Certified School Risk Managers (CSRM) Designation Program and School-Oriented Certificate Courses

CSRM

The Certified School Risk Managers Program was created to fill a void in the educational opportunities for school risk managers, and those agents and other service providers who work with them. By taking and passing all five of these courses, you can earn the prestigious CSRM designation. Each of the five courses in the CSRM designation has 7 hours of instruction followed by a one-hour (optional) multiple-choice exam.

Because CSRM is moving into new states every week, it is important to check the national schedule regularly for the latest dates and locations of CSRM courses. See our CE Guide for state-specific CE information.

Important news for CISR designees and participants: CISRs may update and earn continuing education credit by attending any CSRM course without examination, but successful completion of the five examinations is required to earn the CSRM designation. 

CSRM for CISR: Now you can take one CSRM course in place of one CISR course to earn the CISR designation. Two designations can now be earned by taking only nine courses -- and only ONE annual update is required for double CISR/CSRM designees. Customize your education while you heighten your risk management knowledge!

Fundamentals of Risk Management (FUN) – The first step in the risk management process is identifying exposures subject to loss, since an exposure cannot be analyzed, controlled, or financed until it has been identified. This course gives an in-depth look at the overall risk management process, delves into the identification step of the process, and examines the function of the school risk manager.

Measuring School Risks (MEA) – This course will delve into the mechanics of forecasting and trending losses to be used in determining insurance program retentions and deductibles. 

Handling School Risks (HAN) – This course studies the development of a safety and health plan, loss control fundamentals (including the six primary risk control techniques), risk control and mitigation for specific exposures, and managing school claims; a post-accident loss control reduction technique.

Funding School Risks (FSR) – The purpose of this course is to examine the various loss funding techniques available to school risk managers. This will include guaranteed cost programs, deductibles and retention programs, pools, and transferring risk through contracts.

Administering School Risks (ADM) – This course will cover how a school risk manager implements and monitors the risk management program. Some of the topics will include the school risk management team, information technology for risk management information systems, allocating the cost of risk, ethics in school risk management, and requests for proposals.

School-Oriented Certificate Courses (Texas Only)

In addition to the five courses that lead to the CSRM designation, there are two other certification courses that can be used as supplemental education, or updates once the student has attained the CSRM designation. These courses are outside the designation program because not all school risk managers handle both workers' compensation and employee benefits.

These two courses also earn 7 general CE hours in Texas and cost $165.  Their structure is similar to the CSRM courses: 7 hours of instruction followed by a one-hour (optional) multiple-choice exam that will earn the participant a WCS certificate.

CISR designees may update and earn continuing education credit by attending either the WCS or EBS courses without examination, but successful completion of the examination is required to earn the certificate.

Workers' Compensation Specialist (WCS) - This intensive course investigates workers' compensation statutory coverages, employer’s liability, types of workers' compensation policies, worker safety and loss control, and the role and responsibilities of the Division of Workers' Compensation. While WCS was designed with schools in mind, practicing insurance and risk management professionals who need in-depth information about Texas workers compensation should also consider attending.

Employee Benefits Specialist (EBS) - Through in-depth discussions, you’ll get important information about health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plans, cafeteria plans, supplemental plans (vision, critical illness, cancer plans, etc.), COBRA, HIPAA, leaves of absence, and record retention. While EBS was designed with schools in mind, if you would like a good overview of employee benefits plans in general, and school employee benefits in particular, then consider this course.