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What is the CSSC® and MSSC®?

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CSSCCertified Structured Settlement Consultant (CSSC) Professional Certification Program

The NSSTA Certified Structured Settlement Consultant (CSSC) is the industry’s oldest and most respected designation, establishing educational standards for structured settlement professionals throughout the nation.

Nearly 550 structured settlement consultants have earned the distinguished CSSC designation. The newest program, developed in conjunction with  University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business -Texas Executive Education , consists of more than 80 hours of classroom and study culminating in a comprehensive examination.

The NSSTA CSSC Program includes an intensive pre-program study and classroom sessions covering a variety of topics and issues that directly relate to daily structured settlements business.

The NSSTA CSSC Program, which is updated annually, provides a comprehensive understanding of structured settlements, combining academic rigor and perspective with the latest developments impacting the industry, including:

  • Settlement Planning and Needs-Based Negotiation
  • Business Ethics
  • Federal tax law overview and industry applications
  • Fixed income 
  • Trusts- Special Needs and Medical Reversionary Trusts
  • Medicare Set-Aside accounts
  • Negotiation strategies
  • Settlement documentation
  • Claim valuations
  • Actual industry case studies
  • Tort law, guardianship fundamentals, state and federal jurisdiction issues from a litigant’s perspective, and laws which impact NSSTA members
  • Insurance Claims Practices
  • Loss reserving

“The CSSC program provides an exceptional value . . . the content is thoroughly prepared and very well presented. The opportunity to develop relationships with other program participants is valuable on an ongoing basis.”

 – William Wright, CSSC, Ringler Associates
 

Master's Certificate in Structured Settlement Consulting (MSSC)MSSC

The NSSTA MSSC Certification is another layer of professional education and qualification. The MSSC program provides a comprehensive understanding of structured settlements, combining academic rigor and perspective with the latest developments impacting the industry. Curriculums include the following:

  • Business Ethics
  • Settlement Planning and Needs-Based Negotiation
  • Federal tax law overview and industry applications
  • The Economic Environment
  • Trusts- Special Needs and Medical Reversionary Trusts
  • Medicare and ACA Issues Affecting our Industry
  • Negotiation Strategy
  • Industry Case Studies and Tort law
  • State and Federal Jurisdictional Issues
  • The Behavioral Psychology of Settlement
  • Laws Impacting NSSTA Members
  • Insurance Claims Practices & Loss reserving

Pre-Qualifications

  • CSSC Designation
  • Seven years of structured settlement industry experience

Or for the MSSC Legacy Program:

  • Ten years of structured settlement industry experience
  • Active participation in NSSTA at the Board or Committee level
  • Demonstrated significant contributions and dedication to our industry
     

“The advanced curriculum of the MSSC program drills into the core issues and guiding principles of our industry and allows enrollees the opportunity to share their expertise, experiences and ideas in a collaborative and professional environment. The capstone of the program is the enrollee’s delivery of a research paper that may be added to the NSSTA reference library. This is a challenging opportunity that all structured settlement professionals should embrace.”

Trish Fairhurst, CSSC, MSSC, Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston

“The MSSC program was a wonderful learning experience. The presentation of information was expertly done and the Notre Dame experience was exceptional. Having been in the business for 30 plus years, I felt enriched by attending. It was a career highlight for me.”

Mal Deener, CSSC, MSSC, Berkshire Hathaway Group

If you are not an NSSTA member and are interested in applying, please contact us at info@nssta.com.

NSSTA members interested in applying can log in and apply on the member CSSC/MSSC pages.