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How to Get Insurance Continuing Education Quickly

Posted on 12.20.21

Ideally, you’ll start working on your continuing education requirements shortly after you complete your initial training and pass the license exam. Of course, not many of us are that farsighted or diligent, particularly when we have an insurance career to launch.

If you fall into this category, fear not; in this article, we provide the low down on how to get your insurance continuing education quickly — all in a step-by-step format.

Step #1 — Determine Your State’s Continuing Education Requirements.

In most states, 24 hours of continuing education is required every two years to renew your insurance producer license. There are a few exceptions. For example, Arizona requires 48 hours over four years. Iowa requires 36 hours over three years. Massachusetts requires 60 hours within the first three years of being licensed.

Not only that but several states require courses to be taken in certain topics, such as ethics training. And still, other states require a certain number of courses to be taken with specific delivery methods. For example, the Texas Department of Insurance requires agents to take 24 credit hours, but at least 12 of the hours must be done in the classroom or by courses approved as “classroom equivalent.”

We make it easy for you to know your specific CE and renewal requirements. Our License Management Pages provide a detailed listing of the requirements for almost all states along with links to everything you need to manage your insurance license. Agents can look up your license number and status, access your CE transcript, complete your license renewal application, or use a host of other resources we provide to make it easy to keep your license active.

Step #2 — Determine the Time Available to Complete the Coursework.

Now that you have found the continuing education requirements for your license, you’ll need to determine how much time you have available to complete the coursework. Look for your license expiration date and count down the days, weeks, and hopefully, months left before your continuing education needs to be completed.

Step #3 — Signup for Continuing Education.

After you’ve selected your state on our course catalog, you have two options for continuing education: online text-based courses and instructor-led webinar courses.

The online, text-based training is self-paced and delivered to your computer, tablet, and smartphone. The quizzes and exams are scored instantly, and you can take them as many times as necessary to pass. Plus, you can return to the training whenever it is convenient. The course progress bar takes you back to exactly where you left off.

Our webinar courses are instructor-led and delivered live using video conferencing. You’re required to be in attendance for the full class time, with check-ins at random times through the webinar to confirm your attendance. Students can interact and ask questions. Advantages to webinars include no required reading and no quizzes or final exams.

With our online, text-based courses, we also offer “complete compliance” packages that make your course selection super easy. These packages are designed by our compliance professionals and contain everything you need to meet your CE requirements with one simple selection, at one low price. We also offer individual courses so that you can pick and choose the type of training that best meets your learning needs. You can find further insight in our blog post Differences Between Webinar Courses and Traditional Online Text-Based Courses.

Step #4 — Set Aside Time for Study. Establish a Completion Schedule.

While it might be tempting to take a week or so off from work to devote to your continuing education, it’s probably best to determine how much time you can set aside for study during a normal week as well as on the weekend. Regular study will get the job done and help you better retain what you learn.

Once you’ve been able to determine how much time you have available over the course of a week, you can then build a schedule for completing all the required continuing education hours before your license expires. Don’t wait until the last minute to accomplish this work.

Step #5 — Complete Your Continuing Education.

Day-by-day and week-by-week is the steady way to complete all your continuing education requirements. Stick to the schedule you’ve planned, working on a regular basis to get everything accomplished. Our online text-based courses are perfect for this approach. You can spend minutes or hours on the training — pausing when needed and coming back to the exact spot you left off at any point in the future. Our insurance CE webinars provide the easiest way to “learn and earn.” You can earn your CE credits from the comfort of your own computer, smartphone, or tablet while learning about some of the most important and relevant topics facing the insurance industry.

Step #6 — Submit Your Renewal Application.

Once you’ve completed a course, we post the results to your state’s department of insurance the same day. So, you’ll be all set to apply for renewal. Once you’ve applied for renewal, make sure you set reminders for the next round of renewal training. We can help there, too. Find the compliance reminder button on our home page and sign up for our free email reminder service.

Now is the Time to Start Your Continuing Education.

The good news is that we’ve got you covered with all the courses you need in the format that best fits your available time and your preferred learning style, whether that’s online text-based courses or webinars.

We offer complete compliance packages to make course selection super easy. You can select all the courses you need with one click.

At BetterCE we provide more than the most convenient and affordable solution for insurance continuing education. Our agent support services are provided by experienced insurance licensing professionals who have helped thousands of agents easily navigate the insurance license renewal process.

