Ethics & the Insurance Agent

Upon completion of this course, agents will be able to understand the importance of ethics when dealing with clients. Agents will learn the standards and requirements they are supposed to uphold, and how to successfully implement these when dealing with both clients and insurance companies. This course will allow the agents to create both a personal and professional code of ethics which they can follow in each and every aspect of their business. This course includes an overview of a variety of topics related to state and federal laws, including unfair trade practices, false or misleading advertisements, and privacy protection acts. These and the many other topics addressed in the course will provide all agents with a firm understanding of what it means to use ethical decision making, and how it will help them be a better agent and person.

Washington State Requirements

Updated: 03/12/2012

Continuing Education Hours

• Producers: 24 hours biennially.
• Individuals licensed for vehicle authority will be required to comply with continuing education requirements beginning with renewals.

Course Subject Requirements

• No more than 8 CE credit hours can be completed in a 24 hour period.
• Agents must complete 3 hours of ethics education.
• Agents can take courses from any license type to complete their CE, however, the OIC suggests that licensees take courses covering the lines of insurance they are involved with most often.

• Agents wishing to sell LTC must also complete a 8-hourLTC requirement prior to selling LTC products. The LTC requirement counts towards the completion of the basic CE requirement. By the end of each consecutive renewal period, agents must complete a 4-hour "refresher" state-approved LTC course to continue selling LTC.
• Agents wishing to sell flood insurance must also complete a one-time, 3 hour flood course approved for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) training.
• Effective March 29, 2012: all agents wishing to sell annuities must also complete a one-time, 4 hour annuities course by September 29, 2012.

Continuing Education Compliance Date

Same as license renewal date.

License Renewal Date

License renewal date is the licensee's date of birth, biennially.

Type of courses accepted for CE Credit

Independent self-study courses or classroom.

Carryover Requirements

Carryover of excess CE credit hours is not allowed.

Course Repetition

Credit will not be given for courses taken more than once in a three year period.

Final Exam

Final exams are not required to be monitored.

Exemptions

• Nonresidents (unless they sell long-term care).
• Individuals who are at least 65 years of age, are retired from active selling of insurance products and no longer represent any insurer or insurance agency.
• Any person who believes that good cause exists may request a waiver of the CE requirement.

• Resident adjusters and producers holding only limited credit insurance, travel insurance, or surety licenses are exempt from CE requirements.

Method to Certify Completion

You will be able to print your certificate of completion online once you have completed your exam. The course provider will submit credits earned to the CE administrator within one business day of course completion.  The licensee keeps the original certificates of completion in their files for three years. LTC credits: the insurer certifies to the Commissioner that its appointees are in compliance with the requirement.

Nonresidents

Exempt, except for long-term care requirement.

For Additional Information please Contact:

Office of Ins. Commissioner
Attn: Licensing
P.O. Box 40257
Olympia, WA 98504-0257

Phone: (360) 725-7146 or (360) 725-7144
Fax: (360) 586-2019
or Promissor - (800) 274-8949

State Website: http://www.insurance.wa.gov/

Course Format

System Requirements: Please note that Mozilla firefox 9 download here or Internet explorer 8 or higher: Download here 
are required to view our website when you wish to access the learning center. You should also note that taking courses over a wireless internet connection is not advised. When taking your exams you should try to be on a wired internet connection to your computer.

If your state requires monitored exams, you must have your monitor sign-in and follow the monitor instructions BEFORE you begin the exam.  See the State Information tab, Monitor tab and Help Center for more information.

How to Redeem Vouchers 

Optional PACE or CFP Credit

Many of our Insurance CE courses are also approved for CE credit for agents who hold professional designations such as CLU, ChFC, CFP. The type of CE credit and number of hours approved are listed above in the course description.