Venerable ARM Designation – Beyond the AIC For Claims Staff
The ARM Designation may be a good fit and advance your claims career at light speed.
One of the questions I often receive from Workers Comp claim staff is – What can I or we do to advance our claims career quickly? One of the most widely read articles on this website is the AIC (Associate in Claims) designation article.
The search for that topic means people are searching for ways to advance quickly and show a level of dedication to their claims career. Having the AIC means that you may likely be placed at the top of the resume or CV pile in any organization.
The #1 question I receive from AIC designees is ‘What Can I add to my AIC to make me stand out among other job applicants” or “What is the best path for my future if I want to branch out from claims?”.
The ARM Designation would be the answer. The AIC shows a commitment to claims where the ARM designation means you are looking for a career possibly beyond claims.
Associate in Risk Management – What Other Organizations Are Saying
RIMS says: (Risk and Insurance Management Society)
To be an effective risk manager, you need to develop the skills that are vital to effectively controlling, assessing, and financing risk. The Associate in Risk Management (ARM) program helps you enhance your risk management skills by teaching you how to build and implement a balanced risk financing strategy using retention, transfer, and hybrids.
ARM helps employees to:
Enhance contribution to the organization’s value by acquiring skills needed to develop effective and thorough risk assessments.
Increase participation in risk control programs through a better understanding of staff motivation.
Support the organization’s overall financial goals by learning to build and implement a balanced risk financing strategy using retention, transfer, and hybrids.
We recommend ARM for: Agents/brokers, agency principals, line of business managers and executives, risk managers, and operational risk staff for banks and insurers.
The Institutes – organization that provides the ARM Designation says:
Associate in Risk Management (ARM™)
Make a real-world impact by gaining a holistic and strategic understanding of risk assessment and treatment.
- 79% of completers said earning the ARM designation prepared them for their long-term career goals.
- 79% of those in their career less than 2 years said the ARM accelerated their career
- 93% of ARM completers would recommend The Institutes’
Hedging at 79% – accelerated their career in 2 years – Payoff!!!
ARM Designation and Expert Witness Work
I have used concepts and often referred to concepts in my ARM textbooks when I write expert witness reports. Local and Federal Judges have agreed with my reports on those concepts often – even ruling for summary judgments using my reports alone.
Writing Risk Manager expert witness reports using “plain speak” concepts that I learned in my ARM curriculum has been one of me fortes’ for over 15 years.
Secret Way To Study For The ARM
Jack Keir’s study guides have long been lauded for students desiring Property and Casualty designations –
You can find Jack Keir here. My response to using his manuals and practice tests was Whew, that was a relief!
What the Jack Keir organization says about the ARM Designation
ARM – Associate in Risk Management
Recommended for persons who have been working in the risk management field and have some previous experience. Earning this designation requires you to identify and evaluate exposures to both accidental losses and business risks, analyze risk control and financing techniques for each exposure, select of the most effective risk management alternatives, and ways to implement and monitor selected risk control and risk financing techniques.
You have previous Risk Management experience if you have been working claims – you may not have realized it – setting reserves and handling claims is a form of Risk Management – trust me.
The Best of Everything with Designations
Your employer may reimburse you when you complete your AIC or ARM. Check out your benefits manual. Getting your AIC, ARM, or other designations and then being reimbursed – wow, the sun shines bright on advancing your career.
Many state licensures will accept the AIC or ARM courses as a credit on your license CEs – usually a large number of hours.
Now go get your ARM designation or other ones. Good luck!!!
BIG PS – Just In on the ARM Designation!
Kevin Quinley over at the Claims Coach
Kevin, a long time friend and mentor had this to say about obtaining the ARM: (Good info – he is referring to Workers Comp and the ARM)
Pro’s: knowledge content that goes beyond just knowing about insurance policies; expanding one’s knowledge horizon to a Big Picture, panoramic perspective on workers compensation issues outside of the insurance mechanism. This includes noninsurance methods of addressing workers’ compensation exposures and loss control/mitigation methods of addressing workers’ compensation exposures.
Another “pro” is that the additional credential is a “signaling mechanism” telegraphing to current and prospective employers and clients that you have mastered a subject matter domain that may set you apart from competitors. It may enhance your market value either to your employer and/or your clients. Further, it is a portable credential that you take with you wherever you go in terms of job changes or career changes. It gives you an opportunity to different differentiate yourself from competitors who may lack that credential.
Give the ARM designation a shot – or the AIC, then the ARM.
Related: Insurance Designations – Complete List with Updates
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