Risk Alliance Tackles Producer Skill Gap with New CIRP Designation

AUSTIN, TX – January 20, 2026 – The Risk & Insurance Education Alliance today announced the launch of the Certified Insurance & Risk Professional (CIRP) designation, a new educational program engineered to address a widely recognized skills gap among commercial lines producers. The initiative aims to bolster the technical expertise, sales acumen, and client advisory skills of professionals in a sector grappling with significant demographic and technological shifts.

Developed in response to direct feedback from industry leaders, the CIRP program is designed to be a potent tool for agencies seeking to accelerate the development of their producers. It provides a foundational curriculum intended to empower them to identify client exposures, close critical coverage gaps, and step into leadership roles with greater confidence and effectiveness.

"Agency Owners, sales and education managers told us loud and clear what their producers were missing," said William J. Hold, CRM, CISR, President & CEO of the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance. "CIRP gives producers the technical and sales foundation and the confidence they need to step into client leadership roles faster and with greater impact."

Addressing a Critical Talent Chasm

The launch of the CIRP designation arrives at a pivotal moment for the insurance industry. Recent studies and demographic trends paint a stark picture of a workforce in transition, facing a looming talent crisis. Industry reports indicate that nearly 400,000 insurance professionals are expected to retire in the coming years, creating a massive vacuum of institutional knowledge and experience.

Compounding this issue is a persistent struggle to attract new talent. Research shows that a mere 4% of millennials express interest in pursuing a career in insurance, with many citing a limited understanding of the opportunities within the field. This recruitment challenge leaves the industry with a shallow pipeline of next-generation leaders, particularly in the complex world of commercial lines, where independent agencies write an estimated 88% of all premiums in the United States.

Simultaneously, the skills required for success are rapidly evolving. The increasing integration of technology, data analytics, and artificial intelligence demands a new level of digital literacy. Projections suggest the need for technology-focused skills in the industry will surge by 55% by 2030, forcing both new and veteran professionals to adapt. The CIRP program appears positioned to address these converging challenges by offering a structured path to competency that is both modern and practical.

A Practical Toolkit for the Modern Producer

Described by the Alliance as a "shot of adrenaline" for producers, the CIRP designation is built around a curriculum focused on immediate, real-world application. The program eschews a purely academic approach in favor of providing the practical skills needed for early and sustained career success. To earn the designation, candidates must complete five self-paced courses:

• Commercial Casualty I & II: These courses provide an in-depth understanding of complex liability exposures, covering areas such as general liability, commercial auto, and workers' compensation.
• Insuring Commercial Property: This module focuses on the intricacies of protecting physical assets, including buildings, equipment, and business income.
• Elements of Risk Management: Moving beyond simple policy sales, this course equips producers with the principles to act as true risk advisors, helping clients identify, assess, and mitigate potential losses.
• Dynamics of Selling for CIRP: A key differentiator, this course is tailored specifically to the insurance sales process, focusing on client communication, needs analysis, and relationship management—skills often identified as underdeveloped in technically proficient but less experienced producers.

The program is offered through a flexible model, available as an online, self-paced option for individual professionals and as a structured corporate program for agency groups. This dual-track availability ensures accessibility for producers at various career stages and within different organizational structures. Furthermore, most courses are designed to qualify for continuing education (CE) credit nationwide, providing an additional incentive for professionals to enroll.

Navigating a Crowded Field of Credentials

The CIRP designation enters a well-established landscape of professional insurance education, populated by respected credentials such as the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Associate in Risk Management (ARM), and Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC). However, the new program appears to have carved out a specific and strategic niche.

While designations like the CPCU are known for their comprehensive, academic rigor and are often pursued over several years, the CIRP program is positioned as a more targeted and accelerated pathway. Its unique blend of technical insurance knowledge with dedicated sales and client-relations training is aimed squarely at the commercial lines producer. It seeks to bridge the gap between knowing the intricacies of a policy and being able to effectively communicate its value and application to a business owner.

Compared to service-focused designations like the Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR), the CIRP places a greater emphasis on the producer's role in risk identification and sales execution. It is not designed to replace these other credentials but rather to serve a distinct purpose: to make producers proficient and productive more quickly, thereby improving agency performance and delivering better outcomes for clients. The annual 8-hour update requirement to maintain the credential reinforces a commitment to lifelong learning, ensuring designees remain current with industry changes long after completing the initial courses.

This focused approach, born from direct industry consultation, suggests a strategic effort to provide a credential that delivers tangible results for both the individual producer and their employer. Information on enrollment for both individuals and corporate groups is now available on the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance website.