Continuing education for insurance license: a state-by-state breakdown

Continuing education for insurance license varies by state. This guide gives you a breakdown of how many credit hours you need to earn in each state

Continuing education for insurance license: a state-by-state breakdown

Guides

By Mark Rosanes

In a constantly evolving sector like insurance, the learning doesn’t stop once you get your license. Continuing education (CE) is a must to keep you updated with the latest industry trends and developments, so you can serve your clients better.

CE requirements, however, vary by state. That’s why if you intend on practicing outside your home state, it’s important to know what these requirements are.

To make things easier for you, Insurance Business has compiled a list of requirements for continuing education for insurance license in each state. If you’re an insurance agent, broker, or adjuster planning to take an assignment beyond state lines, this guide is for you. Here’s a state-by-state breakdown of the different insurance continuing education requirements.

How does continuing education for insurance license work?

Continuing education is a key part of maintaining your insurance license. States require CE as it builds your expertise by keeping you abreast of current industry trends. This, in turn, allows you to provide high quality service.

Most insurance agent licenses are up for renewal after two years, but there are states where licenses are active for up to three or four years. For insurance adjusters, licenses are valid for two years, although there are states where a license isn’t needed. 

States have their own guidelines on how you can earn CE credits. Many allow online and self-study courses. Some require a few hours of classroom training.

Most of the courses you need to take are related to the line you’re licensed for. These often include three hours of ethics classes. In some states, you will also need to earn certain credits for insurance law and regulatory changes. If you’re a property and casualty or personal lines agent or adjuster, you’re required to take flood insurance courses in some states.

Here’s a list of the different continuing education courses insurance agents and brokers can take:

Continuing education for insurance license – list of CE courses for insurance agents

Here’s a list of the CE courses insurance adjusters can earn credits for:  

 Continuing education for insurance license – list of CE courses for insurance adjusters

Insurance producers often don’t need to take CE courses in other states. That is unless you have a Florida insurance license. All other states have signed up for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) continuing education reciprocity agreement (CER). This means member states recognize each other’s CE courses.

As mentioned, some states don’t require licenses for claims adjusters.

Continuing education for insurance license – list of non-licensing states for insurance adjusters

Even if your home state doesn’t require one, you will need to get a license since adjusters take on assignments in different states. If you’re wondering where to get one, Texas can be a good choice.

Texas lets adjusters of non-licensing states declare the state as their residence. It also has reciprocal agreements with almost all licensing states. This means that the CE courses you take for your Texas insurance license will be recognized by other states.  

New York, however, remains the most sought-after state for insurance adjusters. Adjusters with a New York insurance license are heavily recruited because the state doesn’t offer reciprocity. The state’s size, population, and weather also mean there are plenty of claims, but there are often not enough adjusters to handle them.

The other states that don’t offer reciprocity for insurance adjusters are California and Hawaii.

How many hours of continuing education do you need to keep your insurance license?

Different states have different requirements when it comes to credit hours for continuing education for insurance license. Generally, you will need to earn 24 hours of credit every two years. The table below details each state’s requirements for insurance agents and brokers. You can click on the links to view the full CE requirements in your state.

State-by-state breakdown of continuing education requirements for insurance agents

State

CE requirements

Alabama

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Alaska

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Not more than 8 hours of management, marketing, sales, and training

 

Resident agents selling federal flood policies must complete 3 hours of flood insurance training as one-time requirement

Arkansas

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Arizona

48 credit hours every 4 years, including 6 hours of ethics

California

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics, which include 1 hour of anti-fraud training

Colorado

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Connecticut

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics, regulation, or law

Delaware

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

District of Columbia

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

 

3 hours of flood insurance training for P&C agents on first renewal

Florida

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 4 hours of law and ethics

Georgia

15 credit hours every year, including 3 hours of ethics for resident agents with less than 20 years

 

10 credit hours every year, including 3 hours of ethics for resident agents with more than 20 years

Hawaii

20 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of law for L&H or P&C agents

 

30 credit hours every 2 years for L&H and P&C agents, consisting of 12 hours of L&H, 18 hours of P&C, including 2 hours each of law

Idaho

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics or law

Illinois

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Indiana

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Iowa

36 credit hours every 3 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Kansas

18 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Kentucky

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Louisiana

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

 

Resident P&C or personal lines agents must complete 3 hours of flood insurance training as one-time requirement

Maine

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Maryland

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Massachusetts

45 credit hours every 3 years, including 3 hours of ethics

 

