Become the consultative partner your clients demand
The Institutes Agent & Broker Path to Success is an accelerated option to earn your PRC, ARM, and CPCU designations in as little as two years. All courses and Micro-Certs are on-demand. Access them when and where you want to complete your studies at your pace.
PRC - Professional Risk Consultant™
As you start a new career, there’s no better time to set yourself up to be the super hero of your career. Develop the skills necessary to star in a rewarding career as you build industry knowledge, take control of your career path, and accelerate your success with the PRC program.
PRC & You: A Combo That Can’t Be Beat!
PRC & You: A Combo That Can’t Be Beat!
Unlock your competitive advantage as you sharpen your industry knowledge.
You’ll gain a deeper understanding of how the insurance industry works, who the players are, what each department does, and how you can be an effective producer.
Develop a fulfilling career as you apply your enhanced product expertise.
As you complete the PRC program you’ll learn about the insurance and risk management industries, the role you’ll play as a consultative partner to your clients, and explore the vertical markets and specialties available to you as you plan your career.
Build specialized expertise with our curated selection of Micro-Certs.
Our curated collection of Micro-Certs allow you to complete concentrated, focused courses to deepen your understanding of specialized insurance, markets, and how you can help your clients avoid coverage gaps.
Celebrate your reputation as a producer dedicated to helping your clients.
As you earn Micro-Certs and the PRC designation you’ll earn digital badges to display in your email signature and social media profiles to build your credibility as you progress through the PRC program.
ARM™ – Associate in Risk Management
Your clients turn to you as a source of risk management expertise. Guide them as they explore the best methods to uncover their weaknesses and build resilient organizations.
How ARM Benefits You
Succeed in a Rapidly Evolving Risk Management Landscape
Your clients turn to you as a source of risk management expertise. Become their trusted advisor as you uncover their weaknesses and help them build resilient organizations.
- Explore methods to manage and minimize hazard, financial, operational, and strategic risks.
- Master the skills to anticipate emerging risks.
- Understand how to address risk in rapidly evolving environments to create resilient organizations.
Plus! After earning your ARM you’re only five courses away from earning your CPCU!
CPCU®
CPCU after your name communicates knowledge, leadership, and confidence. From navigating complex policy choices and determining loss coverage, to proving ROI with knowledge of profitability ratios and interest rate calculations, you will understand outcomes and your clients can trust your understanding of managing risks.
How CPCU Benefits You
Stand out from the crowd with the most trusted risk and insurance credential behind your name.
Communicate knowledge, leadership, and confidence to your clients with CPCU after your name. You will understand outcomes and your clients can trust your understanding of managing risks as you help them navigate complex policy choices, determine loss coverage, prove ROI with knowledge of profitability ratios and interest rate calculations.
- Option 1: Complete PRC 110, PRC 111, three Micro-Certs of your choice, and Ethics 311 or Ethics 312
- Option 2: Complete PRC 110, PRC 111, ARM 400, and Ethics 311 or Ethics 312
You can easily monitor your progress towards each designation on the Path to Success in the all-new Progress Tracker.
- Complete ARM 400, ARM 401, ARM 402, and Ethics 311 or Ethics 312
You can easily monitor your progress towards each designation on the Path to Success in the all-new Progress Tracker.
After earning your ARM:
- Select and complete your track (Personal or Commercial)
- Complete one elective of your choice
- Complete Ethics 312 and matriculate
You can easily monitor your progress towards each designation on the Path to Success in the all-new Progress Tracker.
Not Sure Where to Start? We Can Help!
PRC Professional Risk Consultant™
PRC is designed for professionals new to the risk management industry. This is ideal if you are in your first two years of your career. Earn your PRC and three Micro-Certs included in the program in 4-6 months.
Suggested Experience Level:
Risk management and insurance professionals new to the risk management and insurance industries.
ARM™ Associate in Risk Management
ARM takes your understanding of complex issues your clients face every day to a new level, enabling you to become their trusted, consultative partner. Earn your ARM in as little as nine months.
Suggested Experience Level:
Risk management and insurance professionals ready to build enhanced and specialized knowledge and skills after one or two years in the industry.
CPCU®
CPCU after your name communicates knowledge, leadership, and confidence. Assist your clients and earn their trust as you navigate complex policy choices, determine loss coverage, and prove ROI with knowledge of profitability ratios and interest rate calculations.
Suggested Experience Level:
Experienced risk management and insurance professionals ready to build focused product knowledge and leadership potential after two or more years in the industry.
Take Our Programs Out for a Free Test-Drive!
Check out PRC for Free!
Want to take PRC out for a test drive? We offer a free micro-course that includes an assignment from PRC 110. The PRC mini-course can be completed in approximately 30 minutes.
Check out PRC for Free!

