Continuing Education Frequently Asked Questions
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FAQ Main Page |
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| Q: How many hours do I need to renew my license? |
| A: In 2008, even-year birth month producers need
12 hours (of which 1.5 should be in ethics) per reporting period and 6 hours
(of which 1 should be in ethics) per reporting period for service
representatives or producers who are employed by another producer or insurer to
work only in the office of the employer and who are not licensed as a
non-resident in any other state. Starting in 2009, 24 hours (of which 3 should
be ethics) per reporting period for producers and 12 hours (of which 1.5 should
be ethics) per reporting period for service representatives. |
| Q: Do I need to complete the CE requirements if I
am a non-resident? |
| A: A non-resident who has satisfied his/her home
state's continuing education requirement is exempt. |
| Q: Do I need to complete CE to renew my license
if I am an "inactive producer"? |
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A: A producer or service representative is required to comply with CE
and biennial license renewal. |
| Q: Does my company renew my license? |
| A: No. Companies renew appointments each
year by Dec. 31. Biennial license renewal is the producer's responsibility. |
| Q: Must licensees take courses related to the
lines of insurance they hold? |
| A: No. You may take any approved course
without regard to the type of license you hold. |
| Q: Can I count the prelicensing course I recently
took for my CE requirements? |
| A: No. This course is not approved for CE
credits, only prelicensing. |
| Q: Can extra credits earned from the previous
year count for this year's renewal requirements? |
| A: Yes, up to 24 credit hours earned
in the previous biennial renewal period can only be carried over
to the next reporting period. |
| Q: Can credits earned while taking courses to
obtain a professional designation be used for the annual CE requirements? |
| A: Yes, only (if) the provider and
courses have been approved by the Alabama Department of Insurance. |
| Q: Do I need to send my certificates of
completion to the Alabama Department of Insurance? |
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A: No, if you renew online, there is no need to send
certificates to the department; however, always keep your certificates on
file. Yes, if you are unable to renew online due to a CE
discrepancy or upon a CE audit request, you may have to send certificates for
verification.
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| Q: Can the person who teaches the course receive
CE credits? |
| A: Yes, instructors will receive the same
number of credits as the individuals who take the course. |
| Q: Can I go to the website to look up how
many CE credits I have? |
| A: Yes,
Click Here. |
| Q: How can I find out how many continuing
education hours I have? |
| A: It is your responsibility to keep up with
your credit hours, but if there is a discrepancy, you may call our office for
assistance. |
| Q: Do I have to take 12 hours for my life
license and 12 hours for my property license? |
| A: No, you only have to submit
the appropriate hours for your license no matter how many lines of authority
you are licensed for. |
| Q: Can I take online CE courses? |
| A: Yes, if the provider and
course is approved in Alabama. You may search our website for
approved providers and courses. |
| Q: Can I take the same CE course two years
in a row and receive credit? |
| A: No. You cannot receive
credit for any course more than once in any reporting period. |
| Q: If I hold a CE exemption, do I still have
to take the long term care one-time 8 hour LTC CE course and the 4 hour LTC CE
course for renewals?
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| A: Yes, as the Federal law does
not allow for exemptions. Any producer licensed before March 1, 2009, has until
December 31, 2009 to get the 8 hour course in order to continue to sell LTC. As
of March 1, 2009 any new producer will need to take the LTC course before
selling LTC. Beginning January 2010, 4 hours LTC is due at renewal. Be sure the
course is approved for LTC credit and not just entitled long term care and
approved for general credit. |
| Q: Are there any exemptions to the CE
requirements? |
A: Yes, the exemptions are:
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Non-residents of reciprocal states who have met the home state's CE
requirements.
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Producers licensed only for lines of insurance for which an examination is not
required.
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Producers licensed in this state for 15 years and
at least 60 years of age. (Both of these criteria must be satisfied to claim
this exemption.)
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Newly licensed producers within 12 months of the renewal date. Producers who
only hold a temporary license pending passage of the written examination for
that line of insurance.
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Any producer who holds one of the following professional designations: Charter
Property & Casualty Underwriter (CPCU); Certified Insurance Counselor
(CIC); Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU); Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC);
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP); Registered Health Underwriter (RHU);
Registered Employee Benefits Consultant (REBC); Certified Health Consultant
(CHC); or Associate Risk Manager (ARM).
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Persons who are active members of the Alabama Legislature during any portion of
the biennial reporting period.
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