2006 Louisiana Laws - RS 22:1193 — Continuing education requirements

§1193.  Continuing education requirements

A.  The continuing education requirements for renewal of license under R.S. 22:1137(C)(3) are set forth in this Section. The continuing education requirement shall be fulfilled by satisfactory completion of the required hours of instruction in continuing education programs approved by the commissioner.

B.  The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations setting forth guidelines and requirements for the content and conduct of continuing education programs and for the procedure for approval of a continuing education program.  The commissioner shall also promulgate, with the approval of the Insurance Education Advisory Council, rules and regulations specifying the qualifications which each instructor in an approved continuing education program shall possess.  All such rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner shall be promulgated pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act.  The continuing education program shall be conducted by one of the entities set forth in R.S. 22:1191(C).

C.  Beginning with renewals effective in 1994, life insurance agents shall complete sixteen hours of approved instruction prior to each renewal of license.

D.  Beginning with renewals effective in 1993, insurance brokers, solicitors, and agents authorized to write fire, casualty, or fire and casualty insurance business shall complete twenty-four hours of approved instruction before each renewal of license.  Beginning with renewals effective in 2007, three hours of approved instruction shall be dedicated to flood insurance.  The dedication of approved instruction for flood insurance shall terminate with renewals effective 2008.

E.  For brokers, solicitors, and agents authorized both to write life insurance and to write fire, casualty, or fire and casualty insurance business, the continuing education requirement for renewal of license shall be as follows:

(1)  Twelve hours of approved life, health and accident insurance instruction for renewal of the life, health and accident insurance license.

(2)  Twenty hours of approved property and casualty instruction for renewal of the property and casualty license. Beginning with renewals effective in 2007, three hours of approved instruction shall be dedicated to flood insurance.  The dedication of approved instruction for flood insurance shall terminate with renewals effective 2008.

F.(1)  For bail agents and solicitors the continuing education requirement for renewal of license shall be twelve hours of approved bail underwriting instruction.

(2)  Within six months after July 1, 1992, the Insurance Education Advisory Council shall accept, upon payment of a fee fixed by the council, applications from bail agents for the prelicensing and continuing educational requirements of this Section without adherence to the requirements herein from any person furnishing due proof that his principal occupation in this state during the year prior to July 1, 1992 was that of a bail agent.

G.  No more than ten excess hours of approved property and casualty insurance instruction and no more than six excess hours of approved life, health, and accident insurance instruction accumulated during the previous renewal period may be carried forward and applied to the continuing education requirement for the next renewal period.

H.  A person teaching an approved continuing education program shall qualify for the same number of hours of approved instruction as would be granted to a person taking and successfully completing the program.

I.(1)(a)  The provisions of this Section, imposing continuing education requirements for renewal of a license, shall not apply to any person sixty-five years of age or older, who has at least fifteen years of experience as a licensed agent, broker, or solicitor, and who either:

(i)  Is no longer actively engaged in the insurance business as an agent, broker, or solicitor and who is receiving social security benefits, if eligible.

(ii)  Is actively engaged in the insurance business as an agent, broker, or solicitor and who represents or operates through a licensed Louisiana insurer.

(b)  The provisions of this Section, imposing continuing education requirements for renewal of a license, shall not apply to any person who is a member of the legislature while that person is serving a term in the legislature.

(2)  Every applicant for the exemption provided in this Subsection shall attest to, on forms to be provided by the commissioner, his eligibility for the exemption under this Subsection.

(3)  The provisions of Item (1)(a)(i) of this Subsection shall only apply to an individual who retires on or after January 1, 1994.

J.  The department may grant continuing education credits to an individual for participating in a qualified graduate-level national designation program only if the individual passes the test required of such program and earns a certificate of completion.  Qualified graduate-level national designation programs include programs in which an individual may be designated as a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), and other such national professional designations.

K.  The department may grant four continuing education credits, as determined by the commissioner, to a licensed agent or broker who is a member of, and actively participates in, a state or national insurance association.

L.  Beginning with renewals effective in 2006, title insurance agents, licensed pursuant to Part XVI of Chapter 2 of this Title, R.S. 22:2092.1 et seq., shall complete six hours of approved instruction prior to the renewal of the license.

M.  Any agent, upon receiving his initial license, shall complete three hours of approved instruction dedicated to flood insurance on his first license renewal when continuing education is required.

Acts 1989, No. 428, §1; Acts 1990, No. 646, §1; Acts 1992, No. 465, §1; Acts 1992, No. 1000, §1; Acts 1992, No. 1039, §1; Acts 1993, No. 213, §1; Acts 1993, No. 952, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 1994; Acts 1996, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 71, §1, eff. May 10, 1996; Acts 1997, No. 1412, §1, eff. July 15, 1997; Acts 2001, No. 290, §1; H.C.R. No. 4. 2002 1st Ex. Sess; Acts 2003, No. 65, §1; Acts 2004, No. 512, §1; Acts 2005, No. 379, §1; Acts 2006, No. 522, §1.