Why you should earn your CPCU®
Offered by the American Institute for CPCU® and the Insurance Institute of America, the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation is the leading designation in property-casualty insurance. CPCU designees distinguish themselves from their colleagues with a high level of specialized knowledge and dedication to professionalism
In pursuit of a CPCU®, you will:
- Garner comprehensive in-depth knowledge in the areas of risk management and insurance.
- Learn skills that you can put to practice immediately.
- Learn how to make better decisions on the job.
- Set yourself apart from the competition.
- Demonstrate your commitment to professionalism.
- Earn the respect accorded those who hold a CPCU®.
The American Institute for CPCU and Insurance Institute of America's (AICPCU/IIA) CPCU program covers the financial, legal, operational, and technical aspects of risk management and insurance, balancing practical skills with theory. Candidates select either a personal or commercial insurance concentration, depending on professional background and needs.
The CPCU® designation is awarded by The American Institute for CPCU.
CPCU® Program Requirements
To earn the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter® designation, the following are required by the American Institute for CPCU® and Insurance Institute of America:
- Pass the exams for all required and elective courses
- Meet the experience requirements: You must be engaged in acceptable insurance activities for any 24 months (minimum of 17½ hours per week) during the five-year period immediately preceding the award of the CPCU® designation.
- Take and abide by the Professional Ethics Pledge.
Please visit the AICPCU Website for more details about the CPCU® Experience, Code of Ethics, and Continuing Education requirements.
Matriculation Requirement
You must matriculate (register as a candidate) with The Institutes by submitting a matriculation form and fee. You should submit the matriculation form and fee with the registration for your first CPCU exam. You must sign a statement on the matriculation form agreeing to abide by the CPCU Code of Professional Ethics.
Continuing Education Requirements
Designees are not required to meet continuing education requirements to retain this designation.
CPCU® Exam Information
Contact Prometric testing centres at 800-266-3232 for more info or to schedule your exam.
Many CPCU® exams use the short-answer essay format and typically include 30 to 35 multipoint questions that total 100 points. The exceptions are the CPCU® 553 and CPCU® 557 survey exams, which contain 100 objective (multiple-choice) questions, and the CPCU® 520, CPCU® 530, and CPCU® 540 exams, which contain 85 to 100 multiple-choice questions. All CPCU® exams are three hours long.
CPCU® Curriculum
Candidates must pass eight examinations through the American Institute for CPCU® and Insurance Institute of America, one for each of the five required courses and three concentration courses, to earn the CPCU® designation:
Required Courses
CPCU 500: Foundations of Risk Management and Insurance
CPCU 520: Insurance Operations
CPCU 530: Business Law for Insurance Professionals
CPCU 540: Finance and Accounting for Insurance Professionals
CPCU 560: Financial Services Institutions
Commercial Lines
CPCU 551: Commercial Property Risk Management and Insurance
CPCU 552: Commercial Liability Risk Management and Insurance
CPCU 553: Survey of Personal Risk Management, Insurance, and Financial Planning
Personal Lines
CPCU 555: Personal Risk Management and Property-Casualty Insurance
CPCU 556: Personal Financial Planning
CPCU 557: Survey of Commercial Risk Management and Insurance
"CPCU®, AIC & ARM are registered marks owned by the American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters and the Insurance Institute of America."
