Stay ahead in the RMI landscape with expert insights, practical tips, and innovative solutions designed to help you elevate your career and drive organizational success.
Skills Edge Team
The frequency of extreme weather events causing billion-dollar losses has more than tripled in the United States over the past five years, jumping from an average of seven events annually to 23.
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What Are the Best Study Tips for The Institutes Designations’ Exams?
By Angela Pilotti, CPCU, AReAre you planning to take an Institutes Designations’ exam soon? It’s natural to be a little nervous, but with the right strategies, you can feel confident and ready to succeed. Below, we’ve outlined 10 practical study tips to help you stay motivated, retain information, and apply what you’ve learned on exam day.
Important: These exams aren’t about memorization. They're designed to assess how well you apply knowledge in real-world scenarios.
Use visual reminders—like Post-it notes or screensavers—to keep your goals front and center. Whether you're aiming for career advancement, personal growth, or improved job performance, connecting your study efforts to your larger purpose can help keep you on track. Share your goals with friends or family so they can support you.
You’re part of a field that helps people overcome life’s unexpected challenges. That purpose alone is a powerful motivator.
Research shows cramming at the last minute doesn’t support long-term retention—and it works against how Institutes Designations’ exams are structured. These exams assess applied knowledge.
Create a study schedule with clear milestones and SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound). Use the printable study outline in each course, which includes key points, review questions, and space for notes. You can also track your progress and quiz results within your course to see where you stand.
Find a quiet space, put your phone on do-not-disturb, and let family or friends know to respect your study time without distractions. Grab anything you might need—not just a pen and notebook—but also things like a full water bottle and a nutritious snack so you don’t have to get up and then try to settle back into study mode.
Beth Illian, a working parent who earned her CPCU®, AINS®, and AIS™ shared her routine to accomplish this. She would always study in the evening, after her kids were in bed, with a cup of tea and a stack of pretzels at the dining room table. This was a “signal to her brain” that this was the time to switch off from the day and study.
Mike Bronzino, Managing Director of Exam Integrity for The Institutes, earned his CPCU®, ARM™, AIM™, ARe™, and AMIM® designations prior to joining The Institutes. That's more than 25 Institutes Designations’ exams completed, and he highly recommends you focus your study efforts on the educational objectives. These are the central themes of the course material. Exam questions directly relate to the real-world application of these course objectives. If you focus only on facts or terminology, you’ll miss the bigger picture.
All designations courses include proven, comprehensive study materials to help you take the exam with confidence. In addition to the printable study outline with key points and review questions, you also have access to the following:
NEW: All CPCU and AIC course options now include hundreds of interactive exam practice questions that pull directly from the course content. You can also choose a package with an AI Assignment Assistant that adapts to your preferred learning style.
Your exam will include multiple different question formats. Understanding these formats will help you feel confident and prepared.
In addition to multiple choice, your exam may include fill-in-the-blank, drag-and-drop, and numeric-entry questions. These are designed to help you better understand, retain, and apply course content while preparing you for real-world scenarios.
The Institutes' Chat on Facebook is The Institutes Knowledge Group’s office page and the place to connect with other students. Find a study partner, share tips, and celebrate milestones together. It’s easier to stay accountable and motivated when you're part of a community.
You’ll also see questions from other learners that can spark new ways of thinking and deepen your understanding, especially when you're tackling tough concepts.
One of the best ways to reinforce your learning is to explain key concepts to someone else, as if you're teaching them. This practice, also known as the protégé effect or the Feynman Technique, helps you identify gaps in your understanding and deepens retention by forcing you to put the ideas into your own words.
Even if you don’t have a study partner, you can do this by speaking out loud to yourself or writing out an explanation in a notebook. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s about practicing how you apply the concepts, which is exactly what the exam will ask you to do.
As you get closer to exam day, take time to focus on the areas that challenged you the most. Use your quiz results and course progress indicators to identify areas for improvement. But don't just reread the material. Focus on applying the concepts to real-life scenarios—just like you'll do on the exam.
All exams now include virtual proctoring to maintain the value and integrity of your hard-earned Institutes Designation. You still have the same flexibility of testing anywhere, anytime, now with added security. Just ensure you're familiar with the requirements and have a reliable internet connection to complete your exam without interruption.
We recommend you test your equipment at least 48 hours before your exam.
With the right tools, a clear plan, and consistent prep, you’re not just studying for an exam—you’re building your future in risk management and insurance. These exams are designed to evaluate how well you apply knowledge, not memorize facts. Every question is an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding and your growth.
Need more support? Visit our Exam Prep Center for more tips and answers to common questions.
* Based on analysis of CPCU®, AINS®, and ARM™ student exam results versus exam-preparation methodologies, 2020-2021.
