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Frequently Asked Questions


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Continuing Education
Getting a Licence
Errors and Omissions Insurance
Council Rules Course
Changes to Licence
Annual Licence Renewal
Online Portal
Harmonized Life Licence Qualification Program (HLLQP)

Getting a Licence

Please see our fee schedule for current application fees. 
Only licence information is public. As trainee registrants and applicants are not licensees, their information is not displayed on our website.
 
If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.
No. Licence applications, and other licence change requests are placed in a queue and reviewed in the order in which they are received. We cannot allow applicants/licensees to jump ahead of the queue as that would be unfair to other applicants/licensees who have been waiting longer. 
 
Please note, our processing times are displayed on our website here.
 
If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.
Processing time depends on volume and the types ofapplication we receive. Processing time can be found on the website here.
 
If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.

Yes. 

An applicant for an insurance agent or adjuster licence must have attained the age of 19 years.

An applicant for a general insurance salesperson licence must have attained the age of 16 years.

For more information, please refer to Council Rules.  

We have identified a number of business activities that may be a conflict of interest. In most cases, we have been able to address any concerns through licence conditions or restrictions, however, we have identified specific business activities where there is a high conflict of interest that a licence will not be granted. Before making a licence application, please review the List of Other Employment and Business Activities Considered Conflict of Interest by Council.
Applicants are required to provide evidence that they have completed the educational requirements for the licence requested (i.e. examination results or designation). Under Council Rule 2(20), where an applicant does not meet the qualification requirements a licence application will be considered if the applicant can demonstrate that alternate education and/or experience obtained is equivalent to the requirements as set out in Council Rules. 
 
To properly assess a request for equivalency, applicants must provide a detailed description of work history, including specific job duties, and the breadth of insurance products dealt with. 
 
These applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with precedents on file and will take longer to review. 
 
For more information, please refer to Applying for a Licence Based on Equivalency.
 
If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.
If your examination marks have expired, you will be required to either requalify through the examination process or apply on an equivalency basis (see above question).
Where an application has been accepted from an applicant but supporting documentation is missing or additional information is required, the applicant is given three weeks to provide the required information. If the required information remains outstanding after the three weeks, the applicant is given a further three weeks to provide the information. If, after that time, the applicant has not provided the information required to complete the licence application as requested by the Insurance Council, the applicant’s licence application is deemed incomplete and the application file will be closed.
 
The provincial government fee paid by, or on behalf of, the applicant will be refunded accordingly. Please note, application fees are non-refundable.

Your BC registration must mirror your licence in your home jurisdiction. To apply for any form of non-resident licensing in BC, applicants must apply for the same class and comparable level of licence in their home jurisdiction. Under Council's Code of Conduct (10.3.1), licensees must hold themselves out in the matter in which they are licensed. Please ensure your licence application properly reflects how you will be conducting business in BC. 
 
For more information, please refer to Licensing for Non-BC Residents.
 
If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.

All British Columbian applicants are required to successfully complete the Ethics and Professional Practice (Common Law) module, to qualify for a life and accident and sickness insurance agent licence. In Quebec, the Ethics and Professional Practice module of the Harmonized Life Licensing Qualification Program (“HLLQP”) is based on the civil code, whereas the rest of Canada uses a version based on common law. 
 
For more information, please refer to Getting a Licence.
Applicants are required to provide the bankruptcy discharge or full performance document.   If the bankruptcy and/or consumer proposal was discharged less than 7 years ago, include the Statement of Affairs.  If the bankruptcy and/or consumer proposal has not been discharged or fully performed, please provide a letter from the trustee confirming the status.
 
If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.
You are required to provide details of any pending charges and/or convictions. Depending on the relevancy of your charge/conviction, you may be required to provide further information such as supporting court documents, documentation from your probation or parole officer, and a copy of your record. 
 
For more information, please refer to Suitability to Hold a Licence.
 
If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.
If you have been disciplined, we require a copy of the decision. If you are under investigation, please provide as much detail as possible, ideally information from that regulatory body.  
 
For more information, please refer to Suitability to Hold a Licence.
 
If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.
You are required to provide an overview of the proceedings, your involvement, and the expected trial dates. We may ask that you provide a copy of the statement of claim and defence.
 
For more information, please refer to Suitability to Hold a Licence.
 
If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.
We have approved accessible online applications via Triton Canada for licence applicants to obtain criminal record checks. Online checks must be completed through the direct Triton link from our website as external Triton Canada links are not verified and cannot be accepted.* Visit here to complete your criminal record check with Triton Canada. Criminal record checks can also be obtained through your residing municipal police or RCMP detachment. Please see here for more information on how to obtain your criminal record check through Triton Canada or your residing municipal police or RCMP detachment.

