Textbooks and Curriculum

Purchasing Textbooks

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Visit the ALU Store to purchase ALU textbooks (hard copy and electronic) via Amazon.

The ALU Curriculum Committee reviews the topics and content in each of the ALU textbooks on a regular cycle.

ALU 101 Exam Textbooks:

There are two textbooks for the ALU 101 Examination.

  1. Basic Life Insurance Underwriting, 11th Edition
    Students are responsible for the entire ALU 101 text.
  2. Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology, Eighth Edition
    Students are responsible for selected readings as outlined in the introduction to Basic Life Insurance Underwriting, 11th Edition.

ALU 201 Exam Textbooks:  

There are two textbooks for the ALU 201 examination.

  1. Intermediate Medical Life Insurance Underwriting, 8th Edition
    Students are responsible for the entire ALU 201 text.
  2. Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology, Eighth Edition
    Students are responsible for selected readings as outlined in the introduction to Intermediate Medical Life Insurance Underwriting, 8th Edition.

ALU 202 Exam Textbooks:

Intermediate Non-Medical Life Insurance Underwriting, 11th Edition.
Students are responsible for the entire ALU 202 text.

ALU 301 Exam Textbooks:

There are two textbooks for the ALU 301 Examination.

  1. Advanced Life Insurance Underwriting, 11th Edition
    Students are responsible for the entire ALU 301 text.
  2. Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology, Eighth Edition
    Students are responsible for selected readings in this textbook as outlined in the introduction to Advanced Life Insurance Underwriting, 11th Edition

In addition to the assigned reading materials, ALU 301 students will be expected to have general knowledge of:

  1. medical abbreviations and terminology;
  2. normal values for commonly encountered laboratory tests;
  3. basic electrocardiographic patterns and their significance;
  4. general anatomy and physiology to the degree consistent with day-to-day underwriting and;
  5. commonly encountered diseases and impairments.

Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology:

The Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology, Eighth Edition is no longer available from the ALU It may be purchased from an online bookseller such as Amazon.com or the publisher.

Exploring Text Questions Formats

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Sample ALU 101 Exam Questions:

ALU 101 Sample Test Questions

Sample Test Questions Format:

ALU exams use a combination of four question styles to test content knowledge. An example of the four styles of questions is provided below. Sample questions are also available at the end of each chapter within the textbooks.

Straight answer:

The presence of red blood cells in the urine is:

  1. hematuria
  2. glycosuria
  3. proteinuria
  4. albuminuria

Except question:

All of the following statements regarding the suicide provision are correct EXCEPT:

  1. The burden of proof that death was due to suicide is the responsibility of the beneficiary.
  2. Most life insurance policies include the provision.
  3. The insurer will refund all premiums paid if a claim is denied due to suicide.
  4. It specifies the period of time during which a suicide will not be a covered risk.

Multi-option:

Flat extra ratings are typically used when assessing which of the following risks?

A. morbid obesity

B. scuba diving

C. underground mining

Answer options:

  1. A only is correct
  2. B only is correct
  3. B and C only are correct
  4. A, B, and C are correct

Case study question:

Two friends have gone into business together and have been extremely successful. They hired

another friend who is exceptional at sales and has the relationships necessary to help them enter a

new market share, as their Vice President of Sales. As part of this new venture, they have taken out a

significant loan to boost inventory for anticipated sales. The founders have an agreement to buy each

other's share of the business upon death, for a stated amount, in order to continue the business

seamlessly. They decide to visit their insurance agent to purchase insurance for their situation.

The type of buy-sell agreement the founders have is:

  1. fringe benefit
  2. estate planning
  3. cross purchase
  4. stock redemption

Fundamentals of Risk Selection and Selected Bibliographies for Textbook Chapters

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