Overview
The General Insurance and Risk Management Diploma offers students practical experience in claims investigation, insurance product marketing and sales, and risk management in securities and banks. Graduates are prepared to write the three GRMI national exams and have completed 8 of the 10 Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) courses.
Forget what you think a career in insurance is like — today’s insurance and risk management industry is a challenging and vibrant place that is crucial to almost every aspect of our modern world. The two-year General Insurance and Risk management diploma program at BCIT gives you specialized training to investigate insurance claims, market and sell insurance products, manage risk in securities, banks, insurance underwriting, and more. This program has been developed by industry professionals specifically to prepare you for a successful, exciting career in your field.
Through out the program there will be many opportunities to interact with industry professionals with networking and industry events. Along with a 40 hour work placement which helps students get direct industry work experience. In fact, our program boasts a 100% job placement rate and our students have gone on to work insuring a variety of clients such as construction, marine risks, commercial underwriting, personal lines underwriting, claims adjusting and risk management.
About the program
- Two-year diploma
- 100% job placement within four months of graduating
- 40 hour work placement
- Write your CIP national exams before graduating to be ready to work the day you graduate
- Many opportunities to network with industry events and networking
- First year students qualify to be level 1 licensed brokers upon passing the 2 CIP Courses
- Graduating students qualify for a level 2 brokers license and independent adjusters license
Learn more about the benefits of this program with and in-depth look at Program Details.
Who should apply for the General Insurance and Risk Management Diploma?
A career in insurance and risk management might be right for you if:
- You already have some work experience and/or a degree
- You enjoy problem solving
- You’re compassionate
- You’re interested in a career with multiple opportunities and challenges
If you’re ready to train for new opportunities in insurance and risk management, visit the Entrance Requirements page to apply today.
Professional Designations
The following professional designations are available to General Insurance and Risk Management diploma students:
Your experience matters
If you already have related work experience or other training in insurance and risk management, you might qualify for course credits toward your diploma. Find out if you’re eligible for Advanced Placement to speed up your education and entrance to your new career.
What grads can do
Graduates of the diploma in General Insurance and Risk Management program are prepared for engaging careers in a variety of fields. Currently, there are more jobs for qualified candidates than there are students because insurance deals with almost every aspect of our world.
Opportunities are available in a variety of areas including insurance and risk management for disaster preparation, marine, shipping, vehicles, natural resources (mining/forestry/oil), ski resorts, and more.
Learn more about specific jobs and organizations that are looking for insurance and risk management professionals at the Graduating and Jobs page.
International study
BCIT offers a number of international study opportunities that helps students gain a global perspective of the economy, culture, government, and everyday life of the country they study in. You could participate in a summer field school or complete an international degree. Learn more about studying abroad.
Accredited Program
This program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
- Next up Entrance Requirements
Entrance Requirements
Application processing
Open to applications beginning October 1st (or next business day).
Entrance requirements
Applicants must meet all entrance requirements and will be accepted on a first qualified basis as long as space remains.
- English language proficiency: Category 2 – English Studies 12 (67%) or equivalent
- Math: one of the following:
- Pre-Calculus 11 (67%) or
- Foundations of Math 11 (67%) or
- Workplace Math 11 (67%) or
- Other acceptable BC and Yukon courses or
- OPMT 0199 - Math for Business (67%) or
- OPMT 0198 - Business Math Assessment Test (67%)
Recommended for success
- Strong mathematic skills are required for success in BCIT Business diplomas. Students accepted into this program will be contacted starting in April regarding the completion of a math assessment test. If you score below a 67% on this assessment test, or feel that you would like to upgrade your math skills regardless, you should complete OPMT 0199 or OPMT 0023.
International applicants
This program is available to international applicants. A valid study permit is required prior to starting the program.
Students enrolled in this program must complete the mandatory work component to qualify for graduation. A co-op work permit is required prior to starting the work component.
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another post-secondary school?
Transfer credit may be granted for courses completed at BCIT or another post-secondary institution where the learning outcomes duplicate those of the BCIT course. As per Admission Procedure 5003-PR1, the department reserves the right to determine the granting of credit where appropriate.
Applications must be submitted 14 days prior to term start; an official transcript and a course outline where appropriate must be provided (or be on file with BCIT) to process the request. A maximum of two courses per level are eligible for credit through this process.
