Santosh Kumar Joseph sees achieving a CII certificate qualification as a superb foundation on which to build his professional development. "Studying for and achieving this has definitely given me confidence to move forward and take further qualifications," he explains. "I know how important the attainment of internationally recognised qualifications are in becoming a reputable knowledgeable adviser, and I recognise the very positive impact that they will have on my personal development journey."

In his role as a Senior Account Executive at Gargash Insurance, he was also keen to understand insurance terminology better and to apply his knowledge in his day to day activities, and he feels that the Cert CII has helped with this objective. It is the building block of the Certificate in Insurance (Cert CII) that all other modules build on. The exam is 100 multiple choice questions with 2 hours to complete, equating to 15 credits. This module covers basic insurance products and practices, including underwriting and policy wording.

Santosh's experience of the study process is very positive, and he took a regimented planned approach, allocating an hour every day after work hours, and dedicating his weekends to reading material. "I am encouraging all my colleagues to study for and take this exam," he says. "Attaining it is the ultimate start of a great career in insurance, and studying for it is completely feasible and manageable whilst also carrying out the day to day activities of your job."