Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner

Continuing Education (CE)

In order to renew or reinstate a license, each resident individual life, disability, property, casualty or personal lines insurance producer is required to complete a total of 24 hours of CE. 3 of those hours must be Ethics credits.

Questions

  1. How do I sign up for my CE?
  2. What kinds of courses do I have to take?
  3. How do I know my courses are valid?
  4. How long are my CE credits good for?
  5. How do I know if I need to renew or reinstate my license?
  6. What do I do once I’ve finished my CE?
  7. Can I carry credits from one renewal cycle to the next?
  8. How long should I keep my records?
  9. Are there any waivers or special notices that apply to me?
  10. If WA is not my home state, do I have to do CE?



Answers

1. How do I sign up for my CE?

Our Approved CE Provider List (160 KB) contains available continuing education courses. This list is current as of 08/12/2009 and is updated twice a year. You should contact the listed organizations to determine which courses are currently offered. (back to top)



2. What kinds of courses do I have to take?

  • You may take any of the approved insurance continuing education courses.
  • You don't have to take courses with subject matter that matches the lines of authority on your license. (back to top)


3. How do I know my courses are valid?

  • You took them from an approved provider.  “Approved” means any course that has been granted insurance CE credits by our office.
  • You are not repeating a course you completed in the preceding three-year period.
  • You completed your courses during your current renewal cycle (between your last expiration date and current expiration date) (back to top)


4. How long are my CE credits good for?

  • A certificate of completion is valid for 24 months from the date of completion however, course credit may only be applied toward renewal if completed within the current renewal cycle.
  • For reinstatement, courses must be completed within the 24 months prior to the application for reinstatement. (back to top)


5. How do I know if I need to renew or reinstate my license?

Take a look at your license expiration date.

  • If you're within a 60 day period either before or after your expiration date you may renew your license. Remember, if you're within the 60 day period following your expiration date, you will be subject to additional fees for late renewal.
  • If you are 61 days past your expiration date but not more than 12 months, you will need to reinstate your license. You will be subject to additional fees for reinstatement. (back to top)


6. What do I do once I’ve finished my CE?

When you successfully complete an approved course, the course provider will issue you a certificate of completion.

The course provider will report your CE credits to us within 10 days of course completion. (back to top)

 


7. Can I carry credits from one renewal cycle to the next?

Excess credit cannot be carried over. (back to top)


8. How long should I keep my records?

We recommend that you retain each certificate of completion for a minimum of 3 years from the date the course is used for renewing your license. (back to top)


9. Waivers and special notices

Course work required to obtain an insurance professional designation, if successfully completed, may be substituted for CE credit hours.


10. If Washington is not my home state, do I have to do CE?

Non-residents do not have to meet our CE requirements to renew their Washington license however, there are some education requirements for transacting long-term care insurance business. There is also a federal flood insurance education requirement but you may have met these education requirements in your home state.



CE Questions?

Contact joem@oic.wa.gov or 360-725-7146

Licensing Questions?

Contact Licinfo@oic.wa.gov or 360-725-7144


Some files on this website require a free reader. Download a free reader.