Directors & Officers Liability Insurance 101
Understand the risks associated with being an officer or director and how D&O liability insurance can assist.
This course is for everyone who holds a director or officer role, for those tasked with buying the insurance, and for those who need to be able to explain and discuss D&O liability and insurance with others, such as insurance and legal professionals.
Subtitles available in
English
French
Spanish
Course Overview
Directors and officers face increasing scrutiny and potential liability as they make decisions that affect the organizations they lead. This foundational course explores Directors and Officers (D&O) Liability Insurance and explains how coverage helps protect organizations and their leadership from the financial consequences of management-related claims.
You’ll gain a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of directors and officers, the common liability exposures they face, and how D&O policies are structured to address those risks. The course also examines what a typical D&O policy includes: who is covered, what types of claims are covered, and what exclusions or limitations may apply.
Through case studies and real-world scenarios, you’ll see how D&O coverage responds in practice while exploring key concepts such as indemnification, policy structure, and claims handling. The course also examines regulatory considerations and emerging liability trends, helping build a strong foundation in one of the most important areas of management liability insurance.
Course highlights
What & Why?
Indemnification
Policy Analysis
Buying Insurance
Upgrade
From $35 US a month
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you will be able to:
- Determine which laws and regulations govern your organization, its directors and officers;
- Explain how and when D&O insurance pays out;
- Evaluate the coverage offered by your D&O policy and the options available;
- Describe what to do and expect in case of a claim;
- Upgrade your organization’s governance to minimize the chance of a claim.
Course Curriculum
- Welcome message
- Course objectives
- Downloadable material
- Chapter objectives
- The roles of directors and officers
- Laws for directors and officers
- Duty to manage
- Fiduciary duty
- Duty of care
- Quiz #1
- Chapter objectives
- What is directors & officers liability insurance?
- Indemnification
- The indemnification process
- Managing an indemnity and insurance program
- Quiz #2
- Chapter objectives
- The structure of a D&O policy
- Non-indemnifiable loss (also known as Side A)
- Indemnifiable Loss (also known as Side B)
- Entity Coverage (also known as Side C)
- Public company vs. Private company coverage
- Who’s covered?
- What’s covered?
- What’s not covered?
- Policy extensions
- Quiz #3
- Chapter objectives
- The third party in D&O insurance claims
- What constitutes a claim under a D&O policy?
- What is a wrongful act under a D&O policy?
- Who can bring a claim against an organization?
- Causes of claims
- What is a loss under a D&O policy?
- Understanding policy reporting requirements
- Claims-made and reported policies
- Claims-made policies
- Reporting a D&O claim to an insurer
- Potential claim notification
- Extended reporting period
- How D&O claims are handled
- D&O claims: duty to defend
- Flow of funds – reimbursement or pay on behalf of
- Activity: What to expect from the claims process
- Quiz #4
- Chapter objectives
- A look at the risk of claims
- Understanding governance
- Reducing risk through good governance
- Guidelines for directors and officers
- Guidelines for the board
- Quiz #5
- Chapter objectives
- Reasons for buying D&O insurance
- What to buy? (standalone vs. package policies)
- How much coverage is required
- Retention or deductible
- How is premium determined
- The application process
- Understanding your D&O application
- What to expect from a broker
- Selecting an insurance company
- Quiz #6
- Wrap-up
- Course survey
- D&O Liability Insurance 101 Final Assessment
Certifications
This is a required course for the following certification programs:
- Certified Management Liability Insurance Professional → LEARN MORE
Testimonials
Very clear, concise content, delivered in an easy to understand way. Whether an industry vet or just starting out, you will learn something from this course- I did! It’s easy to see how this platform could complement any corporate training program. I’d thoroughly recommend ITC to any L&D manager.
I’m super impressed with the quality of the courses. Graphics are the bomb!!
Great job ITC! Love the cartoons. Complex subject matter presented in a very fun way.
These are the best online insurance training offerings I’ve seen in terms of content and ease of use.
