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Top Ten Things About Continuing Education Rules for Texas

We get questions all the time about what do I need for CE. Here is a brief checklist of the new rules and some of the old rules that are still in place:

1. You need 30 hours of continuing education every two-year cycle. Limited Lines Agents only have to do 10 hours.
2. Two hours of the 30 must be from an ethics course.
3. 15 hours must be in a classroom or be classroom equivalent. You can take all 30 in a classroom if you want, but you can no longer take all 30 as correspondence.
4. Classroom equivalent courses can be done online, but there is testing required about every 15 minutes. Classroom courses have no tests.
5. Correspondence courses are eligible for the other 15 hours. They require a test but they are now open book tests and no longer need to be monitored. If you get good quality CE courses, you can build a nice reference library in your office using these courses.
6. People licensed over 20 years in TEXAS with a gap no longer than 90 days are exempt from continuing education. This is a change effective 1-1-2003, now you must be TEXAS licensed for the 20 years, not just “licensed.”
7. To be exempted from CE, you have to apply for the exemption; you can’t just stop taking CE. Forms are available from the TDI website. The TDI web address is: http://www.tdi.state.tx.us and then click on the word Agent. Click on Application for Licensee Exemption or Extension and print it out. Follow the instructions on the form.
8. These rules apply to licensees. The definition of “licensee” included: General Property & Casualty (formerly Local Recording Agent and Solicitor). Insurance Service Representative, General Life, Accident, Health & HMO, Adjusters, and Managing General Agents.
9. Licensees can take any course certified by the state. There is no longer a requirement that the course meets your type of license. This is nice, as you can take a course because you are interested in the subject, not just because it fits your license.
10. Lastly, and this is NOT a change…the licensee is responsible for keeping their own certificates of completion. Not your employer or the CE Provider. If the state audits, they will audit you (your name is on the license!), not your employer. Be prepared; keep that certificate in safe place. You have to keep them for four years. You don’t have to send them in with your renewal license, just have them available in case you get audited.

BIO: Mary Roth CPCU, LUTCF, HB has been in the insurance business for 35 years. Her experience includes working for The St. Paul in Underwriting and Management, working as a commercial insurance agent and most recently, owner of Staff Training Programs, a company that teaches insurance. She can be reached at MaryRoth@yahoo.com or 817-265-7110.