Jun 14, 2016 | News
The Ontario Government announces amendments to the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service.
Commencing July 1, 2016, there will be some significant changes to the Customer Service Standard under the AODA.
Customer Service Training
With the changes announced to the Customer Service Standard, many organizations will have additional people that require training.
ILScorp offers an online AODA training course that includes the mandated information and provides proof of training. This is a quick and easy way to train those staff, volunteers, and Board Members who will be required receive it. This course also qualifies for 1 RIBO Management CE hour.
Register for AODA training
The July 1, 2016 Changes. The first concerns the definition of a large organization. Up to now, under the Customer Service Standard, an organization was considered large if it had 20+ employees. This was in contrast to the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) which defined a large organization as being one with 50+ employees. As of July 1st onwards, organizations with 50+ employees will be considered large under the Customer Service Standard, as well as the IASR.
Another important change as of July 1st is that all staff and volunteers, regardless of their contact with the public, must receive training on the Customer Service Standard. Previously only those who dealt directly with the public had to be trained. This means that all staff, volunteers, and Board Members must receive training on all five AODA standards but only organizations with 50+ employees have to keep a record of that training. Nonprofits and businesses who have not trained everyone in their organization on the Customer Service Standard will be required to do so.
The final amendment concerns service animals. The government has expanded the list of professionals authorized to provide documents indicating the need for a service animal. Doctors and nurses were originally the only ones allowed to provide such authorization, but the list now includes psychologists, psychotherapists, audiologists, chiropractors and optometrists.
Jun 2, 2016 | News
June 30, is the continuing education deadline for all insurance professionals in Alberta. Here are some answers to the most common questions asked by Agents, Brokers and Adjusters on Continuing Education Requirements in Alberta.
Q: What are the Certificate Terms for Continuing Education?
A: Life and Accident & Sickness insurance agents, General insurance agents and Adjusters are required to complete in each certificate term at least 15 hours of approved continuing education courses. Effective July 1, 2014, a “certificate term” means the period beginning on July 1 and ending on the next June 30.
Q: How do I know that I have satisfied my CE requirement?
A: You must log in to AIC and check your CE Summary Report. You are required to have completed 15 CE hours of approved courses each year in order to process the renewal of your license. All approved courses are found in the CE Course Lookup Section on the council web site. Contact ILScorp directly for assistance if you are unable to find a course.
Q: Are there any exemptions to the continuing education requirement?
A: Yes. Individuals who hold a General insurance agent’s certificate limited to hail insurance or livestock insurance and individuals who hold an Adjuster’s certificate limited to hail insurance, travel insurance or equipment warranty insurance are not required to complete a continuing education requirement.
Q: Are there exemptions for Maternity Leave/Long Term Disability?
A: There are no provisions under the Insurance Act or Regulations to allow an exemption for those agents who are on long term disability or maternity leave.
Q: Is there carry over of hours?
A: The Insurance Agents and Adjusters Regulation allows for a carry forward up to 7.5 hours of continuing education credits from one year to be used in the next year per class of license.
Q: What are the required hours for new agents?
A: 1.25 hours per licensed month. Agents who apply for a certificate of authority (license) with 3 or less months remaining in the certificate term are not required to complete the Continuing Education requirement. If your first license was issued on April 1st, you will not be required to complete a CE requirement until you renew your certificate in the following year.
Q: How do I determine if a course is accredited?
A: All courses which have been approved by the Accreditation Committee are listed on the Alberta Insurance Council website CE Course Lookup.
Q: Why can’t I enter the date that I completed my CE course(s)?
A: As you enter the course id number, a number of courses will be presented to you in a drop down for your selection. You must select the name of the course from the drop-down. A calendar will then be made available to select the date of completion. Some courses may have only been approved within a specific date range. If the date you wish to choose is not within the available date range, contact your course provider.
Q: When entering a CE course, I received a message that says “you are attempting to save a course in a closed CE term.” Can I still add the course?
A: You may still add courses in a CE term that has already been closed. Since you will not be able to modify or delete the course once it has been saved, you will be asked if you wish to continue to save the course. Click the “Continue” or “Cancel” button to proceed.
Q: When do I need these credits by?
A: When you renew your certificate of authority you are required to demonstrate that you have completed 15 hours of approved continuing education courses for each certificate being renewed by entering all approved courses under your profile.
Agents/adjusters who have not entered sufficient continuing education credits will not be able to renew their certificate(s) until sufficient courses have been entered.
Q: What happens if I do not complete sufficient CE courses? Can I renew my license and earn my CE credits later?
A: All insurance agents and adjusters who are required to complete a CE requirement will not be able to renew their certificate(s) until they have demonstrated that they have sufficient CE credit hours. Failure to complete the CE by June 30th will result in your certificate of authority automatically expiring and you will not be authorized to act as an insurance agent or adjuster until you have satisfied your CE requirement and re-applied for your certificate(s).
Q: Should we send in the certificates provided to us by the course providers?
A: No, these certificates are only required if the agent/adjuster becomes part of a random audit.
Q: Can a new agent use credits earned by a course taken before their license was issued?
A: New agents/adjusters may use credits earned by an approved course towards their first reporting period providing the course was taken in that certificate term.
May 31, 2016 | News
Don’t panic just yet.
Your CE deadline is here, but so is ILScorp!
We have REAL PEOPLE standing by to help you meet your requirements.
