Top 10 Claim Specialist Certifications

Certifications are an important part of a claim specialist’s job market. They demonstrate to potential employers that a specialist has the knowledge and skills necessary to do their job effectively and efficiently. Additionally, certifications can help specialists stand out from other candidates with similar experience because they provide proof of dedication and expertise in their field. Furthermore, certifications can increase a specialist’s earning potential as employers are often willing to pay more for those who have achieved certification in their field. Ultimately, certifications can improve a claim specialist’s job market prospects by increasing the chances of securing employment and increasing the rate of pay.

This article reviews the top certifications for Claim Specialists and explains how they can help advance a claim specialist's career.

What are Claim Specialist Certifications?

Claim specialist certification is a credential that demonstrates an individual's knowledge and understanding of the claims process, including how to effectively manage and resolve insurance claims. It is usually offered by professional organizations or industry groups such as the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA). With this certification, individuals are better equipped to handle the complexities of insurance claims, from filing paperwork to negotiating with insurance companies. This certification can be beneficial for both employers and employees since it provides an assurance that the person has been trained in proper claim resolution techniques. Employers can benefit from having staff members who are knowledgeable about the claims process, while employees can gain confidence knowing that they have a thorough understanding of how to best handle their job tasks. Additionally, those with claim specialist certification often find more career opportunities in their field since employers view them as being more qualified than their counterparts without such credentials.

Pro Tip: Claim specialist certification is an important tool for demonstrating your knowledge and experience in the field. To maximize your chances of success, make sure to complete all required courses and take advantage of any additional continuing education opportunities available. Additionally, don't forget to keep track of your certifications and update them regularly to ensure they stay current.

Related: What does a Claim Specialist do?

Top 10 Claim Specialist Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Claim Specialists today.

1. Certified Professional Claim Specialist (CPCS)

Certified Professional Claim Specialist (CPCS) is a certification offered by the National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research (NAIER). It is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated a mastery of the knowledge, skills and abilities essential to the successful practice of claim handling. The CPCS certification program is open to all individuals working in the insurance industry, including adjusters, examiners, investigators, appraisers and other claims professionals.

The CPCS certification requires passing an online examination that consists of 150 multiple-choice questions. The exam covers topics such as policy interpretation, liability determination, coverage analysis, investigation techniques and negotiation tactics. Candidates must also complete a four-hour ethics course prior to taking the exam.

The cost of obtaining the CPCS certification varies depending on the provider offering it. Generally speaking, it costs between $400 and $600 to take the exam and receive your certificate.

It typically takes about two months from registration to receiving your certificate after you pass the exam.

2. Certified Claims Adjuster (CCA)

A Certified Claims Adjuster (CCA) is a professional designation that recognizes individuals who have met the qualifications and standards set forth by the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA). The CCA designation is awarded to those individuals who demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of insurance claims adjusting, including the principles and practices of claims investigation, evaluation, negotiation, and settlement.

In order to become a CCA, applicants must meet certain requirements. These include: having at least two years of experience in public adjusting; passing an exam administered by NAPIA; completing continuing education courses; and maintaining good standing with NAPIA.

The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions covering topics such as insurance law, risk management, property damage assessment, and claims handling procedures. The cost for taking the exam is $200. Once you pass the exam, you will receive your CCA designation from NAPIA.

It typically takes between three to six months to complete all of the requirements for becoming a CCA. This includes studying for the exam, completing any required continuing education courses, and submitting your application to NAPIA.

3. Certified Insurance Claims Professional (CICP)

Certified Insurance Claims Professional (CICP) is a professional designation offered by The Institutes, an organization that provides education and training for the insurance industry. The CICP designation is designed to recognize individuals who have achieved a high level of competency in the field of insurance claims.

The CICP program consists of five courses that cover topics such as insurance law, claims handling, risk management, customer service, and ethics. To earn the CICP designation, individuals must complete all five courses and pass an examination with a score of 70% or higher.

The program typically takes three to six months to complete depending on the individual’s availability and schedule.

To get started on the CICP program, individuals must first register with The Institutes and pay a registration fee. After registering, they will receive access to the online course materials and be able to begin their studies immediately.

The cost of the CICP program varies depending on which version of the program an individual chooses. The full version costs $895 while the self-study version costs $695.

4. Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU)

The Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation is a professional credential that recognizes individuals who have achieved a high level of knowledge and experience in the field of property and casualty insurance. The CPCU designation is awarded by The Institutes, a provider of insurance education, research, and other services to the insurance industry.