Have a question or need assistance? Phone 1-888-501-7330 for our customer care team. We also respond to email as well as via our Contact Form. On our contact page, you can also sign up for convenient license renewal reminders.

Can I Still Renew My Insurance License After It Expires?

Posted on 12.13.21

Unfortunately, the answer is…it depends. In most cases, you can, but it depends on what state you’re licensed in and, in almost all cases, you’ll have fines to pay. Not only that but you can’t work as an insurance agent with an expired license.

It’s best to complete the required continuing education and renew your license well before it expires. In this article, we touch on a few specific state examples. We then point you in the right direction for your state’s renewal process.

Renewal Regulations — Every State Has Their Own

Every state has its own insurance regulations including what’s required for renewal as well as what happens when your license is allowed to expire. We’ve dug a bit deeper into a few select states to give you an idea of what’s involved. If you live in a different state, you’ll need to check that state’s regulations. More on that next.

Texas Insurance License Expired

In Texas, if an agent doesn’t renew their license in time, there is a $25 late fee. In addition to this, agents must pay an additional fee of $50 for each credit hour of continuing education that has not been completed by their expiration date, up to a maximum of $500.

An agent can also file for an extension of time to complete continuing education due to illness, medical disability, active military duty in a combat theater, or other circumstances, but they must do so in advance of the license expiration date. For more information on renewing an insurance license in Texas, see our article How Do I Renew My Insurance License in Texas.

Ohio Insurance License Expired

Ohio insurance agents who do not renew their license by their expiration date have 2 options: 1) they can have their license reinstated within 30 days of their expiration date by paying a fine of $50; or 2) if they do not renew within the 30 day grace period, their license will be suspended and they have up to 1 year to pay a fine of $100 to have their license reinstated. In all cases, agents must fulfill their CE requirements prior to submitting the renewal/reinstatement application. After one year the individual will need to start the licensing process as a new agent.

There are exemptions for extenuating circumstances when the agent is unable to renew their license in time. These include long-term medical disability, military service, and other similar circumstances. To obtain the exemption, you must file a written request for an extension of the renewal date with the Ohio Department of Insurance. In almost all cases, agents who are granted an extension will still have to complete their CE requirements prior to having their license reinstated.

For more information on license renewal see our article How to Keep Your Insurance License Active in Ohio.

California Insurance License Expired

Insurance agents with California licenses have no grace period after the expiration date. Once the license expires, they are no longer eligible to transact insurance business. The license does remain eligible for renewal up to one year after the expiration date. During that time all required continuing education will need to be completed, and the renewal fee must be paid in addition to a penalty amounting to 50% of the renewal fees. You can find the full listing of fees at State of California Producer Licensing Fees.

You can find out more about renewing at How to Keep Your Insurance License Active in California.

Georgia Insurance License Expired

Producers in Georgia have a late renewal period of 15 days, during which time they are charged a late fee of $15 in addition to the renewal fees. After the 15-day period, agents can reinstate their license for up to 6 months for a late fee of $50. After 6 months and up to 1 year, agents must pay the late fee of $50 and be re-fingerprinted. If the agent waits beyond 1 year from their expiration date, their licenses are canceled and they must relicense. Of course, all CE requirements must be completed prior to reinstating. You can find out more about renewing your license at How to Keep Your Insurance License Active in Georgia.

Don’t Let This Happen to You

As you can see from the examples above, the renewal procedures for expired insurance licenses vary quite a bit across just those four states. If we haven’t covered your state, use our Course Catalog to get started determining the continuing education requirements, and follow the links to the state department of insurance to learn more about reactivating an expired license.

Sign Up for Continuing Education Now

Whatever the outcome of your review of renewal or reinstatement requirements, it’s likely that you’ll need to complete at least some if not all of your state’s continuing education requirements. We’ve got you covered with both online training and insurance CE webinars.

The online training is self-paced and delivered to your computer, tablet, and smartphone. The quizzes and exams are scored instantly, and you can take them as many times as necessary to pass. Plus, you can return to the training whenever it is convenient. The course progress bar tells you exactly where you left off. This is a relatively quick way to accomplish your CE requirements.

Our webinar courses are instructor-led and delivered live using video conferencing. You’re required to be in attendance for the full class time, with check-ins at random times through the webinar to confirm your attendance. Students can interact and ask questions. The advantages of webinars include no required reading and no quizzes or final exams.

