Career Resource Center - Student
Post Graduate Information Form
To be eligible for the CPCU award a student must successfully complete the CPCU course and apply for the award either while enrolled as a student at Illinois State University, or within six months of graduation.
The Katie School encourages students seeking a career in insurance to pass as many courses as possible leading toward industry designations and certifications.Credits may be obtained for the following:
AIC - Associate in Claims
ARM - Associate in Risk Management
ARe - Associate in Reinsurance
CLU - Chartered Life Underwriter
CPCU - Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter
INS - Program in General Insurance
Contrary to appearances, these designation programs are not limited to people seeking a job in underwriting.
The courses apply to all functions of the industry. Although it is unlikely that a student would be able to attain a full designation before graduating, it is possible to successfully complete one or more of the required courses. Completion of these courses before graduation would likely enhance the job prospects for a student and give students a head start once they have entered the industry.
The CPCU and CLU programs have both been revised recently. The new CLU program is an eight course program. Successful completion of FIL 351 with a “B” or better will waive the CLU course HS 323 (Individual Life Insurance). Successful completion of FIL 353 with a “B” or better will waive CLU course HS 318 (Insurance and Financial Planning). In addition, the textbook for FIL 353 is the textbook used for CPCU 556 – Personal Financial Planning. Students taking FIL 353 will be able to waive the CLU course HS 318 and will also be prepared to sit for the CPCU 556 section. More information about HS 318 or HS 323 is available. To obtain credit for these courses, students must matriculate through the Katie School while they are still students at Illinois State University. The American College may not honor the waiver if students apply after they have graduated. The cost to matriculate is $70, of which students are required to pay $30. The Katie School of Insurance and Financial Services will pay the remaining balance. The only exception to the policy is if a student takes a third CLU course, in which the student will receive a sum of $250 upon successfully completing the additional exam. Please see Lesley Sauder in the Katie School office at College of Business Room 432 to obtain matriculation forms for CLU.
The CPCU/IIA programs work differently. The new CPCU program is eight parts. The IIA exams include the three-part INS program in general insurance. One part, INS 23 (Commercial and Insurance) uses the same textbook that will be used in the FIL 350 (Commercial Property) and FIL 352 (Commercial Liability). All insurance majors or minors should at least take the INS 23 exam. The INS exam is two-hour multiple choice exam that can be taken at Illinois State.
A bit more ambitious but a highly recommended approach is to take CPCU 557 in lieu of INS 23. Your course work on FIL 350 and 352 will cover more that 75 percent of the material required for the CPCU 557 exam. There is an additional textbook you will need to purchase from the American Institute for CPCU that contains three additional chapters of material required for the CPCU exam. The American College for CPCU will offer exams during four exam windows:
More information about CPCU and other courses is available.
