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Reminder: Complete your CE requirements by May 31

Published April 21, 2023

With annual licence period underway, licensees are reminded that under Council Rule 7(5), all insurance licensees must meet the requirements of the Insurance Council's Continuing Education (CE) program which includes completing a minimum number of CE credits annually by May 31 based on their licence class. Council Rule 4(4) requires that licensees have met their CE and/or Errors & Omissions insurance requirements before they can renew their licence.
 
CE is learning that helps fulfill the knowledge required to maintain a standard of professional competence and remain current in an ever-changing industry. This knowledge can be obtained through a variety of learning opportunities such as online or in-person courses offered by an Insurance Council accredited course provider or other training institution, by attending seminars or professional development conferences. The learning should be sufficient to maintain and increase a licensee’s knowledge in the insurance products they sell or adjudicate, while meeting the minimum number of credits and the technical course content requirements as outlined in the CE Guidelines for each licence class.

To understand the guidelines for your licence and to ensure you are meeting your CE requirements, please view the CE Requirements page. Note that licensees are required to keep records of completed CE for five licence periods, and that licensees are required to confirm that they have met their CE requirements before they can renew their licence.

To address some frequently asked questions about CE requirements, we’ve included the following Q&A below. You can find more Q&A and supporting information here.

What courses count as CE?
Please check the CE Guidelines for your licence class as these provide specific information about course content that counts towards the required CE for your specific licence class including examples of courses that do not count.
 
Accepted CE is 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;
  • Ethics;
  • Errors and Omissions;
  • Management, accounting and human resources (for nominees and level 3 general insurance agents only);
  • Financial planning (for life and accident & sickness insurance agents only), provided the focus is on life and accident & sickness insurance.
 
Courses that do not contribute to fulfilling knowledge to remain competent in the insurance industry will not be given credit toward meeting the Insurance Council’s CE program.
Credit toward the CE requirement cannot be claimed where the course content primarily involves:
  • Marketing or sales techniques;
  • Service;
  • Training on how to use computer programs;
  • Self-improvement or self-help; or
  • Non-insurance products, such as securities and mutual funds.
 
How do I know if the course I’m taking is eligible for CE credits?
The Insurance Council introduced an accreditation program in July 2022 that allows course providers to apply to be an accredited course provider. By taking a course offered by an Insurance Council accredited course provider or a course that is accredited with the Insurance Council you’ll have the confidence of knowing the courses will meet your licensing requirements. 
If you’re not taking a course that is accredited with Insurance Council’s CE Accreditation Program, then you should review the Insurance Council’s technical content requirement in the CE Guidelines for your licence class to determine if a course meets the criteria for acceptable CE. Assess the course content (e.g., review course objectives, learning outcomes) to ensure the course aligns with the requirements.
 
For questions about specific scenarios and CE credit eligibility, please see the Does it Count for CE Credit? Section of our CE Requirements page.
 
To learn more about the Insurance Council’s CE Accreditation Program and to check to see if a course or course provider is accredited by the Insurance Council visit Insurance Council’s CE Accreditation Program page here.
 
How and when do I submit my CE credits to Insurance Council?
At this time, you do not need to submit CE certificates to the Insurance Council, but you must keep records of your CE for five licence periods (from June 1-May 31 for five years). If you are subject to a CE audit or if you are applying under the reinstatement provision to reinstate a cancelled licence, you may be asked to confirm or provide CE records, which may include providing information about the course content as well as proof of attendance.

To help you keep track of your CE credits, we developed a CE Self-Tracker within the online portal to determine the number of credits required for your current licence period. Licensees must still maintain CE records as proof of course completion and that the course meets technical requirements. Learn more here.
 
How do I calculate how many CE credits my course is eligible for?
Each hour of instruction time is eligible for one CE credit, providing the course content meets the CE guidelines. Partial credits can be claimed in increments of 15 minutes for courses less than one hour. For example, 15 minutes of instruction time amounts to a quarter (.25) of a credit and 30 minutes of instruction time amounts to half (.5) of a credit.

I completed courses before becoming licensed with the Insurance Council. Do these courses count toward meeting my CE requirements?
No, the courses you take to become licensed or before becoming licensed are not considered CE. The spirit of CE is for licensees to enhance their insurance knowledge. Only technical courses that meet the Insurance Council's CE requirements that are taken after your licence is issued may qualify for CE credits.
 
Do I get credit if I take the same course more than once?
You may only claim CE credits for a course once within three licence periods unless the course content has changed substantially to warrant retaking it.

The purpose of CE is to enhance the licensee's insurance knowledge and to remain up-to-date in the insurance industry. For a course to qualify for CE credits, you must gain new knowledge through the completed course, or the course content must have changed substantially since the first time the course was completed.
 
How many credits can I carry over to the next annual licence renewal period?
Starting June 1, 2021, credits you earn can be carried over to the next licence period up to a maximum of one licence period’s worth of CE credits. This means if you are a life and/or A&S agent, you can carry over up to 15 credits and if you are a general insurance salesperson, agent, or adjuster, you can carry over up to 8 credits to the next licence period.
 
I’m a non-resident licensee. What are my CE requirements?
Non-resident licensees whose home jurisdiction does not have a mandatory CE requirement are required to meet the Insurance Council’s requirements.  Non-resident licensees whose Canadian home jurisdiction has a mandatory CE requirement are not required to meet the Insurance Council’s requirements, provided they are meeting the CE requirements of their Canadian home jurisdiction and keeping their licence in good standing there. All other non-residents must meet the Insurance Council requirements.

To learn more about the Insurance Council’s Continuing Education Program and find helpful resources, including courses and webinars offered by the Insurance Council, visit our Continuing Education page.