The coverage explanations are comprehensive and straightforward, coverage comparison tips are very helpful, and the claims examples are readily adaptable to real-life client scenarios. The visuals are easy to follow and the succinct course modules allowed me to review the modules on my own timeline- or to go back to modules that I wanted to revisit. Plus, as a very welcome bonus, continuing education credits are available in certain jurisdictions!
ITC Education is the perfect platform for busy insurance professionals to expand their knowledge in bite-size, manageable, easy & informative modules. The subject matter is well researched and presented in an engaging and easy-to-understand format. The modules are set up so that you can zero in on a subset or explore the topic more fully – time permitting. The examples are easily applied to real-life situations.
About ITC courses
ITC takes pride in delivering high quality, unbiased courses on professional and management liability insurance and related topics. Designed specifically for online delivery, our courses are interactive, include activities and quizzes, use practical illustrations and real-life case studies and deliver knowledge in bite-sized portions so even just 5 minutes is learning time well spent.
How we build courses
ITC courses are the product of a collaborative approach. We work closely with subject matter experts to build out course content, the ITC design team brings that content to life, and no course is published before undergoing an intense review by an industry panel. Our process also includes post-publication reviews and updates because ITC is committed to delivering quality courses that remain accurate, relevant and up-to-date, long after they are first published.
With ITC, you can take any course at any time. For the best learning experience, a prerequisite may be recommended in the course description.
We’d love to hear from you! At ITC, we’re always exploring timely and relevant insurance topics to support your professional development. If there’s a subject you’d like to learn more about, let us know. Your ideas help us shape future courses and learning opportunities.
We provide a digital certificate of completion for all successfully completed courses. Learn how to access your certificate →
Check the CE / CPD page on our website to find out which courses qualify for credit in your jurisdiction then register for your chosen course. Once you’ve successfully completed the entire course, including all the quizzes, you will be prompted to register for your digital certificate of completion.
If your jurisdiction is not listed on our website, ITC courses may still qualify for CE or CPD credit but it will be your responsibility as a student to verify this with your regulator.
No. ITC does not track CE or CPD credits toward your license renewal. You can access certificates for successfully completed courses through your Student Dashboard. We recommend downloading your certificates and keeping them for your records. Learn how to access your certificates →
All ITC products are priced in USD.
No. ITC no longer sells individual courses. New learners choose between:
- All-Access education, or
- ITC Advance certifications program, both of which include course access.
If you have questions, please contact ITC directly.
Yes! Once you sign up and complete your purchase, you’ll receive a confirmation email and immediate access to the online course library. You can start learning right away.
Your All Access subscription gives you access to the full All Access course library for as long as your subscription remains active. Monthly subscriptions are billed at $35 USD/month and annual subscriptions at $350 USD/year.
Yes. New courses added to the All Access Education library are included with your active subscription at no additional charge.
Monthly and annual subscriptions provide the same All Access benefits. The difference is how you’re billed.
The monthly subscription is $35 USD per month. The annual subscription is $350 USD per year, saving you $70 compared with paying monthly for 12 months.
All Access Education is designed for flexible, self-directed professional development, giving you access to ITC’s All Access course library.
ITC Advance certifications are structured programs that combine required coursework, a comprehensive certification examination, and a professional credential.
If your goal is ongoing learning and CE/CPD, choose All Access Education. If you want to demonstrate specialized expertise and earn a professional credential, explore ITC Advance certifications.
Yes. You can cancel your subscription at any time by contacting us at [email protected]. Once cancelled, your subscription will not renew, but you’ll continue to have access until the end of the period you’ve already paid for.
Our 30-day money-back guarantee applies to both monthly and annual subscriptions. If you would like a full refund, contact us within 30 days of your original purchase date and let us know the reason for your request.
If you receive a full refund, your subscription access will end and you will no longer have access to the courses included with your subscription.
Yes. ITC offers a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee on ITC Advance purchases.
If you are not satisfied, you may request a full refund within 30 days of your original date of purchase by contacting [email protected]. We only ask that you share your reason for the request. Your feedback helps us to improve our programs.
Please note: Refunds are not available if any certification has already been completed and a credential awarded under the ITC Advance certifications program, as certifications benefits have already been delivered.
Yes. ITC works with organizations to deliver education through custom corporate programs tailored to specific teams, roles, and learning objectives.
