Jane Dotson
Insurance producers must complete continuing education (CE) courses to maintain their licenses. The requirements for these courses vary by state and license type. For example, in Massachusetts, resident insurance producers must complete 60 hours of approved CE courses or seminars before their initial license renewal date. In Kansas, resident insurance producers licensed in Property and Casualty or Personal lines of authority must complete a one-time course related to NFIP, which provides three hours of CE credit. Some states, such as North Carolina, do not require continuing education for nonresident insurance producers. To check their CE credits, insurance producers can refer to their state's insurance department website or use services like NIPR, which is working to make CE transcript data available via MYNIPR.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Requirements | Continuing Education is required to renew a license in some states. |
| Compliance | Licensees must meet minimum CE hours, including mandatory ethics and flood hours, by their CE compliance date. |
| Reinstatement | If CE hours are not met, a fee must be paid for license reinstatement. If not met within a specified period, the license will become inactive. |
| Course Types | CE courses can be self-study, internet, or in-person courses. |
| Course Content | Courses must impart substantive and procedural knowledge relating to insurance and be beneficial to the insuring public. |
| Course Approval | Providers must submit proposed courses for pre-approval by the relevant authority. |
| Credit Transfer | Some states have reciprocity agreements, allowing credit transfer between approved home state and reciprocal state courses. |
| Verification | The National Producer Database (NPD) is used to verify license status and CE compliance. |
| Exemptions | Non-resident insurance producers in some states, such as North Carolina, may be exempt from CE requirements. |
| Online Platforms | Online platforms like Kaplan offer CE courses and credits for insurance professionals to maintain their licensure. |
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What You'll Learn
State-specific requirements
The requirements for continuing education credits for insurance producers vary across different states. While some states require continuing education to renew a license, others don't. For instance, in New York, 15 credits of continuing education (CE) are required to renew or relicense certain insurance licenses. These credits must be accumulated during the licensing period, which is valid for two years. In Massachusetts, resident insurance producers must complete a minimum of 60 hours of approved CE courses, programs, or seminars prior to the initial renewal date of their license. This includes three hours of MA-approved Ethics for each CE triennium.
Most insurance agent licenses are up for renewal after two years, but there are states where licenses are active for three or four years. For insurance adjusters, licenses are generally valid for two years, although there are states where a license is not required. Each state has its own guidelines on how CE credits can be earned, with many allowing online and self-study courses, and others requiring a few hours of classroom training. Most courses are related to the specific line of insurance for which the licensee is licensed. These often include three hours of ethics classes, and some states also require credits in insurance law and regulatory changes.
To check the specific requirements for your state, you can refer to your state's insurance department website, which usually has an online tool to help you check your continuing education credits, the number of hours completed, and the courses you still need to take.
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Online courses
Kaplan Financial
Kaplan Financial offers online insurance continuing education solutions with their Total Access CE programme. This programme grants enrollees 365 days of access to their library of courses, enabling them to take the online courses they need to fulfil their CE requirements with just one purchase. Live online webinars are also available in select states, taught via Zoom. Individual online courses are also offered for one-off CE credit requirements.
State-specific Online Courses
Some states, such as Utah and Kansas, provide online resources for insurance producers to look up and select approved CE courses or providers. For example, the Utah Insurance Department website allows individuals to select their state and preferred instruction method (e.g., classroom, classroom equivalent, or self-study) to find suitable CE courses. Similarly, Kansas requires sponsors of self-study or internet courses to disclose the number of approved hours for each course, with course completion information submitted electronically to the state board.
It is important to note that specific states may have unique requirements for insurance producers, such as Kansas mandating a one-time course related to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for certain resident insurance producers. Therefore, insurance producers should consult their state's official websites or governing bodies for up-to-date information on approved online courses and any state-specific requirements.
NIPR and MYNIPR
The National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) is working with states to make CE transcript data more accessible through MYNIPR. This platform currently allows individuals to view CE requirements and completion/compliance data for select states. However, it is recommended to refer to official state sources for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
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License renewal
Insurance producer licenses do not renew automatically and are valid until surrendered, canceled, or revoked. However, in some states, continuing education (CE) is required to renew a license. For example, in Massachusetts, resident insurance producers must complete approved CE courses, programs, or seminars equivalent to a minimum of 60 hours of instruction, including 3 hours in MA-approved Ethics, prior to the initial renewal date of their producer license.
