Q. According to the syllabus, students can enrol in Marine courses that will count toward the requirements for Applied Professional courses. Can a student take two Marine courses and one Underwriting course? Concerning the Applied Professional courses, a student can choose to mix courses from different streams rather than specialize in one stream, but does the same apply to Marine courses shown under a separate box on page ii of the 2004 – 2005 CIP Syllabus?

A. The answer is yes. The Marine courses will count on an individual basis as Applied Professional courses, since they can be used as substitutes for the Applied Professional courses for those in the Marine major.


Q. If I have 10 courses currently, do I automatically graduate in 2004?

A. Only students with the required 12 CIP courses can graduate in 2004. In 2005, students with the correct 10 courses can graduate. Please refer to the CIP calculator to verify which courses you require in order to graduate in the new CIP Program.


Q. Why has the CIP program changed?

A. The evolving changes within the Property and Casualty Insurance Industry have raised the bar, and the Insurance Institute of Canada has responded with a new CIP Program. We have added more skill-based courses and have placed greater emphasis on the practical application of theoretical knowledge. By updating the CIP curriculum, and increasing the value of the designation, we have responded to the needs of our industry and are enhancing the opportunities for our graduates.
 

Q. With the announced changes to the CIP Program, what happens to my CAIB credits?

A. With a completed CAIB designation only, applicants are eligible for three (3) credits which include C11 - Principles and Practice of Insurance, C130 - Essentials Skills For the Insurance Broker and Agent, and 1 unspecified elective.


Q. I have just completed writing C16 and have a question. If successful in this course I will have 10 courses. Does that mean I can now obtain my CIP but have to wait until next year to be eligible under the new guidelines?

A. Please note the current 2003 - 2004 academic rules (12-course program) apply, and will continue to apply until September 1, 2004. After each exam
session IIC calculates student standings, therefore, after the July exams they will be looking for members who have completed the required 12 courses. In Aug/Sep those students will receive a letter that they have completed the required 12 courses and will receive their certificate at the graduation ceremony on November 18, 2004.

The first exam session based on the new program is December 2004. After the exams results are posted and documented, IIC will calculate all student standings based under the new academic rules (10-course program), at which time your standing will show you have completed the CIP program. In early 2005 (Jan/Feb) you will receive a letter advising you that you have completed the CIP Program and can start using your CIP designation at that time and you will receive your certificate at your graduation ceremony in anytime from November 2005 to April 2006, depending upon your local Institute or Chapter's Convocation Schedule.


Q. Why is it 10 courses instead of 12?

A. The reduced number is part of a two-pronged approach in redesigning the CIP Program, originally recommended by a national task force and endorsed by the Board of Governors -- to strengthen the program by adding courses that are aligned to job competencies, and to have a program length (time to completion) that considers the requirements of the curriculum but also recognizes the work/life balance of industry employees.

Q. When does the new CIP program officially start?

A. September 1, 2004

Q. What has happened to C17?

A. The study material in C17 is largely duplicated by the new applied professional course, C110 Essentials of Loss Adjusting. Therefore, C17 Claims 1 is deemed to be equivalent to C110 in the new program and as such, is removed from the syllabus for 04-05.

Q. Why has the IIC produced a 2004 - 2005 CIP syllabus in November 2003, if we just sent the 2003 - 2004 CIP Syllabus out about a month ago? Won't this be confusing?

A. The 2004 - 2005 syllabus has been created to give students a chance to:
• See the changes to the CIP Program
• Offer course descriptions of the 9 new courses, which make up the Applied Professional Stream
• Indicate pricing changes on the new program and the new courses
• Offer help in understanding the Transition Period and how it affects them

Q. Do I get credit for all the courses I've taken?

A. Yes, you get credits for every course you have successfully completed prior to September 2004.

Q. What happens to my existing credits, if I do not take any courses during the Transition Period?

A. You will receive credit for all mandatory courses taken prior to September 2006. However, you will only receive up to a maximum of 2 credits from successfully competed elective courses, which were completed before September 2004.

Q. Can I take C 110 if I have taken C 17?

A. C17 Claims 1 is deemed to be equivalent to C110 Essentials of Loss Adjusting. As such, after September 2004, students who have taken C17 will not be able to enroll in C110. During the transition period, students who have completed C17 will have it counted as an applied professional course.

Q. For what time period are the prices listed in the 2004 - 2005 Syllabus effective?

A. For the 2004 - 2005 academic year.

Q. Is the IIC going to keep all 29 elective courses in the future?

A. The IIC routinely re-evaluates every course it offers. It is possible that some of the 29 elective courses will be discontinued or replaced with other electives, as the business environment and demand dictate.

Q. Does the new CIP program give me a new designation?

A. No. The CIP designation remains the same.

Q. Can I take 2 additional Applied Professional Series Courses and use these as my 2 elective courses?

A. Yes. You may use either or both of your elective course choices from the 9 Applied Professional course offerings.

Q. I've noticed that the cost of the courses, textbooks and fees have increased more than before! Why?

A. Some fees of the new CIP Program do increase by as much as 36%. However, when you consider that there are only a total of 10 courses required to complete the new CIP Program, instead of 12 courses to complete the existing program, it works out to about a 16% increase in costs. The increase in cost is primarily to off-set development costs which cover the more than three years it has taken to develop and complete the new courses in the CIP Program. The IIC is a not-for-profit organization. The fees of all our products are reviewed on an annual basis by our Board of Governors, which is composed of industry leaders from across the business lines and the country. Any increase in fees must pass through a rigorous approval process, which includes the Board of Governors.

Q. Which electives currently available in the 2003 - 2004 CIP Program will NOT be available in the new CIP Program (2004 - 2005)?

A. The following electives will NOT be available in the new 2004 - 2005 CIP Program:

C33 - Insurance on Property - Part 2
C42 - Principles and Practice of Marine Insurance
C46 - Claims 2
C71 - Introduction to Personal Lines

Q. Is it wise, useful or valuable to take an elective course now, even if it will not be available in the new CIP Program (effective September 1, 2004)?

A. Yes. Any course which is currently available is of value to the student and should be considered to be taken, even if it is not offered in 2004 - 2005. The credit will be applied to the student's total after September 2004 (in new program). Finally, the student may carry more than 2 elective credits into the new program. This means they will have to complete fewer applied professional courses.