Completion Reported the Same Day

Note that your continuing education course credits will be reported directly to the state’s department of insurance on the same day you complete the training. So, if you’re in a rush to complete your continuing education, we’ve got you covered.

Meeting Your Illinois Ethics Training Requirement

Posted on 11.25.21

Insurance license renewal requirements are straightforward in Illinois. Every two years you’re required to complete 24 hours of continuing education and then submit your renewal application. This must be done prior to your expiration date. Your expiration date is the last day of your birth month. This article covers the Illinois Ethics Training requirement necessary and the two different delivery methods.

But keep in mind, even if you complete your CE well in advance, your license cannot be renewed until you are within 90 days of your expiration date. You will receive a renewal notice from the Illinois Department of Insurance when you are within the 90-day renewal window.

How the Illinois Ethics Training Requirement Differs From Other States

Illinois differs from most other states’ CE requirements in regards to the Ethics Training Requirement. Of the 24 hours of continuing education that need to be completed, at least 3 hours of Ethics Training must be done in a classroom setting, or a setting approved as “Classroom Equivalent” by the Illinois Department of Insurance.

While you can complete your other 21 credits in any approved subject or delivery method (such as text-based courses), your Ethics Training must be done in a classroom setting, or delivery method approved as “Classroom Equivalent” by the Illinois Department of Insurance.

What’s the difference? A classroom delivery method is held in a true, traditional, classroom environment. As such, you must find a licensed provider who offers the ethics course in a classroom setting. You will then need to schedule the date and time, travel to the location, and be in attendance throughout the 3-hour session.

The instructor is present throughout the course, is available to take and respond to questions, and students are not allowed to leave. True classroom courses offer less flexibility for the availability of times and dates offered, and they also tend to be more expensive.

What Is a “Classroom Equivalent” Course?

A “Classroom Equivalent” course is one that is similar in most respects to a classroom course, but it is offered virtually through a zoom meeting or other webinar platform. The course is taught by a licensed instructor in a “live” setting, meaning it is real-time and not pre-recorded. Students can ask questions and attendance is taken at various times throughout the course. Classroom equivalent courses offer much more flexibility than traditional classroom courses.

Since they are offered virtually, students do not have to travel to the classroom location, and there are often many more options available for dates and times to attend these courses. There are no quizzes or exams that need to be passed either. And finally, classroom equivalent courses tend to be much less expensive than true classroom courses.

You can find a full listing of our Illinois-approved webinars, including those approved for Classroom Equivalent Ethics Training, at our Illinois Continuing Education Webinar Catalog. We also offer Complete Compliance Packages that include everything agents need to stay compliant – including the 3 Hour Classroom Equivalent Ethics Training Courses. The remaining 21 hours of continuing education can be completed with your choice of webinars or traditional online text-based courses.

Quick Look at Illinois Ethics Webinar Training

A recent webinar on Ethics and Unfair Insurance Practices is typical of the other webinars we offer. It’s taught by an instructor who is licensed and approved by the Illinois Department of Insurance, and who specializes in teaching insurance continuing education courses. She’s also a licensed insurance agent and a prior agency owner who brings her experience to the classroom. So, she has plenty of stories to tell that other agents can relate to, as well as brings the training to life.

The course provides a detailed (but always engaging and entertaining) analysis of the Unfair Trade and Claims Practices Models Acts, as developed and adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Participants learn critical skills for identifying and avoiding ethical mishaps and the importance of adhering to ethical thinking and behaviors.

Here’s a quick outline of the topics:

How the changing culture and access to information creates vulnerabilities for consumers.
How to go through the process of evaluating a situation, determining if there are ethical issues, reviewing the facts, evaluating the options and choosing an outcome that will satisfy all parties involved.
Recognizing questionable or unethical behavior.
Choosing how to proceed in difficult situations to obtain a positive outcome.

Now is the Time to Start Your Continuing Education

While the Illinois Department of Insurance will provide plenty of notice within the 90-day renewal period, don’t put yourself under the considerable pressure of trying to complete 24 hours of continuing education in just a few days. It’s much better to start now and steadily work your way through the needed courses.

We’ve got you covered with all the courses you need in the format that best fits your available time and your preferred learning style. You can find the full listing at Illinois Insurance Continuing Education Course Catalog.

