Learn how to advise clients on the right home, auto, or commercial insurance coverage. Get real work experience and qualify for AMF licensing exams.
WHAT DOES A DAMAGE INSURANCE AGENT OR BROKER DO?
Damage insurance agents and brokers help people protect their homes, cars, and businesses. They focus on coverage for physical property and liability risks, guiding clients through some of their most important financial decisions.
Agents typically represent a single insurance company, while brokers work with multiple insurers to find the best coverage for a client’s needs. Both must be licensed through Quebec’s financial regulator, the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF).
Typical tasks in these roles include:
- Assessing a client’s risk profile and insurance needs (property, vehicle, liability, business assets, etc.)
- Explaining policy options, coverage limits, exclusions, and deductibles in clear terms
- Comparing quotes from one or several insurers (if working as a broker)
- Preparing and submitting insurance applications
- Issuing policies, renewals, and endorsements
- Advising clients during policy changes (e.g., new vehicle, home renovation, business expansion)
- Assisting clients through the claims process, including liaising with adjusters
- Reviewing coverage periodically to ensure it still matches the client’s situation
- Staying current on regulations, industry standards, and continuing education requirements
- Maintaining accurate client records and documentation for compliance purposes
- Cross-selling or recommending additional coverage
- Building and maintaining client relationships for retention and referrals
Herzing College Damage Insurance Program
This program prepares students to sell policies and handle claims in home, auto, and commercial insurance. You’ll learn how to listen to clients, analyze their needs, and recommend the right insurance products, all while following the ethical standards expected of insurance professionals.
- Qualify to write the AMF licensing exams for damage insurance
- Internship included
- Career support to land your first job after graduation
- Flexible scheduling and online learning format for maximum convenience
- Continuously updated course content, reviewed by an expert curriculum committee
- Frequent program start dates
- Financial assistance may be available for students who qualify
A Quality Online Learning Experience
Herzing offers everything you need to succeed in your online education.
- Easily connect with experienced and knowledgeable instructors whenever you need support
- Programs include live sessions each week for real-time learning and interaction
- Dedicated academic and technical support
Career Outlook
Graduates of Herzing’s Damage Insurance program can work in a variety of positions in the insurance industry, such as:
- Customer service representative
- Insurance administrative assistant
- Underwriting assistant
- Claims assistant
- Sales support representative
- Policy processing clerk
- Other support roles that do not require certification from the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF)
You may practise as a certified insurance professional, such as a Damage Insurance Agent or Damage Insurance Broker, only after obtaining a certificate of practice issued by the AMF.
Study Topics
Click below for detailed course descriptions.
This course introduces students to the legal framework governing the property and casualty insurance industry. Students learn the principles of insurance contracts, applicable legislation, regulatory requirements, ethical responsibilities, and the professional obligations of insurance representatives and claims adjusters. Emphasis is placed on interpreting legislation and applying legal and ethical standards to real-world insurance situations.
Students develop the ability to interpret and analyze corporate financial statements used in commercial underwriting. The course covers accounting principles, financial reports, business structures, and financial indicators that help assess insurance risks and determine appropriate insurance coverage for commercial clients.
This course examines insurance products designed to protect homeowners, tenants, condominium owners, and their personal liability. Students analyze policy forms, endorsements, coverage options, exclusions, and risk exposures while learning to recommend appropriate protection based on each client’s needs.
Students learn to identify risks associated with residential and commercial buildings by examining construction methods, heating and electrical systems, fire protection, and building safety standards. The course develops the ability to recommend preventive measures that reduce losses and improve insurability.
This introductory course familiarizes students with the insurance profession, industry roles, workplace expectations, and computerized insurance systems. Students develop teamwork and communication skills while learning to use industry software, databases, office applications, and digital communication tools commonly found in modern insurance organizations.
Students study automobile insurance products for both personal and commercial clients. Topics include mandatory and optional coverages, policy forms, endorsements, underwriting considerations, and the Direct Compensation Agreement. Students learn to evaluate client needs and recommend appropriate automobile insurance protection.
