Extension outlined in new DOI Bulletin
The Massachusetts Division of Insurance issued a new Bulletin this week updating the current requirements for insurance producer licensing and continuing education requirements during the COVID-19 public health crisis. In response to the developing situation, the Division of Insurance issued Bulletin 2020-12 on April 3, extending the renewal of individual insurance licenses in the Commonwealth.
Bulletin 2020-29 entitled, “Individual Insurance License Extensions Granted During the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Health Crisis), is a supplement to Governor Baker’s COVID-19 Order No. 41 Authorizing the Reopening of Child Care Programs and Rescinding Eight COVID-19 Orders issued June 26, 2020. In response to the Governor’s actions and “to implement the terms of the Recission Order” the Division of Insurance issued this Bulletin determining that “…all license extensions for individual insurance licenses with renewal dates since March 10, 2020, will remain in effect through December 31, 2020.” The DOI emphasizes, however, that these individual insurance licenses must be renewed on or before the end of 2020 or by December 31, 2020. The Bulletin also adds,
“Although individual insurance licenses that would have expired between March 10, 2020 and December 30, 2020 are extended to December 31, 2020, insurance licensees may, and are encouraged to, submit a renewal application corresponding to their original renewal date, or if such date has passed, prior to December 31, 2020. The Division is accepting renewal applications electronically through the National Insurance Producer Registry or by mail. Any individual insurance license that is schedule to expire on or after January 1, 2021 is not eligible for extension and must be renewed on or before its originally scheduled expiration date.”
All CE requirements for individual license extensions must be satisfied by December 31, 2020, as well
As part of the decision to extend individual insurance producer licenses until December 31, 2020, the Division of Insurance also address the issue of continuing education requirements that must be satisfied prior to a license renewal. It states the following:
- All individual insurance licensees who have qualified to have their license extended must also satisfy any Continuing Education obligations prior to December 31, 2020.
- Due to the time lag between completing coursework and the award of CE credits, individual insurance licensees should schedule and complete any required CE work in advance of their original renewal date.
- Failure to complete the required CE credits prior to the extended renewal date of December 31, 2020 may result in monetary penalties, reinstatement fees and non-renewal of an individual license.
The official Bulletin can be accessed in full here.
Approved online courses to complete CE requirments.
The Division says that it has approved many on-line (self-study) courses, eliminating the need for in-person attendance and supporting initiatives to “slow the spread” of COVID-19. A list is available through Prometric which can be searched via this link.
One of the approved CE course lists is from At Your Pace Online. In addition to the following online Approved CE courses they offer below, they also a variety of other Approved CE online courses across the country. For those interested in taking a look at what they offer, Agency Checklists is providing the link below. (Please note Agency Checklists has an affiliated agreement At Your Pace Online.)
Online courses offered by At Your Pace Online
| Course Title | Credits | Course Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Hour Annuity Suitability Review | MAA 4 | Self-study | $19 |
| 4 Hour Long Term Care Insurance Ongoing CE (Rvsd) | G 4 | Self-study | $17 |
| 45 Hour P&C Review | G 45 | Self-study | $68 |
| 8Hr Long Term Care Insurance Initial Certification | G 8 | Self-study | $23 |
| Massachusetts 3 Hour Ethics | MAE 3 | Self-study | $15 |
| Massachusetts NFIP Course | G 3 | Self-study | $15 |
| Massachusetts 42 hour Life & Health Review | G 42 | Self-study | $58 |