*Effective December 1, 2022, all online criminal record checks must be completed through Triton Canada via the secure link on the Insurance Council's website. The Insurance Council will only accept criminal record checks dated on or before November 30, 2022, from ScreeningCanada or other entities that use information obtained by the Canadian Police Information Centre. Criminal record checks must be dated within 90 days of the licence application submission date to the Insurance Council.

Please note: If you have resided in Canada for less than five years, a criminal record check from the country you have previously resided in is also required. For more information about criminal record checks, please see here.

The completion of a criminal record check is required for all licence applications except:

  • Individuals applying for a Restricted Travel Agent licence; 

  • Canadian non-residents who are licensed and in good standing in their home jurisdiction; or

  • Individuals applying for a General Insurance Salesperson licence under the age of 18. (Per the Youth Criminal Justice Act.)
If your Criminal Record Check indicates that you have resided in Canada for less than five years, we may deem your criminal record check as incomplete. As such, either a Criminal Record Check from the country you previously resided in or a copy of your Canadian permanent resident card is required.
 
If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.

Yes. It is a requirement that all corporations, partnerships, and sole-proprietorships must be registered and be in good standing with the British Columbia Registry Services. The British Columbia Registry Services may be reached at 1-877-526-1526.    
 
If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.

 

Errors and Omissions Insurance

No, you do not have to submit your E&O renewal documents to Council each year.  You are required to maintain E&O that meets Council's requirements, however.  If an E&O Audit is initiated by Council, you will be asked to produce evidence you have maintained E&O on an ongoing basis.
You must immediately cease conducting insurance activities and notify Council within five business days.  Your licence will be automatically suspended if you remain uninsured for a period exceeding 30 calendar days, so be sure to let Council know once your policy is in place.  Once your insurance is reinstated, you may return to work.  If, however, you remain uninsured for a period exceeding 30 days, your licence will be terminated.
Council Rules requires that E&O be in place for all licensees, including insurance agencies and firms.  A policy may cover both the agency/firm and the licensed individuals authorized to represent it.  Life insurance agencies are directed to review Council Notice ICN 07-007 under Notices for more detailed information.
Yes.  Although you may not be selling new business, you are still providing advice and may make changes to existing clients' policies.  Council therefore considers there to be a risk to the client that would necessitate E&O insurance.
More specific information about requirements for E&O can be found in the Errors an Omissions section of Council's website.  This is a complete list of notices issued regarding E&O.

ICN 15-007 (29 June 2015)
ICN 15-006 (25 June 2015)
ICN 09-002 (28 April 2009)
ICN 07-007 (11 September 2007)
ICN 06-006 (15 December 2006)
ICN 05-007 (05 December 2005)
ICN 05-006 (24 June 2005)
ICN 05-005 (24 June 2005)
ICN 01-007 (15 October 2001)
ICN 01-002 (12 February 2001)

Council Rules Course

Yes.  The Council Rules Course is delivered in two streams:
  1. Life and/or accident & sickness insurance – tailored to life licensees
  2. General insurance and adjusters – tailored to general and adjuster licensees
Effective March 1, 2019 and in accordance with Council Rule 2(14), all individuals, including non-residents, must complete the Council Rules Course to qualify for licensure with the Insurance Council, except those that qualify for licensure under the Reactivation Provision in Council Rule 2(19).

For more information, please refer to Council Rules Course.

Changes to Licence

You must provide the name of your former supervisor and complete a Supervisor Undertaking Form that is signed by you and your new supervisor. Once completed, send the form via email.

New life and/or accident and sickness (A&S) agents must be supervised for a minimum of 24 months. Some exceptions apply. Please refer to our Guidelines for Supervision of New Life and/or Accident & Sickness Agents.  At the end of the supervision period, the supervisor must submit the Confirmation of Completion Form to the Insurance Council via email. It is the supervisor’s responsibility to determine what additional supervision duties are required to ensure that there is an adequate level of supervision for the new life and/or A&S agent.
If a supervisor withdraws as a new life and/or accident and sickness (A&S) agent’s supervisor, then written disclosure must be made to the Insurance Council within 5 business days in accordance to Council Rules. Please submit a written request to our Licensing Department by email, and provide the name of the licensee, and the date your supervision of the licensee ceased. If the reason for withdrawing as a supervisor is related to the new life and/or A&S agent’s suitability or conduct as a licensee, the supervisor must include this in the written disclosure to the Insurance Council. The supervisor must also notify the agent of the withdrawal immediately. Until notification is provided, they are still accountable for the agent.
 
