Continuing Education Information for Agents and Adjusters

This page contains continuing education (CE) information for Agents and Adjusters. Providers can find CE information on the Continuing Education Information for Course Providers page.

TDI has created a Continuing Education Frequently Asked Questions
webpage that contains valuable information regarding CE requirements.

• Continuing Education Requirements by License Type
• What Counts as Credit Toward CE Requirements?
• Useful Tools - at your fingertips
• Continuing Education Rules by Topic

Continuing Education Requirements by License Type

The table below summarizes the continuing education requirements for license holders:

For all licenses issued or renewing on and after September 1, 2015, which formerly required 30 hours of continuing education (CE) during each license period, only 24 hours of continuing education is required for each license period.  Licenses expiring before September 1, 2015, will have to complete 30 hours of CE.

For all licenses issued or renewing on and after November 1, 2015, completion of the 24 hours of CE is required for a licensee to renew his license.  If a licensee does not complete the 24 hours of CE before the expiration date of the license, the licensee will have 90 days to complete the deficient number of hours and pay a fine of $50 per deficient hour.  If these two conditions are not met within 90 days of the license expiring, the license will be inactivated, and the licensee will have to apply for a new license.  A new license will not be granted until the deficient CE hours are completed and the fine is paid.  In order to ensure that there is no delay in renewing a license, license holders are encouraged to complete CE hours at least 30 days before the license expires to allow time for the CE provider to report the successful completion of the course(s) to TDI.

All Licensees: At least half the hours must be classroom or "classroom equivalent". There are only two topic groups, "General" and "Ethics". Any licensee may take courses from these two groups. Courses are not divided by license type.

Full Time Home Office Salaried Employees: Insurers whose plan of operation contemplates the use of these employees are responsible for their training. If insurer wishes to do the training in house, it must be a registered provider. Find information on t he CE Course Provider Information page.

What Counts as Credit Toward CE Requirements?

Typically, credit is earned by taking courses that have been approved by TDI from registered course providers. Each course will indicate the number of hours and whether any count toward the ethics requirement.

Other ways to earn CE credit: Passing a part of many professional designation programs is a way to earn credit. A professional designation program is defined in the 28 TAC §19.1010. It is (A) nationally recognized in the insurance industry, and is (B) issued by an entity that maintains a not-for-profit status and has been in existence for at least five years.

Up to four hours of continuing education credit can be earned by an agent who is an active member of a state or national insurance association. For information about how the credit can be earned, review Chapter 4004.0535 of the Texas Insurance Code and §19.1011 and new §19.1020 of the Texas Administrative Code. The rules adopting the provisions can be viewed here; 28 TAC §§19.1011, 19.1020 and 19.1021.

"Qualifying" courses, not certified by TDI, may also be used for credit, as described in 28 TAC §19.1010. Qualifying courses are insurance courses that are: (A) offered for credit by accredited colleges, universities, or law schools; (B) part of a national designation certification program; (C) approved for classroom, classroom equivalent, or participatory credit by the continuing education approval authority of a state bar association or state board of public accountancy; or (D) certified or approved for continuing education credit under the guidelines of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.

Exemptions from, and extensions of time for a licensee to complete CE hours are possible, under very limited circumstances. The key to an extension being granted is proper documentation of a circumstance described in the rule that is beyond the licensee's control. Examples include a long term illness, or military service in a theater of war. Reasons related to business or work load are never acceptable. Documentation is also important when claiming an exemption from continuing education hours if our records do not show current eligibility.

The 20 years of licensure needed to qualify for an exemption must be CONTINUOUS (no breaks greater that 90 days) and the license must be held under the Texas Insurance Code. To request an exemption from completing CE hours, or an extension of time to complete CE hours, submit TDI form FIN517, Application for Licensee Exemption or Extension form.

Useful Tools to Find Courses, View Your Transcript, etc. - at your fingertips

Useful information is available from the Sircon/Compliance Express - Look up education courses/credits menu, including the following:

• Continuing Education Transcript Inquiry to view your transcripts to verify that Texas CE credit is current and has been posted to your CE transcript
• Pre-licensing Education Transcript Inquiry to view the transcript of an individual who does not have their license yet
• Course Offerings Inquiry to find available courses. You set the search parameters, such as city and dates to locate available courses.
• Approved Courses Inquiry to obtain listings of approved courses. You set the search parameters, such as instruction method, course category, course hours, etc.
• Approved Providers Inquiry to obtain a list of all providers in Texas. You set the search parameters by region, provider name, or both.
• CE Exemption or Extension Request to submit an electronic application requesting an exemption from CE hours, or to request an extension of time to complete required hours

  DISCLAIMER:
  TDI does NOT suggest or recommend courses by certifying them; nor is the quality of a course assured because it is certified. We strongly suggest that when you take a poor course, e-mail us at CE@tdi.texas.gov, and tell your associates. Please do the same with the good courses.

Continuing Education Rules by Topic

The table below provides references to the continuing education rules concerning licensees. The rules are located in the Texas Administrative Code, and can be easily retrieved through a handy Texas Administrative Code Search Tool. For example, to locate §19.602, at the search screen, enter:

Title Number: " 28"
Chapter Number: " 19"
Rule Number: " 602"

For more information about continuing education requirements for agents and adjusters, or if you have comments regarding this page, please write to CE@tdi.texas.gov or call 512-676-6500.

Be sure to check out our Continuing Education FAQs webpage!