The FPA has revealed further details of its life insurance accreditation program, with the first course set to begin in August 2008.
Available to all FPA members, the programme has garnered enormous interest according to FPA general manager for professional standards and education, Deen Sanders.
"Frankly, [the program] was based on a lot of research and advice from members, so we think it's going to be very exciting," Sanders said.
The program is the FPA's first specialist accreditation program and fills an enormous hole following the 1995 closure of the Life Underwriters program, FPA chief executive Jo-Anne Bloch said.
"I think the education programs have been very much wrapped up into a diploma of financial planning or diploma of financial services or licensee-based training. There isn't anything out there that's focused on the hands-on practical aspect of life insurance, combined with the professional aspect," Bloch said.
"So we have a CFP, you've got SPAA for the SMSF, but you've got nothing for the life risk people. So I think there has been a really significant gap."
The program was devised in response to member demand and will be supported by DeakinPrime, the corporate education arm of Deakin University.
Enrolments for the program have already opened.
