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The Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding–AFSB–program is designed for everyone whose job duties or professional interests involve fidelity or surety bonding. The AFSB program was developed by the Insurance Institute of America with the support and technical assistance of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers and the Surety Association of America.

What the AFSB Program Can Do for You

• Improve your surety and fidelity bonding skills. You will understand bond production, underwriting, rating and claim handling; construction contractor financial and credit information; fidelity and related crime exposures; and financial institution exposures, coverages, forms, rating, and underwriting.

• Increase your knowledge of insurance. You will broaden your understanding of insurance. The Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) courses in the AFSB program complement your study of fidelity and surety bonds.

• Meet continuing education needs. Some states grant CE credits for passing the national exams leading to the AFSB designation.

• Gain a competitive advantage. The AFSB designation is recognized as a prestigious accomplishment. Earning the AFSB designation will exemplify your commitment to professionalism.

• Satisfy the CPCU Related Studies requirement. AFSB 151, 152, or 153 satisfies this requirement for the CPCU program.

AFSB Courses

There is no required sequence to this program. However, if you are new to surety bonding, we recommend that you take AFSB 151 and CPCU 8 before AFSB 152 and 153.

AFSB 151–Principles of Suretyship–covers:

• Types of bonds

• Bond production and underwriting

• Financial analysis

• Credit investigations and reports

• Bond ratemaking

• Fidelity and surety reinsurance

• Claim handling

• Surety professionals and ethical problems

AFSB 152–Contract Surety–covers:

• The construction business

• Legal considerations

• Contracts and contract bonds

• Underwriting

• Work in progress

• Financial analysis

• Specialty contract bonding

• Contract surety claims

AFSB 153–Crime Insurance and Noncontract Surety–covers:

• License and permit bonds

• Court bonds

• Fiduciary bonds

• Miscellaneous surety bonds

• Public official bonds

• Federal noncontract surety bonds

• Employee dishonesty insurance

• Crime coverages and financial institution bonds

• Underwriting and loss control

• Fidelity claims

CPCU 6–The Legal Environment of Insurance–covers:

• The American legal system

• Contract law

• Agency law

• Corporations, partnerships, and associations

• Commercial transactions and bankruptcy

• Tort law

• Property law

• Business entities

CPCU 8–Accounting and Finance–covers:

• The accounting process

• Applied accounting and finance

• Analytical tools for financial decision making

Earning the AFSB Designation

You can earn the AFSB designation by passing five national examinations: AFSB 151–Principles of Suretyship; AFSB 152–Contract Surety; AFSB 153–Crime Insurance and Noncontract Surety; CPCU 6–The Legal Environment of Insurance; and CPCU 8–Accounting and Finance.

How to Get Started

•Check with your employer. Follow your employer’s reimbursement policy for educational expenses.

•Order study materials. Your employer or local course-sponsor might have special procedures for ordering study materials and registering for the national exam. If not, the easiest and fastest ways to get started are to order online or to call (800) 644-2101 and charge your order to VISA, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express.

Register to take the national examination online or by calling the Institutes at (800) 644-2101 and charging the exam fee.

Examination Schedule

CPCU exams are offered in January and June (on paper) and February/March and August/September (on computer).  AFSB exams are offered in May 2000 and January 2001.  Contact Customer Service for additional exam dates.  See exam schedules for details.

Learn Your Way

You can take a class, form or join a study group, or study independently to prepare for the national exams. The Preparation Handbook-A Guide to CPCU and IIA Study provides information on study materials and preparation for the exams. For a free copy of The Preparation Handbook or information about public classes, contact Customer Service.

For More Information

• About the content of the AFSB program, contact Doris Hoopes, CPCU, ARe, ASLI, AIC, AAI, AIM, AAM, AIS, senior director of curriculum, at hoopes@cpcuiia.org, (610) 651-7654 (fax), or (610) 644-2100, ext. 7558 (phone).

• About the Institute’s educational programs, contact Customer Service at (800) 644-2101, (610) 640-9576 (fax), or cserv@cpcuiia.org.