Apply to program
To submit your application:
- Include proof of meeting all entrance requirements.
- Convert all transcripts and supporting documents to PDF files.
- Have a credit card ready to pay the application fee.
Apply Now
Scheduled Intakes
September each year.
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
PLAR for RMGT courses will be available on a case by case basis.
myCommunication
Within two business days of submitting your completed application, BCIT will send a message to your personal and myBCIT email addresses. All correspondence regarding your application will be posted to your online myCommunication account at my.bcit.ca. We will send you an email when a new message is posted. It is important to watch for these emails or regularly check your account online.
You can expect to receive communication concerning the status of your application within four weeks.
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- Next up Advanced Placement
Advanced Placement
Conditions
You may be eligible to apply to an advanced level of the program through either re-admission or direct entry. Please note that applications are considered based on:
- Complete applications: you must show proof that you have completed (or are registered in) all requirements to be considered.
- Competitive entry: if the number of applicants exceeds available seats, BCIT will accept those deemed to have the best opportunity for success.
- Seat availability: confirmation may not be available until approximately one week before the term begins.
Re-admission
You can apply for re-admission if you:
- were previously admitted to this program and completed part of it at BCIT and
- want to re-enter the program at an advanced level.
Applications are accepted throughout the year.
Submit the Course-by-Course Self-Assessment Form [PDF] with your application.
Ready to submit your application? Apply now.
Direct entry
BCIT accepts complete applications starting:
- February 1st* for level 2 (January start)
- October 1st* for level 3 (September start)
*or next business day
There are 4 options for direct entry. If you are applying through options 1, 2, or 3, you must submit an online application. Option 4 applicants, submit your application for transfer directly to BCIT Admissions.
Option 1: If you do not have a diploma or degree
Applications to level 2 or 3.
Submit the following with your online application:
- Proof of meeting all general entrance requirements (excluding Math 11)
- Course-by-Course Self-Assessment Form [PDF] showing that you have completed all of the required courses for the level to which you are applying
Required courses
If you are applying to level 2, you must show proof of completion of (or registration in) the level 1 courses (or equivalents) below.
If you are applying to level 3, you must show proof of completion of (or registration in) the level 1 and 2 courses (or equivalents) below.
Level 1 courses
Full-time | Course Name | Part-time Equivalent |
BSYS 1000 | Business Information Systems | BSYS 1001 |
COMM 1100 | Business Communication 1 | COMM 1103 or COMM 1106 |
ECON 2100 | Microeconomics | ECON 2100 |
MKTG 1102 | Essentials of Marketing | MKTG 1102 |
OPMT 1110 | Business Mathematics | OPMT 1110 |
RMGT 2110 | Principles and Practice of Insurance | RMGT 2100 (60%) or C11 (IIBC course) |
*Note: As there is no part-time equivalency for FMGT 1000, this course may be waived in most instances.
Level 2 courses
Full-time | Course Name | Part-time Equivalent |
BSYS 2000 | Applied Data Analytics in Excel | BSYS 2000 |
BUSA 2150 | Introduction to Organizational Development | BUSA 2150 |
COMM 2200 | Business Communication 2 | COMM 2202 (or 2002) and COMM 2203 (or 2003) |
ECON 2200 | Macroeconomics | ECON 2200 |
FMGT 2152 | Accounting for Management | FMGT 3210 or FMGT 7221 or both of FMGT 1152 and FMGT 3224 |
OPMT 1130 | Business Statistics | OPMT 1197 |
OPMT 1170 | Project Management | OPMT 1187 |
RMGT 3110 | Insurance Broker and Agent Roles | RMGT 3110 (60%) or C130 (IIBC course) |
Ready to submit your application? Apply now.
Option 2: Diploma or degree holders
Applications to level 2 or 3.
Submit the following with your online application:
- Proof of meeting all general entrance requirements (excluding Math 11)
- Proof of diploma or degree* in any discipline from a recognized post-secondary institution
- Bridging Program Self-Assessment [PDF] showing that you have completed all of the required courses below
*If you have completed post-secondary studies outside of Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand, you will require a basic evaluation of your credentials by the International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES). Credential evaluation reports from other Canadian services may be considered.
