Durham Tech, Blue Cross NC Partner for New Insurance Licensing Program

Collaboration includes scholarships to promote a diverse program applicant pool 

Durham Technical Community College and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) are announcing the launch of a five-year insurance career pathway partnership with scholarship opportunities for students.

The Durham Tech Insurance Licensing Program will start in February 2022, offering the pre-licensing education required by the North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI) to become an insurance licensee. Program courses will include Life Insurance, Accident & Health/Sickness Insurance and Medicare Supplement/Long-Term Care/Estate Insurance. In addition to skill-building and training, the program will also provide students with direct connections to industry professionals and resources for a more seamless career entry.

“Durham Tech is pleased to partner in workforce training with Blue Cross NC. Together, we aim to train residents in our region and beyond for insurance careers, including those who have been historically underrepresented in the industry,” said Melissa Chappell, Durham Tech Foundation Executive Director.

Building A Diverse and Inclusive Talent Pipeline

As part of its ongoing efforts to diversify the insurance sales workforce in North Carolina, Blue Cross NC is offering scholarships to selected students in each cohort, to cover the cost of courses, exams and NCDOI fees. This collaboration with Durham Tech builds on the insurer’s long-term diversity, equity and inclusion strategy, which includes a strong focus on advancing the workforce through education and professional development to increase representation within diverse populations across the state.

“Bettering the health of all North Carolinians means we must ensure diversity, equity and inclusion are woven into how we attract, serve and retain our members and engage with our communities,” said Roy Watson, Vice President of Group Segment and State Health Plan for Blue Cross NC. “Through this pipeline program and scholarship opportunity, we’re working to create an insurance salesforce that’s as diverse as our state.”

Individuals who meet one or more of the following criteria are encouraged to apply for a scholarship:
•    Communities of color
•    Bilingual (English/Spanish)
•    Women
•    People displaced by COVID-19
•    People in transition (leaving high school, leaving college or already in the workforce and looking for something new)

Students interested in the scholarship opportunity must complete a scholarship application and register for the program. 

Program Specifications
 
The NCDOI requires applicants to complete an approved and mandated pre-licensing education course to become a licensee. The Durham Tech Insurance Licensing Program offers approved, mandated short-term pre-licensing courses that are 100 percent online instructor-led.

For Blue Cross NC scholarship recipients, the program takes 16 weeks to complete its required three pre-licensing courses and Human Resource Development (HRD) components.
 
Students not receiving a scholarship can register for each pre-licensing course individually and will not be required to take HRD courses.
 
All students enrolled in the program will receive networking and interviewing skills training, resume prep, career readiness and job search assistance.

Once students complete the program, they will be eligible to take the NCDOI insurance exam.
 
Individuals who pass the exam will become an insurance agent and will be qualified to sell insurance in the state of North Carolina.
 
Students interested in enrolling in insurance pre-licensing courses can begin registering this winter.

To learn more about becoming an insurance sales agent, visit www.durhamtech.edu/programs-pathways/insurance-non-credit
  
Durham Technical Community College is a growing institution in North Carolina, serving more than 18,000 students annually across seven campuses in Durham and Orange counties while also providing various online courses. The college is accredited and offers more than 100 associate degrees and certificates for students seeking university transfer or immediate employment. The College has opportunities for eligible North Carolina high school students, international students, veterans, and adults looking to complete their high school educations.
 
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) is committed to making health care better, simpler and more affordable. We have been driving better health in North Carolina since 1933, working to tackle our communities’ greatest health challenges. Blue Cross NC serves its customers and communities of more than 4.2 million members, including approximately 1.1 million on behalf of other Blue Plans. Blue Cross NC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Visit Blue Cross NC online at www.bluecrossnc.com. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

For more information, contact Desiree Towson, M.S., Communications and Public Relations Coordinator, at allisontowsond@durhamtech.edu.