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Home > Courses > FNS41521 Certificate IV in Life Insurance Underwriting Stream
The FNS41521 Certificate IV in Life Insurance Underwriting stream allows those who already work, or want to work in the life insurance industry to meet the industry-wide professional standards framework.
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STUDY MODE
100% online
NUMBER OF SUBJECTS
2
NEXT INTAKE
Enrol and start anytime.
COURSE FEE
$1,990.00
AVAILABLE LOANS
N/A
AQF LEVEL
4
COURSE DURATION
Maximum of 34 weeks
ACCREDITATION
National Training Register - 90116 Kaplan Education Pty Ltd
PROVIDER ID
RTO 90116
The FNS41521 Certificate IV in Life Insurance qualification can only be issued once. Kaplan Professional offers two Certificate IV in Life Insurance streams. Please ensure that you only enrol in either the Claims or the Underwriting stream.
Are you looking to commence a career in life insurance underwriting? Or have you been working in the industry and would like to consolidate your knowledge and skills?
The FNS41521 Certificate IV in Life Insurance – Underwriting stream also allows those who already work, or want to work in the life insurance industry to meet the industry-wide professional standards framework.
This qualification focuses firstly on the essential skills and knowledge required to work effectively in the life insurance context in line with professional and ethical practices. This includes legislation and regulations, ethics, sustainability, and life insurance products and services. It then moves onto skills and knowledge specifically for underwriting roles, including working professionally and effectively with clients, life insurance risk and its management, the life insurance underwriting process, underwriting complex medical and financial risks, and dealing effectively with client complaints.
Students are supported by live tutor sessions throughout their learning experience. Each session provides an opportunity to engage with a tutor/subject matter expert in real-time. Students can use these one-hour sessions to drop in and ask questions on the subject content and assessments.
Summary video recordings are provided for each topic. These short videos provide a guide for students on key concepts and focus points for each topic.
Kaplan Professional’s FNS41521 Certificate IV in Life Insurance – Underwriting stream comprises two subjects, Life Insurance Fundamentals (CLI1F) and Life Insurance Essentials – Underwriting Stream (CLI2U). The table below indicates the recommended study order for subjects in this course.
For more information, please see the subject outlines below:
Students who have previously completed the units of competency that make up the FNSSS00018 Life Insurance Fundamentals Skill Set may enrol in the FNS41521 Certificate IV in Life Insurance, and the units of competency may be recognised through credit transfer as the first subject of this qualification.
On successful completion of the FNS41521 Certificate IV in Life Insurance subject Life Insurance Fundamentals (CLI1F) individuals should be able to:
On successful completion of the FNS41521 Certificate IV in Life Insurance subject Life Insurance Essentials – Underwriting Stream (CLI2U) individuals should be able to:
If you wish to apply for CPD points, so that your Kaplan Professional course counts towards your membership with the relevant industry body, you will need to supply the industry body with a copy of your transcript listing the units of competency.
10 units of competency are awarded for the successful completion of the FNS41521 Certificate IV in Life Insurance: four (4) core and six (6) electives. Please refer to the information in the ‘Assessment’ section in relation to completing your qualification.
For information on the units of competency, please see the subject outlines in the ‘Course overview’ section.
The assessment tasks for each subject are listed below.
Units of competency are co-assessed within subjects, as listed in ‘Units of Competency’.
Individuals may attempt the exam and/or submit their written and oral assignment at any time if they believe they are adequately prepared. Individuals will receive personal reminder emails as they approach their assessment deadlines.
Individuals must be deemed to be ‘demonstrated’ in all assessment items, including demonstrating competency in all of the exam questions, in order to be awarded their qualification certificate.
To learn more about what to expect when completing an oral assignment using audio please click here.
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Individuals have a total of:
Therefore, if an individual completes the learning and assessment, and the re-submission time in every subject is granted, the duration will be 34 weeks.
The subject breakdown for this course is below:
Including both the subjects in this qualification (CLI1F and CLI2U), the total duration for the FNS41521 Certificate IV in Life Insurance is 26 –to 34 weeks.
The amount of training for this subject may be up to nine (9) hours per week. The amount of training is the hours an individual can expect to spend engaged in structured learning or tutor-led activities.
The assessment hours for this course may be up to 10 hours per week. These are the hours an individual can expect engaging in assessment activities.
