How to Get Health and Life Insurance Continuing Education Credits as an Agent

Meeting the continuing education credits required to keep your insurance license doesn’t have to be a chore. It is something you must fit into your schedule, but there are interesting ways to gain insight into the industry and satisfy your state’s Department of Insurance.

Whether you choose to learn about new products, policies, or features, just know that you are taking the time to master your craft and understand the market. Being able to better help your clients is always worth it.

What Is a Continuing Education Credit?

Continuing education (CE) credits are units that measure one’s effort to stay up to date in their profession. They are earned through classes often led, or created by, industry leaders. At the end of an insurance CE class, you should have a better idea of how consumers are currently interacting with the market or how you can better help meet your clients’ needs. Most states’ Departments of Insurance require insurance CE credits to keep your insurance license, but even exempt agents can benefit from learning something new!

Even exempt agents can benefit from learning something new!

How Many CE Credits Are Required for Selling Health & Life Insurance?

In order to remain licensed, you must earn a certain amount of CE credits. Each state has different requirements, which you can view below.

Note: The information in the following table is a summary of states’ general continuing education requirements for health and life insurance agents as of 8/19/22. Depending on your situation or state, you may have to meet additional or fewer requirements (e.g., based on your years of service, license types held, and product lines sold). For the most up-to-date requirements specific to you, please check with your state’s Department of Insurance.
### Health/Life Insurance Continuing Education Requirements by State
StateCE Credits Generally Required for ResidentsInsurance License Term Carryover Allowed?What About Non-Residents?
Alabama24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsNoExempt if complying with resident state
Alaska24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
  • No more than 8 hours in business organization, management, and environment, including motivation, psychology, and sales training
Two yearsYes, up to 8 hours per renewal periodExempt if complying with resident state
Arizona48 credits total
  • 6 hours in ethics
Four yearsNoExempt if complying with resident state
Arkansas24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsYes, can carry over excess hours from a renewal period to the next renewal period onlyExempt if complying with resident state
California24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsYes, except for ethicsExempt if complying with resident state
Colorado24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
  • 18 hours in major lines
  • 3 hours miscellaneous
Two yearsYes, up to 12 hours to next period if earned within 120 days prior to the compliance deadlineExempt if complying with resident state
Connecticut24 credits total
  • 3 hours in law/regs/ethics
  • 21 hours of any type
Two yearsNoExempt if complying with resident state
Delaware24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsYes, up to 5 credits per renewal period, not ethics creditsExempt if complying with resident state
District of Columbia24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsNoExempt if complying with resident state
Florida24 credits total
  • 4 hours in law and ethics
Two yearsYes, up to 24 hoursExempt if complying with resident state
Georgia24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsYes, up to 12 hours to the next periodExempt if complying with resident state
Hawaii24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsNoExempt if complying with resident state
Idaho24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsNoExempt if complying with resident state
Illinois24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsYes, up to 12 hours to the next period, not ethics creditsExempt if complying with resident state
Indiana24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
  • 3-hour D-SNP course (if you sell D-SNPs)
Two yearsYes, up to 12 hours if earned within 120 days prior to the license expiration dateExempt if complying with resident state
Iowa36 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Three yearsNoExempt if complying with resident state who has continuing education requirements
Kansas18 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsNoExempt if complying with resident state
Kentucky24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
  • 6 hours directly to line of authority licensed for
Two yearsYes, up to 12 hours, not ethics creditsExempt if complying with resident state
Louisiana24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsYes, up to 10 hours of Life, Health, and Accident CEExempt if complying with resident state
Maine24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsNoExempt if complying with resident state
Maryland24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsNoExempt if complying with resident state that has reciprocal agreement with MD
Massachussetts45 credits total (60 for initial renewal)
  • 3 hours in ethics
Three yearsYes, excess can be carried over to next renewal period onlyExempt if complying with resident state
Michigan24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsYes, up to 12 hours can be carried over to next renewal periodExempt if complying with resident state
Minnesota24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
  • No more than 12 hours sponsored by, offered by, or affiliated with an insurance company or its agents
Two yearsNoExempt if complying with resident state
Mississippi24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsNoExempt if complying with resident state
Missouri16 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsYes, excess can be carried over to next renewal period onlyExempt if complying with resident state
Montana24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsNoExempt if complying with resident state
Nebraska24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsNoExempt if complying with resident state
Nevada30 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Three yearsNoExempt if complying with resident state
New Hampshire24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
  • No more than 10 hours in ethics
Two yearsNoExempt
New Jersey24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsNoExempt if complying with resident state
New Mexico24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
  • 3 hours must be in live classroom or equivalent
Two yearsNoExempt
New York15 credits total
  • At least 1 hour of Insurance Law
  • At least 1 hour of Ethics and Professionalism
  • At least 1 hour of Diversity, Inclusion, and Elimination of Bias
Two yearsNoExempt
North Carolina24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsYes, excess can be carried over to next renewal period onlyExempt if complying with resident state
North Dakota24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsYes, up to 12 hours taken in the last 12 months of the reporting period may be credited to the next 12 monthsExempt if complying with resident state
Ohio24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsYes, up to 12 hours to next renewal periodExempt if complying with resident state
Oklahoma24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
  • 2 hours in legislative update
Two yearsYes, up to 6 hours earned in the current renewal period can be carried over to the nextExempt if complying with resident state who has continuing education requirements
Oregon24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
  • 3 hours of Oregon statutes and administrative rules
  • No more than 4 hours in approved agency management courses
Two yearsNoCompliant if completed training in another state with laws similar to Oregon’s law
Pennsylvania24 credits totalTwo yearsUp to 24 hours may be carried over to next immediate renewal periodExempt if complying with resident state
Rhode Island24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsUp to 12 hours earned during a renewal period may be carried to the next renewal period Exempt if complying with resident state
South Carolina24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsUp to 18 hours may be carried to the next compliance periodExempt if complying with resident state
South Dakota10 credits totalTwo yearsNoNo requirements
Tennessee24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsYes, up to 12 hours can be carried over to next renewal period; excess ethics will count as general creditExempt if complying with resident state
Texas24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsNoExempt if complying with resident state
Utah24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
  • 12 hours in classroom or classroom equivalent courses
  • No more than 12 hours may come from courses provided by insurers
Two yearsNoExempt if complying with resident state
Vermont24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
  • No more than 6 hours in insurance agency management
Two yearsNoExempt if complying with resident state
Virginia16 credits total if one license type held
  • 3 hours in ethics
  • No more than 12 credits may come from courses provided or given by insurance agencies or companies
24 hours if two or more licenses held
  • 3 hours in ethics
  • 8 hours specific to each license type
  • No more than 18 credits may come from courses provided or given by insurance agencies or companies
Two yearsYes, can be carried over one renewal cycle but must be reported in the period during which the course was takenEligible for compliance if Virginia has a reciprocal agreement with non-resident’s state
Washington24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsNoExempt
West Virginia24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsYes, up to 6 hours to the next reporting periodCompliant if completed training in another state with laws similar to West Virginia’s law
Wisconsin24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsNoExempt if complying with resident state
Wyoming24 credits total
  • 3 hours in ethics
Two yearsNoRequired to comply with home state’s CE requirements