In addition to standard offerings, ITC also provides:
- Bespoke corporate programs
- White-label education solutions for enterprise clients
To learn more or discuss a corporate solution, please contact us at [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions
With ITC, you can take any course at any time. For the best learning experience, a prerequisite may be recommended in the course description.
We’d love to hear from you! At ITC, we’re always exploring timely and relevant insurance topics to support your professional development. If there’s a subject you’d like to learn more about, let us know. Your ideas help us shape future courses and learning opportunities.
We provide a digital certificate of completion for all successfully completed courses. Learn how to access your certificate →
Check the CE / CPD page on our website to find out which courses qualify for credit in your jurisdiction then register for your chosen course. Once you’ve successfully completed the entire course, including all the quizzes, you will be prompted to register for your digital certificate of completion.
If your jurisdiction is not listed on our website, ITC courses may still qualify for CE or CPD credit but it will be your responsibility as a student to verify this with your regulator.
No. ITC does not track CE or CPD credits toward your license renewal. You can access certificates for successfully completed courses through your Student Dashboard. We recommend downloading your certificates and keeping them for your records. Learn how to access your certificates →
All ITC products are priced in USD.
No. ITC no longer sells individual courses. New learners choose between:
- All-Access education, or
- ITC Advance certifications program, both of which include course access.
If you have questions, please contact ITC directly.
Yes! Once you sign up and complete your purchase, you’ll receive a confirmation email and immediate access to the online course library. You can start learning right away.
Your All Access subscription gives you access to the full All Access course library for as long as your subscription remains active. Monthly subscriptions are billed at $35 USD/month and annual subscriptions at $350 USD/year.
Yes. New courses added to the All Access Education library are included with your active subscription at no additional charge.
Monthly and annual subscriptions provide the same All Access benefits. The difference is how you’re billed.
The monthly subscription is $35 USD per month. The annual subscription is $350 USD per year, saving you $70 compared with paying monthly for 12 months.
All Access Education is designed for flexible, self-directed professional development, giving you access to ITC’s All Access course library.
ITC Advance certifications are structured programs that combine required coursework, a comprehensive certification examination, and a professional credential.
If your goal is ongoing learning and CE/CPD, choose All Access Education. If you want to demonstrate specialized expertise and earn a professional credential, explore ITC Advance certifications.
Yes. You can cancel your subscription at any time by contacting us at [email protected]. Once cancelled, your subscription will not renew, but you’ll continue to have access until the end of the period you’ve already paid for.
Our 30-day money-back guarantee applies to both monthly and annual subscriptions. If you would like a full refund, contact us within 30 days of your original purchase date and let us know the reason for your request.
If you receive a full refund, your subscription access will end and you will no longer have access to the courses included with your subscription.
Yes. ITC offers a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee on ITC Advance purchases.
If you are not satisfied, you may request a full refund within 30 days of your original date of purchase by contacting [email protected]. We only ask that you share your reason for the request. Your feedback helps us to improve our programs.
Please note: Refunds are not available if any certification has already been completed and a credential awarded under the ITC Advance certifications program, as certifications benefits have already been delivered.
Yes. ITC works with organizations to deliver education through custom corporate programs tailored to specific teams, roles, and learning objectives.
In addition to standard offerings, ITC also provides:
- Bespoke corporate programs
- White-label education solutions for enterprise clients
To learn more or discuss a corporate solution, please contact us at [email protected].
About ITC courses
ITC takes pride in delivering high quality, unbiased courses on professional and management liability insurance and related topics. Designed specifically for online delivery, our courses are interactive, include activities and quizzes, use practical illustrations and real-life case studies and deliver knowledge in bite-sized portions so even just 5 minutes is learning time well spent.
How we build courses
ITC courses are the product of a collaborative approach. We work closely with subject matter experts to build out course content, the ITC design team brings that content to life, and no course is published before undergoing an intense review by an industry panel. Our process also includes post-publication reviews and updates because ITC is committed to delivering quality courses that remain accurate, relevant and up-to-date, long after they are first published.
Directors & Officers Liability Insurance 101
