Standards & Protection
Standards
Designations set individuals apart by providing a clear way of distinguishing one type of professional from another.
Designation marks help to clearly represent that a professional has successfully met an established standard for competent practice.
A designation-granting body has authority over the granting of designations and protection of the license for use of its marks.
To ensure designations maintain credibility, the designation-granting body must govern itself in ways that ensure autonomy in decision-making and exercise control over the standard it uses to make decisions over who should be designated. Credible designations have a clear value for designation holders, and for serving to help protect the interests of the public.
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The Institute grants the right to use the CLU® and CHS™ designation marks. These marks and their relevant designs are granted to individuals who successfully meet all designation licensing requirements.
Those CLU and/or CHS designees in good standing with The Institute who are authorized to hold themselves out to the public as holding the CLU and/or CHS designation are granted authority to use the CLU and/or CHS designation logo for promotional purposes.
Those designees in good standing who wish to obtain an electronic version of the CLU and/or CHS designation logo will be required to complete a Logo Usage Application form first. Upon approval by National Office of the completed form, Institute staff will provide an electronic version of the logo along with written guidelines, which provide for the limitations of use. Where a designee fails to renew or maintain their CLU and/or CHS designation, and as a result their designation is considered by The Institute as being lapsed, that designee will no longer be authorized to use the CLU designation logo and will be required to remove it from all print and electronic forms of promotion.
Download Application form and Guidelines for using the CLU and CHS logos
The CLU designation licence must be renewed annually with The Institute. This renewal includes an application process known as a “licence renewal” for the continued right to use the CLU designation marks and licence.
Other requirements included within the annual renewal are an annual licensing fee, 30 hours of CE (including one hour of Ethics related CE), adherence to the Code of Professional Conduct, and the requirement of E & O coverage.
The renewal term for the CLU designation marks and licence ends December 31 of each renewal cycle. CLU designation holders failing to renew their CLU by March 31 of the renewing year will lose their rights to publicly promote themselves as having the CLU and will have their designation revoked.
CLU designation holders failing to meet all continuing obligation requirements also risk having their designation revoked due to non-compliance. However, The Institute has several policies in place, which provide for a reinstatement policy for revoked and lapsed CLU designations as well as CE exemption for special cases.
The CHS designation license must be renewed annually with The Institute. This renewal includes an application process know as a "license renewal" for the continued right to use the CHS marks and license.
Other requirements included within the annual renewal are the annual licensing fee, 10 hours of CE, adherence to the Code of Professional Conduct, and the requirement of E&O coverage.
The renewal term for the CHS designation marks and license ends December 31 of each renewal year. CHS designation holders failing to renew their CHS by March 31 of the renewing year will lose their rights to publicly promote themselves as having the CHS and will have their designation revoked.
CHS designation holders failing to meet all continuing obligation requirements also risk having their designation revoked due to non-compliance. However, The Institute has several policies in place which provide for a reinstatement policy for revoked and lapsed CHS designations as well as CE exemption for special cases.
All designation licensing fees must be submitted to The Institute with the appropriate renewal form by no later than March 31 of the licensing year. The annual licensing fee for the CLU designation has been set at $325 for the 2012 year; the annual licensing fee for the CHS designation has been set at $175 for the 2012 year. Licensing fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Institute designation holders adhere to the highest standards of professionalism, and abide by a strict Code of Professional Conduct. Allegations of unprofessional conduct are investigated using a disciplinary process based on peer review principles.
The Institute Code of Professional Conduct (CPC) sets out a list of principles that a designation holder is expected to abide by in his or her business activities, and in his or her liaison between clients and suppliers of insurance, and/or financial products or services.
Download Professional Code of Conduct
Explanatory notes also exist to provide a more in-depth explanation of each principle within The Institute Code of Professional Conduct (CPC).
Download order form – framed Institute Code of Professional Conduct
Download Explanatory notes
Those designation holders who fail to renew their CLU or CHS designation license by March 31 of the licensing year will have forfeited their rights to continue to use the designation marks and will be considered a lapsed designation holder. For lapsed designation holders applying for reinstatement, continuing education must be completed during the period of a lapsed designation and proof of completed CE must be provided before reinstatement will occur.
Those designation holders who wish to be authorized in order to hold themselves out as an Institute designation holder will have the opportunity to reinstate their designation with The Institute.
For all who apply for reinstatement and who have been absent for three years or less:
- Proof of the required continuing education credits taken during that period must be submitted with the application for reinstatement.
- Those applying for reinstatement will be required to pay the appropriate administration fees.
For all who apply for reinstatement and who have been absent for more than three years:
- Proof of the required continuing education for the three years prior to the application for reinstatement must be submitted.
- Those applying for reinstatement will be required to challenge the Advanced Estate Planning course exam including appropriate exam and administration fees.
Where a designation holder has been terminated or suspended as a result of disciplinary action, the individual’s designation and authorization to hold themselves out as having an Institute designation will be reinstated at the discretion of the Board of Trustees once the term of the suspension or termination has passed.
Download CLU Reinstatement Application
