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Meeting your Continuing Education Requirements by May 31: Common Questions Answered

Published April 14, 2026

The annual deadline for licensees* to meet their Continuing Education (CE) requirements is May 31. Licensees must meet their CE requirements before they are eligible to proceed with their annual licence renewal, which opens April 15, 2026. Licensees are encouraged to review their CE records to confirm they are compliant with their CE requirements and are eligible to renew their licence.
 
Before May 31 and before proceeding with annual licence renewal, review your CE records to ensure you understand and have met your CE requirements. Assess your compliance and readiness with the following questions and information:
  • Have you completed the minimum number of required CE credits for your licence class during the licence period running June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026?
  • Is your CE eligible under the current CE Requirements and Guidelines for your licence class?
  • Do you have the required CE records readily available, if requested?
  • Are you eligible to proceed with annual licence renewal starting April 15, 2026?
 
Separate Continuing Education (CE) Requirements and Guidelines are provided for BC general insurance agents and salespersons, adjusters, and life and sickness insurance agent licensees. These set out not only the minimum number of required CE credits, but also outline what education is eligible to be claimed as CE credit, how to calculate CE credits, address options for carry-over, compliance and record-keeping requirements, as well as outlining the limited exceptions that exist for some licensees such as non-resident licensees. 
 
Effective June 1, 2025, the Insurance Council introduced updated Continuing Education (CE) Requirements and Guidelines for the licence period commencing June 1, 2025 and thereafter. 

Key updates include:

Updated CE Requirements and Guidelines published per licence class
  • Separate Continuing Education Requirements and Guidelines are provided for BC general insurance agents and salespersons, adjusters, and life and sickness insurance agent licensees. These requirements and guidelines replace the retired versions formerly referred to as the Continuing Education Guidelines. 
Updated criteria for eligible CE activities and clarified guidance on CE requirements 
  • The criteria for what is eligible to be claimed as CE has been updated to ensure licensees are claiming credit only for education that is relevant to their Insurance Council of BC-licensed insurance activities, is structured with clear learning objectives, is provable and is focused on eligible technical content. Clarification around how to calculate CE credits, the minimum education time, duplicate credits and carry-over credit is provided. Clarity around compliance and record-keeping is also included to support licensees in better understanding and meeting requirements.  
New and expanded technical content categories 
  • Technical content categories have been introduced and expanded to reflect an evolving industry and licensee knowledge and competencies. Licensees can claim credit for a broader scope of educational offerings, including education relevant to insurance risk, product and practice knowledge, and education that supports improving client outcomes. Licensees holding supervisory, management and nominee duties can also claim CE credit for such relevant education.  
Introducing and clarifying limited exceptions for newly licensed individuals, reinstated licensees and non-resident licensees 
  • Introducing and clarifying the limited exceptions that exist for some licensees such as newly licensed individuals in their first licence period, licensees whose licensees are reinstated between March 1 to May 31, and non-resident licensees who meet certain conditions. 
What has not changed 
  • There is no change to the minimum number of CE credits required annually after the first licence period. No changes have been made to CE requirements for travel agency employees/salespersons or motor vehicle dealers’ licensed representatives. Licensees must maintain their CE records for a minimum of five licence periods and must be able to produce these when requested by the Insurance Council.  
 
Consider whether your CE courses are eligible to be claimed as CE credit under the current CE Requirements and Guidelines for your licence class
Not all education is eligible to be claimed for CE credit. Licensees are responsible for ensuring that the courses they claim as CE credit meet the Eligible CE Credit criteria set out in the Continuing Education (CE) Requirements and Guidelines for their licence class, including ensuring relevance to their Insurance Council of BC-licensed insurance activities and the applicable technical content categories.
 
Licensees can take courses from providers accredited by the Insurance Council of BC and individual courses accredited by the Insurance Council. While licensees can be assured that these accredited courses will meet Insurance Council CE requirements, they can take other CE education. In such cases, licensees are required to independently assess that education to verify its CE credit eligibility and to maintain records supporting eligibility.
 