To renew a Resident license, there is a $5.60 transaction fee, and state license fees may apply. The required information to renew a license includes the license number and state or national producer number, or the last four digits of the Social Security Number or full FEIN.
In North Carolina, Non-Resident Producer licenses are recertified by reviewing their license status in their Home State. If a Non-Resident Insurance Producer's Home State license is in good standing, their North Carolina Non-Resident Insurance Producer license will be extended.
All April 1 renewals for Residents and Non-Residents are processed electronically through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). Licenses expire on March 31, but renewal applications are available to be paid in the annual renewal period of 60 days before and after this date (through May 30).
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Course approval
In the United States, insurance producers are required to complete continuing education (CE) courses to maintain their licenses. The specific requirements for these courses vary by state. For example, in Massachusetts, resident insurance producers must complete a minimum of 60 hours of approved CE courses or programs of instruction, including 3 hours of MA-approved Ethics, before their initial license renewal. In Kansas, insurance producers must comply with specific training requirements, such as completing an annuity training course approved by the Commissioner.
To ensure that a course will count toward the necessary CE credits, insurance producers should verify that the course has been approved by the relevant state authority. This typically involves checking the website of the state's insurance department or licensing division. For instance, in Kansas, the Insurance Department's website provides information on approved providers of flood courses, while Massachusetts insurance producers can refer to Prometric's website for course review services.
Additionally, some states may require insurance producers to submit proof of course completion to the relevant authority. For example, in Kansas, providers must submit course completion information electronically to the state within a specified timeframe. It is important for insurance producers to be aware of their state's specific requirements and guidelines to ensure they remain compliant with their continuing education obligations.
The approval process for CE courses can vary depending on the state and the type of course being offered. In some states, such as Kansas, there is a fee associated with course approval. Single course application fees are typically collected upon submission, and providers may also be subject to annual renewal fees. To obtain approval, providers must submit the necessary documentation and ensure their courses meet the state's requirements. This may include disclosing the number of hours for which the course has been approved and providing completion information to the state.
It is important for insurance producers to carefully review the requirements for course approval in their state to ensure that they are eligible to receive CE credits for their completed courses. By staying informed about the latest guidelines and staying vigilant against potential scams, insurance producers can protect their licenses and provide the best service to their clients.
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Compliance deadlines
In Kansas, resident insurance producers licensed in Property and Casualty or Personal lines of authority who sell flood insurance policies must complete a one-time NFIP course, providing at least three hours of continuing education credit. This is in addition to the regular biennial CE hour requirements.
In North Carolina, licensees who fail to meet the minimum CE hours or the mandatory ethics and flood hours by their CE compliance date will have their licenses expire. They have four months from this date to meet the required hours and pay a $75 reinstatement fee to Prometric to have their license reinstated. If the required CE hours are not met by the end of the four-month period, the license will become inactive.
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Frequently asked questions
CE credits are earned by completing approved courses, programs, or seminars that are designed to provide substantive and procedural knowledge relating to insurance. These credits are necessary to maintain certain licenses.
You can check your CE credits through the National Producer Database (PDB), which is updated by participating state insurance departments. You can also check via MYNIPR, which is working to make CE transcript data available.
The number of CE credits required varies depending on the state and the type of license. For example, in Massachusetts, resident insurance producers must complete a minimum of 60 hours of instruction, including 3 hours of MA-approved Ethics, to renew their license. In Kansas, resident insurance producers licensed in Property and Casualty or Personal lines of authority must complete a one-time course related to NFIP, providing at least 3 hours of CE credit, in addition to the biennial CE hour requirements.
Failing to meet the minimum CE credit requirements may result in the expiration or cancellation of your license. For example, in North Carolina, if the minimum CE hours are not met by the CE compliance date, the license will expire, and licensees have 4 months to meet the required hours and pay a reinstatement fee to reinstate their license. If the required hours are still not met by the end of this 4-month period, the license will become inactive.