This course develops the communication and customer service skills required to succeed in the insurance industry. Students practice interviewing clients, identifying insurance needs, presenting insurance solutions, handling objections, applying consultative selling techniques, and building long-term client relationships through effective communication and professional service.
Students examine commercial property insurance products covering direct and indirect losses, business interruption, and complementary insurance solutions. They learn to analyze policy forms, endorsements, specialized coverages, and commercial risks in order to recommend comprehensive insurance solutions for businesses.
Students develop the skills required to collect client information, evaluate personal risks, analyze underwriting factors, and recommend appropriate personal insurance coverage. The course emphasizes risk assessment, policy selection, pricing considerations, and professional client recommendations.
This course focuses on liability exposures faced by businesses. Students analyze commercial liability insurance products, policy forms, endorsements, bonding options, and underwriting considerations while learning to recommend liability protection tailored to different business operations.
Students apply analytical techniques to evaluate commercial insurance risks. They learn to gather business information, assess operational and financial risks, determine underwriting requirements, and prepare insurance recommendations that meet the needs of commercial clients while balancing risk exposure and coverage requirements.
This capstone course prepares students for successful entry into the insurance profession. Students assess their professional competencies, explore career opportunities, prepare professional résumés and interviews, develop job search strategies, and create a career development plan while demonstrating readiness to meet employer expectations.
Through a supervised work placement in an insurance organization, students observe and participate in the claims adjustment process in a professional setting. Under the guidance of experienced claims professionals, they determine claim eligibility, evaluate damages, interpret policy coverage, calculate settlements, communicate with claimants, and assist in managing claims in accordance with industry standards, organizational procedures, and regulatory requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, however, completing the program does not automatically mean you have covered 100 % of every competency tested on every AMF exam. Herzing’s Damage Insurance program is an AMF-recognized training program and its purpose is to provide the training needed for the relevant insurance discipline certification. The program should prepare you for the AMF exams, but it is also recommended to study the AMF evaluation tables directly before writing the exams. They are the best checklist of what can actually be tested.
The AMF’s full damage insurance certification path currently evaluates four competency areas:
- 1.03-114- Law and professional practice
- 2.03-411-Personal property insurance
- 3.03-412-Automobile insurance
- 4.03-413-Commercial property and civil liability insurance
Upon completion of Herzing’s Damage Insurance program, the AMF exams you can pursue depend on the sector or sector class you want to qualify for. The AMF currently lists these four damage insurance competency exams:
- O3-114 Law and professional practice in damage insurance
- 03-411 Personal property insurance
- 03-412 Personal and commercial automobile insurance
- 03-413 Commercial property and civil liability insurance
For the full damage insurance sector, you need to pass all four competencies: 03-114, 03-411, 03-412, and 04-413.
Yes, but there is an important distinction between the AMF certification and the different sector classes you can qualify for. If you complete Herzing’s AMF -recognized Damage Insurance program, your program satisfies the minimum education requirement to pursue an AMF certificate in the damage insurance sector. You then have to meet the AMF’s examination, probationary-period, and application requirements.
The main AMF certificates relevant to damage insurance are:
- Damage Insurance Agent (3a)-generally works for an insurer
- Damage Insurance Broker (4a)-generally works as a broker and can offer products from multiple insurers.
Within damage insurance, you can qualify for:
- Personal-lines damage insurance
- Commercial- lines damage insurance
- The full damage insurance sector, depending on the exams/qualifications you complete.
After completing the Damage Insurance program, you can pursue the qualifications required to become either a damage insurance agent or a damage insurance broker, and you can qualify for personal and/or commercial lines. The exact examinations required depend on the sector class you pursue.
Yes, you can sit for the AMF certification exams after completing Herzing’s Damage Insurance program; you do not need to work in the insurance industry first before taking the exams. The AMF process is generally:
Complete the required recognized training-6A is listed by the AMF as a recognized AEC program.
- Pass the required AMF examinations.
- Complete the probationary period (the practical work experience portion)
- Apply for your AMF certificate
The work experience/probationary period comes after you pass the exams, not before you are allowed to write them. The AMF describes the sequence as minimum training-examinations-probationary period-certificate application.