Chat with us live on our website: ilscorp.com.
Email us: info@ilscorp.com or call us 1-800-404-2211 and get your CE done today!
Get online and get to work! CE with ILScorp is Fast, Easy and DONE!
Online CE Course Subscriptions
Accredited Continuing Education courses for General Insurance
Access over 180 accredited general insurance training courses in both text and streaming video formats, including personal lines, commercial lines, auto, farm, professional management and personal skills courses.
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Accredited Continuing Education courses for Adjusters
Access numerous adjuster specific accredited courses plus general insurance training courses in both text and streaming video formats including a 3-part Adjusters Privacy Compliance Program.
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Accredited Continuing Education courses Life/A&S
Access over 70 accredited Life/A&S insurance training courses in both text and streaming video formats including errors & omissions insurance, money management planning process and insurance and estate planning.
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FPSC Accredited Continuing Education courses for Certified Financial Planner Professionals and FPSC Level 1 Certificants
Access to over 60 FPSC CE accredited online training courses. Accreditation is Canada wide, categories include: Financial Planning and Practice Management
More Info
May 26, 2016 | News
All licensees are required to meet the continuing education (CE) requirements outlined below for each license year.
A license year runs from 01JUN to 31MAY annually.
If a licensee has been licensed for any part of a license year, the individual must meet the full number of continuing education requirements, whether the license was active or inactive.
General insurance – June 1 to May 31 annually – 4, 6 or 8 CE credits, depending on experience (see below for more information)
Adjusters – June 1 to May 31 annually – 4, 6 or 8 CE credits, depending on experience (see below for more information)
Life and Accident and Sickness – from June 1 to May 31 annually – 5, 10 or 15 CE credits, depending on experience (see below for more information)
View Online CE Subscriptions
Depending on what license the licensee holds, there are other restrictions in place:
General insurance
- Licensees with an approved designation (CAIB, CIB, CIP [formerly AIIC], CCIB, FCIP and CRM) must have 4 continuing education credit hours
- Licensees who do not have an approved designation but have been licensed as a general insurance agent or salesperson for at least 5 out of the last 7 years in Canada must earn 6 continuing education credit hours
- Licensees who do not have an approved designation and who have not been licensed as a general insurance agent or salesperson for at least 5 out of the last 7 years in Canada must earn 8 continuing education credit hours
- No single course can be accredited for more than 8 hours
- No more than 7 credit hours can be earned in a single day
- If a course includes an exam, the student must pass the exam to receive the credit hours
- Excess credit hours cannot be carried over into the next licensing period
Adjusters
- Licensees with an approved designation (CAIB, CIB, CIP [formerly AIIC], CCIB, FCIP and CRM) must have 4 continuing education credit hours
- Licensees who do not have an approved designation but have been licensed as a general insurance agent or salesperson for at least 5 out of the last 7 years in Canada must earn 6 continuing education credit hours
- Licensees who do not have an approved designation and who have not been licensed as a general insurance agent or salesperson for at least 5 out of the last 7 years in Canada must earn 8 continuing education credit hours
- No single course can be accredited for more than 8 hours
- No more than 7 credit hours can be earned in a single day
- If a course includes an exam, the student must pass the exam to receive the credit hours
- Excess credit hours cannot be carried over into the next licensing period
Accident and Sickness (A&S)
- Licensees who hold an approved designation (CFP, CLU, RHU,FCIA,FLMI or CEBS) must earn 5 hour of continuing education credits
- Licensees who have been licensed as a life insurance agent for at least 5 out of the last 7 years but do not have an approved designation must have 10 hours of continuing education credits
- Licensees who have not been licensed for at least 5 out of the last 7 years and do not have an approved designation must obtain 15 hours of continuing education
- No single course can be accredited for more than 15 hours
- No more than 7 credit ours can be earned in a single day
- If a course includes an exam, the student must pass the exam to receive the credit hours
- Excess credit hours cannot be carried over into the next licensing period
Life Insurance
- Licensees who hold an approved designation (CFP, CLU, RHU,FCIA,FLMI or CEBS) must earn 5 hour of continuing education credits
- Licensees who have been licensed as a life insurance agent for at least 5 out of the last 7 years but do not have an approved designation must have 10 hours of continuing education credits
- Licensees who have not been licensed for at least 5 out of the last 7 years and do not have an approved designation must obtain 15 hours of continuing education
- Only technical material will qualify for continuing education. This includes education relating to:
- Life insurance products
- Financial planning, provided the education is geared towards life insurance and not a non-insurance sector such as securities or mutual funds
- Compliance with insurance legislation and requirements, including the Insurance Act, Council Rules, privacy legislation
- Ethics
- E&O
- Excess credit hours cannot be carried over into the next licensing period
- No course can be accredited for more than 15 hours;
- There is a daily maximum of 7 hours; and
- Where a course involves an exam, you must successfully pass the exam.
Licensees must ensure they have a valid record of course completion. These records must be kept for five years from the end of the licensing period from when the credit was obtained. The Insurance Council of British Columbia may conduct random audits. Licensees who lack proper records or documentation may face disciplinary action, including the invalidating of the license.
One hour of instruction is equal to one hour of continuing education credit, with a one hour minimum. Breaks are excluded from the hour and students must complete the course or the seminar.
Resource link: http://www.insurancecouncilofbc.com/publicweb/ContinuingEducation.html
