Education

• As with other branches of insurance, there are no formal education requirements for life insurance underwriters as of 2011, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even so, the majority of employers look for someone with a bachelor's degree. It ideally should be in business or finance, but the necessary degree ultimately depends on what the employer is willing to accept. If you do not have a finance or business degree, the employer still may hire you, but will look to see you have enough relevant experience.
  
  

On-the-Job Training

• Once you are hired by a life insurance company, it places you as an assistant to an experienced underwriter, who supervises you as you learn the basics of the life insurance underwriting process. You evaluate routine applications and collect data on the applicants during this training period, moving forward to more complicated tasks as you master your underwriting skills. The on-the-job training period may last up to a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  
  

Coursework

• Even though there are no formal education requirements for life insurance underwriters, because computers are such an integral part of the claims and data-collection and storage process, you should take courses in technology during your life insurance underwriter training. You also will need continuing education classes which address changes in regulations that impact the life insurance industry. In some instances, your insurance company may pay for these classes for you, as the information impacts your ability to do your job.
  
  

Certification

• Life insurance underwriters should be certified to demonstrate they have met the minimum levels of skill and competence necessary for underwriting work. Several certifications are specific to life insurance underwriters. The primary certification is Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU). Registered Health Underwriter (RHU) certification also is relevant. For those just entering the industry, becoming a Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow is useful. This certification introduces you to the basics of insurance underwriting, requiring only five courses. The CLU and RHU training is more extensive, and can take up to a year.