| FROM THE COMMISSIONER |
Kansas Insurance Certificate Program
Preparing the next generation of Kansas Insurance Professionals
KEN SELZER
Kansas Insurance Commissioner
I
n its second full year of activity, the Kansas
Insurance Certificate program, sponsored
by the Kansas Insurance Department, the
Kansas Insurance Educational Foundation
(KIEF) and insurance companies throughout
Kansas, continues to grow.
The program, initiated to provide the insurance
industry with employment-ready job seekers
intending to be insurance professionals, now has
eight college graduates who have received the
certificate, one in 2017 and seven who graduated
during the 2017-2018 academic year.
Even more impressive in the young program is the
number of Kansas college students who have taken
at least one of the four eligible courses during
the past year. A total of 511 students completed
certificate-eligible courses during the 2017-2018
school year.
Courses offered originated from Washburn
University, Emporia State University, Pittsburg State
University, Fort Hays State University, the University
of Kansas-Edwards Campus in Overland Park, and
Johnson County Community College. Kansas State
University is working toward implementing the
program in the near future.
Students from the various campuses can
take the certificate courses offered at their
schools or enroll in courses from one of the
other participating schools. With the 12 hours
completed in the four required courses, the
student receives the certificate, which indicates
to prospective employees that the graduates have
the necessary insurance knowledge to “hit the
ground running” if they are employed in the
insurance field in Kansas.
Courses offered on-campus and online fall into the
following categories: sales and marketing, finance,
insurance operations/lines and information
technology.
The insurance department, KIEF and the supporting
companies continue to promote the program.
Daniel Rineberg, a community outreach specialist
at KID, visits each school at least once a semester to
promote the program, especially to business students
and instructors. The certificate program has its own
website, www.ksinsurancecertificate.org, geared toward the
students and their questions about the program.
One of the substantial benefits of the program is
the opportunity for students taking the certificate
courses to receive scholarship money. That benefit
exists because of the continued support from
Kansas insurance companies and organizations
who believe in helping their profession grow and
prosper in the state.
The Kansas Insurance Certificate would not exist
without the KIEF Board of Directors and staff
personnel. Their guidance and hands-on approach
to making the program successful is invaluable.
The Kansas Insurance Certificate, combined with
a degree in a related field, provides a foundation
to begin a rewarding career. We at the department
are privileged to be a part of sustaining the industry
here in our state.
| July - August 2018 | KANSAS INSURANCE AGENT & BROKER
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