From the list below choose one of our FAQs topics, then select an FAQ to read. If you have a question which is not in this section, please contact us.

HOW MANY HOURS ARE REQUIRED BY THE STATE TO ASCERTAIN AN INSURANCE LICENSE?

All applicants for the following license types must complete the listed classroom or internet hours of prelicensing education prior to applying for a license.  The course on Ethics and California Insurance Code must only be taken once: therefore applicants applying for more than one license type need not repeat the Ethics and Code course.

LICENSE TYPE:                                 GENERAL INSURANCE                   CA CODES & ETHICS

Fire and Casualty Broker-Agent        40hrs   General Insurance              12hrs CA Insurance Code

Life Only Agent                              20hrs   General Insurance              12hrs CA Insurance Code

Accident & Health Agent                 20hrs   General Insurance              12hrs CA Insurance Code

Personal Lines Broker-Agent             20hrs   General Insurance              12hrs CA Insurance Code

Limited lines Automobile                  20hrs   General Insurance              12hrs CA Insurance Code

Bail Agent, Bail Permittee,                

Bail Solitor                                     12hrs    General Insurance 

Required Hours of Ethics and Code are included in General Insurance Course

HOW DO I KNOW HOW MANY CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS I WILL NEED TO RENEW MY LICENSE?

New licensees for the FIRE AND CASUALTY BROKER-AGENT license must complete twenty-five hours (25) of continuing education per year for the first four years.  After the first four years, the licensee will need to complete twenty four (24) hours of continuing education for every two-year license term. LIFE AGENT/OR ACCIDENT AND HEALTH AGENT must complete a total of twenty four(24) hours of continuing education for every two-year license term.  PERSONAL LINES BROKER-AGENT AND LIMITED LINES AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE AGENT licenses must complete twenty (20) hours of continuing education for every two-year license term.     

The California Deparment of Insurance suggest that you complete your continuing education at least sixty (60) days prior to the expiration date of your license to allow sufficient time for your provider to sumbit the necessary information and for the California Department of Insurance to update your records.  The Department of Insurance needs a reasonable amount of time to enter the completed hours into the database, which may take up to 30 days.  If it has been more than sixty (60) days since you completed the course, contact the provider to verify both your social security and license number with the provider and the request that they sumbit the roster to the California Department of Insurance.

IF SELLING LONG TERM CARE an agent must take two (2) (8-hour Long Term Care) courses per renewal for the first two renewals.

IF SELLING ANNUITIES an agent must take an eight (8) hour annuities for the first renewal and then a four (4) hour course per renewal thereafter. 

ALL AGENTS MUST TAKE ETHICS ON A PER RENEWAL BASES.

If an agent has roll over hours with the ethics course it will not count for the current renewal.  This is the same for the annuity requirement these courses must be done on a per renewal bases during the current renewal period.

HOW OFTEN CAN I REPEAT A COURSE FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT?

Courses can only be duplicated for continuing education credit if the completion dates are in a different two-year license term.

CAN I GET CREDIT FOR COMPLETING ANY APPROVED COURSE?

NO.  A licensee can only get credit for approved courses for the license type held.

CAN I RECEIVE PARTIAL CREDIT FROM A PROVIDER IF I COMPLETE A PORTION OF A COURSE?

NO.  When you take a course, the entire course is approved for a specific number of credit hours.

AFTER I COMPLETE MY CONTINUING EDUCAITON HOURS, DO I NEED TO SEND THE CERTIFICATE TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE?

NO, it is the provider's responsibility to submit the credits to the California Department of Insurance.  DO NOT send your certificate, or copies of the certificate, even if your renewal form indicates you are deficient in hours.  The certificate is for your records and you should retain it for at least five years.  The California Department of Insurance must enter the hours from the providers roster.

MY LICENSE WAS RENEWED LATE AND I COMPLETED EXCESS HOURS.  WILL THEY BE CREDITED TOWARDS MY NEXT RENEWAL?

YES Education hours completed when a license has expired or is inactive can be used to reinstate an inactive license.  Excess hours completed while a license is inactive will be credited towards the appropriate license term.

MY LICENSE RECENTLY RENEWED AND THE EXCESS HOURS I COMPLETED (ON-TIME) WERE NOT CREDITED (CARRIED-FORWARD)

A new continuing education cycle will begin the day after the experation date listed on your renewal form.  Once the new cycle begins, the excess hours should be reflected in the new license term.

HOW DO I CHANGE MY ADDRESS WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE?

One of Commissioner Poisner's strategic initiatives is to have 100 percent paperless interaction with agents, brokers, adjusters and insureres by 2010.  Beginning September 1, 2009 the California Department of Insurance's (CDI) Producer Licensing Bureau (PLB) WILL ONLY ACCEPT A ADDRESS CHANGE REQUEST FROM ITS LICENSEES THROUGH IT'S FREE ONLINE ADDRESS CHANGE SERVICE. WWW.INSURANCE.CA.GOV.