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Council Rules Course Q&A


The Insurance Council launched a new, updated edition of the Council Rules Course on March 15, 2022, and is now the sole course provider. The course replaces the previous versions that were offered by Advocis and Insurance Brokers Association of BC (IBABC). Two versions of the course are available exclusively through the Insurance Council’s online portal.

Below are a set of questions and answers about the Council Rules Course to help licensees and prospective licensees navigate when, how and if they are required to register for the course.
 

Do I need to take the new Council Rules Course?
Current licensees are not required to take the new Council Rules Course. However, we do recommend that licensees take the course as there have been significant updates to the course materials, as well as licensee guidance and resources over the years. Licensees who take the course are eligible to receive CE credit towards the current licensing year.

Starting March 15, 2022, new licence applicants who have not yet taken the Council Rules Course are required to complete the course, available for registration, through the online portal. Licence applicants who took the course through IBABC or Advocis prior to this date are not required to take the new course offered by the Insurance Council.

Prospective licensees who registered for the Council Rules Course through IBABC or Advocis before March 15, 2022, and have not applied for their licence, will have until the course expiry date established by IBABC or Advocis to obtain their licence.

If I applied for a new life licence and a new general licence, do I have to take the Council Rules Course twice?
There is a Council Rules Course tailored to life licensees and one for general licensees and adjusters. If you apply for a life licence and one for general or adjuster licence, you must complete both courses.

If you obtain a new BC licence and do not qualify under the Reinstatement Provision, regardless of your home jurisdiction and how long you have been licensed there, you must complete the Council Rules Course for that licence.

Do I get CE credits for doing the Council Rules Course?

If you are applying as a new licensee, the Council Rules Course is mandatory, and completion does not count towards CE credits.

If you reside in BC and you did not complete the course as a pre-licensing requirement, you are then eligible for CE credits for completing the course. The Council Rules Course qualifies for two CE credits for the licensing period, in which the course is taken. If you have two licences and complete both versions of the Council Rules Course, you earn four credits (two for each licence class). For out-of-province licensees, the Council Rules Course is a licence condition for BC, and may not be eligible for CE in your province. 

Remember to download the Course Completion Certificate upon completion as you may be asked to produce it as part of a CE audit. 

What is the deadline to complete the Council Rules Course?

The Council Rules Course is a prerequisite for insurance licensure. For those who apply for a licence and do not qualify under the Reinstatement Provision, the Council Rules Course must be completed as a pre-licensing requirement.

Once you have registered for the Council Rules Course through the Insurance Council, you have 30 days to complete the course. 

I'm a non-resident licensee. Do I have to take the course?

Regardless of where you reside, if you have obtained a licence in British Columbia, you may be required to complete the Council Rules Course depending on when you received your licence and other conditions. Contact practice@insurancecouncilofbc.com for more information.