Continuing education reminder

Published April 25, 2022

As the annual licence period is coming to a close and a new licence period begins, licensees are reminded that they must meet their annual continuing education (CE) requirements by May 31, 2022. CE supports competent practice, and Insurance Council Rule 7(5) requires licensees to complete a specific amount of CE credits by May 31 annually based on their licence class and experience.

Effective June 1, 2021, the Insurance Council introduced new CE guidelines. To understand the guidelines for your licence and to ensure you’re meeting your CE requirements, please view the CE guidelines page.

To address some frequently asked questions about CE requirements, we’ve included the following brief Q&A below.
 
How do I know how many CE credits I need?
The number of CE credits you require will vary depending on your licence class. See the CE page to confirm the number of credits you require. Effective June 1, 2021, licensees can no longer deduct or claim credit for licence experience or for holding a professional designation.
 
I’m currently not working and my licence is inactive, do I still need to complete CE?
Yes. Licensees who hold a licence with the Insurance Council, regardless of the status of their licence, must complete their annual CE requirements.
 
How do I know if the course(s) I completed is eligible for CE credits?
At present, the Insurance Council does not accredit or approve CE courses. Licensees should review the CE Guidelines for your licence type to determine if the course meets the criteria for acceptable CE. Acceptable CE includes technical material directly related to insurance products; compliance with insurance legislation and licensee requirements such as Council Rules, Council’s Code of Conduct, the Insurance Act, and privacy legislation. Topics related to ethics, errors and omissions may include other specific technical material depending on your licence. Licensees can assess the course content (e.g., review course objectives, learning outcomes) to ensure the course aligns with the CE requirements as outlined in the CE guidelines. Each one hour of instruction time is eligible for one CE credit.
 
I am non-resident licensee, do I have to meet Insurance Council of BC CE requirements?
It depends. If you hold a licence in good standing with your home jurisdiction, and your home jurisdiction has CE requirements, and you are meeting your home jurisdiction’s CE requirements then you do not also need to meet the Insurance Council’s CE requirements. However, if you are not meeting the licensing requirements of your home jurisdiction or your home jurisdiction does not have CE requirements, then you must meet the Insurance Council requirements.
 
How and when do I submit my CE records to the Insurance Council?
You do not need to submit CE certificates to the Insurance Council annually, but you must keep a record of your CE for five licence periods (from June 1 – May 31 for five years). Records should indicate proof of course attendance or completion issued by the provider including the licensee’s full name, the course name and description, the course provider’s name, date of course completion, as well as the relevant course content and number of eligible CE credits. If you are subject to an audit you will be asked to provide copies of your CE records at that time.