Before You Apply

• Applicants must submit a fully completed application, including, as required, a criminal record check, fees, and proof of completion of the required education and experience requirements.
• According to Council Rules, applicants must first satisfy Council they are suitable to hold an insurance licence.
• Council reviews your application for issues that may affect your suitability, such as criminal convictions, bankruptcy, or any prior discipline or licence refusals. When considering a licence application, staff review the information provided in accordance with the Financial Institutions Act, Council Rules, and Council policies to determine whether a licence may be issued or further investigation is required.

Criminal Convictions and Charges

• Criminal record check: Applicants must obtain a criminal record check and disclose all convictions and pending criminal charges, including where an absolute or conditional discharge has been granted.
• Discharged offences: Where the applicant has committed an offence for which a discharge has been granted, and the offence is considered relevant, Council may review the circumstances in assessing the applicant’s suitability.
• Outstanding criminal charges: Council will not consider first time applicants charged with a relevant offence, until the charge has been dismissed. If convicted, the applicant will then be subject to Council’s guidelines regarding convictions.
• Partnerships and corporations: Council considers criminal charges (including pending charges) of partners, officers, directors, controlling shareholders, employees, and nominees in determining the suitability of the partnership or corporation. All disclosure requirements and reviews are similar to those of individual applicants and licensees.

Financial Reliability

• Individuals, partnerships, and corporations: Applicants must disclose filings, arrangements, or other proceedings under bankruptcy and insolvency legislation in which the applicant was involved, whether it is related to the sale or trade of financial products or services.

Prior Disciplinary Actions or Refusal of Licence

• Disciplinary actions: Applicants must disclose any disciplinary actions taken or proceedings commenced against them by any financial services regulator (insurance or otherwise), or any professional or occupational body, in any jurisdiction.
• Licence refusals: Applicants must also disclose previous refusals of licences or registrations by any financial services regulator (insurance or otherwise), or any professional or occupational body, in any jurisdiction.

• Individuals applying for a Restricted Travel Agent licence and individuals applying for a non-BC resident licence, are not required to obtain criminal record checks.
• Original criminal record checks must accompany first applications for licensing that are received by Council, where:
• The person has never previously held a general, life, accident and sickness, or adjuster licence with Council; OR
• The person has not held a general, life, accident and sickness, or adjuster licence with Council within the past 5 years.
• Criminal Record Checks provided to Council must be dated within 90 days of the date Council receives the licence application.
• In addition to providing a Criminal Record Check, you must still disclose your criminal record and details on your licence application form, as required. Ensure you read the application instructions carefully.

• You must have your Criminal Record Check completed by the municipal police or RCMP detachment for your residence address. Please download, complete, and print out an Open Letter to All Police Agencies form. Police detachments will not process your request if you do not bring this form with you. Contact the police agency before attending its office to confirm hours of operation, fees, and method of payment. Council does not have this information. 

• Carefully read the licence qualifications and requirements section of the class of licence you are applying for. Take the time to understand the whole process. The application package can be downloaded by selecting the licence class above.
• Ensure you complete the application accurately yourself, and submit all the listed requirements. Submitting an incomplete or inaccurate application will delay your licensing.
• Check the status of your application through searching Council’s Licensee Directory.
• If you cannot confirm your licensing status through Council’s website and it has been more than ten business days since Council has received your complete application, contact us.

• Once you have a licence, you have responsibilities and obligations. Setting high standards of practice can only help both you and your clients.
• Read Council Rules and the Code of Conduct carefully.
• Review the Licensee Resources section.

If you have trouble locating the Rules or the Code, or have questions on practice issues not covered in Council’s published material, please contact us. 

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.
 

As it is Council's mandate to protect the public by ensuring agents act ethically, with integrity and competency, at its July 2018 meeting Council determined 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.

• To apply for any form of non-resident licensing in BC, applicants must represent the same agency/firm and have 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.
• If the applicant's home jurisdiction does not have a website where 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 receipt of the licence application in Council's office.
• 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.

• Effective March 1, 2019: All individuals (BC residents and non-residents) wanting to obtain an insurance licence in British Columbia are required, in accordance with Council Rule 2(14), to complete the Council Rules Course to qualify for a licence, except those that qualify under the Reactivation Provision in Council Rule 2(19). Those who apply for a licence prior to March 1, 2019, who do not qualify under the Reactivation Provision, must complete the course prior to June 1, 2020. For additional details view Council Notice ICN 18-003. 
• Excluding the Council Rules Course which is mandatory for all new BC insurance licensees, non-resident licensees whose home jurisdiction has a mandatory continuing education requirement may not be required to meet Council’s requirements, provided they keep their licence in good standing in their home jurisdiction.
• Except for as noted above, non-resident applicants and licensees are subject to the same rules and requirements as BC residents.

• Code of Conduct: Effective January 25, 2015 the Conflict of Interest Guidelines for Insurance Agents, Adjusters, and Salespersons (“Guidelines”) have been incorporated into the Code of Conduct (“Code”) as Appendix A. Council Rule 7(8) requires all licensees to read and to comply with the Council Code of Conduct. 

• Most other employment or business activities have no impact on a licensee’s insurance activities. Council addresses most concerns through licence conditions or restrictions.
• For specific business activities where Council believes the potential for a conflict of interest is so significant it is not prepared to issue a licence, refer to List of Other Employment and Business Activities Considered by Council.

Licence Applicants

• Before making a licence application to Council, review the List of Other Employment and Business Activities Considered by Council.
• If you still want Council to review your business activity, download, complete and print the Request for Review of Other Business Activities form and submit together with your complete licence application.

After your application is approved:

• Periodically review the List of Other Employment and Business Activities Considered by Council (“the List”) to keep up-to-date with Council decisions.
• Even if your business activities are not on the List of Other Employment and Business Activities Considered by Council, use discretion to ensure they do not have the potential to create a conflict of interest.
• If you start a business activity after you get your licence: You don’t have to notify Council, if it’s not a business activity similar to one on the List where Council has declined to issue a licence.
• If you start or are engaging in business activity similar to one where Council has declined to issue a licence: 
  • Immediately notify Council using the Request for Review of Other Business Activities form. Council will review and determine an appropriate course of action.
  • Immediately modify your insurance activities in accordance with the licence conditions outlined in the List:
    • If a complaint arises that is related to the business activity, directly or indirectly, licensees who do not modify their insurance activities could have their suitability reviewed.
    • If licensees are found to have acted in a conflict of interest based on their business activity, they can be subject to disciplinary or other action as warranted.
• Licensees are always welcome to submit a Request for Review of Other Business Activities form.