Become an Agent for Pet Insurance
Pet insurance has become more than just a passing fad in the insurance field. Many pet owners consider obtaining pet insurance due to the high cost of medical care for companion animals.This has made agents who sell pet insurance valued members of insurance agencies. To become an agent for pet insurance you must obtain the same training and licensing as other insurance agents.
Instructions
1. Get a degree in business or economics. These are the two fields most widely used by the insurance industry; a degree in either will help you get a position with an insurance agency. Some schools even offer degrees in insurance, which could give you a competitive edge. Contact the Department of Insurance for your state to obtain a list of schools with programs related to insurance.
2. Get a license in your state for property and casualty insurance. Contact your state's Department of Insurance for this information. While pet insurance resembles health insurance, by both legal and insurance standards pets are covered under property insurance since they are owned by the policy holder in a manner similar to livestock.
3. Get a job as a property insurance agent. You will need to work in the general field before you can move to a specific line such as pet insurance. Show that you can solicit new policies and make repeat sales. Insurance companies will want to see a positive track record in general property insurance as proof that you can sell the product.
4. Show a commitment to the health and welfare of companion animals. This will make you more credible to both insurance agencies and their clients. Volunteer at shelters, with pet-related nonprofits or at veterinarian offices. Owning a pet or two also helps. You want to show a clear and personal understanding of the needs of pet owners.
5. Locate the contact information of insurance companies that offer pet insurance. Global Pet Insurance, Embrace Pet Insurance and VPI are three of the better-known insurance companies in this field. Look for broker programs if you want to be an independent agent. Companies such as 24PetWatch offer broker programs in which you simply represent the company instead of working for it.
6. Start your career in pet insurance by offering the coverage to your current property and casualty clients. These clients will be the easiest to get since they already know you and have purchased from you. Use referrals from these clients to get new clients specifically for pet insurance.
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