For more information please refer to our Guidelines for Supervision of New Life and/or Accident & Sickness Agents.  
 
If you wish to make your licence inactive, you must submit a written request by email. In your submission, please include your full legal name, licence number, and the effective end date you are making your licence inactive. There is no time limit at this time for how long a licence may remain inactive, please refer to our website regularly for updates.

With an inactive licence, licensees:
  • may not conduct any insurance activities, including servicing existing clients;
  • must continue to meet continuing education requirements;
  • must complete the annual filing to avoid licence termination; and
  • during time of inactivity, are not required to hold E&O insurance.
To change the nominee of a licensed agency/firm, please complete the Add/Update Agency Nominee form and submit it to our Licensing Department by email. Please note this form must be signed by the new appointed nominee, as well as a major shareholder, director, officer, or partner of the agency/firm appointing the new nominee. 
Individual licensees who are leaving one employer and moving to another, adding another employer, or ceasing employment with an agency must notify the Insurance Council in writing via email within 5 business days.

Corporate licensees/nominees (or authorized delegates) can update authorizations to represent through the online portal, by signing into the corporate licence account.

Add authorization to represent (ATR):
  • Log into the portal.
  • Click on Manage Authority to Represent.
  • Select Create ATR.
  • Fill in the required information. If you receive any error messages, correct the information or contact the licensing department for assistance.
  • Review the information, make any necessary changes, and click Continue.
  • A confirmation message with a green check box will indicate that your request has been processed and the new information will be displayed in the Licensee Directory.
Some ATR requests will still need to be processed by the licensing department. Specifically, these include anyone with a supervisory requirement, level 3 licensees and nominees. For these requests, please complete and submit an Add Authority to Represent (ATR) Form.  

Important: Insurance Council does not automatically end your previous ATR simply because you submit a new Add ATR form. It is your responsibility to notify the Insurance Council when you leave an employer.
Both the employer and the licensee must submit written notification that authorization has been withdrawn. Please submit a written request to our Licensing Department by email, and provide the date on which you are no longer representing an insurance agency, adjusting firm, or general insurance direct writer within five business days of the withdrawal, as set out in Council Rule 7(4). Your licence will become inactive until an Add Authorization to Represent form is submitted and reviewed by the Insurance Council.
 
Corporate licensees/nominees (or authorized delegates) can update authorizations to represent through the online portal, by signing into the corporate licence account.
 
End Authorization to Represent (ATR):
  • Log into the portal.
  • Click on Manage authorizations to represent (ATR).
  • Select End ATR.
  • Fill in the required information. If you receive any error messages, correct the information, or forward your request to licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com for processing.
  • Review the information, make any necessary changes, and click Continue.
  • A confirmation message with a green check box will indicate that your request has been processed.
A licensee must notify Council within 30 calendar days of any change in personal contact information, or in the case of an insurance agency, adjusting firm, or the nominee of a direct writer of the opening or closing of branch offices and of a material change in the ownership of an insurance agency or adjusting firm, as set out in Council Rule 7(4).

Please log into the online portal in order to update your contact information.
Submit a written request to our Licensing Department at licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com and provide the date at which the termination is in effect.

If you decide to reinstate your licence at a future date, please review the Reactivation Provision as you may be required to re-take qualifying education if you do not meet the requirements of the provision.

To change your name, please submit a Change of Name form and a copy of your name-change document to our Licensing Department by email. Once we receive your request form, we will email you advising on how to make your payment of the amendment fee in the online portal.

If the name of your company has changed, please submit the same Change of Name form; however, it is recommended that you first contact us to determine what other information you will need to be provide as the change may have other implications to your licence. Please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.

A Licensee must notify the Insurance Council within 30 calendar days of any material change in ownership, in accordance with Council Rule 7 (4) (b) (ii). Material changes in ownership can include share purchases, asset purchases, and amalgamations. Further details on these changes, and the required notifications to the Insurance Council, can be reviewed here.
To update your level of licence, please submit a completed Update Level of Licence Form and copies of your examination marks to our Licensing Department by email.
While most business activities/jobs have no impact on a licensee's insurance activities, there are incidences that are considered to be a potential conflict of interest.

As long as you are not engaged in business activity that the Insurance Council has declined to issue a licence (List of Other Employment and Business Activities Considered by Council), you are not required to notify us of a business activity you commenced after you obtained your licence.

If you engage in a role that's not on the list, you should consider whether the role is similar to one on the list and if so, how you might need to tailor your insurance activities going forward.

If you would like further direction, please submit a Request for Review of Other Business Activities form.

Annual Licence Renewal

BC insurance licences are continuous and therefore don't have an expiry date, but you must submit an annual licence renewal to Council each year.