In addition to the amount of training and assessment hours, individuals who are new to industry or vocational training could need up to eight (8) hours per week, known as unsupervised hours. These additional hours are for study skills or further research. For example, an individual not working in industry would need more time to review industry websites that are usually introduced in workplace compliance training.
Individuals working in industry may be able to complete the course requirements in a shorter timeframe or less hours per week.
Additional study-related fees apply to formal extensions and re-enrolments. Please refer to the Vocational Education Fees schedule found here.
Please also refer to our Vocational Education and Training (VET) Enrolment Terms and Conditions here or our Student Handbook here for important information on:
There are no educational entry requirements for the FNS41521 Certificate IV in Life Insurance.
There are also no formal entry requirements set by Kaplan Professional.
However, Kaplan Professional recommends that individuals who are new to industry (individuals with less than six (6) months’ experience in the life insurance industry) complete the units of competency that make up the FNSSS00018 Life Insurance Fundamentals Skill Set before commencing the subject CLI2U Life Insurance Essentials – Underwriting Stream. The skill set makes up the first subject of the FNS41521 Certificate IV in Life Insurance qualification.
Individuals are required to be aged 18 years or older to enrol in this course.
Individuals who are in Australia on a student visa are unable to enrol in this course. If you are in Australia on a visa and wish to enrol, you need to ensure you are enrolling in accordance with the study conditions of your visa.
To successfully undertake this course, Individuals are expected to have Language, Literacy, Numeracy and Digital (LLND) skills at ACSF Level 3.
This means you should be able to:
If you have any doubts about whether you have the language, literacy and numeracy skills to undertake a Kaplan Professional program, we recommend you speak with our Student Services team on 1300 662 203 or email mail@kaplan.edu.au.
Further information regarding the LLND requirements for enrolment can be found here.
The technology requirements to complete this qualification can be found here.
Individuals may enrol in the FNS41521 Certificate IV in Life Insurance at any time.
Before approving enrolment, Kaplan Professional collects student information to assess course suitability. This screening may include a review of course prerequisites, prior qualifications, identified learning needs, employer confirmation of training needs (where applicable), and language, literacy, numeracy and digital skills (LLND).
For more information, individuals can speak with the Student Services team on 1300 662 203 or mail@kaplan.edu.au.
A valid Unique Student Identifier (USI) must be provided before access will be granted to the course materials.
This subject is delivered online via Kaplan Professional’s learning management system, Kaplearn.
You will receive login details to KapLearn on enrolment. When you log on to KapLearn, you are able to access the subject notes, assessments and additional learning materials. This includes media, case studies, practise activities and your online tutor. Assessments are accessed and submitted through KapLearn.
Corporate clients should contact our Corporate Solutions team at corporate@kaplan.edu.au to discuss delivery options and how we can further tailor our training to meet your business needs.
Individuals may be able to obtain Credit Transfer if they have previously achieved units of competency which are equivalent to units in their course.
Individuals may be able to obtain RPL for a Kaplan Professional award course based on their previous study and/or work experience. To do this, individuals must submit evidence that demonstrates they have already met the requirements of the course through these other means.
Evidence can take many forms. This includes information about approved study, information about work experience, certificates, transcripts or other credentials.
To find out if they are eligible for RPL, individuals should refer to our Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) page.
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Kaplan Professional is offering education update presentations for advice firms – available online or in person – designed to help advisers navigate the evolving professional landscape.
The financial advice profession is rarely a straight path. Increasing regulation, rising client expectations, technological change and higher professional standards mean advisers must continually adapt to remain relevant and competitive.
This presentation maps the full career lifecycle of an adviser – from entry into the profession through to specialisation, leadership and long-term sustainability. At each stage, we explore the capabilities required, the common challenges advisers face, and the role education plays not just as a compliance requirement, but as a strategic enabler of professional growth.
• Education pathways from entry to senior leadership
• How capability requirements evolve across career stages
• The shift from minimum standards to advanced technical and strategic expertise
• The role of ongoing education in building resilience, sound judgement and sustainable careers
Designed for adviser teams and leadership groups, this presentation provides practical insights into how structured learning supports long-term performance, professionalism and business sustainability.
To book an education update session for your advisers please contact your Corporate Relationship Manager to arrange a suitable time.
Date: Wednesday, 11 March
Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm AEDT
Fee: $280
Where: Online (Zoom)
Host: Matthew Farley
A certificate of attendance outlining CPD hours will be awarded at the conclusion of this workshop. A full list of topics is available on our website.
