Surety Education for Professionals

CE Credits for Licensed California P&C Agents/Brokers

Online Courses

The courses listed below are available in PDF format.  You must create your log in account first, then complete the purchase in order to download.  You can then return and log in to take the exam.  This will be your permanent Account (log-in) that you can also use to order additional courses (and take exams) in the future.  For DOI CA CE Credit you must include your license number when you create your account, however anyone simply wanting to learn more about surety can purchase these courses.    Please visit our FAQ section for more information.   Each course has its own approval number, CE credit hours and price point.

Payments will be made through Paypal. 

PLEASE NOTE: 

1.  You cannot repeat a course for CE credit during the same two-year license cycle.   This includes taking a course online and then the same titled course from SuretyU in a live workshop.  (After a license renews you are able to repeat the course again.)

2.  If the DOI Course Number is blank, the course is under review for approval. Check before purchasing to ensure you have a course that  will give you the listed CE Credits. (Most DOI approvals are given within 10 days of submission ). If you do not need CE credits but simply want to learn more about surety, please feel free to purchase at any time.

We will be adding to our course offerings periodically.  Many will offer high level underwriting and more specific details so you can become knowledgeable on the differences and nuances of the various types of surety bonds that your clients may need, as well as the underwriting analysis process.  

We hope you find our courses informative and helpful, and will tell your co-workers about us!

Sincerely,

Sharon and the SuretyU team

 

 

SURETY BASICS

Covering History, Fidelity and Commercial, Contract, Subdivision and More!
Don’t lose sleep or a client because you were unable to navigate an approval for a surety bond. Learn a bit about surety history, why it is different from insurance and what is important to understand from the agency perspective. This downloadable course is scattered with trivia and real life examples and touches on all categories of bonds. After successful completion of the course, we know you will want to delve further into surety!

Hours:3
Credits:3
Price:$75.00
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CONTRACT BONDS I

Obligees, Project Delivery Types, and Typical Bonds
Do you want to be more confident in discussing contract surety with your clients? You can by taking this course - which will not only introduce new terminologies, but also improve your knowledge of this interesting and specialized class of surety! Learn about the various obligees and project delivery methods used in the construction industry and how each may have a different impact on the risk to your construction clients as well as your surety markets. Open a new revenue stream for your business!

Hours:3
Credits:3
Price:$75.00
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CONTRACT BONDS II

Underwriting The Principal and The Project
Do you want to make contract bond approvals easier for you and your clients? In this course you will learn the critical steps and information that should to be gathered and reviewed to better assist your clients with their contract bond needs - all in an easy to follow process. You will learn how to underwrite the projects that your clients want to bid, including the owners of those projects. Increase your confidence in learning the lingo of the contract bond world, reduce your liability exposures, and bring in a new revenue stream!

Hours:3
Credits:3
Price:$75.00
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CONTRACT BONDS III

Administration of - and Ethical Dilemmas In - Contract Surety
ETHICS CE CREDITS! This third course in the series will provide agents with tools needed to properly administer contract bonds and avoid potential ethical dilemmas and exposure to professional liabilities. Real life examples and thoughtful questions are provided - questions that an agent should consider when working with lines of authority, powers of attorney and even broker of record letters. This course will help you navigate through selection of an appropriate surety market for clients, as well as the common claims that might be presented to an agent for proper management. Any agent that wants the confidence to handle a large and multi-faceted book of contractor clients should take this course! PLEASE NOTE: Contract Bonds III provides 4 CE credits in ethics but DOES NOT include the California Department of Insurance’s required one-hour Agents and Brokers Anti-Fraud Training. As such, the one hour of study of insurance fraud requirement will not be met upon completing this course.

Hours:4
Credits:4
Price:$90.00
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IMPROVEMENT & SUBDIVISION BONDS - "The Law of Developers" - Part 1

Background, History and Overview
Open up a new revenue source by becoming knowledgeable about the lot split process most developers go through in the State of California! Do you want to understand who is responsible for putting in and maintaining the infrastructure in your town's neighborhoods? In this first of a 3-part series on Subdivision bonds you will learn a bit about the history of land ownership in California, from the days when it was owned by Spain, then Mexico, to the present day Subdivision Map Act, and what that all means for land ownership. Along the way there have been many changes and disputes but the current Subdivision Map Act process has culminated in significant clarity to land ownership as well as providing protection to the many participants in the process through use of bonds or other securities. If you do want to learn more about the development process, and in particular, how to handle the surety bonds required in this industry, this is the course for you!

Hours:2
Credits:2
Price:$65.00
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IMPROVEMENT & SUBDIVISION BONDS - "The Law of Developers" - Part 2

Claims, Markets and the Application Process
Do you want to understand more about the Improvement and Subdivision Bond application process, as well as the risks to pursuing this type of bond for your clients? Part 2 of our Improvement and Subdivision Bond Series will focus on what you, as the broker, can anticipate when your clients need an improvement bond, or perhaps one of the many ancillary bonds in this class of surety. From market availability, common claims, and the application process, you will gain insight on what questions to ask and what information to gather so that your clients can receive prompt approvals and favorable rates. This course is designed to help you become a trusted resource for your clients needing improvement bonds!

Hours:3
Credits:3
Price:$75.00
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IMPROVEMENT & SUBDIVISION BONDS - "The Law of Developers" - Part 3

The Process To Approval and Issuance
Increase your value to your developer clients! This course will bring the Improvement and Subdivision Bond series full circle through the underwriting process and bond issuance subtleties. Tips on establishing premium rates and terms, as well as renewals and bond closings are given. Finally, an overview on some of the ancillary bonds common in this class is discussed.

Hours:4
Credits:4
Price:$90.00
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FINANCIAL ANALYSIS I

Capturing the Basics of Surety Underwriting
If you are confused over the varying financial statement requirements and ratios developed in the surety industry, and why a bond is declined because of the financial your client provides, this is the course for you! Become savvy in the lingo and processes used in surety underwriting! This course will put you ahead of your competition and your clients will appreciate your counsel and advice!

Hours:2
Credits:2
Price:$65.00
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FINANCIAL ANALYSIS II

Finessing the Basics of Surety Financial Underwriting
Do you wish to improve your understanding of the surety financial analysis process, particularly for contractors, so you can help them achieve their goals? If so, this is your course! You will not only learn what a technical analysis process entails, you will learn why work-in-progress schedules are so important, and how they impact the bond approvals for your clients. You will understand why it is important for construction clients to present on the correct method of accounting to improve their odds of securing the most bond capacity at the lowest rate!

Hours:2
Credits:2
Price:$65.00
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