“Professional development with The Institutes opens up doors and expands the horizon of opportunities available to you. Institute designation programs and courses teach you how to think more broadly and in the process help you gain recognition from your peers and management. With any industry, the more you learn, the better you can perform on the job, and the insurance and risk management industries are no exception.”

Randall Clinger, CPCU, ARe
Vice President,
Head of Marketing
Communications,
Swiss Re America Holding
Corporation

Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding (AFSB)

With The Institutes´ Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding designation program, you´ll build a strong foundation of knowledge in fidelity and surety bonding principles and practices. You´ll also gain an overall understanding of insurance operations and regulation so you can better serve your clients´ needs.

Those who meet the AFSB program requirements earn the Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding designation.

New! Ethics requirement. The Institutes believe ethical decision making skills are essential to the practice of insurance. Starting January 2011, all designation program participants must complete either Ethical Guidelines for Insurance Professionals (for all programs except CPCU) or the CPCU program’s Ethics and the CPCU Code of Professional Conduct. Both online modules are free. Learn more and register now.

The following courses are required to earn the AFSB designation. You may choose to take only AFSB 151 and 152 or AFSB 151 and 153 if specializing in those areas would better meet your career needs. However, to earn the Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding designation, you must complete all of the courses listed below.

AFSB 151—Principles of Suretyship: Types of Bonds, Bond Production/Underwriting, Credit Investigation, Bond Ratemaking, Reinsurance, Claim Process, and Ethics

AFSB 152—Contract Surety: Contract Bond Law, Bid Process, Underwriting, Contractors’ Financial Statements, Trend Analysis/Forecasting, and Contract Surety Claims

AFSB 153—Commercial Surety and Crime Insurance: License and Permit Bonds, Public Official Bonds, Court Bonds, Miscellaneous Surety Bonds, Commercial Crime Insurance, and Financial Institution Bonds

CPCU 530—Business Law for Insurance Porfessionals

CPCU 540—Finance for Risk Management and Insurance Professionals

Program Options: The Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding designation program is available as a self-study program via printed textbooks and course guides.

Public AFSB classes may be available through third-party providers.

We Recommend AFSB for: Bond producers, bond underwriters, and claim adjusters

Course Sequence: It is better to take AFSB 151 first and to take CPCU 540 before AFSB 152.

Exam Information: AFSB exams are offered at Institute-approved on-site testing locations and at Prometric Testing Centers. Contact your education coordinator for further information about on-site testing availability. AFSB exams consist of 85 objective questions, and examinees have two hours to complete each exam. See individual CPCU courses for their specific exam information.

Bottom-Line Benefits

  • Increase ability to serve a broad variety of clients by learning the various types of fidelity and surety bonds and their appropriate applications
  • Improve ability to serve principals and obligees in contract bonding by gaining an understanding of construction, contract bond law, and the contract bid process

E-mail: customerservice@TheInstitutes.org

Phone: (800) 644-2101

Fax: (610) 640-9576

Mail: The Institutes
720 Providence Road
Suite 100
Malvern, PA 19355-3433

Customer Service hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. eastern time.

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