Ensure you have the required CE records readily available if requested
Licensees must retain CE records for a minimum of five licence periods and must be able to produce those records upon request, such as if they are audited. As annual licence renewal approaches, licensees should ensure their CE records are complete, accessible and include all required information, such as proof of completion and the number of eligible credits claimed. Review Section 6.0 – Compliance and Record-Keeping of the Continuing Education (CE) Requirements and Guidelines to understand more about your CE record-keeping requirements.
 
Licensees are reminded that they are responsible for maintaining their own CE records and should not rely on third parties, such as employers, agencies, insurers or education providers to retain records on their behalf. Changes in employment or system access can make it difficult to retrieve records later.
 
Confirm you are eligible to proceed with annual licence renewal starting April 15, 2026
Annual licence renewal opens on April 15, 2026. However, licensees can only proceed with renewal after they have met their CE requirements and if they are covered by the required E&O insurance. Licensees must confirm via declarations that they have met these requirements; if they cannot do so, then they cannot proceed with annual licence renewal. Confirming CE completion and record-keeping in advance can help avoid delays, late renewal or noncompliance issues.
 
*Travel agency salespersons and employees who meet the licensing exemption requirements have until December 31, 2025 to complete their CE credits. For more information, review the Continuing Education Guidelines Program for Travel Agencies and the Insurance Council Practice Advisory Notice ICN-005-001.
 
Licensees with extenuating circumstances (such as unforeseen medical conditions or significant family circumstances) who are not working or are on leave should contact the Practice and Quality Assurance team early to ensure there is enough time to review their situation and consider what next steps, if any, are available to support them in meeting their requirements or avoiding lapses in licensure/cancellation.
 

Below are answers to some common CE questions:

Q:          Can I complete my CE credits after I submit my renewal, providing I've completed them by the May 31 deadline?
A:           No. As stated in Rule 4(4), licensees must have met their CE requirements prior to renewing their licence, so there is no option for a licensee to renew their licence without having fully met their CE requirements.
 
Q:          If I submit a late annual licence renewal, does that allow me additional time to complete my CE?
A:           No. Continuing education must be completed for each licence period, which is by May 31 each year; the related requirements must also be met prior to completing annual licence renewal. Licensees who do not meet their CE requirements, as outlined in the CE Guidelines for their licence class, by May 31 will be in breach of Insurance Council Rules and Code of Conduct. Licensees who submit a late annual licence renewal and who completed their CE requirements after May 31 will still be required to confirm they met their CE requirements but must also explain the non-compliance. Proof of meeting CE requirements must be maintained and provided to the Insurance Council, if requested.
 
Q:          How do I know if the course I'm taking is eligible for CE credit?
A:           The Insurance Council introduced an accreditation program in 2022 that allows education providers to apply to be an accredited course provider (ACP) or to apply to accredit their individual courses. By taking an Insurance Council accredited course or one offered by an ACP, you'll have the confidence of knowing the courses will meet CE requirements. A list of accredited course providers and an accredited individual course list are available on the CE Accreditation Program  page of our website. 
 
If your CE course is not offered by an Insurance Council of BC accredited course provider, then you must assess the course’s eligibility as well as the course content (review course objectives, learning outcomes, course description). You must ensure it is eligible to be claimed as CE credit and that it meets the technical content criteria defined in the CE Requirements and Guidelines for your class of licence. If you continue to have questions about whether a course qualifies under the CE requirements, you may contact the Practice & Quality Assurance team.
 
Q:          Where can I find CE courses?
A:           The Insurance Council offers online CE courses and webinars to help licensees understand and meet their requirements, with some courses and webinars offered at no cost and eligible for CE credit. For more information, visit the CE courses page.
 
The Insurance Council’s CE Accreditation Program is designed to support licensees in meeting their CE requirements. It provides an up-to-date list of courses and course providers accredited by the Insurance Council of BC that qualify for CE credit. To learn more, visit the CE Accreditation Program page.
 
Often a licensee's agency, MGA, insurers and other industry stakeholders will provide education offerings to support licensees in their insurance business activities. Licensees may claim CE credit for education taken from education providers who are not accredited with Insurance Council of BC, provided they independently assess eligibility against the CE requirements and guidelines for their licence class, and that they maintain records to support their assessment and eligibility.
 
Q:          What type of CE education is not eligible?
A:           Education that does not meet the Eligible CE Credit criteria or the Technical Content categories as set out in the CE Requirements and Guidelines for the licensee's licence class cannot be claimed as CE. 
 
