Independent Study
Independent study allows you the flexibility to determine your own weekly study schedule and manage your own time. There is no live instruction, and you can set your own pace for working through the materials as long as you meet the assessment deadlines.
Independent study is ideal if:
• You prefer self-directed study.
• If you need to be able to schedule studying to suit your busy professional and personal commitments.
Independent study processes and evaluations are changing. Read more below.
Enrol in an independent study course now
What's included
Independent study registration fees include the following:
• Examination fee
• Cost of tuition
• Course textbook(s)
• Online learning resources such as summaries, quizzes and practice questions
Please note that membership of your local institute is required in addition to your course registration fees.
Technical Requirements
To participate in our online activities and exams, it is strongly recommended that you have access to a personal laptop or a computer that meets the following hardware, software and connectivity specifications. Use of your employer’s equipment is not recommended, as company policies, firewalls and/or software restrictions may impede your access to needed features.
• Browser: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari 8 or higher. We recommend using the latest version.
• Connection: Broadband internet connection (Wi-Fi not recommended)
• Operating System Minimum Requirements: Windows 7, Mac OS X Mavericks, iOS 7, Android 4.3
• Note: When completing a test or other graded activity, we recommend that you use a desktop/laptop browser (not a mobile device).
How It Works
After you register, you will receive
• An order confirmation e-mail with a receipt containing important dates and deadlines
• Your course study materials by mail within 5-10 business days and a shipment tracking e-mail
• An Independent Study information sheet included with your study materials, outlining important policies, deadlines, and next steps
• An exam booking confirmation e-mail outlining your examination date, time, and/or location (Examination details are also available under the “My Courses” area on your member account).
*NEW*
Independent study processes and evaluations are changing.
Beginning in 2023, optional test papers are being phased out and replaced with a course mark out of 100, based on mandatory online assessments. The change is being rolled out gradually, a few courses at a time, beginning with C32 in January 2023.
Benefits of the new format:
• Enhanced opportunity to earn marks toward your final grade, similar to a classroom or virtual classroom course
• Flexibility to complete the assessments on your own schedule – they’re due near the end of term
• The new assessments are auto-scored, so you will find out your results immediately
• You retain the flexibility to plan your studies to fit your schedule
Read more about the two Independent Study formats below.
In courses using this format, your printed textbook is accompanied by an online, self-paced independent study course available on our e-learning platform. Your online course includes
• Mandatory midterm exam and two tests that count towards your course mark (see below)
• Summaries, self-paced learning scenarios, and practice questions with feedback
• An electronic, searchable version of the textbook
• Important information about the final exam
The midterm exam and the two tests consist entirely of multiple-choice questions. Please note that these are timed, closed-book assessments, and you are required to abide by the Examination Rules and Regulations. All three assessments are auto-graded, and your score will be available immediately upon completion.
You can work through the materials independently on your own time, as long as you complete the midterm and tests by the deadline shown in the course.
After the end of the course, you will also need to pass the 200-mark final exam. The final exam uses a different platform and separate procedures – please review our Examinations section for full details.
Please note that there is no instructor or tutor for this type of independent study course. If you prefer to have access to an instructor, please register for a classroom or virtual classroom course instead.
Deadlines for Independent Study with Course Mark
| Period/Deadline |
December Exams |
April Exams |
July Exams |
| Early Registration |
May 1 - July 31 |
Sept 1 - Nov 30 |
Dec 1 - Feb 28 |
| Standard Registration |
Aug 1 - Sept 30 |
Dec 1 - Jan 31 |
March 1 - Apr 30 |
| Access to Course Website |
Early Sept |
Early Jan |
Early Apr |
| Withdrawal Deadline* |
Sept 30 |
Jan 31 |
May 31 |
| Tests & Midterm Completed |
November 25 |
March 25 |
June 25 |
* Please note that session transfer is not available. If you change your mind about the timing of your course, please submit a request to withdraw and then register for the course again later when you are ready to proceed.
Grading and Exams for Independent Study with Course Mark
Final course grades are issued as letter grades. For details of the grade boundaries, see our Course Results page.
For an independent study CIP course with course mark, the final letter grade is calculated based on a course mark out of 100 and a final exam mark out of 200. Actual exam marks will not be published.
