The world is changing faster than ever before. That is why it is more important than ever for surety professionals to be proactive in keeping up to date with developments affecting the surety industry.

With that in mind, NASBP teamed up with The Institutes to update the Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding (AFSB®) content. This partnership has produced new material designed to ensure that surety professionals get the knowledge and skills they need to set themselves apart. (The AFSB name badge sticker, shown here, indicates the individual has obtained the designation.)

These AFSB course content revisions were not just made for you, as surety professionals—they were also made by you.

The Institutes and NASBP members worked side by side to craft a digital-first AFSB program that delivers cutting-edge content in an easy-to-digest format. The material is presented in a way that does not just present information; it is designed to help students engage with and retain the content. The goal is not to pass a few exams—it is to give surety professionals the tools they need to do their job as best they can.

NASBP members served as subject matter experts, helping The Institutes make important technical updates to the course material. You may recognize some NASBP members in the newly recorded videos!

Here is what some of your fellow NASBP members who worked on the updates had to say:

“I am very excited and honored to be part of NASBP’s assistance in developing updates to The Institutes’ AFSB course content. It was enjoyable providing the introductory and instructional videos. I think students will appreciate the fresh coat of paint we were able to apply to this incredible educational content.”
Nick Newton
NASBP First Vice President,
NASBP Surety School Faculty, and
President of Newton Bonding

“The Institutes were great to work with, and the revisions that were made, including video introductions and video case studies, will make the learning experience even better than before. Students will continue to receive the same quality education that will be the foundation of their career in the surety industry.”
Jason Vonhaz
NASBP Surety School Faculty and
Vice President of SwissRe Corporate Solutions Surety 

With these important updates, the specialized AFSB program will continue to offer students the current and relevant information and skills they need to establish a solid basis for their careers in the surety industry and to keep up with the industry as it changes. AFSB designees will not only be positioned to better serve their clients, but also they will give themselves a competitive edge in an increasingly complicated field.

“The accounting and related financial disclosures for contractors continue to get more complex each year. As a member of the NASBP Accountants Advisory Council, I am proud to work with other construction CPAs to provide relevant updated information included in this program.”
Jack Callahan, CPA
Participant on the NASBP CPA Advisory Council and
Partner, Construction Industry Practice Leader of CohnReznick LLP

But do not take their word for it—in a survey conducted by The Institutes, 83% of Institutes designees said they feel that earning a designation prepared them for their current job responsibilities, and 89% percent said they believe that an Institutes designation was a good addition to their resume.

Thanks to the excellent teamwork between the knowledgeable NASBP members and The Institutes’ staff, two courses (AFSB 151 and AFSB 153) are already available; and the updated AFSB 152 is set to be released on December 16, 2021. Both organizations should take great pride in this work; education is a lifelong journey, and the revised AFSB program will be a crucial part of that journey for many surety professionals.

Please visit TheInstitutes.org to learn more!

AFSB is a registered trademark of The Institutes. All rights reserved.