Different Ways to Obtain Insurance CE Credits

There’s always something to learn in the ever-growing insurance industry, which is why it’s so important to continually educate yourself. You might hate sitting down at a desk and listening to an instructor. Maybe you prefer to learn face to face. The great thing is you have options when it comes to your CE requirements. Just make sure you choose the option that best fits your lifestyle and needs.

Make sure you choose the option that best fits your lifestyle and needs.

Here are the different ways to earn credits:

  • Self-Paced Course: These courses allow you to log in and complete your training at any time. Some are even compatible with your phone! It’s important to note, however, that many have a short exam at the end.
  • In-Person Class: Some people just learn better face to face, and this is a great chance to learn from an industry professional.
  • Online Webinar: This is for the more tech-savvy learner and gives a bit more flexibility than an in-person class. Many even provide the opportunity to interact with the instructor.

Finding CE Opportunities Near You

You might know about the CE requirements, but how can you find CE events and courses?

Ritter Summits

Attending a Ritter Summit in late August or September is a great way to get an introduction to upcoming Medicare products and plans and earn CE credits at the same time.

  • Join us in-person for a one credit CE class event at Summit!*
  • Get a voucher equal to eight credit hours!

*Varies by location.

Professional Insurance Organizations

Many professional organizations also offer their own courses. The NABIP Benefit Specialist Institute offers self-paced courses for agents with varying levels of knowledge. You can also meet your CE requirements through AHIP. These online trainings make it simple to complete your credits at your own pace.

WebCE

Thankfully, sites like WebCE make it easy for agents to complete their trainings. Their catalog of insurance courses includes topics like long-term care, flood insurance, risk management, annuities, homeowner’s insurance, and more. You might even find courses you’re excited to take!

WebCE benefits:
  • Requirements by state
  • Variety of insurance topics
  • Complete courses anywhere, any time
  • Get a discount through Ritter — ask us how!

How to Submit Your CE Credits

As the agent taking the course, it is not your responsibility to send in documentation. This is typically done by the course provider. For example, if you take an online course through Kaplan, they report your completed credits to your state department of insurance. Since reporting usually takes around three business days, you should complete your requirements with plenty of time before the deadline. Some states, like Pennsylvania, require a report within 10 days of completion.

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No matter what topic you choose to brush up on, you are taking steps to become a better agent and staying compliant. Happy learning!

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