Md. Code Regs. 31.03.02.03

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 7, April 5, 2024

Section 31.03.02.03 - General Continuing Education Requirements

A. Except as set forth in this regulation, in order to renew a license, a licensed insurance producer shall successfully complete in each renewal period at least 24 hours of continuing education.

B. A licensed insurance producer who, as of October 1, 2008, has held a license for 25 or more consecutive years shall successfully complete 8 hours of continuing education in each renewal period in order to renew the license.

C. A licensed insurance producer shall obtain at least 3 hours of continuing education in Ethics.

D. A licensed insurance producer shall obtain hours of continuing education in the kind or subdivision of insurance for which they hold a license, as follows:

(1) Except for the required hours of continuing education in Ethics, if the licensed insurance producer has only a license for property insurance, casualty insurance, or any of the subdivisions of property or casualty insurance, the licensed insurance producer shall obtain all necessary hours of continuing education in courses designated by the Commissioner as "Property/Casualty" or "PC";

(2) Except for the required hours of continuing education in Ethics, if the licensed insurance producer has only a license for life insurance, health insurance, or any of the subdivisions of life or health insurance, the licensed insurance producer shall obtain all necessary hours of continuing education in courses designated by the Commissioner as "Life/Health" or "LH";

(3) If the licensed insurance producer has a license for property or casualty, or any subdivision of property or casualty, and life or health, or any subdivision of life or health, then the licensed insurance producer shall complete:

(a) 24 hours of continuing education with a minimum of 6 hours of continuing education in one or more courses designated by the Commissioner as "Property/Casualty" and a minimum of 6 hours of continuing education in one or more courses designated by the Commissioner as "Life/Health"; or

(b) For licensed insurance producers who meet the requirements of §B of this regulation, 8 hours of continuing education with a minimum of 2 hours of continuing education in one or more courses designated by the Commissioner as "Property/Casualty" and a minimum of 2 hours of continuing education in one or more courses designated by the Commissioner as "Life/Health";

(4) In addition to the required hours of continuing education in Ethics, if the licensed insurance producer holds a title insurance producer license only, the licensed insurance producer shall obtain 13 hours of continuing education in one or more courses designated by the Commissioner as "Title" in each renewal period in order to renew the license;

(5) If the licensed insurance producer has a license for title and property or casualty, or any subdivision of property or casualty, then the licensed insurance producer shall complete:

(a) 24 hours of continuing education with a minimum of 6 hours of continuing education in one or more courses designated by the Commissioner as "Title" and a minimum of 6 hours of continuing education in one or more courses designated by the Commissioner as "Property/Casualty"; or

(b) For licensed insurance producers who meet the requirements of §B of this regulation, 8 hours of continuing education with a minimum of 2 hours of continuing education in one or more courses designated by the Commissioner as "Title" and a minimum of 2 hours of continuing education in one or more courses designated by the Commissioner as "Property/Casualty";

(6) If the licensed insurance producer has a license for title and life or health, or any subdivision of life or health, then the licensed insurance producer shall complete:

(a) 24 hours of continuing education with a minimum of 6 hours of continuing education in one or more courses designated by the Commissioner as "Title" and a minimum of 6 hours of continuing education in one or more courses designated by the Commissioner as "Life/Health"; or

(b) For licensed insurance producers who meet the requirements of §B of this regulation, 8 hours of continuing education with a minimum of 2 hours of continuing education in one or more courses designated by the Commissioner as "Title" and a minimum of 2 hours of continuing education in one or more courses designated by the Commissioner as "Life/Health";

(7) If the licensed insurance producer has a license for title, property, or casualty, or any subdivision of property or casualty, and life or health, or any subdivision of life or health, then the licensed insurance producers shall complete:

(a) 24 hours of continuing education with a minimum of 6 hours of continuing education in one or more courses designated by the Commissioner as "Title", a minimum of 6 hours of continuing education in one or more courses designated by the Commissioner as "Property/Casualty", and a minimum of 6 hours of continuing education in one or more courses designated by the Commissioner as "Life/Health"; or

(b) For licensed insurance producers who meet the requirements of §B of this regulation, 8 hours of continuing education with a minimum of 1 hour of continuing education in a course designated by the Commissioner as "Title", a minimum of 2 hours of continuing education in one or more courses designated by the Commissioner as "Property/Casualty", and a minimum of 2 hours of continuing education in one or more courses designated by the Commissioner as "Life/Health"; or

(8) A licensed insurance producer who has only a license for life insurance and also is a licensed funeral director or a licensed mortician and sells only life insurance policies or annuity contracts that fund preneed insurance contracts and is not a viatical settlement broker shall complete at least 16 hours of continuing education courses designated by the Commissioner as "Life/Health" in each renewal period in order to renew the license.

E. Sales of Long-Term Care Insurance.

(1) A licensed insurance producer with authority to sell health insurance who also sells long-term care insurance shall obtain at least 2 hours of continuing education in a course designated "Long Term Care" or "LH-LTC" in order to renew the license.

(2) These hours of continuing education may be considered a part of the required hours of continuing education under §A or B of this regulation.

F. A licensed insurance producer who possesses a license to sell property and casualty insurance and who sells flood insurance, homeowners insurance, or commercial property insurance shall obtain at least 2 hours of continuing education that directly relates to flood insurance as part of the required hours of continuing education.

G. A licensed insurance producer who possesses a license to sell property and casualty insurance and provides bail bondsman services shall obtain at least 4 hours of continuing education that directly relates to bail bond insurance.

H. Hours of Continuing Education - Passing Scores.

(1) A licensed insurance producer who receives a passing score on a national examination before the expiration date of the licensed insurance producer's license shall receive the number of hours of continuing education that the Commissioner has approved for the examination towards the hours of continuing education needed for the renewal.

(2) Passing scores received on or after the expiration date for the licensed insurance producer's license shall result in hours of continuing education that may be used for the next renewal period.

(3) Hours of continuing education received for a passing score on a national examination are in addition to any hours of continuing education received for completing a course that is required in order to take the national examination and that has been approved by the Commissioner under this chapter.

I. A course instructor shall earn 1-1/2 hours of continuing education for each approved hour of instruction of an approved course.

J. A licensed insurance producer or a course instructor may not earn hours of continuing education:

(1) For attending or instructing a subsequent offering of the same course in the same renewal period; or

(2) If the same course was taken in two different renewal periods but within 6 months.

Md. Code Regs. 31.03.02.03

Regulations .03 adopted as an emergency provision effective July 1, 1997 (24:17 Md. R. 1209); adopted permanently effective November 17, 1997 (24:23 Md. R. 1609)
Regulation .03J adopted effective August 20, 2001 (28:16 Md. R. 1484)
Regulations .03 amended effective 41:20 Md. R. 1114, eff.2/1/2015; amended effective 44:22 Md. R. 1038, eff. 11/6/2017; amended effective 46:19 Md. R. 816, eff. 1/1/2020; amended effective 49:15 Md. R. 739, eff. 2/1/2023; amended effective 50:13 Md. R. 514, eff. 10/1/2023