The Insurance Institute of South Africa

What The Insurance Institute of South Africa does

The Insurance Institute of South Africa (IISA) is a registered non-profit company (NPC) founded in 1966 and headquartered in Sandton, Johannesburg. It is the premier professional membership body for the insurance industry in South Africa, providing professional designation accreditation (Fellow, Associate, Licentiate), Continuing Professional Development (CPD) management, and qualifications administration in collaboration with the University of South Africa (UNISA) and the UK-based Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). IISA operates across nine regional institutes spanning South Africa and runs an online book store distributing UNISA study track materials and insurance reference texts.

The organisation's core products are interconnected: a tiered professional membership programme, a CPD accreditation and compliance tracking system, an annual flagship conference (the African Insurance Exchange, or AIE), corporate and SMME broker partnership programmes, and skills development initiatives including SMME, Advanced, and Youth Loss Adjuster Development Programmes supported by Sasria SOC Limited. Technology infrastructure is non-proprietary and membership-organisational in nature — a Membership Management System (MMS) portal (mms.iisa.co.za) handles event bookings, CPD tracking, e-learning, and registrations, while the book store runs on a separate e-commerce platform (shop.iisa.co.za).

IISA generates revenue through five streams: professional membership subscription fees across multiple designation tiers, corporate/SMME/strategic partnership fees, CPD management services, online book store transactions, and event registration and sponsorship (with AIE sponsors spanning Diamond through General tiers and including Santam, Old Mutual, Discovery, Sasria, and Munich Re). Go-to-market is community-led: IISA acquires members via individual applications and corporate partnership applications, distributes content through its website, email newsletters, and active social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram), and engages the industry through annual events, webinars, and a network of nine regional institutes.

Name

The Insurance Institute of South Africa

Legal name

The Insurance Institute of South Africa NPC

Website

https://iisa.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Insurance Institute of South Africa is a registered non-profit professional membership body that accredits insurance practitioners through designations (Fellow, Associate, Licentiate), manages CPD compliance, and delivers the annual African Insurance Exchange conference serving members across South Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance Professional Association Services

NAICS

Other Insurance Related Activities (52429)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financial Services & Insurance (FINRA, CFP, IAR, Insurance CE) (EDAAALAJ), Insurance (EDAAAPAH)

Keywords

• Professional membership body
• Insurance professional development
• Continuing professional development
• Insurance industry qualifications
• Professional designations

Headquarters

HQ city

Sandown

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Membership Fees: IISA generates revenue from professional membership fees, with tiered membership categories including Fellows, Associates, Licentiates, General/Students, Retired, and Cancelled Members. Membership fees are published on the membership fees page.
2. Corporate Partnership Fees: Organizations can become Corporate Partners, SMME Broker Partners, and Strategic Partners, paying fees for association with the professional body and access to industry programs.
3. CPD Management Services: IISA provides CPD accreditation, tracking, monitoring, and compliance management through reporting for members and corporate partners.
4. Online Book Store: The IISA Online Book Store offers UNISA study track materials and reference books for sale, providing easy and timely access to insurance qualifications and study materials.
5. Event Registration and Sponsorship: Revenue is generated from the African Insurance Exchange (AIE) conference — a major annual industry event — through delegate registration fees and corporate sponsorship tiers (Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Academic Awards, General).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Insurance Institute of South Africa (IISA) is a registered non-profit professional body that accredits insurance practitioners through tiered membership designations (Fellow, Associate, Licentiate, General, Student, Retired), manages Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accreditation and compliance tracking, develops and moderates insurance qualifications and examinations, runs the African Insurance Exchange (AIE) annual conference, and delivers skills development programmes including specialised loss adjuster initiatives. It operates an online book store for UNISA study materials and is affiliated with the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).