The course mark includes a midterm exam worth 60%, and two tests worth 20% each. The midterm exam and the two tests are completed within the online course, and scores are provided.
To pass the course, you must achieve a final grade of D or above. A grade of D means that you have achieved a minimum of 55% (110 marks out of 200) on your final exam and 60% (180 marks out of 300) on the course overall.
To obtain Honours (H), you must achieve a minimum of 80% (160/200) on your exam and 80% (240/300) on the course overall.
For example:
• If you receive a course mark of 60% (60/100) and the required minimum final exam mark of 55% (110/200) – a total combination mark of 170/300 – you will not receive a passing mark for the course, because you did not achieve the minimum required 60% (180/300) needed to pass the course.
• If you receive a course mark of 90% (90/100) and a final exam mark of 53% (106/200) – a total combination mark of 65%, or 196/300, more than the minimum 180 marks required – you will not receive a passing mark for the course, because you did not achieve the required minimum 55% on the final exam.
If you fail on your first attempt and require a rewrite, your final grade will be based only on your rewrite exam score; the course marks will not be carried over. Rewrite exams are to be written in the next session. Permission must be obtained from the Registrar to defer the exam rewrite. Refer to the Examinations section for information about rewrites.
In courses using this format, you study from the textbook on your own schedule, and you have access to an online tutorial with additional learning activities and study aids. Your course grade is based mainly on your performance on the final exam. You also have the option to complete and submit two test papers by the deadlines listed below, to earn up to 10 additional marks. The test papers can be found in the printed textbook.
Deadlines for Independent Study with Test Papers
| Period/Deadline |
December Exams |
April Exams |
July Exams |
| Early Registration |
May 1 - July 31 |
Sept 1 - Nov 30 |
Dec 1 - Feb 28 |
| Standard Registration |
Aug 1 - Sept 30 |
Dec 1 - Jan 31 |
March 1 - Apr 30 |
| Withdrawal Deadline* |
Sept 30 |
Jan 31 |
May 31 |
| Test Papers Received at the Institute |
Sept 30 |
Jan 31 |
Apr 30 |
* Please note that session transfer is not available. If you change your mind about the timing of your course, please submit a request to withdraw and then register for the course again later when you are ready to proceed.
Submitting the Optional Test Papers
By submitting and completing a minimum of two (2) test papers by the appropriate deadline above, you are eligible to receive a maximum of 10 marks toward your final grade.
Test paper answers must be completed in MS Word format and sent as an attachment to tests@insuranceinstitute.ca . Please include in the top corner of the first page your member number, test number, and course in the subject (e.g., 180274; Test 2; C12).
Note:
1. Test papers submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
2. You will not receive any marks for answers copied directly from the textbook.
Graded test papers will be returned by e-mail approximately 2–3 weeks from the exam session start date.
Grading and Exams for Independent Study with Test Papers
Final course grades are issued as letter grades. For details of the grade boundaries, see our Course Results page.
For an independent study course with optional test papers, the final letter grade is calculated based on a final exam mark out of 200 plus up to 10 additional marks if a minimum of two test papers are submitted by the deadline. The test paper mark will be the average of the marks earned on the test papers submitted.
The final grade is therefore based on:
Final exam mark/200 + average of test paper marks/10 = Total/200
Actual exam marks will not be published.
If you do not submit test papers, the final letter grade is based on the final exam mark only, out of 200 possible marks.
To pass the course, you must achieve a final grade of D or above. For courses with optional test papers, a grade of D means that you have achieved a minimum of 55% (110 marks out of 200) on your final exam and 60% on the course overall (exam plus test paper marks if awarded).
To obtain Honours (H), you must achieve a minimum of 80% (160/200) on your exam.
For example:
• If you submit two test papers and earn 7/10 marks, you will need a minimum mark of 113/200 on the final exam to receive a passing mark (113+7=120/200, or 60%).
• If you choose not to submit test papers, you will need a minimum mark of 120/200 on the final exam to achieve a passing mark of 60% on the course.
If you fail on your first attempt and require a rewrite, your final grade will be based only on your rewrite exam score; the test paper marks will not be carried over. Rewrite exams are to be written in the next session. Permission must be obtained from the Registrar to defer the exam rewrite. Refer to the Examinations section for information about rewrites.