Everything You Need to Know About Taking an Online Proctored Exam
By Angela Pilotti, CPCU, AReTaking an exam is the culmination of weeks—even months—of studying and preparation. When you finally complete and pass that exam, you want to be sure that there are safeguards in place to retain the value of the designation or credential you worked so hard to earn.
That’s where virtual exam proctoring comes in. It’s a seamless, reliable way to ensure a fair and equal experience for all test takers. Through secure recording and standardized procedures, online proctoring helps maintain the same integrity as a traditional in-person test center (just with a lot more flexibility). Read on to explore everything you need to know about taking an online proctored exam, how it benefits your professional journey, and how you can be as prepared as possible when it’s time to sit down and test.
If you've taken the SATs in high school or a midterm in college, you're already familiar with how a proctored exam works. It's a standard educational practice where someone oversees the exam process to ensure fairness across all test takers. Online proctoring takes this same concept and applies it to the exams you take remotely, offering the added convenience of taking an exam in your own home, on your own time.
There are two types of virtual proctoring: live proctoring and record & review proctoring. Live proctoring is when a supervisor oversees a student take their exam in real time and most closely resembles in-person proctoring. Record & review proctoring, however, is when the assessment platform uses a remote proctoring software to record a student’s screen, webcam video, and audio as they test. Someone then manually reviews the footage afterwards as needed. This is the approach we recommend, as it provides a much less intrusive experience while still maintaining the highest standards of exam security.
Virtual exam proctoring offers several key advantages that directly benefit you as a professional, especially in risk management and insurance fields where the skills gained from specialty designations can be used on the job right away.
Protects Your Achievement: When you earn a designation, you want employers to know it truly reflects your expertise and dedication. Virtual proctoring ensures that everyone earns their credentials fairly and with integrity.
Maintains Credibility: You can rest assured that the designation or credential you’ve just completed keeps its value and is not awarded to those who didn’t earn it.
Provides Flexibility: Easily complete your online exams from any computer with a webcam and microphone. This freedom allows you to better balance your professional development with other commitments.
The Institutes uses the record & review method. Students’ exam sessions are recorded to ensure compliance with exam rules and reviewed by our Assessments team as needed. We also partner with Talview, a leading remote proctoring provider, to deliver a secure and user-friendly exam experience. Before your exam begins, you'll be asked to consent to the recording. All recordings are handled in compliance with industry data and security standards, including GDPR, ensuring your privacy is protected throughout the process.
Those in risk management and insurance trust and value The Institutes Designations because they represent a high standard of knowledge and professionalism. Virtual proctoring is another way to ensure they continue to maintain their value and credibility.
For a detailed look at the virtual exam proctoring experience, check out this video or visit our FAQs page.
To ensure a smooth experience when taking an Institutes Designations exam, make sure you have the following:
Required Hardware
Supported Operating System
Supported Browser (Latest Version or up to 3 Previous Versions)
And don't forget to test your camera and microphone at least 48 hours before your scheduled exam time to make sure everything works properly!
Proctoring for online exams is already a widely accepted practice among leading professional education providers, including the CFA Institute and Project Management Institute, and will only continue to grow in prevalence and relevance. It represents an important step forward for the learning and development of RMI professionals. In protecting the value of your professional achievements, you’re setting yourself up for greater success now and in future roles.
Ready to take the next step in your professional development? Explore what The Institutes Designations has to offer and learn more about their virtual exam proctoring today!
How to Foster a Data Collaboration Mindset in Risk Management and Insurance Organizations
By Angela Pilotti, CPCU, AReCutting-edge organizations are harnessing the power of big data in ways that are transforming the RMI landscape across all fronts. Traditional functions like claims, underwriting, and customer service are already undergoing big changes, and the most forward-thinking organizations are applying data science principles to improve efficiency in everything from onboarding to employee meetings.
While these changes offer immense potential, they also introduce operational and cultural challenges. Breaking down silos, shifting habits, and securing buy-in are critical to building a data-savvy culture. This work begins by bridging the gap between data science and other functions and upskilling employees across your organization to speak the language of data.
Successful data collaboration thrives on diverse perspectives and skill sets. When your organization is looking to improve how data is shared and leveraged, it can be a helpful first step to assemble a data transformation team. This team should include cross-functional members such as:
Involving data analytics experts is crucial, as they manage data from various sources and provide it to other areas of the organization. You may need to include data architects, data wranglers, statisticians, business analysts, and data visualization specialists. Ensure your data reps cover areas like business intelligence, analysis, and modeling, as well as efficient data storage and potential privacy issues.
Including actuaries on your data transformation team is essential, as they help redefine how your organization analyzes and addresses risk. Leveraging their knowledge of insurance data, actuaries work with data scientists to update models and assessment tools.
