General Requirements
Arkansas Major Lines Licensed Insurance Agents are required to complete 24 credits of continuing education every 2 years prior to their license expiration date. Of the 24 Credits required, 3 credits must be done in the category of Ethics Training. The remaining requirements are “non-license type specific”: Agents can take courses in any topic as long as they are approved by the Arkansas Department of Insurance.
Major Lines licenses include:
- Life, Accident and Sickness
- Property and Casualty
- Personal Lines
Agents licensed in multiple lines are only required to meet the same requirements as agents with single lines of licensing.
Producers licensed in multiple major lines (Property and Life, for example) are only required to meet the same requirements as Producers with single lines of licensing. In other words: you only have to take 24 credit hours of CE if you hold multiple lines of licensing.
Agents must complete their CE Requirements prior to their license expiration date to be eligible to renew their license. Licenses can be renewed online through NIPR.com, or Sircon.com. The renewal
fee is $70 total, regardless of the number of major-lines licenses being renewed.
The Arkansas Department of Insurance requires an “Appendix G Form” to be completed and returned to BetterCE after each course completion prior to the credit hours being submitted to the Department of Insurance. This form is included in each course.
Licenses are eligible for renewal when:
- all CE Requirements have been completed
- when the licensee is within 90 days of their license expiration date
Special Training Requirements
There are special training requirements for Arkansas insurance agents who sell certain products. These courses count towards your CE Requirements.
Flood Insurance
Arkansas insurance agents who sell Flood Insurance must complete a 1-time, 3-hour NFIP Flood Insurance Training Course prior to selling or soliciting flood insurance policies.
Annuity Training
Any Arkansas life insurance agent who sells, solicits or negotiates an annuity product must complete a one-time, 4 Hour Best Interest Annuity Training Course prior to selling.
Long Term Care
Arkansas insurance agents may not sell, solicit or negotiate a Long-Term Care policy unless the individual has completed an initial 8 Hour Long Term Care training course. Agents must also complete ongoing training consisting of a 4 Hour Long Term Care training course every compliance period following.
CE Exemptions and Reductions
Arkansas offers several limited exemptions from CE Requirements.
- Licensees who hold a limited lines licenses for which an examination is not required
- Licensees who are 60 years old and were licensed prior to 07/01/2003
- Licensees who have been actively licensed as a producer or broker for at least 15 consecutive years and who were licensed prior to 07/01/2003
- Licensees licensed in Arkansas less than a year
- Licensees in their first full year of licensure following the year they made a change in residency or domicile to Arkansas
- Insurance consultants
- Any producer called to active duty in the U.S. military services
Exemptions from Late Renewal Fees are granted in limited circumstances that are beyond the control of the agent.
Examples include: Agents who experience serious illness, or death in the family. Agents must still pay renewal fees and complete CE requirements. Request form is located here: AR Renewal Late Fee Request
Course Repeat Restrictions
Agents will not receive credit for any courses taken within 2 years prior.
Carryover Credits
Up to 24 credits earned during the biennial renewal period will be carried forward to the next period. Any excess credits earned for Ethics Training will be carried over as general credits and will not count towards future Ethics Training requirements.
Late Renewal and Reinstatements
There is no grace period or late renewal allowed for Arkansas insurance agents who fail to complete their renewal requirements prior to their license expiration date. Licenses are considered expired immediately upon expiration date. However, a Reinstatement may be requested up to 1 year from the date of expiration for an additional fee of $70 and all CE Requirements are met.
Arkansas agents must also pay a CE Late Fees, based on length of time late completion of CE Requirements:
0-30 days: $50
31-60 days: $50
61-90 days: $100
91-365 days: $150
Agents requesting a reinstatement should do so by submitting an initial license application through NIPR.
Arkansas Insurance Agent Continuing Education & Renewal Requirements Summary
| Renewal Term | Every 2 Years |
| Renewal Date | Last Day of Birth Month – Every 2 Years |
| CE Requirements | 24 Credits Total (3 in Ethics) |
| Course Requirements | Non-License Type Specific (other than 3 Hours of Ethics, Courses May Be Taken in Any Approved Subject Matter) |
| Special Training | Flood – 1 Time Prior to Selling. Annuities – 1 Time “Annuity Best Interest Training Course”. Long Term Care – 8 Hour Initial, 4 Hours Every Renewal Period Following. |
| Exemptions | Non-resident agents. Limited Licensed Agents. Agents licensed under 12 months. |
| Renewal Fee | $70 |
| Renewal Site | Sircon or NIPR: Resident Producers, Non-Resident Producers |
| Missed Renewal | License Inactive After Expiration Date |
| Late Renewal, Reinstatement, Fees | Late Renewal up to 30 Days Beyond Expiration + $50. Reinstatement for up to 1 year + $70. After 1 Year – Relicense |
| Carryover Credits | Up to 24 Credits. Ethics Counted Towards General Credits |
| Course Repeat Restrictions | No Credits for Course Repeated Within 2 Years |
Arkansas Department of Insurance Contact Information
Website: https://insurance.arkansas.gov/
Phone: 501-371-2750
Email: insurance.license@arkansas.gov
Arkansas Dept of Insurance
1 Commerce Way
Little Rock, AR 72202
