A qualification for advisers in the health and protection insurance sector has been launched by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).
It is likely to bring support from many representatives in the sector, particularly those advisers who have been vocally lobbying for the recognition of these specialities.
The Cert CII (Health and Protection) designation was unveiled at the Association of Medical Insurance Intermediaries (Amii) autumn conference and will be available from early next year.
Michael Payne, general secretary of Amii, told the conference why it had been produced and how it would operate.
"Up to now health and protection has sat in the middle of the CII's exam framework," he said.
"Medical insurance is part of general insurance, individual protection is under financial services and then there are sector specific modules such as Grid's group risk exam which lie to the side of the framework.
"So I'm pleased that the CII has responded to our requests and requests from others in the protection sector and from next year there will be able a Cert CII (Health and Protection) designation," he added.
All candidates must complete IF1 which covers the fundamentals of insurance including the legal and regulatory environment.
From there they must select a minimum of two other units according to role and personal development requirements.
The four optional units are:
- IF7 Healthcare Insurance Products (which Amii created with the CII),
- P64 Private medical insurance practice (which is a new diploma level exam that will replace the existing advanced diploma level 790 unit),
- RO5 Financial protection and,
- GR1 Group risk (which is supported by Grid).
A draft copy of the leaflet explaining the qualification was released at the event but the final designation will be available next year.
It is expected that within the first quarter of 2012 the CII will start to include health and protection examples in the IF1 exam.
The certificate designation will become available for existing CII members towards the end of the second quarter next year.
Three example pathways given after completing the IF1 exam were for a PMI intermediary to take the IF7 certificate level exam and the P64 diploma unit.
An Employee benefits consultant would be likely to include the group risk module, while IFA's specialising in protection may wish to include RO5 in addition to the IF7.
Payne continued by noting that this qualification process could go further if it was well received.
"This flexibility means it's suitable for anyone working in the health and protection insurance sector," he said.
"Moving forward to 2013 we may possibly - depending on the certificate's success - add a diploma in health and protection and also Grid may well look to have a further examination in group risk.
"So looking to the future, the use of the designation Cert CII (Health and Protection) will signify specialist knowledge and a commitment to professional development and more importantly for our customers, it will demonstrate that your advice can be trusted," he added.