To obtain the CPCU designation, an individual must complete eight courses covering topics such as insurance contracts, ethics, risk management, and financial management. In addition to completing the courses, individuals must also pass a series of exams administered by The Institutes. Depending on an individual’s educational background and work experience in the field of property and casualty insurance, it can take anywhere from one to three years to complete all requirements for the CPCU designation.

The cost of obtaining the CPCU designation varies depending on which courses are taken and how long it takes to complete them. Generally speaking, however, individuals can expect to pay anywhere from $3,000-$5,000 in tuition costs for all eight courses. Additional fees may apply for taking exams or other related services offered by The Institutes.

5. Certified Workers' Compensation Professional (CWCP)

Certified Workers’ Compensation Professional (CWCP) is a professional certification program that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated mastery of the knowledge and skills needed to effectively manage workers’ compensation programs. The program is administered by the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC).

The CWCP certification requires applicants to pass a comprehensive exam, which covers topics such as workers’ compensation laws and regulations, risk management, claims administration, medical management, rehabilitation, return-to-work programs, and more. To be eligible for the exam, applicants must have at least two years of experience in the field of workers’ compensation or related areas.

The cost for the CWCP exam varies depending on the state in which you are taking it. Generally speaking, it costs between $200-$500. It typically takes around 4 hours to complete the exam.

To become certified as a CWCP, you must first register with IAIABC and pay the registration fee. Once registered, you will receive an application packet containing instructions on how to prepare for and take the exam. After completing the exam successfully, you will receive your official certificate from IAIABC verifying your status as a Certified Workers’ Compensation Professional (CWCP).

6. Associate in Claims (AIC)

Associate in Claims (AIC) is a professional designation that recognizes the knowledge, skills, and abilities of those who work in the insurance claims field. The AIC credential is offered by The Institutes, a leading provider of professional development for insurance professionals.

The AIC designation requires successful completion of five courses and two exams. The courses cover topics such as adjusting techniques, coverage analysis, legal principles, and investigations. Each course takes approximately 10-15 hours to complete. After completing all five courses and passing both exams with a score of 75% or higher, you will be awarded the AIC designation.

The cost for the AIC program is $1,250 plus applicable taxes. This includes access to all five courses and two exams. Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive an official certificate from The Institutes to recognize your achievement.

The time it takes to complete the AIC program depends on how quickly you can work through each course and pass both exams. Most people are able to complete the program within six months or less if they are dedicated to studying regularly and taking advantage of any available study resources.

7. Associate in Risk Management (ARM)

Associate in Risk Management (ARM) is a professional designation offered by The Institutes, a leading provider of risk management and insurance education. The ARM designation provides individuals with the knowledge and skills to effectively manage risk and protect their organizations from potential losses. It is designed for those who want to become knowledgeable about risk management principles, practices, and techniques.

The ARM program consists of four courses: Principles of Risk Management, Risk Financing, Enterprise Risk Management, and Analyzing Risk Exposure. Each course takes approximately two weeks to complete. After completing all four courses, you will be eligible to take the final exam which must be passed with a score of 70% or higher to earn the ARM designation.

The cost of the ARM program varies depending on how you choose to pursue it. You can purchase each course individually or as part of a package deal that includes all four courses plus the exam fee. Prices range from $399 - $1,899 depending on which option you select.

In order to receive your ARM designation, you must also become an Affiliate Member of The Institutes by paying an additional annual fee of $50 - $100 depending on your chosen membership type.

Overall, it typically takes around three months to complete the entire ARM program and receive your certification.

8. Accredited Claims Adjuster (ACA)

Accredited Claims Adjuster (ACA) is a professional designation for individuals who have met the requirements set by The Institutes, a leading provider of insurance education and training. This designation is designed to recognize those who have achieved a high level of knowledge and experience in the field of claims adjusting.

To become an ACA, you must complete two courses offered by The Institutes: Principles of Claims Adjusting (PCA) and Advanced Claims Adjusting (ACA). PCA covers the fundamentals of claims adjusting, while ACA focuses on more advanced topics such as investigation techniques, legal issues, and dispute resolution. Both courses must be taken within three years to qualify for the designation.

The cost of the courses varies depending on where you take them. Generally speaking, they range from $400-$600 each. You can find out more information about pricing and course availability by visiting The Institutes website.

