054-00-90 Ark. Code R. § 4
Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 4, April, 2024
Rule 054.00.90-004 - Rule and Regulation 50: Agents Continuing EducationSECTION 1. PURPOSE The purpose of this Rule and Regulation is to implement Act 445 of 1989, Ark. Code Ann. §§ 23-64-301, et seq., establishing requirements and standards for continuing education for natural persons licensed as insurance agents, solicitors, brokers, or consultants.
SECTION 2. AUTHORITY This Rule is issued pursuant to the authority vested in the Commissioner of Insurance ("Commissioner") by Ark. Code Ann. § 23-64-304(a).
SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE AND APPLICABILITY This Rule and Regulation shall be effective July 1, 1990 and shall be applicable to those persons licensed to act as an insurance agent, solicitor, consultant or broker and engaged in the sale of the following types of insurance:
A. Life and disability insuranceB. Property and casualty insuranceC. All lines of insurance for which an examination is required for licensing.SECTION 4. EXEMPTIONS A. This Rule and Regulation shall not apply to the following individuals: 1. Persons holding licenses for which an examination is not required.3. Any limited or restricted license the Commissioner may exempt.4. Any person who is at least sixty (60) years of age.5. Any person who has held a license as an agent, solicitor, consultant or broker for a period of at least fifteen (15) consecutive years.6. Third-party administrators who do not solicit business.7. Non-resident agents, non-resident solicitors, nonresident consultants or brokers.B. All persons requesting exemption from compliance shall complete and file with the License Division of the Arkansas Insurance Department the form as found in Appendix F.C. Newly licensed agents, brokers, and solicitors during the calendar year in which the applicant first received an Arkansas license shall not be required to comply with continuing education requirements until the first calendar year following licensure.SECTION 5. EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS A. Any licensed non-exempt persons shall, during the two (2) year period of his or her license, complete those courses of instruction approved by the Commissioner and equivalent to the following: 1. A minimum of sixteen (16) hours of instruction for a life and disability license or life or disability licenses.2. A minimum of sixteen (16) hours of instruction for a property and casualty license.3. A minimum of twenty (20) hours of instruction for those other persons holding dual licenses for life and disability and property and casualty.B. Subject to submission and approval of the Commissioner, the courses or programs of instruction successfully completed which shall be deemed to meet the Commissioner's standards for continuing educational requirements and the number of classroom hours for which they are equivalent are: 1. Any part of the Life Underwriting Training Council Life Courses Curriculum and Health Courses.2. Any part of the American College "CLU" diploma curriculum.3. Any part of the Insurance Institute of America's Program in general insurance.4. Any part of the American Institute for Property and Liability Underwriters' Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) professional designated program.5. Any part of the Certified Insurance Counselor Program.6. Any course offered by Certified Health Consultant (CHC).7. Any course offered by Registered Health Consultant.8. Any insurance related course approved by the Commissioner and taught by an accredited college or university,9. Any course or program of instruction or seminar sponsored by any authorized insurer, recognized agents association or insurance trade association or any independent program of instruction, shall, subject to the approval of the Commissioner, qualify for the equivalency of the number of classroom hours assigned thereto by the Commissioner.10. Any correspondence course approved by the Commissioner shall qualify for the equivalency of the number of classroom hours assigned thereto by the Commissioner.11. Any other course or program approved by the Commissioner.C. The Commissioner shall assign the number of continuing education hours for which approved courses qualify.SECTION 6. COURSE PROVIDER APPROVAL A. Application for approval as a provider shall be submitted to the License Division of the Arkansas Insurance Department not less than sixty (60) days prior to the expected use of the program. A provider shall include the following information in duplicate: 1. Detailed description of the subject of the program or course including a course outline, list of any resource materials, and list of speakers or instructors.2. Completion of Appendices A and B for the initial certification, and completion of Appendix C upon any change in curriculum or instructor.3. Schedules of classes for all locations.B. Changes in class schedules are to be filed with the Insurance Department no later than two (2) weeks before such program or course is offered.SECTION 7. INSTRUCTOR QUALIFICATIONS A. A person teaching any approved course of instruction or lecturing at any approved seminar shall qualify for the same number of classroom hours for that course as would be granted to a person taking and successfully completing such course, seminar or program.B. Instructors must have had specific insurance training or educational experiences satisfactory and approved by the State Insurance Commissioner in order to be certified to teach any part of an approved course. Each instructor must have five (5) or more years of specific insurance experience and/or education in each part of the insurance training program in which he instructs and must be approved prior to teaching any course, or any part of a course, by the State Insurance Commissioner. Applicants for approval as an instructor shall complete and submit Appendix D to the License Division of the Arkansas Insurance Department.C. No person will be approved as an instructor who has received disciplinary action by the Arkansas Insurance Department, the Insurance Department of another state, or any similar regulatory body or court. The Commissioner shall have the authority to waive this requirement. SECTION 8. PROGRAM REVIEW Members of the Insurance Advisory Examining Board as provided in Ark. Code Ann. § 23-64-201 and/or representatives of the Department shall have the authority to visit a course or program and review its offering at any time including, but not limited to, curriculum records and attendance records.
SECTION 9. FEES AND COMPLIANCE A. Every person subject to this Regulation shall furnish, in a form satisfactory to the Commissioner, written certification as to the courses, programs and seminars of instruction taken and successfully completed by such person. Such certification shall be executed by or on behalf of the course provider and shall be in the form prescribed in Appendix E.B. Every person subject to this Rule and Regulation and who furnishes to the Commissioner written certification as to the courses or programs of instruction taken and successfully completed shall tender a filing fee with each certification submitted during the two (2) year period to which the continuing education hours apply. The amount of the filing fee shall be ten dollars ($10.00).C. Excess classroom hours accumulated during any two (2) year period may be carried forward only to the next period. Those persons wishing to carry forward excess hours shall file a certification of those hours with the Commissioner within sixty (60) days of the beginning of the two (2) year period in which the excess hours are to be carried over.D. For good cause shown, the Commissioner may grant an extension of time during which the requirements may be completed, but such extension of time shall not exceed the period of one (1) year.SECTION 10. PENALTIES Upon failure of any agent, solicitor, consultant or broker to comply with Ark. Code Ann, § 23-64-301, et seq, within ninety (90) days after January 1, 1993 or within ninety (90) days after January 1 of each year thereafter, the Commissioner shall take the steps enumerated in Ark. Code Ann. § 23-64-307(b) to suspend such individual's license.
054.00.90 Ark. Code R. § 004