Required courses for direct entry to level 2:
Full-time | Course Name | Part-time Equivalent |
COMM 1100* | Business Communication 1 | COMM 1103 or COMM 1106 |
RMGT 2110 | Principles and Practice of Insurance | RMGT 2110 (60%) or C11 (IIBC course) |
Required courses for direct entry to level 3:
Full-time | Course Name | Part-time Equivalent |
COMM 1100* | Business Communication 1 | COMM 1103 or COMM 1106 |
COMM 2200 | Business Communication 2 | COMM 2202 (or 2002) and COMM 2203 (or 2003) |
FMGT 2152 | Accounting for Management | FMGT 3210 or FMGT 7221 or both of FMGT 1152 and FMGT 3224 |
RMGT 2110 | Principles and Practice of Insurance | RMGT 2110 (60%) or C11 (IIBC course) |
RMGT 3110 | Insurance Broker and Agent Roles | RMGT 3110 (60%) or C130 (IIBC course) |
*Note: For accredited Canadian or US credentials, if you have achieved a bachelor’s degree the COMM 1100 and 2200 courses may be waived. If you have an associate degree or a diploma, COMM 1103 (or 1106) and COMM 2202 (or 2002) may be waived. Note that COMM 2203 (or 2003) will still be required.
Ready to submit your application? Apply now.
Option 3: Mature students
If you are a mature applicant, you may be eligible to complete an Advanced Placement and Prior Learning (APPL) assessment to qualify for direct entry to an advanced level of the program. Visit the SITE Centre to find out if you are eligible, and to learn more about the assessment process and associated fees.
Submit the following with your online application:
- Proof of meeting all general entrance requirements
- Approved Advanced Placement and Prior Learning (APPL) Assessment and APPL Approval Letter
Ready to submit your application? Apply now.
Option 4: School of Business diploma program transfer
If you are currently in a full-time BCIT School of Business diploma program and wish to transfer:
- Print the School of Business Program Change form [PDF].
- Make an appointment with the program heads to review your eligibility to transfer.
- If you are transferring to Level 3, you may be required to complete one or more bridging courses.
- Submit the following to BCIT Admissions:
- Approved School of Business Program Change form
- Completed Course-by-Course Self-Assessment form for your current program (found on your current program’s Advanced Placement page)
Do not apply online.
Direct entry FAQs
- When should I apply?
- When will I be accepted?
- Can I take courses in advance to reduce my course load?
- When will I get my timetable?
- When can I buy my books?
- It is recommended that you apply when you have met all of the entrance requirements. If you are currently registered in a course, please indicate this on the self-assessment form.
- Once your application has been assessed and has been approved for direct entry, a seat must become available in the program you have selected. The Admissions department must wait until the current students obtain their final grades in either December or May to determine how many seats will become available for direct entry applicants.
- In order to maintain a competitive application, it is recommended that you take no more than two courses per term ahead of time. A maximum of two courses per level are eligible for credit. Note that this will not reduce your full-time program tuition.
- Print your timetable one day prior to class start by logging into my.bcit.ca and going to Student Self-Service. You must be registered in your courses in order to access this feature. If you know the set to which you have been assigned, you can also find your timetable on the School of Business Timetables page.
- It is recommended that you wait until the first week of classes before buying textbooks. Your instructors will tell you which books to buy.
To register for a Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) course, visit Register for Flexible Learning Courses or contact Student Information and Enrolment Services.
Still have questions? Review the Admissions FAQ or contact Program Advising.
Additional options
Graduate Certificate in Business Administration
The BCIT Graduate Certificate in Business Administration is also a viable option for students that have completed a bachelor's degree. This is an eight month full-time program that leads into a number of international MBA programs.
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- Next up Costs & Supplies
Costs & Supplies
Bring Your Own Device
Students are required to have their own laptop. Please refer to the Bring Your Own Device Specifications [PDF] for requirements.
Laptop costs vary depending on the configuration chosen, but will likely range from approximately $1,000 to $2,000.
Tuition fees
Use our tuition estimator to find tuition and fees for this program.
For more information on full-time tuition and fees, visit:
Books & supplies
Level 1: $707; Level 2: $613; Level 3: $864; Level 4: $947
(General estimated cost, subject to change)
Students will write five Insurance Institute of Canada (IIC) exams at a cost of $135.00 each (paid to IIC) as follows:
- Level 1: 1 exam
- Level 2: 1 exam
- Level 3: 3 exams
- Level 4: 3 exams
Financial assistance
Financial assistance may be available for this program. For more information, please contact Student Financial Aid and Awards.
