Try AINS 101 for Free
Sample the all-new AINS with this 10-30 minute free micro-course. Plus, as part of the micro-course, complete the first assignment in AINS 101 and have just 5 assignments to go to finish your first course.
Sample AINS for Free

Free Micro-Course
Online AINS Micro-Course
- Topics
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- Introduction to Insurance
- Common Types of Insurance
- Types of Insurers
- How Risk Management Has Evolved
- Average Completion Time
- 10-30 Minutes
What You Get With AINS
Starting a new role can be overwhelming. Easily and quickly understand the basics of insurance, how your role fits in, and what comes next with the Associate in Insurance.
Insurance Basics You Can Use Immediately
Collaborate with colleagues
Work more closely with peers across departments by understanding how different areas of the business influence each other
Serve your customers
Help a variety of customers by understanding how insurer functions work together to create and deliver products
Get the insurance foundation you need
Build the foundation you need to grow by understanding how risk is assessed and claims are processed
Gain a broad understanding of risk and insurance
Get an overview of risk and insurance by understanding the different types of insurers and risk management practices
Adapt as your organization grows
Your organization will change as insurance needs change. With an understanding of evolving insurance trends, you’ll be able to more easily adapt and serve your customers.
100% Online With Complete Exam Prep
Interactive video courses, complete exam prep materials, and a simulated credentialing exam provide everything you need to ace your exam.
The New AINS for the Insurance Beginner
100% Online with Complete Exam Prep
- A subject matter expert to guide you through courses
- Realistic on-the-job scenarios that you can relate to
- Practice quizzes and a simulated credentialing exam to test your knowledge
- Digital flashcards to help you remember key terms
- A supplementary workbook to help you retain what you've learned
Complete Assignments in as Little as 25 Minutes
Build your insurance skills faster than you can stream your favorite new show. The AINS designation includes just three courses, plus a free ethics course.
Add AINS credentials to your name in just a few months
Finish AINS in 3 courses
The AINS designation includes just 3 core courses, plus a free ethics course. Each course has 6 assignments and each assignment can be completed in as little as 25 minutes.
Learn at your own pace
On-demand videos and interactions make it easy for you to stop and start your courses whenever it’s convenient for you.
Track your progress
With navigation tools within each course, it’s easy to know exactly what you have left to complete and see your progress along the way.
AINS at a Glance
The first step towards earning your AINS designation is to complete and pass the exam for this core course.
- AINS 101: Increasing Your Insurance IQ
Build your expertise with one of the concentrations below and complete the required course.
Personal Lines
- AINS 102: Understanding Personal Insurance
Commercial Lines
- AINS 103: Exploring Commercial Insurance
Select the opposite of your concentration course (AINS 102 or AINS 103) if you wish to gain a broad view of insurance. If you want to dive into a specific area more fully, choose CPCU 500, ARM 400, AIC 30, API 28, or AU 60.
- AINS 102: Understanding Personal Insurance
- AINS 103: Exploring Commercial Insurance
- CPCU 500: Managing Evolving Risks
- ARM 400: Risk in an Evolving World
- AIC 300: Claims in an Evolving World
- API 28: Personal Insurance: Underwriting and Marketing Principles
- AU 60: Evaluating Commercial Underwriting Risks
Ethics 311 is a free, required course for all designations at The Institutes. It will help you gain the tools you need to have strong ethical standards and build trust with your customers.
- Ethics 311: Ethical Decision Making in Risk and Insurance
If you're interested in taking the CPCU program, you'll want to complete Ethics 312: Ethical Guidelines for CPCUs instead.

Take the First Step with AINS 101
If you’re new to insurance, AINS 101: Increasing Your Insurance IQ is the first, fast step to building your insurance knowledge and confidence.
In AINS 101, you’ll learn:
- Why we have insurance and how insurers succeed
- How underwriting works and how insurers handle claims
- How insurers reach customers and what goes into an insurance policy

First job in insurance?
If you want to get a broad view of insurance, we recommend taking both AINS 102: Understanding Personal Insurance and AINS 103: Exploring Commercial Insurance. You can take one as your concentration course and one for your elective.
If you know what you’re interested in, you can choose one of the electives below. These courses are more advanced and take an in-depth view of different areas of risk and insurance. You can also credit these elective courses towards additional designations.
- CPCU 500: Managing Evolving Risks
- ARM 400: Risk in an Evolving World
- AIC 300: Claims in an Evolving World
- API 28: Personal Insurance: Underwriting and Marketing Practices
- AU 60: Evaluating Commercial Underwriting Risks
Students who take the AINS simulated exam score 6-9 points higher on AINS exams!*
Use our study materials and proven exam prep tools to pass your exam with confidence.
Your course package includes:
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A simulated exam proven to increase your chances of passing.*
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Interactive, online learning activities you can access anytime, anywhere.
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A printable workbook that highlights key points and breaks down complex concepts.
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Full-length practice exams that help you focus and maximize your study time.
“The simulated exams are very helpful. They give you an idea of what the real exam will be like and help you realize what you need to go back and study a bit more.”
Kelly Perkins CPCU, AINS

Still Wondering if AINS is Right for You?
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Who should take AINS?
AINS is for anyone new to risk management and insurance. This includes someone just starting to work professionally or who has recently changed careers.
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Which AINS completion path provides me with a general view of insurance?
We recommend taking both AINS 102: Understanding Personal Insurance and AINS 103: Exploring Commercial Insurance if you wish to gain a broad view of insurance. You can take one for your concentration course and the other for your elective course.
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Can I sample the course material before I purchase?
Yes! We have a free 10-30 minute micro-course that will give you a taste of AINS course material. Plus, as part of the micro-course, you’ll complete the first assignment of AINS 101. That means you’ll have just 5 assignments to go to complete your first full AINS course! You can sign up for the micro-course here.
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Does earning this designation give me credit toward others?
- If you take CPCU 500 for your elective course, credit will be applied toward the CPCU designation.
- If you take ARM 400 for your elective course, credit will be applied toward the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation.
- If you take AIC 300, credit will be applied toward the Associate in Claims (AIC) designation.
- If you take AINS 101, AINS 102, or API 28, credit will be applied toward the Associate in Personal Insurance (API) designation.
- If you take AINS 101, credit will be applied toward the Senior Professional Public Adjuster (SPPA) designation.
- If you take AU 60, credit will be applied toward the Associate in Commercial Underwriting (AU) designation.
Not ready for a designation? We have you covered.
Insurance Essentials
.Gain a basic understanding of risk management and insurance concepts. Learn key terms and definitions, understand the different types of insurance, and explore how insurance affects society and the economy.
Introduction to Risk Management and Insurance
.Confidently serve your customers with an understanding of basic risk management and insurance principles. Build a foundation in insurance functions and regulation, the risk management process, and the claims and underwriting decision processes.
*Based on AINS student exam results vs exam preparation methodologies, 2020-2021