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Who is required to meet the continuing education requirements?
All licensed producers in South Carolina who do not qualify for an exemption must meet the requirement.
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Who is exempt from meeting the CE requirements?
South Carolina producers licensed solely for credit life, credit accident and health insurance, credit property insurance, crop hail insurance, automobile physical damage insurance, automobile liability, industrial fire, pre-need burial, mortgage guaranty or mortgage, title, travel accident and baggage, federal crop insurance, special producers, producers licensed solely for domestic insurance companies which have less than one million dollars in written premiums in any calendar year, producers reaching the age of fifty-five, with a minimum of twenty years of continuous licensure in each line of authority and producers reaching the age of sixty, with a minimum of twenty years of active licensure in each line of authority.
CREDIT REQUIREMENTS, CARRYOVER CREDITS AND APPROVED COURSE INFORMATION
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How many credit hours must I earn to meet the requirements?
24 hours biennially are required by May 1 in the even numbered years (2006, 2008, 2010, etc). Three of the 24 hours must be in Ethics.
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What if I hold both a life, health and accident and a property and casualty license?
If you hold a property and casualty license and a life, accident and health license you must complete at least eight of the twenty-four required hours in courses related to each of these lines of authority.
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Can I repeat a CE course within the biennial period?
If you successfully complete an approved course, you may not repeat the course and receive certification within three years of its original completion date.
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Can I carry over credits to the next biennium?
Producers who accumulate credits in excess of the continuing education requirements for a biennium may apply a maximum of 18 credits to the next license renewal period.
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How will I know which courses will qualify for continuing education credit hours?
You can get a list of approved courses on Prometric’s Web site: www.prometric.com. On advertisements, look for courses which have been approved for South Carolina continuing education credit. If you have any doubt, call Prometric at 800.490.6551. You may also request a listing of all approved courses and sponsors by calling Prometric.
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Can I receive CE credit for maintaining an insurance designation?
Yes. Credit hours earned to maintain the following designations may be used toward the 24 credit requirement: Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (LUTCF), Registered Health Underwriter (RHU), Registered Employee Benefit Consultant (REBC), or Chartered Financial Consultant (CHFC) for a life, accident, and health license, or Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) or Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) for a property, casualty, surety, and marine license. Many courses for maintenance of a designation are already approved for CE credit. Verify with the sponsor whether the course is approved for South Carolina CE credit. If so, you will receive credits in the normal manner. If not, send evidence of course completion to Prometric with a cover letter to claim the credits.
NONRESIDENT REQUIREMENTS
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How do nonresident licensed producers comply with CE requirements?
Nonresident producers are no longer required to send an original home state letter of certification, PDB printout or other hard copy documentation showing proof of good standing in your home state. Home state status verification will be done by Prometric using the NAIC Producer Database (PDB). You are still required to pay the CE reporting fee.
FEES
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What is the CE reporting fee?
For the CE period beginning May 2, 2006 through May 1, 2008, the annual fee is $10.00 per year.
Resident and nonresident producers subject to the CE requirement must pay the CE reporting fee in EACH year of the compliance period. The fee must be paid by May 1 of even-numbered years. Producers cannot be compliant if the fee is not paid even if other requirements have been met.
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How can I pay the fee?
For the CE period beginning May 2, 2006 and ending May 1, 2008, Prometric will send a fee notice each year to your address of record. You may pay your reporting fees on Prometric’s web site: www.prometric.com.
You may also pay by check, American Express, Visa or MasterCard. Make checks payable and mail to: Prometric, ATTN: SC CE Fees, 1260 Energy Lane, St. Paul, MN 55108.
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What happens if I fail to pay my fee by May 1?
You cannot be compliant unless the fee is paid. See FAQ 23 for details about consequences of non-compliance.
FILING AND COMPLIANCE DEADLINE
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What is the date by which I must complete 24 hours of South Carolina CE?
CE compliance deadlines occur in even-numbered years (2006, 2008, 2010 etc.). Prometric, the CE Administrator, must receive CE credits and all fees by May 1 of the compliance year.
EXEMPTIONS, EXTENSIONS AND HARDSHIP EXTENSIONS
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How can I be exempt from CE requirements?
