About the MLIS Program

The Management Liability Insurance Specialist (MLIS^®) program is comprised of a specialized curriculum. Part 1, which consists of three courses, covers elements that are common to all types of E&O, D&O, and Professional liability policies, such as claims-made coverage triggers and policy conditions. The four courses in Part 2 focus specifically on directors and officers liability, employment practices liability, and fiduciary liability insurance. Those who complete Part 1 of the program will receive a certificate suitable for wall display showing they have demonstrated expertise in professional liability insurance. Those who go on to complete the Part 2 courses are then entitled to display the MLIS certification to certify their knowledge of management liability insurance and risk management. The program is designed specifically for retail insurance agents and brokers and risk managers, but will also be useful to surplus lines brokers and underwriters.

To obtain the MLIS certification, you complete the seven specialized courses in Part 1 and 2 of the program. To maintain the MLIS certification, you obtain only 3 hours of approved professional or management liability insurance continuing education credit during the initial 24 months and every 12 months thereafter (generally one online course or a half day of seminar attendance). The entire curriculum is delivered online through a user-friendly interface. The MLIS program is brought to you by IRMI, the leader in risk management and insurance research and education for more than 30 years.

The MLIS Certification Establishes Credibility and Dedication

Management liability exposures and coverages are quite complex, and insurance generalists frequently make errors in designing programs for their clients. Thus, the MLIS program was developed by IRMI in response to concerns expressed by clients about the difficulty of determining whether their insurance agents, brokers, and other risk advisers have the specialized knowledge necessary to properly design and arrange their insurance programs. Completing the MLIS curriculum will assure that the agent, broker, consultant, or in-house risk manager or insurance buyer understands the most important aspects of professional and management liability. The program also establishes the individual's commitment to the industry with a mandatory continuing education component focusing on professional and management liability insurance. When dealing with a holder of the MLIS certification, a buyer will know that this person possesses at least a basic-to-intermediate understanding of management liability exposures, insurance, and risk management techniques, and that the person is making an effort to stay on top of relevant insurance industry changes and trends.

Who Should Take the MLIS Program?

Part 1 of the MLIS program is relevant for anyone who becomes involved in the purchase or sale of any type of errors and omissions, management, or professional liability insurance. The full program (Part 1 and Part 2) is appropriate for anyone who designs, sells, buys, litigates, or underwrites directors and officers (D&O), fiduciary, or employment practices liability (EPL) insurance. You should strongly consider taking the MLIS continuing education program if you are a:

Retail insurance agent or broker
Risk manager or insurance manager
Risk and insurance consultant

Additionally, surplus lines brokers and management liability underwriters, particularly those new to professional or management liability insurance, may benefit from this educational program.

Benefits of the MLIS Certification for Agents and Brokers

By completing Parts 1 and 2 of this educational program and receiving the MLIS certification you will enjoy the following benefits. Click the arrows to learn more about each.

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Increase Your Sales of Lucrative Coverage Lines
Retail insurance agents and brokers will parlay their work on the MLIS program into more sales of lucrative D&O, E&O, and professional liability insurance lines. You will gain the confidence, competence and credibility to help you accomplish all the following and more:
- Explain to executives at privately-held companies why they should consider purchasing directors and officers liability, fiduciary, and employment practices liability insurance policies to protect their personal assets and those of their companies.
- Sell to accounts with heavy professional or management liability exposures that you felt incompetent to properly deal with prior to the program (e.g., banks, physicians, lawyers, accountants, clinics, and others).
- Find errors and problems in programs sold by your competitors to use as your lever for getting in the door of your target accounts.
- Approach publicly-held companies that previously intimidated you and impress them with your capabilities.
- Engage in constructive dialogue regarding these complex risks and lines of insurance with professional risk managers.
- Impress underwriters, convince them to write the accounts you bring them, and negotiate for important coverage enhancements for your clients.
Enhance Your Professional Credibility

With the MLIS certification behind your name, you make a statement to colleagues, clients, underwriters, and other insurance professionals that you understand the complexities of D&O, EPL, and fiduciary and many other professional liability risks and how to insure them.
Reduce the Potential for Embarrassing Errors and Omissions on Your Accounts

E&O, management liability, and professional liability insurance policies are extremely complex, and it is easy to make errors when putting new programs together or renewing or replacing an existing program. Knowledge gained from the MLIS courses will help you eliminate dangerous coverage gaps and provide better protection for your clients.
Gain Respect and Advance Your Career

The specialized knowledge and credibility you gain from the MLIS program will make you a more valuable employee and help you achieve your career goals.
Leverage Your CE Investment Beyond Simply Keeping Your License

Why take the same old boring continuing education classes to meet the CE requirements to keep your license when you can learn something new that will increase your success as an agent or broker? With MLIS, you can simultaneously get convenient state insurance CE credit, add new capabilities to your skill set, and obtain an insurance industry certification all at once. And it does all of this at a surprisingly low cost and by requiring no time away from the office!

Benefits of the MLIS Certification for Risk Managers

By completing Parts 1 and 2 of this educational program and receiving the MLIS certification you will enjoy the following benefits. Click the arrows to learn more about each.

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Reduce the Chance of Error with these All Important Coverage Lines

Nothing could be more embarrassing or career threatening to a risk manager than for a lawsuit against a director, officer, or fellow manager to be excluded under the D&O, fiduciary, EPLI, E&O, or professional liability policy purchased to cover that very type of claim. Yet, management liability, E&O, and professional liability insurance policies are so complex and there are so many variations in the marketplace that coverage gaps are commonplace. Knowledge gained from the MLIS courses will help you eliminate dangerous coverage gaps and provide better protection for your corporate directors, executives, and managers.
Enhance Your Credibility With Your Manager, CEO, and Board

Since their personal assets are exposed to loss, corporate directors and officers are keenly interested in assuring the executive liability program purchased to protect them is adequate. With the MLIS certification behind your name, you make a statement that you understand their concerns and will take every step possible to make certain the insurance policies you buy will give them the protection they need and deserve. Knowing you are at the helm, they will get a nice quiet night’s sleep.
Reduce the Premiums for these Costly Insurance Lines

While assuring adequate coverage is probably your driving goal with your D&O, EPL, fiduciary, E&O, or professional liability insurance program, you also don’t want to waste money. The MLIS program will help you evaluate your firm’s loss exposures and better understand the underwriting and pricing process for these lines of insurance. With this knowledge, you will be a smarter and better insurance buyer.
Get the Best Advice and Service from Your Agent or Broker

By knowing the right questions to ask, where common problems occur, and something about what can be achieved in the marketplace, you can make certain your agent or broker knows his or her stuff and is properly handling these all important lines of insurance for you.
Gain Respect and Advance Your Career

One of the most important keys to advancing your career as a professional risk manager is to continuously improve your knowledge and the confidence that others place in you. Thus, the specialized knowledge and credibility you gain from the MLIS program will make you a more valuable employee and help you achieve your career goals.
Get Insurance CE Credit if You Need It

If you hold an insurance license, the MLIS courses can be used to fulfill the mandatory CE requirement in your state. Thus, the MLIS program serves triple duty by satisfying this requirement while adding new capabilities to your skill set, and providing you with a credibility building certification all at once. And it does all of this at a surprisingly low cost and by requiring no time away from the office!

Get Started Now!

It is easy to enroll in the MLIS continuing education program. Just go to the Course Catalog in the MLIS Learning Center, select the CE course(s) you wish to take, indicate whether you need state insurance CE credit, and proceed to checkout. You could be on your way to achieving your MLIS certification with your first course in 10 minutes!