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AICPCU/IIA Signs Agreement to Deliver Society of RPA Exams

AICPCU News Release

Date: October 19, 2004


MALVERN, Pa.-The American Institute for CPCU and the Insurance Institute of America have signed a partnership agreement with the Society of Registered Professional Adjusters to administer the examinations that lead to the Society's Registered Professional Adjuster (RPA) designation. This joint announcement was made by Donna J. Popow, JD, CPCU, AIC, Institute director of curriculum, and Michael R. Csom, AIC, RPA, Society president.

The multiple-choice exams, which were developed by the Society, will be delivered online by the Institutes at Prometric Testing Centers and at employer on-site testing centers starting on January 15, 2005.  Examinations will be given in the five tracks among which candidates can choose to earn the RPA designation: automobile liability, property, workers' compensation, general liability, and a generalist track. Passing the Institutes' Ethics and Claims Professionalism exam is also required of all RPA candidates.
Candidates for the RPA designation must (1) work as a claim professional, manager, or educator in the insurance industry; (2) fill out an application with the Society; (3) pass a credentials check carried out by the Society; (4) hold the Insurance Institute of America's Associate in Claims (AIC) designation, the American Educational Institute's Senior Claim Law Associate (SCLA) designation, or a similar designation, or have 10 years of claims experience; (5) pass the Institutes' ethics exam; and (6) pass the RPA exam in one of the five tracks. To retain the RPA designation, holders must fulfill annual continuing education requirements specified by the Society.

"Our reason for creating the RPA designation," Csom said, "was to recognize property-casualty claim professionals who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to individual excellence, ethics, and continuing education. Our agreement to have the Institutes administer our RPA examinations was a logical step because they administer the AIC designation program and the ethics course that is a required part of the RPA designation. We look forward to positive results from our partnership with the Institutes."

"Our alliance with the Society is a natural expansion of our relationship since people who hold our AIC designation are eligible to earn the RPA designation," Popow said. "I'm also pleased that the Society has asked me to serve on its board."

The Society of RPA plans to develop a Master Professional Adjuster designation for various specialty types of business. It also plans to offer a Career Achievement Report, a record of an individual adjuster's achievements, which would include his or her educational and employment history.

For more information about the RPA designation and examinations, contact Susan K. Sunny, executive director, Society of Registered Professional Adjusters, P.O. Box 3810, Napa, Calif. 94558; phone: (800) 949-5272; e-mail: [email protected].

Note to Editors:
The American Institute for CPCU and the Insurance Institute of America are independent, nonprofit organizations offering educational programs, professional certification, and research to people who practice or have an interest in risk management and/or property-casualty insurance. The Institutes offer the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCUR) professional designation program; associate designation programs in areas such as claims, risk management, underwriting, and reinsurance; introductory and foundation programs; and short courses designed to fulfill state CE requirements.

The Society of Registered Professional Adjusters is an independent, nonprofit organization that establishes and administers the criteria by which claim professionals can qualify to receive the RPA designation and the continuing educational criteria by which the RPA designation can be maintained.