Foundation announces major changes to the ASLI designation program

The Derek Hughes/NAPSLO Educational Foundation recently announced major changes to the Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance (ASLI) designation program, replacing the two required courses with new, updated courses, and also allowing students to select their two elective courses from a larger list of courses.

The ASLI designation was developed for surplus lines professionals by the Insurance Institute of America (IIA) with the assistance of the Foundation. To earn the ASLI designation, which is conferred by the IIA, students must pass examinations in two required courses and two elective courses.

The IIA, with the cooperation of the Foundation, is replacing the ASLI program's two required foundation courses and is establishing new completer rules. Two new required courses, ASLI 163 - Surplus Lines Insurance Operations and ASLI 164 - Surplus Lines Insurance Products, will replace ASLI 161 and ASLI 162. In addition, under new ASLI completer rules, the current two elective course categories-coverage courses and operational courses-will be eliminated and students will be able to choose their electives from a single course list in a number of areas such as claims, underwriting, risk management, reinsurance, and finance. 

The study materials for the new ASLI 163 and 164 courses are scheduled for publication in August 2006, and the IIA will administer exams covering the new materials beginning in the January 15 - March 15, 2007, testing window. The ASLI 161 and ASLI 162 exams will be available only until the end of the last testing window in 2006, which begins October 15 and ends December 15. 

Ann Myhr, CPCU, ARM, AU, director of the ASLI program, explains the benefits of the ASLI program restructuring: "The revised curriculum strengthens the ASLI program and further enhances the ability of insurance professionals to provide the technical skills necessary to meet their customers' insurance needs in a growing surplus lines market. ASLI 163 is a comprehensive course on surplus lines insurance operations, and ASLI 164 is a coverage course designed specifically for those who work in surplus lines. The new program gives students greater flexibility and increases the program's value." 

More information on the new ASLI completer rules is available at http://www.aicpcu.org/doc/ASLIRevision.htm or by speaking with an IIA Customer Service representative at (800) 644-2101 or by e-mailing the IIA's Customer Service Department at cserv@cpcuiia.org. 

BACKGROUND
The Derek Hughes/NAPSLO Educational Foundation was established in 1991 by the Board of Directors of the National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices, a national trade organization representing the surplus lines insurance industry and the wholesale distribution system.  NAPSLO has more than 1,500 members in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. 

In addition to the scholarship program, the Foundation, certified by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, works on a number of educational products related to the excess and surplus lines industry.

Since 1994, the Foundation has commissioned the A.M. Best Company to produce the Annual Review of the Excess & Surplus Lines Industry.  A.M. Best’s first report in 1994 found that the surplus lines industry solvency record was as good as, if not better, than that of the overall industry.  Reports in subsequent years have come to the same conclusion.

The Foundation worked with the Insurance Institute of America to establish the Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance (ASLI) designation.  The first ASLI designations were awarded in 1997 and to date more 1,000 people have completed the requirements for the designation.

The Insurance Institute of America, and its companion organization, The American Institute for CPCU, are independent, nonprofit organizations offering educational programs, professional certification, and research to people who practice or have an interest in risk management and/or property-casualty insurance. 

The Institutes offer the CPCU professional designation program; associate designation programs in areas such as claims, risk management, underwriting, and reinsurance; and introductory and foundation programs.