After two years of planning, the Target Market Program Administrators Association's virtual “Target University” will start offering its online coursework beginning in second-quarter 2011, with eight courses currently in the final testing stage.

The coursework, which will culminate in the new Certified Program Leader (CPL) designation, is specifically designed by TMPAA experts to educate members on what it takes to succeed in the program administration business.

When completed, the CPL program will consist of 12 mandatory courses. These include courses in program contracts, underwriting, program marketing, and finance and accounting, said Greg Thompson, president of Kennesaw, Ga.-based THOMCO and past TMPAA president, who oversees the university and sponsors the program contracts class.

The goal of Delaware-based TMPAA is to have all 12 courses available to members by the end of 2011. Additional elective courses will be considered once the university is in operation.

The coursework is designed for agency owners and senior management, and for senior management at insurance companies who want to be program managers, Mr. Thompson said.

“Other associations have similar courses, but they're focused around the insurance industry,” he said. “Most of our courses are specific to the business issues that arise in the process of running a program business.

“The goal of our program is not to teach insurance, but to give members what they need to start and maintain a successful program administration business,” he said. “For example, a bad contract with an insurer can put you out of business.”

In addition, he said, “there are many new businesses, and we want to help them learn the key elements they need to be successful, while the more experienced members can brush up their skills.”

Individual classes are about three hours long and consist of a video presentation and PowerPoint delivered by a subject expert, with each section followed by review questions and test questions at the end.

Christine Lewis from Interprove Communications helped structure the content. She has 26 years of corporate experience in the insurance industry, serving for 15 years in a senior executive position for the American Institute for CPCU/Insurance Institute of America. She acquired extensive experience in instructional design as well as curriculum and examination development while serving in her capacity as chief academic officer for the institutes. She also served as the planning officer.

The courses will be available on a separate website linked to the TMPAA website.

Each class is sponsored by a TMPAA member for $25,000 per class.

Registration costs per class for TMPAA members has not yet been established but will be “modest,” Mr. Thompson said.

Laura Mazzuca Toops is editor of American Agent & Broker magazine, part of Summit Business Media's Property & Casualty Media Group, which includes National Underwriter

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