Last Updated on September 4, 2026 by Jacques Wong, B.Sc.
If you’re currently pursuing your CAIB designation or planning to start soon, there are some significant changes coming to the program that you need to know about. We’re here to help you understand what’s changing and how to navigate this transition smoothly.
What’s Changing?
Starting Fall 2025 in British Columbia (with other provinces likely following in 2026), the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (IBAC) is restructuring the CAIB program.
Here’s what you need to know:
New Course Structure
Based on information published by the IBABC on the new CAIB books, you can see that the CAIB modules are being reorganized. While the old CAIB 1 and CAIB 4 remain largely the same, CAIB 2 and 3 are getting a significant shuffle with modules being swapped between them.
CAIB 1 and CAIB 4: Largely Unchanged
Good news if you’re working on these courses—the new CAIB 1 and CAIB 4 remain largely the same as their previous versions. CAIB 1 still serves as your foundational course covering insurance contracts, the Canadian legal system, personal lines products (auto, home, farm, travel), liability insurance, and the underwriting and claims process. CAIB 4 continues to focus on the business management side: brokerage operations, leadership, strategic planning, insurer relationships, HR, marketing, client management, finances, and technology.
CAIB 2 and CAIB 3: Significant Restructuring
This is where the major changes happen. The old structure had CAIB 2 focused entirely on commercial property and CAIB 3 focused entirely on commercial liability. The new structure takes a different approach:
The new CAIB 2 now provides a broader introduction to fundamental commercial insurance products. Instead of just property, you’ll learn about commercial property, Commercial General Liability (CGL), commercial automobile insurance, and the various roles within commercial insurance. This is actually a positive change—it makes CAIB 2 more practical and well-rounded on its own, giving you a complete overview of the essential commercial products you’ll encounter in your day-to-day work.
The new CAIB 3 shifts to cover specialized and advanced commercial insurance products. This includes business interruption, crime insurance, cyber insurance, marine and aviation, Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance, surety bonds, risk management principles, and reinsurance. Rather than focusing solely on liability, CAIB 3 now encompasses the more complex, specialty commercial lines you’ll need as you advance in your career.
New Exam Requirements in BC
You’ll now need to purchase the official IBABC textbooks before you can write your exams. This brings BC in line with other provinces in this practice.
Understanding the Transition Path
Where you are in your CAIB journey determines your next steps:
If you’ve completed old CAIB 1: You can continue with the old CAIB 2, 3, and 4
If you’ve completed old CAIB 2: You’ll need to write the old CAIB 3 and the new CAIB 1 and 4
If you’ve completed old CAIB 3: You’ll need to write the old CAIB 2 and the new CAIB 1 and 4
If you’ve completed old CAIB 2, 3, and 4: You’ll need to write the new CAIB 1
Critical Deadlines
December 15, 2026 would be the last day to write the old version of the CAIB exams.
This gives current students approximately one year from now to complete their exams under the old system.
Our Recommendation
If you’re currently enrolled in or planning to take CAIB courses, we strongly encourage you to complete your exams under the current system as soon as possible so you don’t have to buy new books/materials. You have a limited window to finish before the transition takes effect.
What This Means for PNC Learning Students
We’re closely monitoring these changes and our commitment to helping you pass your insurance exams quickly and efficiently remains unchanged. We’ll continue to provide:
- Clear, concise study materials that provide clear, plain-language explanations
- One-on-one tutor support every step of the way
- Post-exam career support