- Go back Advanced Placement
- Next up Courses
Courses
Students should be aware that course exemptions can be claimed for a maximum of two courses per level.
Class hours
0830–1730, Monday through Friday
Program matrix
Level 1 (15 weeks) | Credits | ||
---|---|---|---|
BSYS 1000 | Business Information Systems | 3.0 | |
COMM 1100 | Business Communication 1 | 3.0 | |
ECON 2100 | Microeconomics | 3.0 | |
MKTG 1102 | Essentials of Marketing | 3.0 | |
OPMT 1110 | Business Mathematics* | 4.0 | |
RMGT 2110 | Principles and Practice of Insurance | 5.0 | |
* Note: During the first week of OPMT 1110 Business Mathematics, an assessment test will be administered to all students. Based on the outcome, students may be required to attend a weekly Business Math Success Workshop. | |||
Level 2 (20 weeks) | Credits | ||
BSYS 2000 | Applied Data Analytics in Excel | 4.0 | |
BUSA 2150 | Introduction to Organizational Development | 4.0 | |
COMM 2200 | Business Communication 2 | 4.0 | |
ECON 2200 | Macroeconomics | 4.0 | |
FMGT 2152 | Accounting for Management | 5.5 | |
OPMT 1130 | Business Statistics | 5.5 | |
OPMT 1170 | Project Management* | 3.0 | |
RMGT 3110 | Insurance Broker and Agent Roles | 5.5 | |
* denotes a half-term course | |||
Level 3 | Credits | ||
BLAW 3100 | Business Law | 4.0 | |
FMGT 4620 | Security Fundamentals | 3.0 | |
RMGT 3210 | Property Insurance | 4.0 | |
RMGT 3310 | Automobile Insurance | 4.0 | |
RMGT 3535 | Marketing for Insurance and Risk Management | 4.0 | |
RMGT 3710 | Risk Assessment | 4.0 | |
RMGT 4110 | Advanced Broker and Agent Skills | 4.0 | |
Level 4 | Credits | ||
RMGT 3411 | Liability Insurance* | 5.5 | |
RMGT 4510 | Loss Adjusting | 5.5 | |
RMGT 4535 | Sales for Insurance Professionals* | 2.5 | |
RMGT 4610 | Principles of Underwriting | 5.5 | |
RMGT 4720 | Risk Control* | 4.0 | |
RMGT 4730 | Risk Financing* | 4.0 | |
RMGT 4910 | Business Strategy | 4.0 | |
RMGT 4950 | Field Placement | 5.5 | |
* denotes a half-term course | |||
Total Credits: | 114.5 |
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.
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- Next up Program Details
Program Details
Platinum
Gold
Bronze
Program length
Two years, full-time
Grading
Minimum passing grade for each course is 50% except for RMGT 4991 where students must achieve Satisfactory.
A passing grade in the IIC exam must be achieved in order to pass the following courses: RMGT 2110, RMGT 3110, RMGT 3210, RMGT 3310, RMGT 3410, RMGT 4110, RMGT 4510, and RMGT 4610.
Accreditation
Students in the Insurance and Risk Management program will take eight courses based on courses offered by the Insurance Institute of Canada (IIC). Students will write five of the IIC exams during the BCIT program and may be granted advanced standing towards the Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation. Graduates can then take 3 more IIC exams shortly after graduation to gain more credits towards the CIP designation. To achieve the CIP designation, two more courses available only through the IIC must be completed.
Program delivery
In person: This program is delivered on campus.
All courses will be offered Monday to Friday daytime.Program location
1st Year held at the Burnaby Campus:
Burnaby Campus
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, BC
2nd Year held at the Downtown Campus:
Downtown Campus
555 Seymour Street
Vancouver, BC
Continue your education
Qualified graduates may apply for acceptance into BCIT's existing Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree program. The program will ladder into the BBA program which is offered as a full-time degree in the day, or part time in the evenings.
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- Next up Graduating & Jobs
Graduating & Jobs
There are currently more job opportunities in insurance and risk management than there are qualified applicants. With insurance as a key aspect in nearly every industry, insuring everything from home properties to natural resources and almost every business, BCIT graduates have both the availability of many jobs as well as the necessary skills to get and succeed in them.
