p/c insurance designation in the world. CPCU students and designees consistently use these words Confidence, Community and Credibility to describe the program's value proposition. These words refer to:

• confidence — competence and improved decision-making
• community — insurance and risk management content that can add value to any industry and an active network of CPCUs around the world
• credibility — global recognition of The Institutes' CPCU credential and the knowledge that goes along with it

XPRIMM: What is The Institute's geographical footprint? How does the program work internationally?

S.A.: The CPCU is pursued by professionals in over 50 countries. There are more than 87,000 CPCUs around the world. Once an individual attains the CPCU, they can join the CPCU Society. The CPCU Society is a global not-for-profit membership association dedicated to enriching the careers of its members through continuing education programs, leadership opportunities, and networking. There are nearly 18,000 active CPCU alumni participating in 125 US CPCU Society chapters, plus a chapter in Bermuda, Japan, and Europe. All CPCUs are encouraged to join a local network and stage engaged.
XPRIMM: Why should a candidate prefer the designations available through The Institute's programs to other similar/equivalent ones provided by other educational entities?

S.A.: The Institutes are well-respected and widely known throughout the world. Although our content is aligned with the US insurance market — the largest p/c insurance market in the world - most of the content can be applied to any insurance market. We have established a proven track record for offering current, trending, and practical, cost-effective knowledge solutions in an easy to understand format. We have formal partnerships with insurance and risk management associations, universities, other insurance institutions, insurance consultants, and government educational entities throughout the world to help them enhance the level of proficiency of insurance and risk management professionals in their country or region. Many of these organizations have requested a collaborative partnership with The Institutes because they have stated that we represent the highest standard in insurance education.
XPRIMM: Are The Institutes' programs accessible to students from the Central and East European countries as well? Is it in your intention to increase your presence in the area?

S.A.: Our programs are already accessible to professionals in Central and Eastern Europe. Our solutions are available in hardcopy text and online format. We have a distribution center in the US and India. Our solutions provide basic to advanced learning with a global industry influence. We are a global organization and welcome the opportunity to offer our solutions to help individuals enhance their knowledge of insurance and risk management.
XPRIMM: How would getting one the designations offered by The Institutes work for a CEE candidate? (practical details).

S.A.: Students typically self-study for our exam designations. However, some local companies, universities, and independent consultants usually offer preparatory programs to help students learn and prepare for the designation exam. Students can purchase hardcopy study books or online courses to study through our website — web.theinstitutes.org/site-testing-requirements or by calling our Customer Success Department at 616-644-2100. Once students have completed their study, they can contact The Institutes and register for an exam.

Designation exams are offered at local Prometric Testing Centers (www.prometric.com) throughout the world. Companies that are interested in establishing their own onsite testing center can do so by completing the onsite test center application — see link — web.theinstitutes.org/site-testing-requirements