Date: Thursday, 19 March
Time: 1:00pm – 3:30pm AEDT
Fee: $340
Host: Dr Jenny Diggle
Kaplan Professional has expanded the Financial Adviser Accelerator Suite with a new set of practical topics designed to further strengthen capability across both technical and client engagement areas.
As client expectations continue to rise and advice scenarios become more complex, early career advisers must combine sound technical knowledge with strong communication skills and thoughtful decision-making. The latest additions to the suite support this ongoing professional development.
Practical frameworks to enhance credibility, strengthen adviser presence and build more meaningful, long-term client relationships.
Structured approaches to assessing appropriate cover, modelling client scenarios and supporting well-reasoned, client-centred risk advice.
Applying probability-based thinking to improve strategic judgement and support more confident decision-making in uncertain environments.
These additions build on the Financial Adviser Accelerator Suite focus on applied, real-world learning, equipping advisers with skills that can be immediately implemented in practice.
The ongoing expansion of the Financial Adviser Accelerator Suite reflects Kaplan Professional’s commitment to supporting advisers as they continue to develop deeper expertise and deliver high-quality, client-focused advice.
For advisers who have now met the education standard, the focus shifts from compliance to opportunity.
Kaplan Professional offers clear pathways to build on the bridging courses and subjects already completed and convert that study into a full, recognised qualification. Advisers who have completed individual units toward the education standard may be eligible to articulate into the Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning or Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning, formalising their academic achievement and strengthening their professional standing.
From there, eligible Graduate Diploma alumni can upgrade to the Master of Financial Planning, completing the remaining subjects to attain a postgraduate qualification that positions them above the minimum regulatory requirement. The Master’s program also provides direct pathways toward leading professional designations, including CFP® and SSA®, enabling advisers to align academic progression with industry-recognised credentials.
Advisers who have completed the Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning are already eligible to obtain leading professional designations through the College for Financial Planning®. This includes globally-recognised credentials such as the Accredited Behavioural Finance ProfessionalSM (ABFP®) and Chartered Retirement Planning CounsellorSM (CRPC®) designation.
No further study is required to meet the education component for these certifications, allowing advisers to leverage their existing qualification to secure respected professional recognition and further strengthen their standing in the industry.
Beyond core qualifications, Kaplan Professional also offers access to additional specialist electives and professional designation pathways, allowing advisers to differentiate in areas such as superannuation, retirement, ethics and client strategy.
In short, completing the education standard doesn’t have to be the end point. With Kaplan Professional, it can be the foundation for higher qualifications, respected designations and long-term career progression.
Contact your Corporate Relationship Manager to discuss the education options and pathways for your adviser network. Alternatively, contact 1300 135 798 (option 2) or email courseadvice@kaplan.edu.au.
Kaplan Professional will host a special Women in Finance webinar on Tuesday, 3 March, celebrating the achievements, leadership and career journeys of women shaping the financial services industry.
The session will explore leadership, career progression and the role education has played in supporting professional success across diverse areas of the sector.
Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning dux, two-time Olympian and Financial Adviser at HLB Mann Judd.
Graduate Diploma graduate, business owner and founder of a caregiving training institute in Bangladesh, with more than 20 years’ industry experience.
Master of Applied Finance graduate and Director at BDO Sydney, specialising in governance, risk and assurance across financial services.
Date: Tuesday, 3 March
Time: 1:30pm AEDT
Location: Online (Zoom)
The webinar will include practical leadership insights, reflections on career growth, discussion on the impact of education in finance, and an interactive Q&A session.
Now
9 March
25 March
29 May
Kaplan Professional is offering eligible Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning alumni a limited-time opportunity to upgrade to the Master of Financial Planning at a fixed alumni price of $5,000.
This exclusive offer enables alumni to complete their remaining four subjects – two core subjects (FPC009 Complex Financial Planning and KAP001 Capstone Project) and two electives – at a substantially reduced cost compared to standard postgraduate tuition fees.
To access the offer, eligible alumni must enrol and commence their first subject by the Study Period 2 census date, 25 March 2026.
Upgrading to the Master’s degree provides advisers with the opportunity to deepen technical expertise, broaden strategic capability and position themselves strongly as professional standards across the industry continue to rise. The program also supports progression toward additional professional designations.
Full details, including subject structure, study plans and application steps, are available below.