We offer complete compliance packages to make course selection very easy. You can select all the courses you need with one click. We also offer individual courses so that you can pick and choose the type of training that best meets your learning needs.

Traditional Online Text-Based Courses

The training is self-paced and delivered to your computer, tablet, and smartphone. You must pass quizzes and final exams for each course, but they can be taken as many times as needed. Plus, you can return to the training whenever it is convenient. The course progress bar tells you exactly where you left off.

Webinar CE Courses

We also offer live webinars. This is where you’ll need to go for the required Illinois ethics training. You can find the current listing of approved webinars in our Illinois Webinar Catalog.

Plus, you also have the option of blending your learning through a combination of insurance CE webinars and online courses.

Same-Day Completion Reporting

Note that your continuing education course credits will be reported directly to the Illinois Department of Insurance on the same day you complete the training. So, if you’re in a rush to complete your continuing education, we’ve got you covered.

Summary Steps

Here’s a quick summary to get you started on the path to renewal.

Determine your license expiration date.
Determine your continuing education requirements.
Select and enroll in courses or webinars well in advance of your expiration date.
Complete your courses – we submit your credits to the Illinois Department of Insurance the same day you complete them.
Renew your license. We can help direct you through the entire process.

If you’re near your renewal date, there’s no time to be lost. Sign up now for the most trusted and convenient solution for keeping your license active.

How to Keep Your Insurance License Active in Louisiana

Posted on 11.05.21

It’s essential that you renew your insurance license in Louisiana. The first reason, of course, is that you need the license to remain an active agent. The second, and every bit as important, is to avoid wasting all the time, effort, and money you spent earning your license.

It’s not at all difficult to keep your Louisiana insurance license active. All it takes is two steps every two years:

Complete the required continuing education.
Submit the renewal application on time.

License renewal needs to happen within 90 days before license expiration. The expiration date is the last day of the agent’s birth month with the license number determining the renewal year. Licenses that end in an even number renew in even-numbered years. Licenses that end in an odd number renew in odd-numbered years. So, check your license to determine the renewal date and year. If it’s coming up soon, sign up now for coursework to complete the continuing education requirements.

Step #1: Complete the Continuing Education Requirements

Louisiana major lines licensed producers are required to take 24 credit hours of approved continuing education every two years. At least three hours must be in the category of ethics. The major lines include life, health and health, property, casualty, and personal lines.

Special Training Requirements

Insurance producers with the lines of property, casualty, or personal must include three hours of flood insurance training.

There are also requirements for long-term care insurance beginning with an eight-hour initial training requirement along with no less than four hours of continuing education every license renewal period.

It’s similar for annuity products. The initial training is four hours, but these four hours do not qualify as part of ongoing continuing education for renewing the license.

Exemptions/Waivers

There are three types of continuing education exemptions or waivers. The first is based on age for agents over 65 with a minimum of 15 years of experience eligible to request an exemption. The second is a military service waiver where the agent is prevented from completing continuing education due to their service. Finally, a medical waiver is available for those prevented from taking continuing education due to medical conditions.

Step #2: Submit Your Renewal Application Prior to Expiration

To renew your Louisiana insurance license, complete a renewal application online at the Louisiana Industry Access Portal. The option for renewal will appear 90 days before expiration. It’s best to register in advance for access to be ready in time for renewal. You may also file online renewals through the National Insurance Producer Registry.

Now is the Time to Start Your Continuing Education

Since you have two years to accumulate your 24 hours of continuing education there’s no real reason to hurry, right? Don’t take that risk.

We’ve got you covered with all the courses you need. You can find the full listing at Louisiana Insurance Continuing Education Course Catalog.

We offer complete compliance packages to make course selection extremely easy. You can select all the courses you need with one click. We also offer individual courses so that you can pick and choose the type of training that best meets your requirements.

The training is self-paced and delivered to your computer, tablet, and smartphone. The quizzes and exams are scored instantly, and you can take them as many times as necessary to pass. Plus, you can return to the training whenever it is convenient. The course progress bar tells you exactly where you left off.

Please note that Louisiana does not allow CE credits for courses with the same approval number to be repeated within a 24-month period. Return customers should review their transcript from the previous renewal window prior to selecting new courses to avoid any duplication.

Completion Reported the Same Day

Note that your continuing education course credits will be reported directly to the Louisiana Department of Insurance on the same day you complete the training. So, if you’re in a rush to complete your continuing education, we’ve got you covered.

