Navigating Continuing Education Requirements for Insurance Professionals

Maintaining an insurance license requires ongoing professional development. Continuing education (CE) ensures that insurance professionals stay informed about industry changes, legal updates, and best practices. This article provides a comprehensive overview of CE requirements, focusing on resources and guidelines offered by A.D. Banker & Company, a leading provider of insurance education.

Understanding State-Specific Requirements

The first step in fulfilling your CE obligations is to understand the specific requirements of the state where you hold your license. These requirements vary by state and by the lines of insurance you are authorized to sell.

Reviewing General Requirements

Most states mandate a certain number of CE hours to be completed within a specific period, typically biennially (every two years) or quadrennially (every four years). For instance:

Missouri: Requires 24 hours biennially for Producers and Adjusters.
Montana: Requires 24 hours biennially for Producers and Adjusters and 10 hours biennially for Navigators (all hours in ACA courses).
Arizona: Requires 48 total hours every 4 years for Insurance Producers.
Hawaii: Requires 24 hours biennially.

It's crucial to check with your state's training requirements to see which credits your license type requires. Failing to complete your CE credits before the renewal date may result in penalties.

Line-Specific Requirements

In addition to general CE hours, many states have specific course requirements based on the type of insurance you sell.

Annuity Best Interest:
- Missouri requires that all producers licensed in Missouri who have completed annuity suitability certification training before August 31, 2024, have 6 months to update their training.
- Montana requires resident and non-resident producers licensed on or after October 2, 2021, to complete a one-time, 4-Hour Annuity Best Interest Certification Training course prior to selling, soliciting, or negotiating annuity products.
- Arizona requires resident and non-resident producers to complete a one-time 4-hour Annuity Best Interest Certification Training course prior to selling, soliciting, or negotiating annuity products.
Long-Term Care (LTC) Partnership:
- Missouri requires producers to complete 8 hours of Long-Term Care Partnership (LTCP) Certification Training prior to selling, soliciting, or negotiating LTCP products/policies. After the initial requirement has been met, producers are required to complete 4 hours every renewal period.
- Montana requires producers to complete an initial 8-hour Long-Term Care (LTC) Certification Training prior to selling, soliciting, or negotiating Long-Term Care products/policies.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP):
- Missouri requires Property/Casualty and Personal Lines producers to complete a one-time 3-hour NFIP Flood Insurance Certification Training course prior to selling flood insurance policies.
- Hawaii requires Property/Casualty producers to complete a one-time 3-hour course on NFIP Flood Insurance Certification Training prior to selling flood insurance policies.
Earthquake Coverage:
- Missouri requires all resident agents, adjusters and CSRs with a property line of authority must complete a 1-hour course on earthquake coverage every renewal cycle. This will only remain applicable to renewals on or BEFORE August 31, 2023.
Pet Insurance:
- Effective 10/1/2025, Montana requires resident and non-resident producers to complete a 2-hour training course on pet insurance prior to selling, soliciting or negotiating pet insurance product. Producers must complete a 2-hour pet insurance training course once each every 24-month period thereafter.
Ethics:
- Arizona requires at least 6 hours in topics approved as Ethics.
Montana Law Changes:
- Montana requires Producers and Adjusters must complete 1 hr on Montana law changes as part of the total requirement.

Renewal Dates and Deadlines

It is important to be aware of your license renewal date and ensure all CE requirements are met before this date to avoid a lapse in your license.

Renewal dates typically occur biennially on the last day of the licensee's birth month.
In Missouri, you have one calendar year from the expiration date of your license to renew an expired license. During this time, you will not be able to transact insurance business until the license is renewed.
Effective 1/1/2022, in Hawaii, renewal date is the last day of the licensee's birth month, biennially. Producers with birthdays in even months renew in even years, and those born in odd months renew in odd years.
In Arizona, the renewal date occurs every 4 years on the last day of your birth month.

Carryover Hours and Course Repetition

Some states allow excess CE hours to be carried over into the next renewal period, while others do not. Similarly, rules regarding course repetition vary.

Missouri: Allows excess continuing education hours to be carried over into the next renewal period.
Montana: Carryover hours are not allowed.
Arizona: The state of Arizona does not allow excess hours to carry over into the next licensing period.
Hawaii: Carryover is not allowed.

Additionally, courses may not be taken more than once in a two-year period in some states, with completion dates needing to be at least 24 months apart.

Exemptions

Certain individuals may be exempt from CE requirements, such as:

Non-resident producers (depending on the state and reciprocity agreements).
Limited lines producers.
Licensees who have been licensed for less than two years at the time of the licensees first renewal in Hawaii.
An individual holding only a limited license in Hawaii.

Completing Your Continuing Education

Once you understand your state's requirements, you can register for and complete the necessary courses.

Choosing Approved Courses

Ensure that the courses you select are approved by your state's Department of Insurance and that they cover the appropriate topics for your license type. A.D. Banker & Company, for example, offers courses approved for various topics, including:

Long-Term Care (LTC)
Anti-Money Laundering (AML)
Annuity Suitability/Best Interest
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
Ethics
State-Specific Requirements

Course Formats

CE courses are available in various formats to accommodate different learning styles and schedules. Common formats include:

Webinars: These live, interactive sessions allow you to participate from anywhere. Completion is based on attendance and participation.
Online Courses: These self-paced courses allow you to review the material at your own speed and complete a certification exam at the end.
Self-Study Courses: Similar to online courses, these involve reviewing materials and passing an exam.
Classroom Courses: Traditional in-person courses offer direct interaction with instructors and peers.

Completion and Reporting

To receive credit for a CE course, you must fulfill the course requirements, which may include:

Attending the full duration of a webinar or classroom course.
Actively participating in webinars or classroom courses.
Reviewing course material for online and self-study courses.
Passing a certification exam for online and self-study courses.

A.D. Banker & Company typically reports course completions to the state within one business day, streamlining the process for you.

Filing a Renewal Application

After completing your CE courses, the final step is to file a renewal application with your state's Department of Insurance. The online application will guide you through the renewal process.

Read also: Explore LaGuardia's Programs

Resources and Support

A.D. Banker & Company offers various resources to help insurance professionals navigate their CE requirements:

Customer Care Team: Available to answer questions and create personalized course plans.
Online Course Catalog: A wide selection of approved courses in various formats.
Direct Enrollment Line: Assistance with registration and course selection.
Management Portal: For businesses, providing tools for student tracking and support.

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