Certified Multinational Risk Advisor (CMRA) Designation
Introducing a Groundbreaking Global Credential: The Certified Multinational Risk Advisor (CMRA) Designation
Discover the first-ever industry-recognized international professional designation for insurance and financial services experts. The Certified Multinational Risk Advisor (CMRA) credential empowers professionals with advanced skills and specialized knowledge, preparing them to meet the complex needs of companies operating worldwide.
This innovative program goes beyond traditional learning—it features CE-accredited content that brings risk management to life. Participants actively collaborate in case study analysis, team-building, and immersive role-play, focusing on real-world challenges facing today’s middle market companies. The CMRA designation marks a new standard, ensuring you’re ready to lead and thrive in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
Why do brokers with international clients need this designation?
Brokers with international clients need to understand international insurance programs to navigate complex, country-specific regulations, avoid coverage gaps or overlaps, ensure legal compliance, manage diverse risks (like property, liability, cyber), provide consistent global protection, control costs, and offer seamless, consolidated service across borders, preventing significant financial and operational issues for their multinational clients. Specifically, the reasons brokers with international clients need these skills is because these clients need help…
- Navigating regulatory complexity: Each country has unique laws, tax rules, and compliance requirements; brokers must ensure policies meet local mandates.
- Avoiding gaps & overlaps: Global programs coordinate local policies with master covers to eliminate uncovered risks or redundant policies.
- Ensuring consistent coverage: They provide uniform protection standards worldwide, a key factor for multinational companies.
- Developing global risk management strategies: Helps clients manage enterprise-wide risks (D&O, cyber, P&C) more effectively, supporting global business strategies.
- Accomplishing cost efficiencies: Centralized programs can reduce administrative burdens and offer better premiums by aggregating global risk.
- Developing operational simplicity: Manages multiple local insurers and service providers through a single point of contact, simplifying administration for clients.
- Understanding cultural & linguistic nuances: Partners with local brokers to bridge language barriers and cultural differences in policy execution.
- Client service & value: Deep understanding allows for customized solutions, better claims handling, and strong client partnerships Middle market organizations face current and emerging risks that can be difficult to manage. These risks include cyber attacks; increasingly frequent and severe natural catastrophes; and the inability to attract and retain quality employees, executives and board members.
Who are the ideal candidates for the CMRA designation?
A broad range of advisors will gain value from this designation, including brokers, attorneys, accountants, financial planners, and other advisors who serve middle market organizations and provide or advise on property and casualty; life; health and accident insurance and benefits.
What do you gain with the CMRA designation?
The CRMA designation will prepare you with the skills and knowledge necessary to advise clients with global risk management exposures. Successful completion of the program earns the participants the Certified Multinational Risk Advisor designation. In addition, participants can earn up to 25 hours of Continuing Education (CE) credits and will have access to additional Zurich CE-accredited programs as a designation alumnus.
The Certified Multinational Risk Advisor (CMRA) program has been developed in conjunction with the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business (UGA). The University of Georgia has one of the leading U.S. undergraduate and graduate programs in risk management and insurance. The collaboration allows us to combine the academic expertise, resources and faculty leadership of UGA with the practical, real-world experience and expertise that Zurich brings to the table in working with middle market organizations and industries every day. There are additional benefits of the Zurich-UGA collaboration on the CMRA program, including:
- Development of objective content: the CMRA program is approved for state insurance continuing education credit; therefore, the content must be neutral and objective, and not self-promotional of, or biased toward Zurich.
- High standards of academic integrity: UGA applies the highest standards of academic review in evaluating the worthiness, timeliness, and suitability of the content.
- Ongoing review and updating: we work with UGA faculty to continuously upgrade, revise and add new content as it becomes relevant.
What do participants think about the program?
“The Certified Multinational Risk Advisor (CMRA) designation program delivers an exceptional blend of academic rigor and real world relevance. The collaboration between Zurich and the University of Georgia creates a learning environment that is both intellectually grounded and highly practical for today’s multinational landscape. The curriculum is thoughtfully sequenced, the instructors bring deep global expertise, and the interactive components ensure participants can immediately apply what they learn. It is a standout program for anyone looking to broaden their multinational capabilities and strengthen their leadership in international risk management.”
Brian Dermond, CRMA
Managing Director, Multinational Practice Leader
Brown & Brown RS Insurance Services, LLC
The Certified Multinational Risk Advisor designation by Zurich/UGA was an excellent investment in my professional development. The program combined practical frameworks with real-world case studies, helping me better understand how to identify, assess, and manage cross-border risks.