Career opportunities in insurance:
- Insurance Sales Representative
- Insurance Agent or Broker
- Insurance Adjuster
- Claims Examiner
- Property Underwriter
- Marine Underwriter
Career opportunities in risk management:
- Risk Analyst
- Risk Specialist
- Risk Manager
- Insurance specialist
Professional Designations
Canadian Risk Management Designation (CRM) – For the CRM designation, students are prepared to write the three GRMI Global Risk Management Institute national exams. Furthermore, our Risk Management program students even help BCIT rank top 8 in the world among case competitions
Chartered Insurance Professional Designation (CIP) – During the program you will have completed 8 out 10 CIP courses which lessens the costs in the long run and allow you to become a Chartered Insurance Professional faster. Often time’s employers will pay for the completion of the remaining courses.
Testimonials
This program equipped me with the necessary skill set to enter a challenging and dynamic industry. There is a notable emphasis throughout the program on job placement, not only connecting the students to employers, but ensuring they have what it takes to develop and succeed in their chosen roles. The instructors are industry leaders, bringing a wealth of practical knowledge that I have personally found very helpful on a daily basis as I start my own career in insurance. Hamish Love, Commercial Underwriter, Sovereign General Insurance
There were two things I considered when I was choosing a program from BCIT: a guaranteed stable career and minimum years of studying. The General Insurance and Risk Management program was the best possible choice I could have ever made and it opened up whole new opportunities and career choices for me in the insurance industry. Your bottom line after finishing this program is a full-time stable career and you will never regret it.
Lena Kim, Casualty Examiner, Aviva Insurance
I enrolled in the BCIT General Insurance and Risk Management program six years ago and have not looked back since. The material is relevant and the industry knows and appreciates it. The instructors are experts in their respective fields and are supportive. Upon graduating, I got my desired position as a commercial agent. Currently I have my dream job as an Association Relations Representative for Western Canada.
Reza Kamrani
Graduate employment outcomes
The BCIT student outcomes report presents summary findings from the annual survey of former students administered by BC Stats one to two years after graduation. These reports combine the last three years of available results for the 2021-2023 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2020-2022 graduates and for Degree 2019-2021 graduates. The reports are organized into three-page summaries containing information on graduates’ labour market experiences and opinions regarding their education. More detailed information can be accessed at the BC Student Outcomes website.
To view these results, you may need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.
Professional associations
The Insurance Institute of Canada (IIC) is the professional education arm of the country's general insurance industry. It is a not-for-profit association of individual members employed in the general insurance business with insurance and reinsurance companies, brokerages, agencies, adjusting firms, and employers of risk managers.
The Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) Program is the property/casualty insurance industry's professional education program and for many years, the designation has been highly valued and respected within both the national and international insurance communities. The program equips candidates with technical expertise and successful graduates have found the designation to be essential to advancing their careers.
The Insurance Brokers Association of British Columbia represents the interests of over 760 member offices in BC offering professional education and other services to their members.
The Insurance Council of British Columbia regulates the general insurance industry in BC. As well they issue the different levels of licenses to allow licensee's to conduct general insurance business.
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- Next up Faculty, Advisors & Staff
Faculty, Advisors & Staff
Advisory committee
- Mr. J. Ball, President, Reliance Insurance Agencies
- Ms. D. Bolduc, Manager, Insurance Institute of BC
- Mr. J. Preston, Regional VP, ING Insurance Co.
- Mr. D. Laird, Regional Manager, Aviva Insurance Co.
- Ms. P. Kernaghan, President & CEO, Kernaghan Adjusters
- Ms. T. Johnson, VP & GM, Gore Mutual Insurance Co.
- Mr. S. Bath, Senior Manager, Business Intelligence and Customer Research, ICBC
- Mr. B. Wills, VP Marketing, Axa Pacific
- Mr. J. Goring, Manager, Technology Practice, Aon Reed Stenhouse Inc
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- Next up Contact Us
Contact Us
Shaun Sinclair
Program Head, General Insurance and Risk Management
604-451-6761 | Shaun_Sinclair@bcit.ca
Contact a Program Advisor with the BCIT program name in the subject line if you have a question about:
- Program selection and program planning
- Applying for transfer credit and advanced placement
- Job placement and graduate outcomes
- Student life
Questions or comments?
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