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Licensing for Non-BC Residents


To apply for any form of non-resident insurance licensing in BC, applicants must hold the same class and comparable level of licence in their home jurisdiction.

If the applicant's home jurisdiction does not require a licence, appropriate documentation from the governing authority must accompany the BC licence application.

Licence applications should properly reflect how the applicant will be conducting business in BC. The Insurance Council’s Code of Conduct (10.3.1) requires that licensees hold themselves out in the matter in which they are licensed.
 

Confirmation of Licence Status with Home Jurisdiction

 

  • If the applicant's home jurisdiction does not have a website where the Insurance Council may confirm their current licence status, a Certificate of Authority must accompany the BC application and be dated no more than 90 days prior to Council receiving the licence application.

  • If the applicant's home jurisdiction has a website where Council may confirm their current licence status and the classes of insurance authorized, a Certificate of Authority is not required.

 

Requirement for Ethics and Professional Practice (Common Law) Module


All life and/or accident sickness insurance agent applicants must successfully complete the Ethics and Professional Practice (common law) module as part of the qualification for a licence.

The national harmonized Life Licence Qualification Program (LLQP) was launched in 2016 and consists of four modules:

  • Ethics and Professional Practice

  • Accident and Sickness Insurance

  • Life Insurance

  • Segregated Funds and Annuities

In Quebec, the Ethics and Professional Practice module is based on the civil code, whereas the rest of Canada uses a version based on the common law. The three other modules are identical across Canada.
 

Council Rules Course


All individuals (BC residents and non-residents) wanting to obtain an insurance licence in British Columbia are required to complete the Council Rules Course to qualify for a licence, except those that qualify under the Reinstatement Provision in Council Rule 2(19). 
 

Continuing Education Requirements


Non-resident licensees whose home jurisdiction has a mandatory continuing education requirement are exempt from the Insurance Council of BC’s Continuing Education Program requirements, provided they are meeting the requirement of their home jurisdiction and their licence is in good standing.

Except for as noted above, non-resident applicants and licensees are subject to the same rules and requirements as licensees who reside in BC.