Involve team members from various departments to offer input on where data has the most potential to increase efficiency and service. Claims, underwriting, customer service, and marketing teams should all contribute, and it’s important they have a fundamental understanding of data analytics so they can ask the right questions and elicit insights from the data science team.
IT resources are vital for developing, implementing, and maintaining the new systems and processes you have in place to make data collaboration more efficient.
Data-driven changes require significant operational changes. Including someone with business operations expertise helps ensure smooth transitions and minimizes business interruptions.
Once your internal team begins connecting data from various sources and vetting insights, you may consider sharing with the appropriate external teams such as agents and brokers.
Cross-departmental teams excel when collaboration efforts are prioritized. To help ensure this, set a clear hierarchy and expectations from the outset. Some team members should focus on asking the right questions and identifying the right problems, while others develop solutions.
It’s critical that non-data scientists have a basic understanding of data analytics so they can ask the right questions and collaborate efficiently with data experts in real time. Success is more likely when everyone across the organization sees data scientists as partners.
Building support for new processes and procedures surrounding data collaboration is essential.
Data scientists and other team members should meet with frontline employees to understand problems, trends, and areas where data analytics and predictive modeling can make a difference. Engaging with frontline employees and demonstrating how big data can help them do their jobs will significantly improve buy-in for new data-driven initiatives.
Effective communication between data and frontline employees is just the beginning. Data pervades every aspect of business operations, so organizations and individuals who challenge traditional processes and learn to effectively leverage data will gain a huge competitive advantage.
Data literacy is increasingly important for all employees, with research showing it’s set to be the most in-demand skill by 2030. This starts with building a foundation of knowledge around insurance data science, data management, and data sharing. Building a data-driven mindset involves:
The Institutes Designations’ new Associate in Insurance Data Analytics® (AIDA™) enables your employees to speak the language of data. AIDA gives employees the skills and confidence to use data effectively, streamline data conversations across the organization, and foster innovative decision-making in today's competitive landscape.
How to Study for Professional Exams While Balancing Work and Life
By Angela Pilotti, CPCU, AReEarning one of The Institutes Designations is a great way to enhance your professional skills and your career. It’s a signal to your employer, peers, and clients that you’re committed to gaining and maintaining expertise in the fields of risk management and insurance.
When you start your journey towards a designation, it’s important that you’re aware of all the study resources available to you so you can take advantage of them. In fact, our research shows that students who complete their course content and use the exam prep resources score, on average, two to five points higher on exams.
Here are three tips to help you prepare for your exam while balancing your professional and personal commitments.
Course materials from The Institutes Knowledge Group are designed for the busy adult learner and are accessible whenever and wherever you need them. Whether you’re fitting studying in over lunch, in the evenings, or even between rounds of pickleball on the weekend, you can learn at your own pace.
When you’re preparing for your exam, remember to make the most of the digital resources available to you, including assignments, study outlines, flashcards, quizzes, and a simulated exam—all designed to help you build new skills.
Remember: Use these resources as a part of your overall study plan to boost your chances of success!
Creating a daily study routine is a great way to stay focused and maintain progress when preparing for professional exams. It's not just about putting in the hours; it's about making a plan, setting goals, and using your time effectively.
According to PWC research, people who set at least four daily goals per week were 34% more likely to hit their targets than those who didn’t. Try setting goals around your exam prep and integrating study sessions into your daily routine to help you stay on track.
To get started you can use this personalized study plan. There are even two formats depending on your preferred study style!
Keep in mind that effective time management is essential in this process. Start by identifying your peak productivity hours and schedule focused study sessions accordingly. Whether it's early morning or late evening, choose a time when you're most alert and ready to absorb information. Set specific goals for each session, such as completing a certain number of assignments, to keep your progress steady and measurable.
Lastly, it’s important to maintain motivation and accountability throughout your exam preparation process. One effective strategy is to partner up with a study buddy—ideally someone who’s also working through similar course material. You might find a study buddy by connecting with other colleagues or connections who are working towards the same designation.
A great place to find support is The Institutes Chat Facebook group. This group offers a space of encouragement, study tips, and success stories.
Additionally, remember to communicate your commitment to your study goals with colleagues, friends, and family to help you stay accountable. And when you’ve achieved a goal you’ve set for yourself, be sure to celebrate the milestone: share it with your colleagues and manager, post about it on social media, and find a way to treat yourself and reflect on the progress you’ve made.
Balancing work, life, and prepping for professional exams might feel like a juggling act, but don’t worry—you’ve got this! With these study tips you’ll be ready to tackle that next exam with confidence.
Make the most of The Institutes Knowledge Group's study resources, and don’t forget to celebrate and share your success when you pass your exam. Your dedication to continuous learning and professional growth is setting you up for success as you navigate your career in risk management and insurance.
