Massachusetts Insurance Continuing Education

Massachusetts Insurance Continuing Education Requirements

Resident Requirements

Resident producers must complete a minimum of 60 hours of Massachusetts-approved producer-specific CE subjects during their first triennial (three-year) license term, three credits of which must be in approved ethics subjects (coded as MAE.)

After this initial three-year period, licensees must complete 45 hours of CE credit during each three-year renewal period. Except for the mandatory three hours of ethics courses, there are no subject requirements for these 45 producer CE hours. However, Massachusetts encourages licensees to take at least one credit hour of CE for each line in which they are licensed

Resident adjusters are required to fulfill 15 hours of insurance adjuster-specific CE coursework in their first three-year term and again each subsequent triennial renewal period. Three of these hours must be in Massachusetts-approved ethics courses

CE coursework may be conducted in a classroom, online, or through self-study. Courses provided by national programs such as CPCU, CLU, CIC, and AAI are accepted toward this CE requirement.

Additional guidelines to this CE requirement exist for licensees who sell specific products, including:

• Flood insurance: Resident producers must complete a one-time, three-hour course on flood insurance and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
• Life and health insurance: Producers must complete a one-time eight-hour course and a four-hour training course every triennial period.

Rules for Non-Residents

Non-residents who are in compliance with their state's CE requirements are exempt from completing Massachusetts CE. However, if a licensee's home state does not have CE requirements — or those requirements do not meet the standards for the license type or line of authority in Massachusetts — the licensee will have to complete the associated CE requirements in Massachusetts

Carryover of Excess CE

Producers are encouraged to complete additional CE training. Up to 45 credit hours may be carried over to the next renewal period. Excess CE hours earned by resident adjusters may not be carried into the next term

Insurance License Term Renewal Requirements

License expiration dates occur on the last day of the licensee's birth date triennially (every 3 years), based on the year of original licensing

Renewals may be submitted via paper to the Massachusetts State Division of Insurance or electronically at the NIPR website. Alternatively, licensees may use the Massachusetts State Information Center Insurance Licensing Search and Renewal Tool. Licensees are eligible to renew from 60 days prior to their license expiration date

The license renewal fee is:

• $225 for producers
• $150 for surplus line brokers

Fees are waived for veterans and the legally blind. Producers holding LOAs in casualty, property, or personal lines are charged an additional $75 lead paint surcharge fee

Producers who fail to meet their CE compliance requirements will not have their license renewed, but there is a one-year reinstatement period during which they can make up missing requirements. The producer reinstatement fee is $450

There is no reinstatement period for public adjusters who fail to meet the requirements to renew their licenses. Failure to meet renewal requirements will mean the adjuster must retake the PIA exam and apply for a new license

Rules for Taking the Exam

Certification exams are closed book, and students are not permitted to access course materials during the exam. All exams must be monitored by a non-biased third party who will complete a Declaration of Compliance. This document confirms an understanding of and adherence to state insurance requirements and ensures the legitimacy of the exam results. Family members, friends, coworkers, or any individuals with a financial interest in the exam-taker's success may not act in this monitor role.

For licensees taking online exams, the Declaration of Compliance must be received by the course provider within nine days to ensure timely reporting to the state of Massachusetts

A score of 70 percent or higher is required to receive the CE credit. Unlimited retakes are permitted until a passing score is achieved

Rules for Repeating a Course

Courses may not be repeated for CE credit toward renewal requirements within three years of the original course completion date

Credit for Instructors

CE course instructors are eligible to receive the same credit as the students enrolled in the course they teach. Instructors are only eligible to receive credit for teaching the same course once per renewal period

Reporting Rules

Credits must be reported within 10 days of course completion. Proof of completion should be submitted to the state directly by the course provider. Licensees must keep a copy of each certificate in their files for five years

Massachusetts recommends that licensees complete all CE at least 30 days prior to the license expiry date to give the CE provider sufficient time to report successful completions to the Massachusetts Division of Insurance. However, CE courses can be completed at any time within the current license term

Insurance CE Requirement Exemptions

Some resident licensees may qualify for full or partial CE exemptions, including:

• Producers in compliance with CE requirements for the Professional Recertification Program (formerly PACE) and CPD-L
• Producers who earned their licenses in Massachusetts prior to April 5, 1983, who are exempt unless new lines of authority have been added after this date
• Individuals who hold the following licenses: reinsurance intermediary brokers/managers, viatical brokers/representatives, surplus lines brokers, auto club, and advisors
• Licensees holding one of the following limited lines authorities: travel, accident, and baggage insurance, or credit insurance
• Licensees on active military duty

The Continuing Education Course Review Committee of Massachusetts may also waive some CE requirements for student graduates in upper-level university programs including business, accounting, management, mathematics, or financial planning. Qualified licensees are required to contact the Massachusetts Insurance Division for a waiver application

Massachusetts Annuity Insurance Requirements

Producers intending to sell, solicit, or negotiate annuity products or group variable products in Massachusetts must obtain a license to do so

The licensing requirements include:

• Successfully passing the life insurance examination
• Successfully passing the FINRA Series 6 or Series 7 examination
• Being actively licensed and in good standing with FINRA
• Possessing a valid FINRA Central Registration Depository (CRD) number
• Having an affiliation with a registered broker or dealer in good compliance with FINRA

If you were licensed on or after June 1, 2023, you must complete a one-time, 4-hour annuity best interest course before selling, soliciting, or negotiating annuity products in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Long-Term Care Training Requirements

Producers selling long term care (LTC) products in Massachusetts must complete a one-time, state-approved training course consisting of a minimum of eight hours.

Following this initial training, producers selling LTC products are required to complete four hours of LTC training every 24 months. This four-hour training must be completed within 24 months after completing the initial eight-hour course. Ongoing training contributes toward a licensee's CE renewal requirements

Producers who have completed Division-approved LTC training in another state must complete a two-hour LTC training course specific to MassHealth requirements. This standard applies to both the initial training course and the ongoing training.

Massachusetts Flood Insurance Training Requirements

Licensees who intend to sell flood insurance must follow national guidelines. In order to sell flood insurance, the individual must complete a one-time minimum of three training hours as outlined by the National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA. This may be completed in any state in which the producer is licensed.