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.
We’re Here to Help
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.
