How to Fulfill Your New York Insurance Continuing Education Requirements With Ease
If you are an insurance professional in the state of New York, then you'll need to complete some insurance continuing education (CE) courses to keep your credentials up-to-date and to remain informed about important changes within the insurance industry. The good news is that there are options to help you work through the required courses without stress or anxiety. Insurance continuing education is an excellent way to ensure that you obtain all of the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively practice in New York.
These steps will guide you through the process of meeting the state requirements for insurance CE before the mandated deadline.
1) Understand the specific insurance CE requirements in New York.
To act as an insurance agent in New York, you must successfully take 15 total credit hours of insurance CE every two years. If you specialize in multiple lines of insurance, such as Life Insurance and Health Insurance, you still only need to take 15 total CE hours. That said, you should register for subjects that are related to the particular line in which you hold a current license.
For example, if you are renewing a New York Property and Casualty Insurance license, you'll need to complete courses about liability, car insurance policies, business insurance, and homeowner's insurance. An insurance CE provider can recommend the right courses for you based on your particular situation. It's always wise to finish all of your CE courses at least 30 days before your expiration date to avoid any issues later.
2) Determine the course format that is best for you.
There are several ways that you can choose from to complete your courses. You should look at each option ahead of time and select the method that best fits your unique learning style. One of the most common approaches is to take an online course. With this format, you'll move through pre-recorded lessons and activities through an online platform at your own pace. Typically, these lessons are followed by a knowledge check after each section. This is a good choice if you want to complete your credit hours a little bit at a time.
Another option is to attend an in-person seminar or class. This class is taught by a certified instructor, and you'll have the opportunity to interact with other insurance professionals. Seminars generally last all day, but you may be able to find courses that are only a few hours long. In-person courses are ideal if you prefer a hands-on learning environment where you can ask questions.
3) Start thinking ahead to your next renewal period.
As you continue to run your insurance business, it's easy to forget about the next time that you'll have to submit your CE credit hours. Since you must complete 15 hours of insurance continuing education every two years, you should take care to prepare early for each renewal period. Be certain to check the effective and expiration dates found on your license. Find the courses that you need to take, and ensure that you finish them well in advance of your deadline. Keep track of your credit hours on a spreadsheet.
You may also wish to upload your completion certificates to an electronic format as a backup to the paper copies. These steps are crucial, as failure to obtain the required insurance CE hours before applying for renewal will cause your insurance license to become inactive.
New York insurance continuing education classes can help ensure that you are fully compliant as well as adequately skilled and current with the industry. Don't wait until the last minute to begin your courses, and reach out to an insurance CE provider to get started.
Share