Product overview

The Insurance Institute of South Africa (IISA) is a professional membership organization that offers a suite of interconnected services for the insurance industry. The core offerings include Professional Membership with designations (Fellow, Associate, Licentiate), Corporate Partnership programmes, and a CPD Management System for tracking continuing professional development. IISA also operates the African Insurance Exchange (AIE) annual conference, manages qualifications and examinations in partnership with higher learning institutions, runs an Online Book Store with UNISA study materials, and delivers Skills Development Programmes including specialized initiatives for SMME, Advanced, and Youth Loss Adjuster Development. These products work together to build industry capacity, maintain professional standards, and foster continuous professional development for insurance practitioners across South Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Membership Tiered professional membership for individual insurance practitioners, awarded through academic qualifications or Recognition of Prior Learning. Categories include Fellow, Associate, Licentiate, General, Student, and Retired.
• Corporate Partnership Programme Corporate partnership offering for insurance companies, brokers, SMMEs, and strategic partners that connects organisations to a professional body delivering skills programmes and industry credibility.
• CPD Management System Continuing Professional Development accreditation, tracking, monitoring, and compliance reporting for members and CPD partner organisations across the insurance industry.
• African Insurance Exchange (AIE) Conference Annual flagship three-day industry conference bringing together Africa's leading insurance professionals for plenary sessions, breakaway workshops, networking events, and gala dinners. Registration and corporate sponsorship tiers (Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) generate event revenue.
• IISA Online Book Store E-commerce storefront at shop.iisa.co.za offering UNISA study track materials (C. Associate Programme, D. RSK Programme) and reference books including insurance textbooks on Risk Management, Liability Insurance, Property Insurance, Non-Life Insurance, and Principles of Life Insurance.
• Qualification and Examination Management Design of curricula with higher learning institutions including UNISA, plus development, marking, and moderation of examination papers to ensure availability of relevant insurance qualifications.
• Skills Development Programmes and Career Advisor Mentoring programmes, training delivery aimed at continuing professional development, and insurance career guidance services for members and the wider industry.
• SMME Loss Adjuster Development Programme 12-month programme supported by Sasria SOC Limited that helps Black South African loss adjuster business owners strengthen their firms, gain exposure, and compete in the loss adjusting market.
• Advanced Loss Adjuster Programme 12-month NQF Level 5 programme for unemployed insurance professionals covering complex claims handling, investigative and fraud detection skills, financial analysis, and risk management.
• Youth Loss Adjuster Development Programme 12-month NQF Level 5 entry programme for South African youth aged 18-34 offering skills development, digital skills training, accredited training, and real firm placement with mentorship.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 delegates from 60+ countries attended the 46th AIO Conference hosted by IISA in 2019
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIISA is a Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) affiliated institute. This affiliation connects IISA to the globally recognized CII professional standards body, enhancing the credibility and international recognition of IISA professional designations and CPD programmes.
• Sasria SOC LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSasria SOC Limited is a key strategic partner supporting IISA's skills development initiatives, including the SMME Loss Adjuster Development Programme, Advanced Loss Adjuster Programme, and Youth Loss Adjuster Development Programme. Sasria provides funding and sponsorship for these 12-month development journeys.
• Insurance GatewayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInsurance Gateway is listed as a media partner for IISA, contributing to industry awareness and marketing reach.
• COVER PublicationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCOVER Publications is listed as a media partner for IISA, providing editorial coverage and industry visibility.
• FIA (Finance Intermediaries Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFIA is listed as a media partner, contributing to industry communications and professional network reach.
• FAnewsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFAnews is listed as a media partner, providing news coverage and industry thought leadership distribution.
• Commercial RiskminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommercial Risk is listed as a media partner for IISA, contributing to risk management and insurance industry media coverage.
• UNISA (University of South Africa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIISA collaborates with UNISA to design curricula and ensure availability of relevant qualifications for the insurance profession. The IISA Online Book Store offers UNISA study track materials.
• Norton Rose FulbrightminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorton Rose Fulbright is a regular speaker and facilitator at IISA events, providing expertise on insurance law, POPI, D&O liability, medical law, fraud, and other legal topics. Multiple webinars and articles have been presented by their legal experts.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Chartered Insurance Institute (CII): UK-based Chartered Insurance Institute is the largest global professional body for insurance and financial planning, and is IISA's direct international affiliate. Comparable because both accredit professionals, deliver CPD/qualifications, and confer industry designations; CII is the parent standard IISA aligns to.

Others

• South African Insurance Association (SAIA): SAIA is the representative body of South African insurers, focusing on industry advocacy and policy engagement. It is a complementary rather than competing body — IISA focuses on individual professional development, SAIA on collective industry representation — but they co-host major events like the 2019 AIO Conference.

Direct peers

• LOMA (Life Office Management Association): US-based insurance industry association providing professional education, designations (FLMI, ACS), and training for insurance and financial services professionals. Comparable as a non-profit professional body selling memberships, designations, and CPD in the insurance sector.
• The Institutes: US provider of professional designations (CPCU, ARM, AIC) and continuing education for risk management and insurance professionals. Comparable as a leading insurance professional body issuing recognised designations and delivering structured CPD.
• Insurance Institute of Canada (IIC): Canadian national body delivering the Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation and CPD programmes to Canadian insurance practitioners. Comparable as a designation-granting professional body for the insurance industry with a similar CII-style affiliation model.

Regional players

• Insurance Council of Australia (ICA): Australia's peak insurance industry body representing insurers and providing industry standards, training, and CPD for insurance professionals. Comparable as an insurance-industry membership body delivering professional development, designations, and policy advocacy, but operating in a different geography.
• Financial Intermediaries Association of Southern Africa (FIA): FIA is a South African membership body representing financial intermediaries and brokers, providing industry advocacy and CPD opportunities. Comparable as a domestic membership body for insurance/financial services professionals that delivers CPD and networking events.
• African Insurance Organisation (AIO): Pan-African insurance industry body that runs the African Insurance Organisation Conference and promotes insurance development across the continent. Comparable as an insurance industry association running large-scale conferences and development programmes across Africa.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutu.be/nignMwVZ3B4?t=18
• Facebookfacebook.com/InsuranceInstituteSA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-insurance-institute-of-south-africa
• Instagraminstagram.com/iisa_insurance
• Xx.com/iisa_ins

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Insurance Institute of South Africa