Q&A

How many credits do I need to have by May 31, 2021?    

This will depend on when you held or were issued a licence.

Life and/or Accident & Sickness Insurance Agents:
If you held or were issued a licence between June 1, 2019 and May 31, 2020, you were required to complete 15 credits for that year (Credit amount may vary if you have been licensed for more than five of the last seven years or if you hold an approved designation). Insurance Council extended the deadline for you to complete your 2020 CE requirements by one year to May 31, 2021.

There is no change to the 2021 CE requirements or the due date. You are still required to meet your CE requirements for the 2021 licence period (June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021) by May 31, 2021.

General Insurance Salespersons, Agents, and Adjusters:
If you held or were issued a licence between June 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020, you were required to complete eight credits for that year (Credit amount may vary if you have been licensed for more than five of the last seven years or if you hold an approved designation). Insurance Council extended the deadline for you to complete your 2020 CE requirements by one year to May 31, 2021.

There is no change to the 2021 CE requirements or the due date. You are still required to meet your CE requirements for the 2021 licence period (June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021) by May 31, 2021.

For credit requirements for your licence class, visit the Continuing Education section of our website.

Examples
 

Scenario 1:
Jane became licensed with Insurance Council as a general insurance salesperson in August 2020. How many CE credits will she need to complete by May 31, 2021?

Jane is required to complete 8 credits by May 31, 2021 when she submits her first annual filing.

Scenario 2:
Arthur held a life insurance licence during the 2020 licence year and was only able to complete five out of the 15 credits required by May 31, 2020. How many credits is he required to complete by May 31, 2021?

As Insurance Council extended the deadline for licensees to complete their 2020 CE requirements, Arthur has until May 31, 2021 to complete the outstanding credit requirement for 2020 (ten credits), in addition to completing his 2021 CE requirements (15 credits). 

Scenario 3: 
Amanpreet holds a CAIB designation and was required to complete four credits in the 2020 licence year. She was unable to complete any of the required credits for the 2020 licence year. How many credits is she required to complete by May 31, 2021?

As Insurance Council extended the deadline for licensees to complete their 2020 CE requirements, Amanpreet has a year to complete the four credits outstanding in the 2020 licence year, in addition to completing his 2021 CE requirements (four credits), for a total of eight credits by May 31, 2021.

I completed more CE credits than required in the 2020 filing year, can I carry over the excess credits and apply it to my 2021 filing year?

No, the CE extension was granted to provide licensees who were unable to complete CE credits during the 2020 filing year with an additional year to meet their CE requirements due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus at that time. Under Insurance Council's current CE requirements, excess credits cannot be carried over into the next filing year.

There will be changes to the carryover requirements starting June 1, 2021. Stay tuned for more information from Insurance Council on the new CE guidelines in March 2021.

Does it matter when I do my CE credits?  Do the CE credits for 2020 have to be acquired that year? 

By May 31, 2021, you will need to have the correct total amount of CE credits for the two-year period between June 1, 2019 and May 31, 2021, based on the usual requirements for your licence class and years of experience. You do not need to have earned the credits during 2020 as long as you end up with the correct total number at May 31, 2021.

Will the Insurance Council grant another CE extension this year?

No, licensees are required to complete their CE credits for the 2020 and 2021 filing years by May 31, 2021.

Continuing education is a core principle that supports high standards of professional practice. It is essential that licensees maintain CE annually to remain competent and current in an ever-changing industry. 

This is my first annual filing (obtained my licence between March 1, 2020 to Feb 28, 2021), do I qualify for the CE extension?

No, the extension was granted to licensees who were unable to complete CE credits during the 2020 filing year due to the unexpected disruptions caused by the coronavirus at that time and were required to complete their annual filing by May 31, 2020. If you received your licence on or after March 1, 2020, your CE and your first annual filing is due on or before May 31, 2021.

I lost my job during the pandemic, do I still need to do CE?

If you are licensed (active or inactive) with the Insurance Council, you are required to complete CE. 
For more information on the requirements for each licence status, see our “What Type of Licence Status is Right for Me?” infosheet. You can also discuss your licensing options with a member of our Practice & Quality Assurance team.

Do I need to submit CE certificates to Insurance Council?

No. However, you are responsible for demonstrating and ensuring you have met the CE requirements for your licence, regardless of whether your agency keeps track of your CE credits. CE records are evidence of CE completion, such as a copy of your course completion certificates and course content information. 

If you are audited by Insurance Council, you will be required to demonstrate that you have met the CE requirements for your licence and to provide the applicable CE records. 

When will Insurance Council provide an update on the new CE guidelines?

You can find a recent update here. More information on the new guidelines will be made available in March 2021.