Alabama CE Rules

Continuing Education Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many hours do I need to renew my license?
A: 24 hours (of which 3 should be ethics) per reporting period for producers and 12 hours (of which 2 should be ethics) per reporting period for service representatives or producers who are employed by another producer or insurer to work only in the office of the employer and who are not licensed as a non-resident in any other state.

Q: Do I need to complete the CE requirements if I am a non-resident?
A: A non-resident who has satisfied his/her home state's continuing education requirement is exempt.

Q: Do I need to complete CE to renew my license if I am an "inactive producer"?
A: A producer or service representative is required to comply with CE and biennial license renewal.

Q: Does my company renew my license?
A: No. Companies renew appointments each year by Dec. 31. Biennial license renewal is the producer's responsibility.

Q: Must licensees take courses related to the lines of insurance they hold?
A: No. You may take any approved course without regard to the type of license you hold.

Q: Can I count the prelicensing course I recently took for my CE requirements?
A: No. This course is not approved for CE credits, only prelicensing.

Q: Can extra credits earned from the previous year count for this year's renewal requirements?
A: No, beginning January 1, 2013, excess credit hours earned in the previous biennial renewal period cannot be carried over to the next reporting period. Any excess is lost.

Q: Can credits earned while taking courses to obtain a professional designation be used for the annual CE requirements?
A: Yes, only (if) the provider and courses have been approved by the Alabama Department of Insurance.

Q: Do I need to send my certificates of completion to the Alabama Department of Insurance?
A: No, when you renew online, there is no need to send certificates to the department; however, always keep your certificates on file. Yes, if you are unable to renew online due to a CE discrepancy or upon a CE audit request, you may have to send certificates for verification.

Q: Can the person who teaches the course receive CE credits?
A: Yes, instructors will receive the same number of credits as the individuals who take the course.

Q: Can I go to the website to look up how many CE credits I have?
A: Yes, Click Here.

Q: How can I find out how many continuing education hours I have?
A: It is your responsibility to keep up with your credit hours, but if there is a discrepancy, you may call our office for assistance.

Q: Do I have to take 12 hours for my life license and 12 hours for my property license?
A: No, you only have to submit the appropriate hours for your license no matter how many lines of authority you are licensed for. However, 3 hours of the 24 or 2 hours of the 12 must be in ethics.

Q: Can I take online CE courses?
A: Yes, if the provider and course is approved in Alabama. You may search our website for approved providers and courses.

Q: Can I take the same CE course two years in a row and receive credit?
A: No. You cannot receive credit for any course more than once in any reporting period.

Q: If I hold a CE exemption, do I still have to take the long term care one-time 8 hour LTC CE course and the 4 hour LTC CE course for renewals?
A: Yes, as the Federal law does not allow for exemptions. Any producer licensed who continues to sell LTC must complete required CE. As of March 1, 2009 any new or existing producer who has not complied with the 8 hour one time training will need to take the LTC course before selling LTC. Be sure the course is approved for LTC credit and not just entitled long term care and approved for general credit.

Q: Are there any exemptions to the CE requirements?
A: Yes, the exemptions are:

• Non-residents of reciprocal states who have met the home state's CE requirements.
• Any producer whose license is limited to acting only as a producer for credit insurance, rental vehicle insurance, crop, portable electronic, travel, motor club, dental services, and legal services, or any combination thereof.
• Newly licensed producers, service representatives, adjusters or title insurance agents licensed within 12 months of the renewal date.

NOTE: Any individual exempt from the edcuational requirements of Ala. Code 27-8A-1 immediately prior to January 1, 2013, so long as the individual remains exempt according to the law at that time, unless the license is permitted to expire or is otherwise terminated and remains out of effect for a period of 12 consecutive months, in which case the exemption is no longer applicable.

License Renewal, Reinstatement, Grandfathered CE Exemptions

Individual Producer licenses are renewed in the Producer’s birth month biennially based on the producer’s birth year. Effective 1-1-19, the license may be renewed as early as 90 days before the end of the licensee’s birth month, and within a grace period of 30 days after the last day of their birth month with a late fee of $50 added to the regular renewal fee. If not renewed before the end of the grace period, the license will be expired.

Upon expiration of your license, you are eligible to reinstate your license for a period of more than 30 days after expiration to 12 months from the last day of your birth month without the necessity of completing the prelicensing course or passing a written examination by paying twice the renewal fee and for residents by also completing required CE. However, you must complete the Reissue Process through NIPR, by beginning on our website (www.aldoi.gov) home page under Producers/Agents, the Renew Your License link and then click on the license type, then Renew Your License Residents.

In order to complete your license renewal, you will have to have met your Continuing Education requirements prior to the time that you complete the online renewal process. To ensure that all your Continuing Education credits have been reported to the Alabama Department of Insurance, please view your Continuing Education records (click here to view CE records).

Effective 1-1-19, no more CE Extensions are being allowed and CE must be showing in the CE transcript for the producer to be able to renew the license. Please note that it generally can take 3-5 days after compliance for the CE information to be updated in the NIPR database so that you are able to renew.

Current CE Exemptions:

• Any producer whose license is limited to acting only as a producer for credit insurance, rental vehicle insurance, crop, portable electronic, travel, motor club, dental services, and legal services, or any combination thereof.
• Any nonresident producer or service representative who must complete the continuing education requirements in his or her state of residence. The home state's requirements may be used to meet this state's continuing education requirements if that state recognizes reciprocity with Alabama's continuing education requirements. A non-resident whose home state does not have a continuing education requirement or whose home state does not recognize reciprocity with Alabama's continuing education requirements, must meet the continuing education requirements of this state.
• Newly licensed producers and service representatives for 12 months following the effective date of their license.

NOTE:

Please note as of January 1, 2013 Grandfathered CE Exemptions allowed are:

Any individual exempt from the educational requirements of Ala. Code § 27-8A-1 immediately prior to January 1, 2013, so long as the individual remains exempt according to the law at that time, unless the license is permitted to expire or is otherwise terminated and remains out of effect for a period of 12 consecutive months, in which case the exemption is no longer applicable. To maintain an exemption from continuing education requirements, the individual must submit a statement and dated evidence that the exemption claimed applied prior to January 1, 2013, and continues in effect at the time of license renewal. Any change in the claimed exemption, such as loss of certification or position shall result in loss of the claimed exemption for subsequent renewal periods. Individuals may claim an exemption if any of the following apply subject to the terms outlined above:

1. Any person licensed only for limited lines insurance, industrial fire, commonly known as debit fire, insurance, or any combination thereof prior to January 1, 2013.
2. All producers and service representatives licensed in this state for 15 years and at least 60 years of age or older prior to January 1, 2013.
3. Any person who holds a designation as a Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter, Certified Insurance Counselor, Chartered Life Underwriter, Chartered Financial Consultant, Certified Financial Planner certificant, Registered Health Underwriter, Registered Employee Benefits Consultant, Certified Health Consultant, or Associate Risk Manager prior to January 1, 2013.
4. Officers of insurers who are not engaged in the active sale of products prior to January 1, 2013.
5. Persons who are active members of the Alabama legislature during any portion of the biennial reporting period prior to January 1, 2013.

Following renewal of your license, you will be able to print one free copy of your license. Please allow processing time of at least 24 hours prior to printing your license.

• View Your Continuing Education Records
• Renew Your License (Residents)
• Renew Your License (Non-Residents/NIPR)
• Print License (one free copy following renewal)