Insurance advisor; registration for the expert examination

In order to be allowed to provide commercial insurance advice, you must provide proof of your professional qualifications. As a rule, this proof is provided by successfully passing the examination of expertise at the relevant Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).

If you would like to take the examination as a certified specialist in insurance brokerage (IHK), you must first register with a Chamber of Industry and Commerce that offers the examination. The examination is offered on a maximum of eight nationwide dates. The exam consists of a written and a practical part.

In the written part, you must demonstrate the necessary legal and technical knowledge, for example with regard to consumer rights and technical terms.

In the practical part, you must carry out a simulated customer consultation.

You can be exempted from the practical part if you have a license as a financial investment broker, fee-based financial investment advisor or real estate loan broker or have at least already passed the practical examination for one of these professions.

The examination is passed if both the written and practical parts of the examination have been assessed as "passed".

After passing the examination, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce will issue a certificate. If you do not pass the examination, you will receive a notification stating that you can retake it.

As an alternative to the examination of expertise, you can also prove your expertise for the license with certain professional qualifications from the insurance and finance sector. You can find a detailed list under further information.

• The following documents are required:
  • At the examination: official photo ID for identification purposes.
  • if applicable, proof of exemption from the practical examination
    The documents required for this can be found on the application form.
  • In case of only repeating the practical part of the examination: Proof of passing the written part of the examination.

• No further requirements need to be met in order to register for the examination.
• However, if you would like to be exempted from the practical examination, you must meet the requirements for exemption.
  • Either you have a license as a financial investment broker, fee-based financial investment advisor or real estate loan broker or
  • You have already passed the practical examination for one of these professions.

You register at a Chamber of Industry and Commerce of your choice using a registration form or online for the "Certified Specialist for Insurance Advice IHK" examination.

• In the registration form, you select a specific date and indicate whether you would like to take a full examination, can be exempted from the practical part of the examination or would only like to take the practical examination as a repeat examination.
• You also indicate in the registration form that you would like to be examined as an insurance advisor. You also indicate whether you would like to take the practical examination in the optional subject of property and asset insurance or pensions.
• If your registration is complete and received on time and there are still places available, you will receive an invitation to the examination from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce with further information and a fee notice.
• Once you have successfully registered, withdrawal is only possible under the conditions of the respective Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
• The written examination is divided thematically into five sections.
• The written examination is passed if you achieve at least 50 percent of the achievable points in four of the five areas and at least 30 percent in the remaining area.
• The practical examination is a simulation of a customer consultation in front of an examination board.
• You have passed the practical examination if you achieve at least 50 percent of the achievable points.
• If you pass, you will usually receive your certificate by post within a few days of the exam.
• If you do not pass the examination, you will receive a notification of failure, in which you will be informed of the possibility of repeating the examination. The examination can be retaken as often as you wish.
• Each Chamber of Industry and Commerce regulates further details of the examination procedure in its statutes.

The registration deadline for the expert examination is set by the respective Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

You will usually receive the certificate within 1 - 2 weeks after the examination.

The IHK charges fees according to the respective local fee schedule. The fees vary depending on whether only part of the examination has to be taken.