Education Offerings

Education is a hallmark of PIA of Tennessee. Three nationally recognized designations can be earned through PIA - Certified Professional Insurance Agent (CPIA), Personal Lines Coverage Specialist (PLCS) and Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist (CLCS). Licensing candidates can take state-required pre-licensing education through PIA. Continuing education can be earned using our online program and/or by attending classroom education that we offer throughout the year in locations across the state. New agency employees can receive in depth training right at their desktop using PIA's New Employee Training program. And, hot insurance topics are up for lunch hour discussion in PIA's webinar series.

• Prelicensing-Licensing Education
• Designation Programs - CPIA, PLCS, CLCS
• Online Education - C.E. and non-C.E. tracks
• New Employee Training
• PIA Webinar Series

Licensing and C.E. Requirements for Insurance Producers

The office of Agent Licensing at the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance is responsible for the licensing and regulation of insurance producers in the State of Tennessee. Click on this link, Licensing Procedure, for details.

Effective January 1, 2009, unless exempt*, individuals seeking biennial renewal of their license must satisfactorily complete 24 credit hours of study in approved courses, programs of instruction or seminars in conjunction with the license renewal cycle. Three of the hours must be in ethics. *Exemption: an insurance producer who has been continuously licensed since January 1, 1994. Click on this link, Continuing Education, for details.

For additional information, contact the Agent Licensing Section of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance at 1-888-416-0868 or (615) 741-2693.

C.E. Reminder: Any education class for which you have earned C.E. credit cannot be repeated for credit within a three-year time frame.

Pre-Licensing Education

Tennessee law Tennessee Code 56-6-105 (a) (1) requires licensing applicants to complete pre-licensing education prior to taking the producer licensing exam. PIA has partnered with Able Incorporated to offer online pre-licensing education for property and casualty, life and health, and Series 6 and 63. PIA members receive discounted pricing (click for details). To go directly to the pre-licensing study, click on the Able web site.

Return to top of page

Designation Programs

CPIA
Certified Professional Insurance Agent is the only sales designation that is approved for continuing education credit. The nationally recognized program is administered by the American Insurance Marketing and Sales Society (AIMS); PIA of Tennessee is the exclusive provider in Tennessee. No formal exam is required to earn the designation; an update class is required every two years to maintain the designation. Students can earn up to 22 hours of C.E. credit by attending the three seminars. PIA's 2010 dates follow. Click here for registration details.

The Tennessee 1752 Club is offering CPIA scholarships to members and staff for the CPIA program. Click here for the CPIA Scholarship Application.

PLCS and CLCS
PIA has partnered with The National Underwriter Company to offer the Personal Lines Coverage Specialist (PLCS) and Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist (CLCS) designations. These programs offer the most complete professional learning program available to industry professionals who are seeking to master these lines of coverages. The curriculum is based on the most important document in the insurance industry - the insurance policy - and is produced by the staff of the FC&S Bulletins and Coverage Guide Series. Members of PIA of Tennessee qualify for a fee discount; click here for your discount coupon then proceed to the PLCS/CLCS designation web site. Non-members, click here for the non-member coupon, then click here to proceed.

Return to top of page

Online Education

The largest number of state-approved C.E. courses in the industry is available to PIA members online, 24-7, and cost less than $40 for single courses. Students can peruse courses at no charge. Payment is required when testing for C.E. credit is completed. Your credit for C.E. is filed by the provider. Two categories of courses are offered - C.E. credit courses and professional skills courses. To see the courses offered, click on the links below. Click here to learn how to begin the coursework and for additional help.

• Continuing Education Credit
• Professional Skills Courses
  • Computer Desktop Skills
  • Business & Management Skills
  • Technical Skills (Computer Systems and Programming)
    

Return to top of page

New Employee Training

Training for your agency's new employees is offered through Managing Education Resource Group (MERG). The courses are taught online, allowing your employee to train from his/her desktop in a virtual classroom that includes a facilitator and rookies from other agencies. Four topics are covered:

1. Agency Orientation for New Staff

2. Delivering Quality Services to the Customer and the Employer

3. Personal Lines Coverage Basics

4. Commercial Lines Coverage Basics

Detailed course information and the schedule through 2010 can be read at this link. Click here to read "How This Class Works." Click here to register online.

Return to Top of Page

Insurance Webinar Training

Webinars are live, interactive sessions conducted over the Internet. It is presented by PIA of New York, with which PIA of Tennessee has partnered to offer our members the PIA member rate of $25 per person. Start time is 12:00 noon Eastern (11:00 a.m. Central). The webinar last 45 - 60 minutes and requires Internet email access to receive/view support materials and a telephone (speakerphone for multiple participants). To read specifics about each session and/or to register click here:

Topics & Dates

Return to Top of Page