You can be exempt if you meet all of the following qualifications by May 1 of the biennial compliance year:
1. Be age 55 or older and continuously licensed in South Carolina or other states for at least 20 years in the line(s) of authority sought.
2. Be age 60 or older and have been actively licensed in South Carolina or other states for at least 20 years in the line(s) of authority sought.
3. Is a resident SC licensed producer.
4. Apply in writing by May 1 of even-numbered years.
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Can I receive an extension beyond the May 1 deadline?
Producers may request an extension until July 1 of the compliance year (even-numbered years, 2006, 2008, 2010, etc.). Requests for extensions must be in writing and sent to Prometric, the CE Administrator, to be received (not postmarked) on or before May 1 of the compliance year. Extension requests must be mailed or faxed to Prometric.
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What if I get critically ill or cannot work or take courses?
Hardship extension requests will only be considered for those producers who have been granted an extension until July 1. Hardship extension requests may only be granted for good cause and must be made in writing prior to July 1 of each compliance year. The hardship extension will be granted with the recommendation of Prometric, the CE Administrator, and the approval of the Director of Insurance.
REPORTING CREDIT HOURS AND COMPLIANCE
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How will credit hours be counted and reported?
The course sponsor must give you a certificate of course completion. They must also provide this information to Prometric, the CE Administrator, on an approved roster.
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How will I demonstrate that I have completed the CE requirements to the CE Administrator?
Producers can verify their credits and compliance status at Prometric’s web site: www.prometric.com or by calling Prometric’s interactive voice response (IVR) at 800.490.6551.
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How will my company know that I have completed the required CE hours?
On or about June 1 of even-numbered years, Prometric will furnish each insurer a report of the continuing education status of all of its producers.
REQUIREMENTS FOR NEWLY LICENSED PRODUCERS
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What are the requirements for a newly licensed resident producer?
If you were newly licensed in each line of authority after May 1, 2006, you are waived from the CE credit hour requirement until the next compliance period. However, you are required to pay the required fees.
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What are the requirements for a newly licensed nonresident producer?
If you were newly licensed as a nonresident producer on or after December 1, 2007, you are waived from the CE requirement. You are not required to pay fees for the CE period ending May 1, 2008.
ADDING A NEW LINE OF AUTHORITY
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Will I receive credit for adding a new line of authority during the compliance period?
Producers who hold an existing line of authority (P&C or LA&H) and add a new line of authority in P&C or LA&H, will be credited with eight (8) CE hours in that specific line of authority for the compliance period. Example: A producer with Property & Casualty authority who completes prelicensing requirements and adds Life, Accident and Health authority will automatically receive 8 CE hours for Life, Accident and Health.
CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO COMPLY
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What happens if I do not earn my CE credit hours or meet nonresident compliance requirements?
The failure of any licensee to pay the reporting fee and/or meet the biennial continuing education requirement will result in the suspension of his or her license on October 1, 2008. Resident producers may reinstate a license by providing documentation to the South Carolina Department of Insurance that 30 hours of continuing education have been completed and submitted to Prometric, and paying the reporting fee if it has not been paid. Prometric will notify the Department that the requirements have been met. Once Prometric notifies the Department, the producer will be required to pay a $50 penalty fee to the Department.
Non-residents may reinstate a license by being compliant in their home state and paying the reporting fee, if it has not been paid. After paying Prometric the reporting fee, the nonresident producer will be required to pay a $50 penalty fee to the South Carolina Department of Insurance.
Proof of completing the 30 hours, or if a nonresident, being compliant in the home state and paying the reporting fee must be received by Prometric, and the $50 penalty fee must be received by the South Carolina Department of Insurance by 5:00 p.m. November 1, 2008. After that date, resident and nonresident producers whose licenses have been suspended will have their license and qualifications canceled. In order to regain licensure the resident producer will be required to pass the pre-licensing exam and meet all requirements to become re-licensed. Nonresident producers will be required to reapply for licensure.
HOW TO CONTACT THE CE ADMINISTRATOR
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How can I contact the CE administrator?
Contact Prometric by email at pro.ce-services@prometric.com, by phone at 800.490.6551 or by fax at 800.735.7977. Program information and additional services are available at their Web site: www.prometric.com. The mailing address is:
Prometric
ATTN: South Carolina CE
1260 Energy Lane
St. Paul, MN 55108-5225