PRC®- Professional Risk Consultant
Short Summary
PRC – Professional Risk Consultant
The PRC – Professional Risk Consultant designation is a foundational credential jointly offered by The Institutes and The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers (CIAB), designed for early-career professionals in the insurance and risk management industry. It equips candidates with practical knowledge in commercial and personal lines, risk consulting, client engagement, and ethical decision-making. PRC holders are recognized for their ability to identify exposures, close coverage gaps, and serve as trusted advisors to clients.
The program includes one core course (PRC 110), one concentration course (PRC 111 or PRC 112), three Micro-Certs, and one ethics course. Topics span insurance foundations, market cycles, cyber risk, supplemental personal lines, commercial coverage gaps, and account management. Courses are self-paced and delivered online, with virtual exams and digital badges via Credly. Completion typically takes 3–6 months. Graduates may earn credit toward other designations such as AIS or ACSR, and may pursue the PRC–ARM–CPCU pathway for advanced credentials.
Earning the PRC signals readiness to serve as a consultative partner in the insurance ecosystem. Designees are often employed as producers, account managers, client advisors, or underwriters, and are valued for their ability to communicate risk, recommend solutions, and build resilient client relationships. The PRC complements broader credentials such as CPCU, ARM, and AAI, and supports career growth in sales, service, and strategic consulting.
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Course Description
The Professional Risk Consultant (PRC®) designation, offered by The Institutes in collaboration with The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, is designed to help insurance professionals—especially producers and brokers—become trusted, consultative advisors to their clients.
🎯 Purpose of the PRC®
The PRC® equips professionals with a holistic understanding of risk management, insurance operations, and client service. It’s ideal for those looking to:
- Strengthen client relationships through deeper risk insight
- Stand out in a competitive insurance marketplace
- Transition from transactional selling to strategic consulting
📘 Topics Covered
The PRC® program includes:
- Core Course
- PRC 110: Insurance Foundations for Agents and Brokers
Covers insurance types, risk evolution, regulation, and the roles of underwriting, claims, and sales.
- PRC 110: Insurance Foundations for Agents and Brokers
- Concentration Course
- Choose a focus area to deepen expertise in a specific market or client segment.
- Three Micro-Certifications (Micro-Certs)
- Short, skill-based modules on topics like risk consulting, trending industry issues, and client engagement.
- Ethics Course
- Teaches how to recognize and navigate ethical dilemmas in insurance and risk consulting.
Specialization Options
The concentration course and Micro-Certs allow learners to tailor the program to their interests or client base. For example, you might focus on:
- Commercial vs. personal lines
- Industry-specific risks (e.g., construction, healthcare)
- Emerging trends like cyber liability or ESG-related exposures
The program is 100% online, includes virtual exams, and can be completed in 3–6 months. Upon completion, you’ll receive a digital badge and a mailed diploma.
Cost
The Professional Risk Consultant (PRC®) designation has a modular pricing structure, and while there’s no separate application fee, the total cost depends on the materials and exam options you choose.
💵 Estimated Cost Breakdown:
- Core Course (PRC 110)
- Course Materials: $299
- Exam Fee: $209–$289 (varies by exam window and package)
- Concentration Course
- Course Materials: ~$299
- Exam Fee: $209–$289
- Three Micro-Certifications
- Typically included in the program cost or priced individually if taken separately
- Ethics Course
- Often bundled or available at a lower cost (exact pricing may vary)
📦 Total Estimated Cost
For the full PRC® program, expect to pay approximately $1,100–$1,300, depending on your exam selections and whether you purchase bundled packages or individual components.
There are no recurring fees after completion, and you’ll receive a digital badge and mailed diploma upon earning the designation.
Prerequisites
No formal prerequisites are required to begin the Professional Risk Consultant (PRC®) designation. It’s designed to be accessible to early-career professionals in insurance and risk management, especially those in brokerage, sales, or client advisory roles.
That said, the program assumes a basic familiarity with the insurance industry. If you’re brand new to the field, the core course (PRC 110) provides a strong foundation in insurance operations, risk concepts, and client service.
Renewal Requirements
There are no ongoing renewal requirements or fees to maintain the Professional Risk Consultant (PRC®) designation once you’ve earned it. According to The Institutes, the PRC® is a lifetime designation—meaning no continuing education, annual dues, or recertification is required to keep it active.
That said, staying current with industry trends and continuing education is always encouraged, especially for professionals in client-facing or advisory roles.
Average Time to Complete Course
The Professional Risk Consultant (PRC®) designation typically takes 3 to 6 months to complete, depending on your pace and schedule flexibility.
The program is designed for working professionals and includes:
- One core course (PRC 110)
- One concentration course
- Three Micro-Certifications
- One ethics course
Each component is delivered 100% online, with virtual exams and interactive assignments that can be completed in short sessions—some as brief as 25 minutes. This structure makes it easy to fit into a busy workweek.
Want help mapping out a study plan or estimating how much time you’d need weekly? I’d be happy to help with that too.
Exams
The Professional Risk Consultant (PRC®) designation includes two main exams—one for each of the two core courses:
📝 Exam Overview
- Number of Exams: 2
- One for the Core Course (PRC 110)
- One for your chosen Concentration Course
- Format:
- Virtual, online exams
- Multiple-choice and scenario-based questions
- Proctored through The Institutes’ secure testing platform
- Duration:
- Each exam typically takes 60–90 minutes
- Time limits may vary slightly by course
- Testing Window:
- Flexible scheduling with rolling exam windows
- You can choose your preferred exam date when registering
In addition to the two main exams, the three Micro-Certifications and ethics course include short assessments or quizzes, but these are usually built into the course modules and not formal proctored exams.
Certifying Body
The Professional Risk Consultant (PRC®) designation is certified by The Institutes, in collaboration with The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers (CIAB).
- The Institutes is a well-established organization that provides professional education and certification for the risk management and insurance industry.
- CIAB represents leading commercial insurance and employee benefits intermediaries and brings industry expertise to the PRC® program.