Content that does not contribute to maintaining or expanding a licensee’s competency as an Insurance Council of BC licensee, does not meet British Columbia clients’ insurance needs, or is not in the interest of consumer protection is not eligible for CE credit.
 
Examples of CE which would not meet Insurance Council of BC requirements include: 
  • Education that is not relevant to the licensee’s Insurance Council of BC licensed activities and which does not pertain to serving or supporting British Columbia insurance consumers and risks; 
  • Education that was completed before the licensee became licensed or which was taken to qualify for licensure with Insurance Council of BC; 
  • Education that does not meet the Eligible CE Credit criteria or Technical Content categories of the CE Requirements and Guidelines for the licensee’s licence class; 
  • Content that is focused on advertising, generating sales leads, marketing/sales techniques and strategies; 
  • Courses on self-help and personal advancement or which are aimed at an individual’s non-insurance business interests;
  • Courses focused on organizational financial management, management or leadership principles and practices, unless the licensee is a sole proprietor, nominee or supervisor who supervises and oversees insurance business activities of the insurance agency/firm and/or other licensees. 
 
Q:          I’m a non-resident licensee, am I required to meet the Insurance Council of BC CE requirements?
A:           Non-resident licensees whose home jurisdiction does not have a mandatory continuing education requirement are required to meet the Insurance Council’s CE requirements. Additionally, licensees whose home residence is located outside of a Canadian province are required to meet Insurance Council of BC’s CE requirements. 
 
Non-resident licensees whose home jurisdiction has a mandatory continuing education requirement are not required to also meet Insurance Council’s CE Program, provided they are meeting the CE requirements of their home jurisdiction and keep their licence there in good standing, and they are a resident of a Canadian province other than British Columbia.  
 
Q:          What are my CE record-keeping requirements?
A:           Licensees must keep their CE records for the past five licence periods, including records for any carryover credits that were used within those past five licence periods. CE records must reflect the following:  
  • licensee’s full name 
  • the course name and course description  
  • the relevant technical content category 
  • proof of course completion date, such as certificates, attendance sheets or written correspondence from the course provider; and,  
  • number of eligible CE credits attained
 
Q:          How and when do I submit my CE certificates or CE records to the Insurance Council?
A:           You are not required to submit your CE records to the Insurance Council unless you are audited or are specifically requested to do so. You must keep a record of your CE for five licence periods (from June 1-May 31 for five years). If you are subject to an audit of your CE requirements, you will be asked to provide copies of your CE records, such as providing information about the course content in addition to proof of attendance or course completion.


Q:          What happens if I am audited and cannot provide CE records? 
A:           Licensees are required to maintain CE records for five licence periods and must be able to provide their CE records upon request. If a licensee cannot produce the required CE records demonstrating they met their CE requirements, then they may be found to be in breach of Insurance Council Rules and Code of Conduct. A failure to meet CE requirements, including failure to keep complete records, can result in licensees being subject to disciplinary action.

Licensees should not rely on third parties, such as insurers, agencies or education providers to maintain their CE records. Reliance on third parties may result in a licensee being unable to access required records in the future, for example, if they no longer have access to that third party’s systems or are no longer employed by or associated with them.
 
Looking for more CE Resources?
  • Learn more about CE requirements and guidelines on our website.
  • See Q&As on CE, including record-keeping, course eligibility and how to calculate CE credits.
  • Available in late-April, you can register for two new Insurance Council recorded webinars: the 2026 CE Refresh Recorded Webinar and the 2026 Ongoing Licensee Requirements and Annual Licence Renewal Recorded Webinar. Each webinar is eligible for one CE credit and is offered free of charge. Visit our CE Courses page in late April for more information.
  • See the list of accredited course providers and accredited individual courses.
  • Register for Insurance Council courses that you have not previously taken and count toward your CE credits.
  • Use the CE Self-Tracker to keep track of your credits.
 
If you have questions about your ongoing licensing and practice, regulatory or compliance requirements, contact our Practice & Quality Assurance team. We're here to help. Email us at practice@insurancecouncilofbc.com or call us at 604-695-2008 or 1-877-688-0321.