California Community Colleges Offer Entry-Level Insurance Classes

Employers help staff gain college credit with valuable insurance classes.

San Francisco, CA — The California Insurance Careers Program and the state’s community college system are offering insurance employers a unique opportunity to send their staff ‘back to school’ starting in January 2007. The classes—both online and on select college campuses—are geared to prospective or current entry level workers who require additional training in the insurance industry. Day, evening, and online courses make the classes attractive to all companies, including those outside of California. Class schedules vary by campus and interested parties should visit the program website at
www.ca-icp.com and click ‘Available Classes’ on the main menu.

“An educated workforce is the cornerstone of the insurance industry,” said Paul White, CEO of Vantage Insurance Services, and originator of the program. “Tapping into the community college system to help provide basic insurance training for entry-level workers makes good business sense and one that will benefit the entire industry for many years to come,” said White.

The California Insurance Careers Program was designed in response to industry demand for qualified entry level workers. Industry experts, including the Insurance Educational Association and the Insurance Brokers and Agents of the West, have helped shape the curriculum. Available classes include: Introduction to Insurance, Property and Liability Principles, Personal Insurance, Commercial Insurance, and Insurance Code & Ethics.
“These college-level classes give entry-level workers the necessary training to fully capitalize on the high-growth opportunities provided by the insurance industry,” said John Urrutia, dean of the Business and

Computer Science Division at Solano College. “This model of working collaboratively with the business sector reinforces the valuable role community colleges can play in training tomorrow’s workers,” added Linda Avelar, dean of the Business and Creative Arts Division at the College of San Mateo.

The insurance classes are for entry level workers and are not intended to satisfy Continuing Education requirements. Participating colleges include: College of San Mateo, Feather River College, Glendale Community College, Merritt College, Palomar College, and Solano College. Many more of California’s 109 community colleges will begin offering the program in 2007.

About CA-ICP
The California Insurance Careers Program is a statewide initiative that unites community colleges, workforce investment boards, businesses, and the K-12 system to prepare students for careers in the insurance industry. The innovative new program is funded in part by a grant awarded under the President’s Community-Based Job Training Grants, as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment & Training Administration. More information about the California Insurance Careers Program can be found at www.ca-icp.com.

For more information regarding this News Release, please contact:
Jeff Stephens
California Insurance Careers Program
510-663-4462
jeff@ca-icp.com