Summary Steps

Even though we’ve mapped it out above, it’s a great deal to digest. Here’s a quick summary to get you started on the path to your Louisiana insurance license renewal.

Determine your license expiration date.
Determine your continuing education requirements.
Select and enroll in courses well in advance of your expiration date.
Complete your courses – we submit your credits to the Louisiana Department of Insurance the same day you complete them.
Renew your license.

We’re certain that everything you need to keep your license active is easily accessible through our website. If not, simply call our office and we’ll happily assist you.

If you’re near your renewal date, there’s no time to be lost. Sign up now for the most trusted and convenient solution for keeping your license active.

How to Keep Your Insurance License Active in Ohio

Posted on 10.25.21

It’s essential that you renew your insurance license in Ohio. The first reason is you need that license to stay active as an agent. The second, and every bit as important, is to avoid wasting all the time, effort, and money you spent earning your license.

It’s not at all difficult to keep your license active. All it takes is two steps every two years:

Complete the required continuing education.
Submit the renewal application on time.

Fortunately, the Ohio Department of Insurance sends license renewal notifications via email. They are sent to the email address on file approximately 90 days, 60 days, and 30 days prior to a license expiration date. If you’ve received one of those emails, there’s no time to be lost in completing your CE requirements.

Step #1: Complete the Continuing Education Requirements

Ohio major lines licensed agents are required to take 24 credit hours of approved continuing education every two years. At least three hours must be in the category of ethics. The major lines include life, accident, and health; property; casualty; and personal lines.

Ohio continuing education requirements are non-license type-specific. What that means is that, apart from the required three hours in ethics, you can take approved courses in any subject matter.

Special Training Requirements

While the major lines are relatively open with their continuing education requirements, not so with those selling long-term care policies. They must complete an initial eight-hour long-term care training course. That’s followed by a four-hour long-term care course every renewal period.

Life and Health agents who sell annuity products must complete a one-time four-hour annuity suitability training course. Property and Casualty agents that sell flood insurance must complete a one-time three-hour course on the National Flood Insurance Program.

There are a few more license types with considerably different continuing education requirements. Here’s the list along with their requirements.

Title only, 12 hours total with 10 hours in title-specific courses and 2 hours in ethics.
Title and Resident Agent, 24 hours total with 10 in title-specific courses and 3 in ethics.
Surety Bail Bond, seven hours total with 6 hours in surety bail bond specific courses and 1 in ethics. Note that this license expires annually on the last day of February.
Viatical/Life Settlement Broker, 15 hours in viatical/life settlement courses. This license expires every other year on March 31.
Viatical/Life Settlement Broker and Resident Agent, 24 hours total with 15 hours in viatical/life settlement courses, three hours must be in ethics, and six hours may be in the line of licensing.

Exemptions

There are three types of licenses that are not required to complete any continuing education or pre-license education. These are limited authority, adjuster (both independent and public), and credit.

There are also exemptions for extenuating circumstances where the agent is unable to complete the continuing education. These include long-term medical disability, military service, and other similar circumstances. To obtain the exemption, you must file a written request for an extension of the renewal date with the Ohio Department of Insurance.

Carry Over Credits

Any excess continuing education credits up to 12 can be carried over to the next renewal period. Excess ethics training can only be carried over as general credit, not ethics credit.

Step #2: Submit Your Renewal Application Prior to Expiration

You’ll get plenty of notice from the Ohio Department of Insurance who sends email notices 90, 60, and 30 days prior to the expiration date.

To renew your license, complete a renewal application online at Ohio Agent Renewal (NIPR). The fee to renew your Ohio insurance license is only $5.

What Are the Late Fees and Penalties if I Don’t Renew My Ohio Insurance License on Time?

Now is the Time to Start Your Continuing Education

While the State of Ohio will provide plenty of notice within the 90-day renewal period, don’t put yourself under the considerable pressure of trying to complete 24 hours of continuing education in just a few days. Start now and steadily work your way through the needed courses.

We’ve got you covered with all the courses you need in the format that best fits your available time and your preferred learning style. You can find the full listing at Ohio Insurance Continuing Education Course Catalog.

All courses are approved as “Online Interactive” by the Ohio Department of Insurance. So, there are no monitor requirements or final examinations for any course in our catalog. That includes traditional online text-based courses and webinars.