Message from the President

What does it mean to be a “professional?” It’s certainly a term thrown around a lot these days, but what does it really entail? There are many ways the word is used – paid versus non-paid (i.e. professional vs. amateur athlete), showing great skill (i.e. a professional repair job) or engaging in a certain activity as a career or livelihood (i.e. a professional auditor).

For me, being a professional obviously means being part of a well-defined craft, trade or profession, such as independent adjusting. The term also describes the standards of education, training and licensing that prepare members of the profession with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform that role. This also applies to minimum standards for continuing education.

In addition, most professionals are subject to strict codes of conduct enshrining rigorous ethical obligations. Professional standards of practice and ethics for a particular field are typically agreed upon and maintained through widely recognized professional associations.

If you use these parameters as a benchmark or rough guideline, it’s easy to see the commitment to professionalism CIAA members have through their choice to belong to their professional association.

How, specifically, does CIAA promote professionalism throughout the independent adjuster community? First on the list is education and professional designations. Recently, the association announced the addition of a third credentialing program, affording each member further opportunity to raise their professional status. The FCLA, CLA and FCIAA designations reflect outstanding ability and qualifications in the field of loss adjusting. Through a comprehensive marketing strategy, the FCLA, CLA and FCIAA designations will differentiate CIAA members as the elite group of adjusters in the country.

Our alignment with other industry educational bodies is a key sign that we are committed to the latest in leading-edge learning materials and course work for adjusters. We are pleased to have Peter Hohman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Insurance Institute of Canada, on CIAA’s National Insurance Industry Advisory Board ensuring this continuity in education.

A condition of provincial licensing for independent adjusters (in most provinces) is the requirement for minimum hours of continuing education. CIAA actively promotes high and rigid adjusting standards both in continuing education and experience. We are an active organizer and supporter of professional development in the form of seminars, conferences, on-line training opportunities and continuous learning events and initiatives.

Your national association also has a published Code of Ethics that applies to policyholders and claims, as well as insurers and self-insurers. Membership in CIAA means that all members abide by the standards set out in the Code.

Adherence to education and conduct/ethical standards is the point of entry for recognized professional status. This is the minimum benchmark that groups like CIAA and its provincial chapters can define and promote for independent adjusters.

However, I think true professionalism goes even beyond these standards. There are further, less tangible traits that embody the true professional – including expertise, honesty, commitment, transparency, respect and empathy.

Once the standards, licensing and code of ethics requirements are met, the sign of a real professional is that you know one immediately when you deal with one. These are just some of the characteristics that I see everyday in my workings with CIAA and our member firms.