Insurance broker
Business and Finance

How to become an insurance broker

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards the role
• a graduate training scheme

University

You could take a degree before applying for a place on an insurance company's graduate training scheme. Relevant degrees include:

• business studies
• finance
• surveying
• engineering

It'll help to get some relevant work experience whilst you're studying, for example through an internship.

University (Entry requirements)

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Apprenticeship

You could get into this this job through an insurance professional higher apprenticeship.

Apprenticeship (Entry requirements)

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Work

Employers often prefer to take on trainees with a minimum of GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English and maths, and A levels. IT skills are also important.

You would usually start in one of the following jobs:

• insurance technician
• junior account handler
• trainee broker

You could work your way up to broker as you get experience and insurance industry qualifications, for example, through the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).

The CII qualifications offer study units relevant to the insurance areas you specialise in, for example marine, commercial or general insurance. Examples of qualifications include:

• CII Level 3 Certificate in Insurance - for trainee brokers
• CII Diploma in Insurance
• CII Advanced Diploma in Insurance

Other routes

If you have a degree, you could join a large insurance broking firm's graduate training scheme. Most degree subjects are accepted, but a business or maths degree may give you an advantage, as there is often a lot of competition for places.

More info

Career tips You'll find it useful to have experience in office work, sales or financial customer service. Professional and industry bodies You could join the Chartered Insurance Institute for professional development and training opportunities. Further information You can find out more about working in insurance from the Chartered Insurance Institute and Discover Risk.

What it takes

Skills & Knowledge

You'll need:

• customer service skills
• the ability to sell products and services
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to use your initiative
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• persistence and determination
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• excellent verbal communication skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

What you'll do

Day to day

Your day-to-day duties may include:

• gathering information from clients to assess their insurance needs and risk
• researching insurance policies
• arranging insurance cover for clients, and submitting details to insurers
• negotiating the best policy terms with insurers
• renewing or changing existing policies
• making sure the cover and paperwork you provide meets legal requirements
• collecting premiums and processing accounts
• advising customers who are making a claim
• keeping records using IT systems
• issuing documentation
• preparing reports for insurance underwriters and surveyors in complex cases

Working environment

You could work in an office.

Career path and progression

Career path & progression

With experience, you could move into account handling, claims broking or a business development role. You could specialise in an area of insurance, progress into management, or move into other types of insurance work like loss adjusting, underwriting or compliance.