I’m coming up on my one-year mark with a major insurance carrier, currently working in a customer service role. Long-term, I want to move out of customer service and into something more specialized, and underwriting seems like a logical next step.
I’ve been researching professional designations and keep seeing the CPCU mentioned as a solid credential for advancing in the industry. For those of you who have earned it (or considered it), would you say the CPCU designation is worth the time, cost, and effort?
– Did it actually help you transition roles or increase your salary?
– Would you recommend starting it early in my career?
– Or are there better certifications for someone looking to move toward underwriting first?
Any insights or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated!
Is the CPCU designation worth it for someone looking to move from customer service to underwriting?
byu/OreoMonster94 inInsurance
Posted by OreoMonster94
6 Comments
It’s a very, very good thing to have, yes. But you need to make sure you have a pathway at your current employer if you get your CPCU. Once you get locked into a role, moving like that is tough. Take it from someone who moved from claims to underwriting.
Moving to UW *can be done without a CPCU, however*.
I wouldn’t pay for it out of pocket. Once you get hired with a carrier, they will usually pay for it.
Never taken a CPCU class personally and I’m a pretty senior product leader at a specialty carrier/specialty line. Was an UW for 10 years before getting the bump to product manager. I don’t think CPCU would have helped one bit. I’ve worked with lots of CPCU holders and honestly I don’t think it sets them apart, if anything it only proves you’re good at taking tests. I’ve had to performance manage more people with designations than not. As a hiring manager I would rather hire someone with real world experience than a designation, for example a construction foreman/super as an inland/builders risk underwriter. People with real world experience in the field seem to excel as their have real world knowledge of the industry, hazards & can talk shop. That’s the harder part to teach.
I did a similar transition into underwriting with a large carrier without any designations. Nobody on my team, that I’m aware of, has any designations. This includes my supervisor. While it would probably set you apart from other candidates, it can also be costly and isn’t always necessary.
Not necessary at all, not a bad thing to have on the resume though. I wouldn’t bother unless your employer will pay for it, it’s expensive as hell.
Start the courses, it shows your serious. Def worth it. I did my ARM just to have something in the early career days. No one cares once you’re in the industry but it’ll help you break out of the admin role.