The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors says it “exceeded all sales targets” for the LUTCF and FSS designation in 2009, opening the door to a deal to award partial scholarships for the career advancement courses this year.

Officials with NAIFA, which represents about 200,000 life insurance and financial service professionals in the U.S., said the success demonstrates “significant growth in these programs over the previous year.”

Scholarships for part of the fee for courses were to be available this year if course registrations for the LUTCF and FSS programs offered exclusively by The American College exceeded a specified target in 2009. The goal was not disclosed.

As a result of exceeding the goal, NAIFA will be credited with scholarship funding for 2010. The national chapter of NAIFA will establish a structure through its about 700 state and local associations to award scholarship funding for courses offered by The American College to students with demonstrated financial need, officials said. Funds are scheduled for disbursement in the spring.

“This ‘pay it forward’ scholarship program demonstrates NAIFA’s emphasis on education as a key member benefit,” said NAIFA President Tom Currey in a statement. “The NAIFA members who have registered for courses are not only making a difference in their own careers, but helping those who will follow in their footsteps. LUTCF and FSS courses are the premier skills training and educational programs available in the profession today.”

Nearly 70,000 financial practitioners have earned the prestigious LUTCF and FSS designations, according to Larry Barton, president and CEO of The American College. He added that a recent study conducted by NAIFA shows that individuals who complete LUTCF courses increase their production by 10% to 40%.

“We are delighted to partner with NAIFA in offering these curricula and help financial service professionals get on the fast track to career success,” Barton said in the statement.