Free Micro Course
Online PRC Micro-Course
- Topics
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- Understanding the Sales Team and the Role of Sales and Service Professionals
- Learning how Producers Serve as Risk Consultants to their Clients
- Exploring the Expanding Role of the Commercial Producer
- Average Completion Time
- 10-30 Minutes
Try ARM for Free!
Get a head start by sampling an online risk management course.
Sample a Risk Management Course

Free Mini Course
Online ARM Micro-Course
- Topics
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- The Evolution of Risk Treatment
- The Risktech Ecosystem
- Managing Supply Chain Risk
- Organizational Culture’s Influence
- Average Completion Time
- 30-60 Minutes
Explore CPCU for Free!
Get a head start by sampling an CPCU micro-course.
Sample a CPCU Micro-Course

Free Mini Course
Online CPCU Micro-Course
- Topics
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- Embracing Risktech
- The Risktech Ecosystem
- Understanding How Insurers Operate
- Insurer Goals and Constraints
- Differentiating Business Entities
- Corporations: Mergers, Dissolution, and Reorganization
- Understanding Corporate Investment
- Rate of Return on an Investment
- Average Completion Time
- 30-60 Minutes
You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers:
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Does earning the PRC, ARM, or CPCU designations give me credit towards other designations at The Institutes?
Yes!
After earning the PRC, you may have earned credit towards:
- Associate in Risk Management (ARM)
After earning the ARM, you may have earned credit towards:
- CPCU
- Associate in Insurance Accounting and Finance (AIAF)
- Associate in Insurance Data Analytics (AIDA)
- Associate in Insurance (AINS)
- Associate in Insurance Services (AIS)
- Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance (ASLI)
- Associate in Reinsurance (ARe)
After earning the CPCU you may have earned credit towards:
- Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding (AFSB)
- Associate in Insurance Accounting and Finance (AIAF)
- Associate in Insurance Services (AIS)
- Associate in Personal Insurance (API)
- Associate in General Insurance (AINS)
- Associate in Marine Insurance Management (AMIM)
- Associate in Premium Auditing (APA)
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Do the courses in the PRC, ARM, or CPCU programs earn CE credit?
Most courses and Micro-Certs in the PRC, ARM, and CPCU programs qualify for CE credit. Visit our State CE and License Information page to confirm credits for your license and state.
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Tell me about exam windows and what is the best strategy to selecting a window
Each exam window is open for 60 days. You may take your exam anytime during that time period.
We recommend you create a study plan to complete the course work first, then add two to three weeks for review and to complete the practice exam to be confident you are prepared. After creating this schedule, you should be able to select your exam window. If your projected completion date falls between exam windows, we recommend selecting the next exam window to not rush your studies.
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Are there study groups or online classes available for courses in the PRC, ARM, or CPCU programs?
For select designations and courses, instructor-led classes are available both in-person and online.
Find out if this designation has classes available near you.
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Can I take a sample course before enrolling in a full course?
Yes! If you would like to preview a course, we offer a mini-course that includes an assignment from your selected program. Our mini-courses can be completed in 30-60 minutes depending on the program.
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Are there networking opportunities for me as I progress through and complete the PRC, ARM, or CPCU pathway?
Yes! The CPCU Society offers a variety of benefits for members including study groups, networking events, podcasts, webinars, an Agent and Broker interest group, and hosts an annual conference, In2Risk, concluding with CPCU conferment.
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I am not sure I’m ready for a designation, are there other options or programs at The Institutes for me?
Absolutely. The Institutes is home to a variety of options including Micro-Certs, topic courses, continuing education courses, employee benefits courses, and a Producer Accelerator program.
We want to help you succeed! If you have questions give us a call or send us an email.
Email: CustomerSuccess@TheInstitutes.org
U.S. and Canada: (800) 644-2101
Outside the U.S.: (610) 644-2100