Qualifications Required to Become an Insurance Agent
If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, a desire to provide genuine help and advice to others, and a desire to earn a passive income over the long term, then becoming a general insurance agent could well be the career-shaping decision of your life.
In this guide, you’ll learn about the
qualifications required to become an insurance agent, along with the skills
you’ll need to develop to become successful in your new career choice.
What Qualification is Required for Insurance Agents?
To be eligible to become an insurance agent,
the criteria is fairly straightforward. You don’t need much in the form of
educational qualifications. Nor do you require any capital investment. The most
important thing, as mentioned above, is your entrepreneurial spirit and genuine
care for other people’s well-being. The biggest investment that you’ll be
making is your time and effort.
Following are the minimum requirements to be
eligible to become a general insurance agent:
- All applicants must be minimum 18 years of
age
- All applicants must have a minimum education
up to 10th Standard or equivalent from a recognised education board in
India.
- Valid
license to practice insurance that is issued by the IRDAI upon passing the
mandatory examination.
Based on the above criteria, it is clear that
becoming a general insurance agent is relatively easy compared to many other
professions which require higher education and advanced degrees. It can be an
ideal career choice for housewives, students, shopkeepers and/or small business
owners.
However, while the qualifications required are
fairly minimal, you’ll need to develop a few key skills over time to be
successful in this industry. Let’s have a look at those next.
Skills Required for Insurance
Agents
Focus on Excellent Customer
Service
Like any professional who deals directly with
clients, an insurance agent also needs to provide clients with excellent
customer service. This is the key to a long term and mutually beneficial
relationship with the client. Happy clients also bring in more referrals, which
can be a boon for business.
Deep Product Knowledge
To sell anything successfully, you need to
know it inside out. While you can prepare for a few questions that are commonly
asked by clients, you’re bound to be thrown a curveball by a prospective client
from time to time. If you’re not deeply familiar with your product and its
features, you might falter and lose the prospect.
Excellent Written and Verbal
Communication
We’re not talking about using fancy words in
your communication here. Quite the opposite in fact. What this means is that
you need to be able to clearly get your point across to the client, both
verbally and through your writing, without using flashy words, and leaving no
room for any ambiguity. This is key to a long term relationship built on trust.
Strong Interpersonal Skills
You need to know this key skill to build a
long term relationship with your client. You’re relying on your satisfied
clients to bring you repeat business through renewals, as well as new business
through referrals. So it’s essential that you keep your clients happy with your
services. Listen to their problems with patience and empathy, and always look
to solve their problem by
recommending a solution that fits their requirement.
This is a key step.
Conclusion
What will define your success as an insurance
agent more than just your educational qualification is the skills you develop
as you gain experience in your new profession. Focus on providing great
customer service to each and every client you have by always trying to solve
their problems. This will be the foundation of your success.
View Original Source:- Qualifications Required to Become an Insurance Agent
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