For 2026, the AMF fees for damage-insurance certification exams are:
- Admission to AMF-prescribed exams: $88
- Registration for the exams: $181
So if you need to complete four disciplines for your intended qualification, the exam-related fees would be $88 + (4 x $181) = $812, before any applicable taxes or other costs.
Yes, but only for those candidates who live and reside in Toronto or Moncton. In Quebec, however, the exams are only available in French, under the Charter of the French language, unless you qualify for a specific exemption. If you live and reside in Quebec, you cannot write your exam in English by going to Toronto or Moncton; you will not be eligible.
The current AMF exam locations include:
- Montreal
- Laval
- Longueuil
- Quebec City
- Jonquiere
- Gatineau
- Rimouski
- Rouyn-Noranda
- Toronto
- Moncton
Yes, if you fail an AMF damage-insurance certification exam, you can retake it.
Generally, you must:
- Register for the exam again and pay the applicable exam registration fee.
- Wait for the required waiting period before taking the same exam, if one applies
- You can continue retaking the exam until you pass, subject to the AMF’s current rules
You can work in a variety of insurance roles. The exact jobs depend on whether you obtain a Damage Insurance Agent certificate or a Damage Insurance Broker certificate, and which sector classes you are authorized for.
With the AMF Damage Insurance agent certificate
You could typically work as:
- Damage Insurance Agent
- Personal Lines Insurance Agent
- Home Insurance Agent
- Auto Insurance Agent
- Customer Service Representative (insurance)
- Insurance Advisor working for an insurance company
- Commercial Insurance Agent if you have the appropriate commercial qualification
- Claims-related roles in some organizations, although a claims-adjuster role may require a different authorization depending on the duties.
You would generally work for an insurance company and sell or service that company’s insurance products
With an AMF Damage Insurance Broker certificate
You could work as:
- Damage Insurance Broker
- Personal Lines Broker
- Commercial Insurance Broker
- Insurance Advisor/Broker
- Account Manager in a brokerage
- Commercial Lines Account Representative
- Client Service Representative in an insurance brokerage
The major difference is that a brokerage can generally offer insurance products from multiple insurers, whereas an agent represents an insurer.
You could look for positions such as:
- Insurance Customer Service Representative-answering questions, updating client information, handling administrative requests
- Insurance Service Representative-supporting clients and licensed agents or brokers
- Insurance Assistant/Administrative Assistant-preparing documents, maintaining files, processing paperwork
- Policy Administration Clerk-helping with policy changes, renewals,cancellations,and documentation.
- Underwriting Assistant-supporting underwriters with applications, risk information, and documentation
- Claims assistant-administrative support for claims department
- Insurance Account Technician-assisting with account and policy administration
- Brokerage Assistant-supporting licensed brokers with client files and administrative tasks.
- Commercial Insurance Assistant-helping commercial account teams with documentation and client service.
- Insurance Operations or Processing Clerk-working behind the scenes on policy and transaction processing
Admission Requirements
What you need to get started.
- Have a minimum of a Canadian provincial high school diploma or equivalent, or be a mature student
- Pass an entrance test administered by Herzing College
- Be interviewed in detail regarding interest in the field
- Note: admission to some programs may include additional requirements
Specific admission requirements for programs delivered through Herzing College Montreal:
- Regulation respecting the French knowledge requirements for the issue of an Attestation of College Studies Charter of the French language (chapter C-11, s. 88.0.18, 2nd par.).
- 1. The French knowledge requirements that a student must meet in order to be issued an Attestation of College Studies in accordance with section 88.0.18 of the Charter of the French language (chapter C-11) correspond, on the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français,
- 2. The student shows that the French knowledge requirements provided for in section 1 are met by providing to the college-level educational institution a valid certificate of the results of a standardized test that reports those results.
Not all programs and learning formats available at all campus locations.
The Damage Insurance (LCA.6A) program is registered at and delivered by Herzing College Montreal. This program leads to an Attestation of Collegial Studies (ACS) recognized by the Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur (MES).
Herzing College Montreal is a post-secondary institution recognized by the Ministry of Education and Higher Learning (permit number 749758) and a secondary vocational studies institution (permit number 534501).
