About Us

The Joint Education and Examination Committee, the predecessor of the ALU, was formed in 1948 by the joint action of the Home Office Life Underwriters Association (HOLUA) and the Institute of Home Office Underwriters (IHOU). The Committee’s name was changed to Life Underwriting Education Committee (LUEC) in 1973. The Canadian Institute of Underwriters became a full partner in 1991. Through the years, the Committee has had several name changes-- Life Underwriting Education Committee in 1973 and Education Committee of the Academy of Life Underwriting (ECALU) in 1998. The change to ECALU occurred at the same time as the original structure of the Board (i.e., Academy of Life Underwriting Board) was put into place. The ECALU was renamed once again in 2010--to become the Academy of Life Underwriting (ALU). At the same time, the name of the ALU Board was changed to the Life Underwriting Board (LUB). The membership of the board was expanded to include representatives from the ALU and On the Risk (OTR). In 2012 the ALU incorporated as a separate entity with OTR as a division of the new organization. The ALU has a Board of Directors made up of a representative from the CIU, a representative from the AHOU, the Director of OTR, the former President of the ALU and the current President of the ALU.

In 1994, the 500th FALU earned the designation and in 2007 the 1,000th fellow was designated. 2010 marked the growth of the ranks of FALU to over 1,500. Today, there have been over 3,000 FALU designations awarded.

The ALU meets its mission by providing a series of four exams leading to the designation, Fellow, Academy of Life Underwriting.

Other professional educational opportunities offered include:

  1. Webinar Series with library of over 100 recordings
  2. Risk Forum, a premier, invitation-only roundtable designed for Underwriting leaders
  3. Continuing Education Certification Program
  4. On The Risk, the Journal of the Academy of Life Underwriting

Mission Statement

To be the recognized leaders in providing professional educational opportunities to life underwriters worldwide.

Vision Statement

To provide life underwriting educational opportunities to all underwriters at all career stages. We will accomplish this by:

  1. creating, maintaining, and delivering current and relevant content
  2. administering the ALU professional examination series
  3. recognizing accomplishments through certification and professional designation programs
  4. providing continuing opportunities for the professional growth of Fellows in the Academy of Life Underwriting (FALU)
  5. promoting awareness of the educational programs and professional designations of the ALU
  6. using proven technologies in innovative ways to deliver a positive educational experience

Guiding Principles for the Underwriter

The CIU and AHOU presents the following recommended principles as guidance for those who are striving to carry out the responsibilities of a professional underwriter.

It is the Responsibility of Underwriters to:

Act promptly, while exercising sound, objective and consistent judgement in making underwriting decisions.

Follow established risk classification principles that differentiate fairly on the basis of sound actuarial principles and/or reasonable anticipated mortality or morbidity experience.

Treat all underwriting information with complete confidentiality, and use it for the sole purpose of evaluating and classifying the risk.

Comply with insurance legislation and regulations, particularly as they apply to risk classification, privacy and disclosure.

Act independently and fairly.

Provide support to distribution partners, to assist them in carrying out their fiduciary responsibilities to the insurance company and their clients.

Endeavor to attain professional underwriting and insurance designations and maintain a level of professional competency through continued education.

Promote the further education of underwriters.

Maintain the dignity and sound reputation of the Underwriting Profession.