Once you’ve completed both courses, you will need to submit an application to The Institutes for review and approval. Upon approval, you will receive your official Accredited Claims Adjuster designation and certificate. This process usually takes 4-6 weeks from the time your application is submitted until it is approved.

9. Certified Liability Adjuster (CLA)

A Certified Liability Adjuster (CLA) is a professional designation that requires specialized training and experience in the field of liability insurance claims. The CLA designation is awarded by the American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (AICPCU) and is recognized as a symbol of excellence in the industry.

In order to become a CLA, an individual must first meet certain eligibility requirements, including having at least two years of experience in liability claims adjusting or related fields, or having completed a minimum of 120 hours of approved AICPCU courses. Once these requirements are met, an individual can then take the CLA examination. The exam consists of two parts: Part I covers general knowledge about liability insurance, while Part II focuses on specific aspects of liability adjusting.

The cost to take the exam varies depending on the state where you are taking it; however, it typically ranges from $200-$400. It usually takes 4-6 weeks to receive your results after taking the exam.

Once you have passed both parts of the exam, you will be officially designated as a Certified Liability Adjuster (CLA). You will also need to maintain your certification by completing continuing education credits every three years.

10. Certified Automobile Damage Appraiser (CADA)

Certified Automobile Damage Appraiser (CADA) is a certification program designed to train and certify individuals in the field of automobile damage appraisal. The program is offered by the Automotive Management Institute (AMI).

The CADA program consists of three courses: Automobile Damage Appraisal, Automobile Damage Estimating, and Advanced Automobile Damage Appraisal. The coursework covers topics such as vehicle repair procedures, estimating techniques, and automotive safety. Upon successful completion of all three courses, students will receive their CADA certification.

It typically takes around four to six weeks to complete the CADA program depending on individual learning speed and commitment level. To get started with the CADA program, you must first register for the courses through AMI's website or contact them directly.

The cost of the CADA program varies depending on where you take it and how long it takes you to complete it. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay anywhere from $500-$1,000 for the entire program.

Do You Really Need a Claim Specialist Certificate?

Yes, a claim specialist certificate is beneficial for those who want to pursue a career in the insurance industry. Having such certification can provide job seekers with an advantage over other applicants in the competitive job market. It is also beneficial for individuals who are already employed in the insurance field and want to increase their knowledge and skills in order to advance their career.

A claim specialist certificate provides professionals with evidence of their expertise in claims handling and insurance policies. The training required for this certification includes understanding various types of policies, how to properly evaluate claims, and the legal aspects of claims handling. This type of education is essential for anyone working in the insurance industry because it helps them understand how to handle different types of claims efficiently and accurately.

Having a claim specialist certificate can also help professionals stay up-to-date on current trends and developments in the field. This can be especially beneficial for those who work as independent adjusters or brokers who need to be familiar with industry regulations and changes that occur over time. A certificate can also serve as a great way to demonstrate one’s commitment to professional development and growth in their chosen field.

Overall, having a claim specialist certificate is an important step towards advancing one’s career in the insurance industry. It shows potential employers that you have taken the initiative to gain additional knowledge about the field which can make you more attractive as an employee or consultant. In addition, it demonstrates your commitment to continuing your education even after your formal studies are complete which is highly valued by most employers today.

Related: Claim Specialist Resume Examples

FAQs About Claim Specialist Certifications

1. What is a Claim Specialist Certification?

Answer: A Claim Specialist Certification is a professional certification that demonstrates expertise in insurance claims, related processes and procedures. It is designed to provide an understanding of the legal aspects of insurance claims and help prepare for roles such as claim adjusters, appraisers and investigators.

2. What are the requirements for becoming certified?

Answer: To become certified, individuals must complete a training program approved by the certifying organization, pass an exam and demonstrate continuing education requirements.

3. How long does it take to become certified?

Answer: The amount of time required to become certified depends on the specific certification program chosen and individual learning ability, but most programs can be completed in six months or less.

4. What are the benefits of having a Claim Specialist Certification?

Answer: Benefits include increased job opportunities and higher pay potential due to employers recognizing your specialized skillset and knowledge. Additionally, it demonstrates commitment to professional growth and development in the field of insurance claims.

5. Are there any prerequisites before enrolling in a certification program?

Answer: While different programs may have specific prerequisites, most require candidates to have basic knowledge of insurance terms and processes related to claims management prior to enrolling in a certification program.