Am I in the Right Course or Program?
The Institutes provide an educational advising service (see Appendix,
Section B) to help you make the best choice in determining where to start
your insurance and risk management education. Likewise, many companies
have proven career-training tracks that guide their employees into courses
in which they are more likely to succeed.
What Level Course Is Right for Me?
To be successful, you need to match your educational skill level to the
degree of difficulty of the course you have in mind. For instance, if you are
just coming out of a college environment, you are probably better prepared
to work with college-level material and to make a regular commitment to
study than someone who graduated years ago and who has numerous competing
obligations.
Another consideration is your current level of knowledge about the course
content. People learn best when they can attach new information to something
they already know. When there is too large a gap between someone’s
current level of knowledge and the new material, his or her ability to
effectively learn and recall the new material is diminished. For example,
someone with no understanding of medicine would likely be more successful
in a first-aid course than in a course on brain surgery.
What Program Should I Start With?
Some employers have defined development paths for their employees. These
paths most often start with courses closely related to the functional area in
which the employee is currently working. Thereafter, development paths
generally progress upward and outward to include courses that broaden an
employee’s understanding of other functional areas and the entire industry.
Consulting with your employer about this development path is a smart first step.
Keep in mind that when you can immediately apply new concepts in your
work or personal life, you enhance your understanding of the information
and your ability to recall it. Therefore, if you are working in a claim
department, starting