Career Details

41-3021.00 - Insurance Sales Agents

Sell life, property, casualty, health, automotive, or other types of insurance. May refer clients to independent brokers, work as an independent broker, or be employed by an insurance company.

Key Facts

Bright Outlook

Career Details

Green Job

Career Details

Current Employment

466,100

Estimate

Forecasted Employment

509,500

Estimate

Change in Employment

+43,500

Estimate

Change in Employment %

+9.3%

Estimate

Tasks

The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.

Core

Call on policyholders to deliver and explain policy, to analyze insurance program and suggest additions or changes, or to change beneficiaries.
Calculate premiums and establish payment method.
Customize insurance programs to suit individual customers, often covering a variety of risks.
Sell various types of insurance policies to businesses and individuals on behalf of insurance companies, including automobile, fire, life, property, medical and dental insurance, or specialized policies, such as marine, farm/crop, and medical malpractice.
Interview prospective clients to obtain data about their financial resources and needs, the physical condition of the person or property to be insured, and to discuss any existing coverage.
Seek out new clients and develop clientele by networking to find new customers and generate lists of prospective clients.
Explain features, advantages, and disadvantages of various policies to promote sale of insurance plans.
Contact underwriter and submit forms to obtain binder coverage.
Ensure that policy requirements are fulfilled, including any necessary medical examinations and the completion of appropriate forms.
Confer with clients to obtain and provide information when claims are made on a policy.
Perform administrative tasks, such as maintaining records and handling policy renewals.
Select company that offers type of coverage requested by client to underwrite policy.
Develop marketing strategies to compete with other individuals or companies who sell insurance.
Attend meetings, seminars, and programs to learn about new products and services, learn new skills, and receive technical assistance in developing new accounts.

Supplemental

Monitor insurance claims to ensure they are settled equitably for both the client and the insurer.
Inspect property, examining its general condition, type of construction, age, and other characteristics, to decide if it is a good insurance risk.
Install bookkeeping systems and resolve system problems.
Plan and oversee incorporation of insurance program into bookkeeping system of company.
Explain necessary bookkeeping requirements for customer to implement and provide group insurance program.

All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.

Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.

Customer and Personal Service

Administration and Management

Education and Training

Communications and Media

Computers and Electronics

Personnel and Human Resources

Economics and Accounting

Clerical

All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.

Tools

The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.

All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.

Technology

The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.

Content authoring and editing software

Finance accounting and enterprise resource planning ERP software

Data management and query software

Content management software

Information exchange software

Industry specific software

Business function specific software

Operating environment software

Network applications software

All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.

Certifications

FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward

The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.

Advanced

Core

Associate in Insurance Accounting and Finance
The Institutes
720 Providence Road, PO Box 3016, Malvern, PA 19335-0716
Certified Salesperson
Sales & Marketing Executives International (SMEI)
PO Box 1390, Sumas, WA 98295-1390
Associate in Information Technology
The Institutes
720 Providence Road, PO Box 3016, Malvern, PA 19335-0716
Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding
The Institutes
720 Providence Road, PO Box 3016, Malvern, PA 19335-0716
Associate in Risk Management - Enterprise Wide Risk Management
The Institutes
720 Providence Road, PO Box 3016, Malvern, PA 19335-0716
Associate in Commercial Underwriting - Management
The Institutes
720 Providence Road, PO Box 3016, Malvern, PA 19335-0716
Associate in General Insurance
The Institutes
720 Providence Road, PO Box 3016, Malvern, PA 19335-0716
Associate in National Flood Insurance
The Institutes
720 Providence Road, PO Box 3016, Malvern, PA 19335-0716
Associate, Insurance Regulatory Compliance
LOMA (LOMA)
2300 Windy Ridge Parkway, Suite 600 Atlanta, GA 303391-800-ASK-LOMA
Certified Estate and Trust Specialist
Institute of Certified Fund Specialists (ICFS)
Institute of Business & Finance, 7911 Herschel Avenue, Suite 201, La Jolla, CA 92037-4413858-200-8831
Certified Insurance Counselors
The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research (TNA)
PO Box 27027, Austin, TX 78755-2027
Certified Insurance Service Representatives
The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research (TNA)
PO Box 27027, Austin, TX 78755-2027
Certified in Long Term Care
Corporation for Long Term Care Certification (CLTC)
188 Needham Street, Suite 230, Newton, MA 02464617-796-9788
Certified Pension Consultant
American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA)
4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 750, Arlington, VA 22203
Certified Sales Professional
Manufacturers Representatives Educational Research Foundation (MRERF)
P.O. Box 247, Geneva, IL 60134
Associate in Personal Insurance
The Institutes
720 Providence Road, PO Box 3016, Malvern, PA 19335-0716
Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance
The Institutes
720 Providence Road, PO Box 3016, Malvern, PA 19335-0716
Associate in Insurance Services
The Institutes
720 Providence Road, PO Box 3016, Malvern, PA 19335-0716
Associate in Marine Insurance Management
The Institutes
720 Providence Road, PO Box 3016, Malvern, PA 19335-0716

All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.

Licensing

The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.

No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.

All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.

Related Programs

Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.

INSTITUTION

PROGRAMS

Bridgewater College

Programs

Business Administration Major - BA

Bachelor of Arts

The George S. Aldhizer II Department of Economics and Business Administration offers two majors—economics and business administration—that prepare students to pursue managerial and other professional careers as well as graduate education. We build on the liberal arts foundation provided by the College’s general education program and give each student the knowledge, skills and experience to become a successful and ethical leader, capable of making valued contributions to his or her workplace, society and self. Through a combination of lectures, discussions, case analyses, team projects and presentations, and other in-class activities, courses are designed to integrate economic and business theory and practice; encourage independent and critical thinking using both qualitative and quantitative reasoning; and develop skills in decision making and implementation, teamwork and collaboration, and all forms of communication. Experiential learning opportunities abound through internships, study abroad programs and participation in student organizations, to supplement classroom learning. The economics major consists of 14 courses in economics and mathematics. Economics majors may choose among three tracks: business, government policy and preparation for graduate school via additional mathematics courses. Economics majors can also earn an emphasis in financial economics. The business administration major consists of 15 courses in business, economics and mathematics. To gain greater depth in a particular area of business, many students pursue one of the four concentrations we offer in the business administration major: accounting, finance, marketing and organization management. By taking additional courses, in one of these areas, students build specialization on the solid foundation provided by the business administration major. In addition to the previously mentioned majors, the department also offers minors in business administration, certified financial planning, and economics.

Randolph-Macon College

Programs

Business - Finance (BA)

Bachelor of Arts

A major in business offers students the opportunity to explore theories and concepts from accounting, business, and economics. Students study in an active learning environment and begin to understand and appreciate the complex nature of business organizations through applied economic theory. A major in business prepares students for a career in all business environments and provides an excellent foundation for graduate studies in such fields as business and law. The major in business requires a common core of courses plus one of three concentrations: Finance, Management, or Marketing. All courses in the core and in each concentration must be completed with a grade of C- or better.

Business - Management (BA)

Bachelor of Arts

Business - Marketing (BA)

Bachelor of Arts