The instructors brought deep industry experience and encouraged discussion, and the group setting added valuable perspectives.
I would highly recommend this course to brokers and risk managers who want a deeper, more practical understanding of international insurance programs.
Kate Schneider
Vice President, Senior Broker
Aon
“I wish this course existed when I first started out in insurance, this course really has all of the necessary ingredients for any new and existing Global Insurance people. The course is an immersive learning experience that will provide individuals with the tools needed to work on International insurance business which as we know with the ever-changing global landscape we need to be adaptable and find the right solutions needed for client’s operations all over the world.”
Will Mulé
Executive Vice President, Global Risk Solutions Practice Leader
HUB International Insurance Brokers
What are the courses offered in the Certified Multinational Risk Advisor (CMRA) designation program?
Through a broad view of the overall global commercial insurance landscape, the CRMA designation program consists of ten CE-accredited courses of advanced training that incorporate case study analysis, team building and role playing, including:
Course Length: 2 hours
CE Credit: 2 CE credits
Covers how to structure and write multinational insurance programs in accordance with national and international law (including tax and licensing requirements) applied to out-of-territory insurance business. Explains key terminology, along with how local policies, Master policies and reinsurance are selected and coordinated.
Course Length: 2 hours
CE Credit: 2 CE credits
Covers the essential components needed to structure an international insurance solution, including local policies, non-admitted permitted policies, insurance rules required by the global carrier, financial interest cover that protects the insurable interests of companies doing business in various jurisdictions and regional pacts (like Freedom of Services) designed to facilitate the smooth functioning of international insurance programs.
Course Length: 3 hours
CE Credit: 3 CE credits
Covers compliance processes and needs for a broad range of ever-evolving local and national rules and regulations. Concerns about compliance have been heightened by increased attention to corporate governance issues, shareholder demands and the pursuit of fees, revenues and taxes by local authorities. This course offers best practices and strategies that can keep programs compliant as conditions change.
Course Length: 2 hours
CE Credit: 2 CE credits
The identification and proper allocation of costs, premiums and taxes in a multinational/multi-jurisdiction insurance program are critical to the effective and compliant design anId implementation of an international insurance program. This program covers these cost components and provides ideas on how to manage these costs in a compliant, cost-effective manner.
Course Length: 2 hours
CE Credit: 2 CE credits
A captive enables a company to secure insurance and risk management expertise that is customized to its own needs, using the fronting financial and advisory resources of insurance companies. A captive motivates strong risk management practices, as effective loss controls can result in a captive generating a profit or a loss for the company that uses this type of vehicle. This program helps the advisor understand the potential risks and rewards of captives.
Course Length: 2 hours
CE Credit: 2 CE credits
Underwriting companies doing business internationally presents unique challenges, including the risks associated with in-country economic and business conditions, political circumstances, and the complexities associated with regulatory and legislative insurance and risk management compliance requirements. This course helps the advisor understand these underwriting challenges and offers strategies that can help facilitate and optimize the underwriting process.
Course Length: 2 hours
CE Credit: 2 CE credits
A major risk exposure for companies involves the safety and security of employees when they are travelling. Employees at all levels of the organization may travel for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to inspecting and evaluating manufacturing or warehousing facilities, sales calls, or attending conferences. This program reviews the importance of travel planning, risk management and insurance programs to protect, as well as to incentivize employees. Travel can be a great opportunity but it also entails significant risks if not managed properly.
Course Length: 3 hours
CE Credit: 3 CE credits
In addition to the technical complexities involved in setting up a global insurance program, there are complexities related to local cultures, languages and customs. These differences can result in conditions where insureds can be taken advantage of to their own detriment. This course explains the importance of complying with both the letter and the spirit of the law.
Course Length: 4 hours
CE Credit: 4 CE credits
The financial resources, obligations and performance of an organization are critical to understanding the path ahead. This course shows how financial statements can be used to identify needs and inform budget-sensitive, cost-effective programs. Covers similarities and differences between Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) protocols.
Course Length: 3 hours
CE Credit: 3 CE credits
In this business simulation, participants are assigned to teams that compete to understand, identify and select the appropriate solutions for a global manufacturer of technology products, Titan Industries. Teams must quickly evaluate Titan’s needs, based on data they receive and interviews with key stakeholders, including Titan’s senior management and insurance broker.
Have questions or need guidance?
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