To earn the Associate in Claims designation from The Institutes, you complete two core courses, one elective, and a free ethics course, then pass a proctored exam for each of the three paid courses. There are no education or experience prerequisites. Most candidates finish in six to nine months, and the full cost typically runs between about $2,000 and $2,275 if you pass every exam on the first attempt. Here is what each requirement looks like and where the money goes.
Who Can Enroll
The AIC program has no gatekeeping. You don’t need a college degree, a set number of years in claims, or a current adjuster license. The Institutes describe it as open to “anyone looking to grow in the claims field, either to get better at their current job or to be considered for new job opportunities.”1The Institutes. Associate in Claims (AIC) That makes it a realistic first credential whether you’re new to claims or formalizing years of experience.
Courses You Must Complete
Every candidate takes the same two core courses, chooses one of four electives, and completes the ethics course. Nothing substitutes for the core or ethics requirements.
Two Core Courses
AIC 300: Claims in an Evolving World is the foundation course. It covers negotiating settlements, interviewing witnesses and experts, investigative techniques, and identifying fraudulent behavior.2The Institutes. AIC 300: Claims in an Evolving World
AIC 301: Expanding Your Claims Perspective focuses on the legal and contractual side. You learn to apply policy language to actual claims, explain coverage decisions, determine legal responsibility for damage and injuries, and resolve disputes outside of court.3The Institutes. AIC 301: Expanding Your Claims Perspective
One Elective
You then pick one elective that matches your line of work. Four are available:4The Institutes. Claims Online Course List
- AIC 302: Successfully Evaluating Auto Claims — auto liability, policy analysis, physical damage valuation, and bodily injury assessment.1The Institutes. Associate in Claims (AIC)
- AIC 303: Successfully Evaluating Liability Claims — evidence gathering, expert interviews, liability coverage analysis, and claim valuation for general liability exposures.
- AIC 304: Successfully Evaluating Property Claims — property valuation, common causes of loss, cargo and construction claims, and payment determination.
- AIC 305: Successfully Evaluating Workers Compensation Claims — workers compensation coverage, disability evaluation, return-to-work practices, and subrogation.
Each elective has its own exam.
Ethics 311
Every candidate also completes Ethics 311: Ethical Decision Making in Risk and Insurance, which covers building an ethical framework for handling conflicts common in claims work. The course is free, and its built-in exam allows unlimited attempts.5The Institutes. Ethics 311: Ethical Decision Making in Risk and Insurance Ethical judgment questions also appear throughout the core exams, so the material carries over.
Exams
All AIC exams are virtual and proctored. You take them on your own computer during one of four quarterly windows each year:6The Institutes. Exam Information
- Quarter 1: January 15 through March 15
- Quarter 2: April 15 through June 15
- Quarter 3: July 15 through September 15
- Quarter 4: October 15 through December 15
Each exam has 50 multiple-choice questions with 65 minutes to complete. Passing is 70 percent or higher, and you see your result immediately after submitting.6The Institutes. Exam Information Questions test application rather than memorization, so most involve evaluating a scenario and choosing the correct course of action.
If you don’t pass, you can retake the same exam up to twice within a single testing window and up to four times within any 12-month period.7The Institutes. After Exam Day Retakes require paying the exam fee again, though a virtual retake in the same testing window as the failed attempt costs $80 less than the standard price.
What It Costs
Each online learning package costs $419 and includes the interactive course, a printable study outline, practice quizzes, a simulated exam, flashcards, a mobile app, and an AI assignment assistant. Three paid courses are required — two core plus one elective — so study materials alone come to $1,257.
Exam registration is $339 at the standard rate, or $259 if you register before the testing window opens, saving up to $80 per exam. For three paid exams, that puts exam costs between $777 and $1,017. Ethics 311 and its exam are free.
Added together, the AIC typically costs about $2,000 to $2,275 if you pass every exam on the first attempt. Failed exams add the full registration fee (or the $80-lower virtual-retake fee) each time you sit again.
Who Qualifies for a Discount
The Institutes give a 50 percent discount on the standard exam fee to full-time college students, teachers at accredited U.S. colleges or universities, employees of state or federal insurance regulatory agencies, and members of the U.S. military on active duty or in the reserves.6The Institutes. Exam Information Registering before the testing window opens is available to everyone and cuts up to $80 off each exam.
How Long It Takes
The Institutes estimate most candidates finish the AIC in six to nine months, with each course averaging four to six weeks of study.1The Institutes. Associate in Claims (AIC) Because the program runs entirely online with quarterly exam windows, your pace depends mainly on how much time you can put in between windows. Studying consistently in the evenings can move you faster than the average; fitting it around a heavy caseload can push you past nine months.
The AIC-M Management Add-On
The Associate in Claims–Management designation is a separate credential built on top of the AIC. You must earn the AIC first, then complete one additional course, AIC 330: Leading a Successful Claims Team.8The Institutes. Associate in Claims-Management (AIC-M) You don’t repeat the ethics requirement. Add roughly $419 for the course package plus one more exam fee if you plan to pursue it.
Keeping the Designation and CE Credit
The Institutes do not charge a formal annual renewal fee for the AIC, though they encourage designees to continue professional development and to log in periodically to confirm active status. AIC courses may also count toward the continuing education hours required for your state adjuster license, but course approval varies by state, so check with your state’s licensing authority before assuming your AIC coursework covers your CE obligation.1The Institutes. Associate in Claims (AIC) When it does count, the same hours satisfy both requirements.