ITA Offers New CSR Job Skills Training Program

Getting a foot in the door of the insurance industry is the first challenge to a newcomer, but when compared to the challenge of figuring out the ABC’s of insurance, it is a small feat. There are so many ins and outs to the insurance industry, from understanding insurance ethics to knowing the fundamentals of commercial rating, that it is no wonder that formal insurance education is increasing in importance.

San Diego-based Insurance Training Academy (ITA) recognized the growing need for well-trained insurance professionals in the industry. Their CSR Job Skills Training Program was created in 2001 to provide career development in Commercial Insurance for both experienced professionals and those new to the industry. The program will be offered quarterly beginning in July and takes three weeks to earn certificates for all of the courses provided.

Julie Brown, president of ITA, saw the need for providing job skills training for CSRs and created the program as a resource for insurance companies as well as for people wanting to get their foot in the door.

“What we have done is split up the program into modules so that people can take one or they can take a week’s worth of courses, and it can be really flexible. The whole goal and purpose is to get new people into the insurance industry,” Brown said.

“Right now, we are marketing it to agents who have some entry-level people or maybe a receptionist or fairly new people that have been there and they want to move them up into a more technical position. Then our goal is to go out into the general public and market the classes and see if people want vocational training.” Brown continued, “In the past the industry used to support the agents and the carriers used to do the training for CSRs, but they no longer do that. I think what we are trying to accomplish is to find an avenue for agents to obtain staff that are already trained or get them additional training. By making a resource available to do that, I think, that is the only way we are going to get new people into the industry.”

The first week of core courses are to better professional skills whether new to commercial insurance or an experienced veteran. Week two focuses on handling claims and processing certificates, and week three teaches advanced techniques for writing skills and handling technical tasks.

The ITA offers such courses as “Fire/Casualty Industry Overview & Term-inology” and “Business Writing for Insurance Professionals.” CE credits are available for all courses successfully completed. The entire three-week program costs $950, or individual classes are offered at $99 each. For more information, visit the Web site at www.InsuranceTrainingA.com, or call (619) 528-4653 to register by phone.

Topics Talent Market Training Development