The deadline for the annual licence renewal for all licensees is June 1st.  If you file after June 1 and up to July 31, you will be charged a late fee. Any licensees who don't file before July 31 will have their licence terminated.
As the licence renewal date in BC is the same for all licensees and is the same every year, licensees are not individually notified of their licence renewal deadline.  You may receive a courtesy reminder email, but it is your responsibility to ensure you submit your annual licence renewal on time.
Yes.  You must submit an annual licence renewal declaration and fee for your corporate licence and you must submit an annual licence renewal declaration and fee for your own individual insurance licence.
As this may vary from year to year, check Council's website under the Annual Licence Renewal tab (under Licensee Resources) prior to submitting your licence renewal each year.
In making your annual licence renewal, you must ensure you are in compliance with all Council Rules, which include, but are not limited to, CE requirements, E&O insurance, authority to represent at least one insurer and all mandatory notifications to Council. 

The wording of the CE declaration states "I have completed, or will complete by May 31st, my continuing education." This wording allows licensees to complete their licence renewal declaration before they have completed their CE credits, but they must complete their CE credits by May 31st. If CE is not completed by May 31st, licensees may be subject to discipline if they are audited.
Yes. You must submit an annual licence renewal declaration and fee for each insurance licence held, regardless of whether your licence is active, inactive or suspended.

Harmonized Life Licence Qualification Program (HLLQP)

  • Advocis
  • Business Career College
  • College for Financial Professions; Collège des Professions Financières
  • CSI (Canadian Securities Institute)
  • iA Financial Group - Industrial Alliance
  • IFSE Institute
  • Learnedly Canada Inc, (Learnedly)
  • Oliver Publishing Inc.
  • Primerica Life Insurance Company of Canada
  • REMIC Inc. (Real Estate and Mortgage Institute of Canada
  • SeeWhy Learning
Click here for the course provider’s contact information
In-person Exams

See Schedules and Fees for In-person exams in our In-person Exam section.

Online Exams

See Schedules and Fees for Online Exams on the Durham College website.
See the Exam Information and Registration page for more information about how to register for the exams.
  
 
Examinees have 75 minutes to complete each exam module.

As of September 1, 2018, Life Insurance, Segregated Funds and Annuities, Accident and Sickness Insurance has 35 questions each. Ethics and Professional Practice has 25 questions.
Pilot questions are questions that are included in exams but do not count towards the examinees’ final score. Piloting is done to measure the quality of newly developed exam questions prior to using the questions for scoring purposes.

As of September 1, 2018, the pilot testing approach in all Canadian jurisdictions is as follows:
  • 5 pilot questions will be integrated into each exam module.
  • Examinees will still be allotted 75 minutes to complete each exam.
  • Pilot questions will be excluded from the examinees’ final score.
  • Pilot questions will be managed to avoid impact on examinee performance.
Examinees may still continue to use the Comments page attached to exam questionnaires to share any comments or concerns regarding the exam.

For more information, please visit: https://www.cisro-ocra.com/
 
See In-Person Exam Information  for important information you need to know about writing your in-person exams with the Insurance Council. 
No. Food and beverages are not permitted in the exam room, except water in a clear bottle without a label.

*If you have a proven medical condition which makes it necessary for you to have food and/or beverages
 in the exam, you must obtain approval from the Insurance Council prior to exam registration. Please see Special Accomodations and contact Examinations at 604-695-2006 or Examinations@insurancecouncilofbc.com for special accomodation requests.
A minimum of 60% is required to pass each exam module.
Online exam results: 

The external exam provider, Durham College, will send the results to licensees and the Insurance Council as soon as possible, but may take up to seven days. Please note online exam results are not posted on your Insurance Council online portal account.

In-person exam results: 

Exam results are released in five business days. You can view exam results in your Insurance Council online portal account by navigating to the “View my exam results” tab in the main menu.
After 3 unsuccessful attempts, there is a 3 month waiting period before you can register to write your 4th attempt. After 4 unsuccessful attempts, there is another 3 month waiting period. After 5 unsuccessful attempts and all subsequent attempts after the 5th attempt, there is a 6 month waiting period.
Each passed exam module is valid for 1 year from successful completion. You must complete the HLLQP and hold a licence within 1 year from the first exam module you have passed.
It is valid for 1 year from the certification completion date.
See the Exam Information and Registration page for information on how to register for the exam.
No. You must have a valid course certification date in order to register for the HLLQP exams. Contact your course provider to retake the course.
No, you must first be issued a licence by the Insurance Council.
No, you must be suitable to hold an insurance licence. Click here for more information.