What is the Associate in Personal Insurance Designation?
The API™ or Associate in Personal Insurance designation is an associate level designation which is highly regarded in the personal insurance industry. This insurance designation focuses on the core topics of personal insurance such as personal lines business, underwriting, marketing, profitability and portfolio management
The API™ Designation helps insurance professionals gain the real-world skills needed to increase their confidence in working with upper management, supervisors, peers, and clients.
Who Should Pursue the API™ Designation?
The API™ designation should be pursued by all insurance professionals in the personal insurance field. This designation helps all insurance professional increase their overall personal insurance knowledge and advance their career with a highly respected designation. Compared to other designations, such as the CPCU®, this designation is much quicker and is most beneficial for insurance personnel such as underwriters, customer service representatives, marketing representatives, adjusters, analysts and producers who deal in personal lines.
How to Earn the API™ Designation
The API™ designation is achieved after the completion of a series of exams which focus on personal insurance topics such as underwriting, marketing, personal finance, property insurance, auto insurance, liability insurance and risk management. There are two options for earning the API™ designation. Option 1 consists of 3 exams and option 2 consists of 4 exams
We highly recommend the API™ designation option 1 since two of the exams (CPCU® 555 and CPCU® 556) count both towards the API™ designation and the CPCU® designation.
API™ Option 1 (Recommended)
API™ Option 2
API™ 29
AINS 21
AINS 22
Studying for the API™
Compared to the CPCU® designation, the API™ designation is much quicker but still requires the same thorough studying and dedication. Most programs recommend studying three moths per exam, meaning the entire API™ process will be completed in nine months to one year. At AssociatePI, we know this is an unrealistic expectation for the busy insurance professional, which is why we recommend studying about 1 hour a day (during lunch break works best!) for two weeks using our series of online courses. These courses are designed to cut out the fluff and thoroughly focus on the core topics and important details so you can study quicker and pass your exams in less time with less hassle and stress.
Free Practice Exam
Ready to get started studying? We’re here to help (for free). Download one of our free practice exams to get a feel for the type of content you will be studying.
Download: Free Practice Exam (CPCU® | ARM™ | AINS™ | API™)
More Information
For more information about the API™ 28 exam, checkout some of our other free resources:
- API™ designation overview
- API™ 28 exam difficulty
- API™ 28 exam format
- API™ 28 exam questions
- API™ 28 video series
- How to complete the API™ designation
- Continuing education with your API™ designation
Disclaimer
Remember, every API™ exam is different. No single exam is the same. Be sure to study ALL topics (not just our recommendation). This resource is intended to provide you with a general idea of where your focus should be. Make sure to thoroughly study every topic of this exam.
The exam questions, difficulty, advice, and approaches in this resource are solely the opinion of AssociatePI. This resource is intended to provide you with a general idea of where your focus should be. Each exam administered by The Institutes is different. AssociatePI is not affiliated with The Institutes or involved in the exam writing process. Please be sure to thoroughly study every chapter and every topic of this course.
API™ exams are administered by the American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (“The Institutes”). AssociatePI does not administer the actual exams, we are an independent resource of free content, advice, and study material for professional insurance education. This blog is intended for informational purposes only, to inform prospective students of the benefit of the API™ designation startup.
CPCU® and API™ are trademarks of the American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (“The Institutes”). AssociatePI LLC is not affiliated with, associated with, endorsed by or otherwise supported or recognized by The Institutes in any way. AssociatePI LLC is not authorized by The Institutes to offer courses, practice examinations, or any other resources related to the Institutes’ designations or other programs.
For further information, please email contact@associatepi.com.