What You'll Master in 4½ Days
Master the complex regulatory landscape of employee benefits. Learn the practical strategies our instructor attorneys use to navigate ERISA compliance, manage retirement plans effectively, and handle health and welfare benefits without costly mistakes.
Foundation - Master the Regulatory Landscape
Navigate Title I and Title II, understand agency jurisdiction
ERISA fundamentals
Navigate Title I and Title II, understand the division of authority between IRS, DOL, and PBGC
Plan qualification requirements
Learn what makes plans compliant and what triggers disqualification
The alphabet soup decoded
Master ERISA, ADA, COBRA, FMLA, HIPAA, and how each impacts your plans
Regulatory agency roadmap
Know which agency has jurisdiction over what and how to work with each effectively
Fiduciary Rules - Protect Yourself and Your Plan
Identify violations before they happen, understand exemptions and protections
Nondiscrimination Testing - Pass Tests Without Headaches
Navigate Section 410(b) testing and handle ADP/ACP tests effectively
Plan Administration - Handle Daily Operations
Set up loan programs, process QDROs, and manage contributions properly
Distribution Rules - Get Money Out Legally
Know when participants can access funds and handle distributions correctly
Audits and Corrections - Fix Problems Before They Become Disasters
Know what triggers audits and how to fix errors before IRS discovers them
ERISA Compliance - Build Bulletproof Procedures
Know which plans ERISA covers and maintain proper documentation
Plan coverage determination
Know which plans ERISA covers and which are exempt
Documentation requirements
Maintain SPDs, SMMs, and plan documents that satisfy DOL standards
Reporting obligations
File Form 5500 correctly and meet disclosure deadlines
State law navigation
Understand when ERISA preempts state requirements and when it doesn't
Claims Administration - Make Defensible Decisions
Establish DOL-compliant procedures and create winning administrative records
Fiduciary Protection - Minimize Your Liability Risk
Know who the fiduciaries are and protect your plan's rights
ERISA Litigation - Understand Your Strategic Advantages
Leverage deferential standards and limited discovery rules
Current Developments - Stay Ahead of Emerging Issues
Learn what appellate courts and regulators are focusing on
H&W ERISA Compliance - Get the Basics Right
Know which welfare plans are subject to ERISA and establish compliant procedures
Coverage determination
Know which welfare plans are subject to ERISA
Reporting and disclosure
Handle Form 5500, SPD, and SMM requirements for welfare plans
Plan funding rules
Understand when trusts are required and what constitutes plan assets
Claims procedures
Establish DOL-compliant claim and appeal processes
Fiduciary obligations
Navigate prohibited transaction rules for welfare plan assets
Affordable Care Act - Navigate Reform Requirements
Understand play-or-pay rules and handle Forms 1094 and 1095 correctly
HIPAA Privacy - Protect Health Information
Understand what PHI you can access and structure compliant BAAs
The H&W Alphabet - Master Multiple Laws
Navigate ADEA, ADA, FMLA, GINA, and USERRA requirements
Specialized H&W Rules - Handle Complex Requirements
Master COBRA, mental health parity, and Medicare coordination
Consumer-Driven Healthcare - Understand New Plan Designs
Navigate HSAs, HRAs, FSAs, and claim substantiation requirements
Ready to Master Employee Benefits Law?
Before, During & Long After: Complete Employment Law Support
Strategic consultation prepares you. Expert instruction educates you. Ongoing updates and evolving resources keep you confident for years.
Pre-Program Strategic Consultation
We've discovered that participants who come prepared get 3x more value from their training. That's why every registration includes a brief consultation with our program coordination team to:
Identify Your Priorities
What workplace challenges are you facing right now?
Customize Program Focus
Which modules will have the biggest impact on your current situation?
Prepare Strategic Questions
What complex scenarios should we prioritize during Q&A time?
Set Success Metrics
How will you measure the program's impact on your work?
Why Most Training Falls Short (And How We're Different)
Most programs throw you into content on day one, ready or not. You're left trying to apply generic examples to your specific situations.
Our pre-program consultation flips this model. By understanding your challenges first, your instructor can:
- Reference your scenarios during live instruction
- Point you to the most relevant case studies
- Connect you with other participants facing similar issues
- Help you walk away with solutions, not just theory
Result? You spend less time wondering "how does this apply to me?" and more time getting answers that matter.
Professional Development That Works
Stop scrambling for credits every renewal cycle. Smart HR professionals get 12 months of required credits from one strategic investment - then keep building expertise quarterly as employment law evolves.
Here's what makes this different: You're learning from attorneys handling current cases, not outdated textbook theory. Get your required credits, then stay current with quarterly updates that keep you ahead of changes affecting your workplace.
Credit Breakdown
Strategic credit allocation designed for busy HR professionals
Labor Compliance & Risk
Discrimination Prevention
Special Issues & Risks
Complete 4½-day program
Bonus: 12 Months of Strategic Employment Law Intelligence
Earn 1.5 continuing education credits with each quarterly employment law update session. That's 6 additional credits over 12 months - plus ongoing access to current legal developments that keep you ahead of workplace challenges.
Stay Ahead of Employment Law Changes That Impact You
Included with Your Program: $1,588 Value
Employment law changes constantly. New rulings, updated regulations, and shifting compliance requirements can catch even experienced HR professionals off guard. That's why every program participant gets FREE access to all four quarterly employment law update sessions for 12 months (a $1,588 value when purchased separately at $397/quarter).
Your Update Schedule
Every session recorded and available within 24 hours - because employment law questions don't only happen during business hours.
Continuing Education Value
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What This Means for You:
Materials That Evolve As Fast As The Law Changes
Employment law doesn't stay current with textbooks. The regulations, court decisions, and compliance requirements that affect your daily work change constantly. Here's how we keep your resources as current as the law itself.
Real-Time Resource Updates
What Makes This Different
Traditional resources become outdated the moment they're published. Your living resource library stays current with the law.
Instead of static compliance checklists, you get dynamic tools that reflect the latest legal developments. Instead of theoretical guidance, you get practical frameworks from attorneys and HR professionals handling current cases.
Bottom line: You're equipped with current, practical tools that work in real workplace situations - because employment law problems don't wait for the next training session.
Professional Growth Investment Pricing
As a Certificate in Employee Relations Law graduate, continue building employment law expertise with exclusive pricing on all IAML programs. Smart professionals don't stop after one program - they build the comprehensive expertise that gets them noticed by leadership and opens doors to senior roles.
Your Strategic Next Step
Build on your Employee Relations Law foundation with advanced skills that distinguish senior HR professionals:
Complete Your Employee Relations Expertise
Your professional growth discount applies immediately. Smart HR professionals complete both advanced programs within 18 months - building the comprehensive expertise that gets noticed by leadership and accelerates careers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Smart questions deserve clear answers. Here's what HR leaders and decision-makers ask us most often.
Experience the Professional's Choice in Training
Real-world expertise. Guaranteed results. Trusted since 1979.
Build Benefits Law Expertise That Protects Plans and Limits Your Liability
The Certificate in Employee Benefits Law is 4.5 intensive days where you'll build expertise in ERISA compliance, retirement plan administration, and health care reform requirements with practicing benefits attorneys—working through the complex regulations that govern 401(k) plans, health benefits, and benefits litigation.
What Sets This Program Apart