60 credit hours, including 3 hours of ethics for newly licensed agents on first renewal

Michigan

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Minnesota

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Mississippi

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Missouri

16 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Montana

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics and 1 hours of legislative changes

Nebraska

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Nevada

30 credit hours every 3 years

New Hampshire

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 to 10 hours of ethics

New Jersey

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

New Mexico

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics and 3 hours of classroom training

New York

15 credit hours every 2 years, including:

1 hour of law

1 hour of ethics

1 hour of diversity, inclusion, and elimination of bias

1 hour of flood insurance for P&C agents

3 hours of flood insurance if licensed to sell policies through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

North Carolina

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

North Dakota

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Ohio

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Oklahoma

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics and 2 hours of legislative updates

Oregon

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics and 3 hours of law

Pennsylvania

24 credit hours every 2 years

Rhode Island

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

South Carolina

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

South Dakota

10 credit hours every 2 years for L&H or P&C agents

 

20 credit hours every 2 years for L&H and P&C agents

Tennessee

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Texas

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Utah

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics and 12 hours of classroom training

Vermont

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics and no more than 6 hours of agency management, 3 hours of flood insurance as one-time requirement

Virginia

16 credit hours every 2 years, including 2 hours of ethics and law

Washington

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

West Virginia

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Wisconsin

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Wyoming

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

 

If you want to pursue a career in insurance sales, this step-by-step guide on how to become an insurance agent can help.

Here’s how many hours of CE credits you need to complete if you’re an insurance adjuster. You can also find the list of continuing education requirements for adjusters through the state insurance department links above.

State-by-state breakdown of continuing education requirements for insurance adjusters

State

CE requirements

Alabama

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Alaska

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Arkansas

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Arizona

Exempt from continuing education

California

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics, which include 1 hour of anti-fraud training

Connecticut

Exempt from continuing education

Delaware

12 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Florida

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 4 hours of law and ethics

Georgia

15 credit hours every year, including 3 hours of ethics for resident adjusters with less than 20 years

 

10 credit hours every year, including 3 hours of ethics for resident adjusters with more than 20 years

Hawaii

Exempt from continuing education

Idaho

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics or consumer protection

Indiana

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Kentucky

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Louisiana

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

 

Resident P&C adjusters must complete 3 hours of flood insurance training as a one-time requirement

Maine

Exempt from continuing education

Michigan

Exempt from continuing education

Minnesota

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Mississippi

12 credit hours every year, including 2 hours of ethics

Montana

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics and 1 hours of legislative changes

Nevada

24 credit hours every 3 years, including 3 hours of ethics

New Hampshire

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 to 10 hours of ethics

New Mexico

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

New York

Exempt from continuing education

North Carolina

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Oklahoma

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics and 2 hours of legislative updates

Oregon

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics and 3 hours of law

Rhode Island

Exempt from continuing education

South Carolina

Exempt from continuing education

Texas

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Utah

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics and 12 hours of classroom training

Vermont

Exempt from continuing education, but workers’ compensation adjusters are required to attend trainings sponsored by Vermont Department of Labor

Washington

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

West Virginia

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

Wyoming

24 credit hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics

 

Find out where the best places are to take insurance adjuster courses in-person in this guide.

How long does it take to complete your CE credits?

The time it takes to complete your continuing education depends on a range of factors, including:

  • number of credit hours required by the state
  • topics the courses cover
  • whether you’re taking the CE courses online or in-person
  • your continuing education provider
  • your reading speed and comprehension
  • your ability to pass the tests

Taking continuing education courses online allows you to earn the credits at your own pace. Each course takes about two days to complete, whether you take it online or in a classroom.

Exams are given at the end of each course to verify what you learned. You will have to get at least 70% of your answers correctly to pass. Most CE providers allow unlimited exam retakes in case you fail a test.

Check out our picks for the best continuing education providers for insurance agents in this guide.

How can you check your CE credits for insurance?

Most state insurance departments have an online tool on their websites that you can access to check your continuing education credits. There, you can find how many hours you have completed, what CE courses you still need to take, and how much time you have before license renewal.

As important as pursuing continuing education, keeping abreast of the latest insurance news is an effective way of keeping your skills and knowledge updated. Get access to breaking news and the latest industry developments as they happen by signing up for our daily newsletters. Subscription is free. 

What do you think are the benefits of pursuing continuing education for your insurance license? Let us know in the comments.

 

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