PIA CT, NH, NJ and NY Join Fall Return to School

A bulletin from the Professional Insurance Agents of Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey and New York State Inc. notes that “summer has come and gone. It’s time for calculators and textbooks—for the learning process to continue.”

The organizations are urging insurance agents to enroll in continuing education courses to fulfill their CE requirements, and have instituted a number of quality education programs to provide their members with education opportunities throughout the rest of the year and into the next. In addition to the course load for new agents, PIACT, PIANH, PIANJ and PIANY offer seminars, programs and conferences for CISR and CIC designees who are looking to accumulate CE credits and update their designations.

Highlights for the rest of the year include PIACT’s Education Expo, Tuesday, Sept. 23 focusing on: “Employment Related Practices Liability;” “Annuities;” “Workers’ Comp & Employers Liability Insurance;” “Insuring the Risk: Life Insurance Needs of the CL Client” and an insurance fraud panel discussion.

As part of its fall line up, PIANH will offer two education programs Friday, Oct. 10, 2003, a morning session, “E&O Prevention” and an afternoon session on “Imaging for Optimal Client Service.”

PIANJ will host its OktoberEdFest Oct. 23-24, which will focus on topics such as “Survey Developments & Trends in Insurance Agent’s & Broker’s E&O Liability;” “Law and Ethics for the Insurance Professional;” “Insurance & E-Commerce: Strategies for Protection;” “Employment Practices Liability;” “Imaging for Optimal Client Service;” “Risk Management and Business Insurance;” “Claims Administration;” “Personal Lines Insurance Coverage Gaps and Solutions;” and “Recognizing & Preventing Insurance Fraud.” It has also scheduled a number of auto reform seminars, starting Thursday, Sept. 24, 2003. These seminars will cover the many changes in the new auto reform law that will affect the automobile insurance industry and consumers.

PIANY will host its inaugural Hudson Valley RAP, featuring two opportunities for CE credits, the CEO/Agency Conference—with its panel discussion on New York state legislation, the current conditions of the insurance market and future of the insurance industry—and a seminar “E-Commerce: Wired & Wireless Technology Coverage Issues.” The organization will also offer a new exclusive opportunities to take a self-study program, “Skills For a Diverse Workplace” in conjunction with selected class courses to receive 15 NYCE credits in one day. Course topics include: “Insurer Insolvencies: An Agent’s Toolkit;” “E&O Loss Prevention;” and “Internet Exposures and the CGL.”

For insurance agents who need CE credits but don’t have the time to leave their offices and spend time in a classroom, PIACT, PIANH, PIANJ and PIANY offer their custom class education services, where nationally recognized industry experts arrive at the company and teach specialized courses geared toward the agents’ needs.

PIACT, PIANH, PIANJ and PIANY offer their Fundamentals of Insurance certificate program, for those who would like to be, or who are a recent addition to, the insurance industry. The program, which teaches fundamental insurance techniques for personal lines, commercial lines or both, is designed to provide basic insurance knowledge and the skills necessary to become a valuable agency employee.

For those looking to explore classes via the Internet, PIACT, PIANH, PIANJ and PIANY, in conjunction with MindLeaders—which has evolved into a world leader in the information systems training market—offer an extensive library of top-quality, ready-to-use computer-based training and self-study products. These cost-effective courses are designed for both agents looking for acclimation into the insurance field and experienced agents looking to stay up-to-date with the latest changes to the industry. Insurance agents also can log on to PIA’s e-training center to obtain their CE credits online.

The programs were developed by committees of actual insurance agents, headed by Michael F. Keating, CIC; Judy George, CIC; Coryn Mastowski, CIC, CPIA and D. Scott Liebert, CIC, in Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey and New York, respectively.

For more information on any of the PIACT, PIANH, PIANJ and PIANY CE courses, online programs or education seminars, logon to PIA’s award-winning Web site at www.piaonline.org or call the Education Department at (800) 424-4244, or e-mail education@piaonline.org.

Topics New York Agencies New Jersey Connecticut Market Training Development New Hampshire