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
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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
ITC’s D&O and EPLI courses helped me understand the insurance proposals we receive AND to explain to my executive team and board members the risks we can (and cannot) manage through insurance.
Most insurance courses are either pitched at people learning about the subject for the first time or jump straight into advanced topics. The ITC courses do a great job for all learners and I particularly liked the online format since you can either spend time starting from the beginning or quickly move on to the areas of most interest to you. The course material also went beyond insurance policy language – addressing risk management, claims processes, what buyers should consider, and more.
ITC effectively tackles complex subject matters in a very creative manner. I would highly recommend to anyone looking to broaden their understanding.
Great way to enjoy an evolving subject matter. Thank you ITC, enjoyed that!
I am impressed with the programs ITC has put together for a myriad of reasons. They simultaneously offer a high level of sophistication while also being accessible to a variety of learners. As a broker who worked with clients of varying sizes in all industries, I would find these courses impactful for the new learner within this space focusing on their own business as well as a client who has been introduced to D&O insurance before or a current buyer. Also would recommend to broker’s wanting a holistic understanding of the product’s functionality and how to articulate it to clients. Further, as a D&O Underwriter, I found this refreshing and would highly recommend it to new underwriters or underwriters who provide coaching, mentoring, and training. The product is immensely versatile and engaging for its wide variety of appropriate users. I will most certainly be referring others to participate in these affordable and valuable courses.
I’ve been in the insurance industry for over 20 years and this is by far the best educational material I have seen! Great for new and established professionals!
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.
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 refund, your ITC account will be closed and you will no longer have access to your courses or any completion certificates earned during your subscription.
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].
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.
Monthly and annual subscriptions provide the same access and benefits within your selected subscription plan. The difference is how you’re billed: monthly subscriptions are billed each month, while annual subscriptions are billed once per year and offer the best overall value.
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.
All ITC products are priced in USD.
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 →
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 →
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 refund, your ITC account will be closed and you will no longer have access to your courses or any completion certificates earned during your subscription.
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].
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.
Monthly and annual subscriptions provide the same access and benefits within your selected subscription plan. The difference is how you’re billed: monthly subscriptions are billed each month, while annual subscriptions are billed once per year and offer the best overall value.
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.
All ITC products are priced in USD.
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 →
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 →
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.
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
