The Certified Insurance Fraud Investigator (CIFI) program is an accrediting process for individuals with the specialized skills required to detect, investigate and deter insurance fraud. The program has a high standard for admission and testing, which includes adherence to IASIU’s code of ethics, and a demonstrated competency through mandatory continuing professional education.

Requirements for CIFI Certification

A minimum of 100 points is needed for the CIFI Examination Application, with a minimum of 30 points of SIU investigative experience required. Each category takes into consideration your education, SIU investigative experience, other investigative experience and your experience as an expert in your field, as a speaker or writer.

Education

Points awarded for each degree:

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college (20 pts.)
• Master’s Degree from an accredited college (10 pts.)
• Ph.D., J.D. from an accredited college (10 pts. each)

SIU Investigative Experience

A minimum of 30 points is required in this category. 10 points are awarded for each full year of SIU investigative experience.  To receive points in this category, the applicant must be or have been:

• An insurance company employee whose primary purpose is the investigation and/or supervision of investigation of insurance fraud, or
• An employee of a self-insured corporation or company whose primary purpose is the investigation and/or supervision of investigation of insurance fraud, or
• A special agent or supervisory special agent of the National Insurance Crime Bureau or the Insurance Crime Prevention Bureau, or
• A full time investigator for a state fraud bureau.

Other Investigative Experience

• Law Enforcement Investigative Experience (5 pts. per year): to receive points in this category, the applicant must be, or have been, a local, state or federal law enforcement officer and/or investigator; or a fire department investigator.
• Insurance Investigation Experience (5 pts. per year): to receive points in this category, the applicant must be or have been:
  • An insurance company employee whose primary purpose is the investigation and/or supervision of investigation of insurance claims
  • A self-insured corporation company employee who is assigned to a claims handling unit and whose primary purpose is the investigation and/or supervision of investigation of insurance claims.
  • Licensed Private Investigator: To receive points in this category, the applicant must be or have been a private investigator licensed by a state or local government agency.
• Defense Counsel Investigative Experience (5 pts. per year): to receive points in this category, the applicant's duties must be the defense of insurers and self-insurers, primarily in cases of claims within the SIU arena, and includes assisting in SIU claims investigation, conducting Examinations Under Oath (E.U.O.) and in claims involving suspected insurance fraud. 
  

Public Speaking and Writing

As an expert in your field, you can receive points in this category if you have:

• Published a book on a subject directly related to the investigation of insurance fraud. (15 pts. per book) Attach a list showing the title and publishers name for all books authored, and attach a copy of the copyright page with the Library of Congress catalog number.
• Published a paper or article in a professional magazine or journal on a subject directly related to the investigation of insurance fraud. (3 pts. per paper or article) Attach a list showing title and publisher’s name for all authored articles, and a copy of the article pages which show the magazine or journal name, date, article title and your name.
• Given lecture(s) at professional industry organization meetings, seminars or conferences on a subject directly related to the investigation of insurance fraud. (3 pts. per lecture) Industry organizations are defined as: IASIU, IAAI, ACFE, IAATI, etc., national and chapter functions. Attach a list showing organization, topic, location and date of each lecture.

Certifications

To receive points in this category, the applicant must have certification(s) from a professional organization concerned with the detection and/or prevention of fraud. (5 pts. per professional certification)

Setting Up an Exam:

Examination applications are accepted year-round. You have the option to take the exam in-person or online.

In-Person Exam:
There are two opportunities to take the exam in-person, which are administered by a proctor that is CIFI certified.

1. At a chapter event. If an IASIU chapter wishes to sponsor an exam, they must contact the IASIU office for approval at least 90 days prior to the test date.
2. At the Annual Conference. 

Online Exam: 
The CIFI exam can be taken online. This allows you to schedule the exam when you want and where you want. There’s no need to travel to an exam location. It does require the use of a computer with a camera and microphone.  The proctor will administer the exam from a remote location. 

On the application, select “Online” as your preferred method to take the exam and we will email you instructions on how to take it.

CIFI Application Fee:
The CIFI exam fee is $200 for members and $400 for nonmembers.

If you qualify for membership, your membership application and payment fees must be received and application approved prior to submitting your CIFI application in order to qualify for the lower member rate of $200.

Submit CIFI Application:
Individuals can submit the CIFI application online or print the CIFI application and email, fax or mail to the IASIU office.

Study Resources

The following is a list of resource materials for investigators who take the CIFI examination. Please note, that this is a test of knowledge and experience rather than a course of study.

Materials used to develop the exam include:

• Law of Claims Fraud Investigation and Defense, American Educational Institute
  
• In-person prep course at the Annual Seminar and select chapter events. 

Additional sources include periodicals such as The John Cooke Fraud Report, SIU Today, the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud’s Fraud Focus and Mealey Publications’ Insurance Fraud.

Recertification

Once an individual receives certification, they must be recertified every three years. In order to qualify for recertification, the individual must maintain the standards set forth in IASIU’s Code of Ethics and obtain 60 continuing education units (CEUs) over a three year period. A minimum of 10 credits per year must be obtained, which includes taking a one credit ethics course.

For CEUs to qualify, they must relate to the investigation of insurance fraud, and a certificate of completion or other proof of attendance must be maintained by the CIFI and submitted to IASIU upon request.

CEUs can be submitted through the IASIU website. Your credits can be viewed within your IASIU membership profile. When logged in you’ll click the upside down arrow next to your name in the top right of the screen. Click "Account + Settings" in the drop down and then "Professional Development" to view your records. This is where you’ll add any CEU credits you earn by clicking "Add Entry."

After logging your credits, individuals can complete the CIFI recertification form and submit payment to complete the renewal process.