Construction Risk And Insurance Specialist (CRIS) | Massachusetts Association of Independent Agents

MAIA offers a FIVE-PART Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist designation program (CRIS®) in partnership with International Risk Management Institute, Inc. (IRMI®).

About the CRIS® Program

The Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS®) program is a specialized curriculum focusing on the complex insurance and risk management needs of construction projects and contractors. Developed by IRMI in response to concerns expressed by many contractors, the CRIS® curriculum assures that the agent, broker, consultant, or in-house risk manager or insurance purchaser understands the most important insurance needs of contractors. CRIS® certification holders have a basic-to-intermediate understanding of construction exposures, insurance, and risk management techniques, and make effort to stay on top of insurance industry changes and trends affecting contractors.

To Earn the CRIS Certification

Complete 5 specialized courses on construction risks and insurance and
Pass the corresponding on-line examination (with a minimum of 70% per exam)
Those who complete the program are entitled to display the CRIS certification to certify their knowledge of construction insurance and risk management.

Maintaining Your Certification

Completing the core curriculum qualifies an individual to use the CRIS certification for 12 months. To maintain the certification, the CRIS certification holder must complete only 6 hours of CRIS CE credit every 12 months. This can be satisfied through just one additional online CE course or by attending approved seminars and conferences.

Questions & Answers on the CRIS® Program

CRIS® - Commercial Auto, Surety, CIPs, and Miscellaneous Lines

This course reviews the various types of insurance often needed by contractors that are not covered in the other core courses. This includes auto liability and physical damage, professional liability, pollution liability, employment practices liability, and directors and officers liability insurance. It also provides a basic review of claims-made and occurrence coverage triggers, wrap-up or controlled insurance programs (CIPs), and surety bonds.

CRIS® - Contractual Risk Transfer in Construction

This course reviews the ways in which risk is allocated in construction contracts. In addition to a technical review of the types of techniques available, this course examines strategies for maximizing the effectiveness of risk transfers in construction contracts. Topics include indemnification provisions, waivers of subrogation, limitations of liability, insurance requirements, and some of the key areas of risk allocation in standard construction contracts. Tips for writing and negotiating fair and effective insurance requirements are provided where appropriate, as well as for verifying compliance with these requirements.

CRIS® - Workers Compensation for Contractors

This course provides a general overview of standard workers compensation and employers liability insurance, with specific attention to provisions that most affect coverage or create problems for some or all contractors. In addition to the standard policy provisions, key statutes that impact contractors workers compensation exposure and costs, such as independent contractor liability, employee leasing, overtime pay, and various federal acts, are also addressed. Suggestions for modifying coverage to address potential coverage gaps and other problematic provisions are provided where appropriate.

Design-Build Risk

Design-Build Risk is a STANDALONE course and is not part of the CRIS Core curriculum; however, it can be used to update the CRIS designation.

Class Topics:

Introduction to Design-Build Construction
Identifying Design-Build Risks
Chapter 4 Indemnity, Insurance Requirements, and Limitations of Liability
Coverage for Professional Services in Traditional Insurance Policies
Contractors Professional Liability Insurance
Architects and Engineers Professional Liability Insurance
Training the Project Team
Bonding Design-Build Projects

CRIS® - Commercial Liability Insurance for Contractors

This course provides a general overview of standard commercial general liability insurance and umbrella liability insurance, with specific attention to provisions that most affect coverage or create problems for some or all contractors. It covers elements required to trigger coverage, application of standard policy exclusions, and various standard endorsements, all within a construction context. Suggestions for modifying coverage to address potential coverage gaps and other problematic provisions are provided where appropriate.

CRIS® - Property Insurance for Contractors

This course focuses on builders risk and contractors equipment insurance, including suggestions for maximizing the effectiveness of the coverages. It also includes a review of important concepts with respect to insuring the contractor's office or other permanent property. Topics include covered and excluded property, covered and excluded perils, covered parties, and alternative methods of reporting covered values. Various policy provisions that impact the scope of coverage – such as subrogation, occupancy, and cancellation – are also examined. Suggestions for modifying coverage to address potential coverage gaps and other problematic provisions are provided where appropriate.

Additional Insured Issues

This course provides an introduction to important risk management and insurance concepts for all contracting parties to a construction project. It provides an overview of the ways in which insured status under another party’s insurance program can be used as a risk transfer technique and examines in detail the terms and conditions on which insured status is provided in all the major lines of construction insurance. While other lines are also addressed, particular emphasis is placed on additional insured status under general liability insurance, since that is where the most important contractual risk transfers are located.

CRIS® Re-Accreditation

CRIS certification holders must attend a full day (such as 9:00-4:00) class of approved construction risk and insurance continuing education credit during the 24 months following initial receipt of the certification and every 12 months thereafter. You may obtain this CE credit by attending approved CRIS® courses or conferences or completing online CRIS® courses.

CRIS certification holders can also update their CRIS designation by attending a 6 hour Management Liability Insurance Specialist (MLIS®) program.

Agent/Broker Directory Listing

Retail insurance agents and brokers may elect to have their name, firm, and phone number included in the directory of CRIS construction insurance agents and brokers. This is a free listing in a directory being promoted to contractors as a source for insurance professionals who are focused on the construction industry.

Continuing Education

The state requires that all registrants attend a class in its entirety to receive continuing education credits (CEUs). Partial credit is not given. Late arrivals will not receive any CEU. CEUs are not based on examination results. The State of New Hampshire charges $7.00 for CE for CRIS® classes. If you need NH CE, please make your check payable to IIABNH for $7.00 and bring it with you on the day of the CRIS® class.

2020 Fees

MAIA Members: $195
Non-Members: $295

If you work for a Massachusetts employer and are a member of MAIA, you can apply for Massachusetts Workforce Training Funds to pay for your CRIS Designation. Learn more...NOW!

REGISTRATION: 8:30 a.m.

CLASS TIME: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

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