License Renewal & Continuing Education

Maryland requires all P&C producers to renew their licenses every 2 years and complete continuing education to maintain competency and stay current with insurance laws and practices.

License Renewal Requirements

Renewal Cycle

Example: If your birthday is June 15th and your license was issued on March 1, 2024, your license expires June 30, 2026. You can renew starting May 1, 2026 (60 days before expiration).

Exam Tip: Maryland licenses expire at the end of the birth month, NOT on the producer's birthday. A June 15th birthday means June 30th expiration.

Continuing Education (CE) Requirements

CE Hour Breakdown

Total Required: 24 Hours Per 2-Year Period

• Ethics: 3 hours minimum (must be insurance ethics)
• General Topics: 21 hours
• Carryover: NO carryover of excess hours to next period
• Timing: Must be completed BEFORE submitting renewal application
• Self-Study: Allowed (online courses accepted)

Approved CE Topics

Acceptable Topics:

• Insurance law and regulation (Maryland and federal)
• Policy provisions and coverage analysis
• Ethics and professional conduct
• Risk management and loss control
• Insurance products and markets
• Consumer protection and disclosure requirements
• Claims handling and settlement
• Technology and insurance innovation
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion in insurance

NOT Acceptable:

• Pure sales and marketing techniques
• General business topics not insurance-specific
• Agency management (unless directly insurance-related)
• Motivational or inspirational content without insurance application
• Company-specific product training (unless approved)

Ethics CE Requirement

3 Hours of Ethics Required:

• Must focus on insurance ethics and professional conduct
• Topics include:
  • Unfair trade practices (Title 27)
  • Producer fiduciary responsibilities
  • Consumer protection and disclosure
  • Conflicts of interest
  • Proper policy replacement procedures
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Professional standards of conduct
  • Anti-fraud measures

Exam Tip: The 3-hour ethics requirement is mandatory and cannot be waived. Ethics hours count toward the 24-hour total, not in addition to it (3 ethics + 21 general = 24 total).

CE Course Approval

Course Providers

CE courses must be provided by Maryland Insurance Administration approved providers:

Approved Provider Types:

• Insurance industry associations
• National insurance education organizations
• Online CE providers (approved by MIA)
• Insurance company training programs (if approved)
• College and university insurance programs
• Professional insurance designations (CIC, CPCU, etc.)

Provider Requirements:

• Submit courses for MIA approval
• Track student completion and attendance
• Report completions to MIA CE database
• Provide completion certificates
• Maintain records for 4 years

CE Delivery Methods

Maryland accepts multiple delivery formats:

All formats are equally acceptable as long as the provider is approved by Maryland Insurance Administration.

CE Tracking and Reporting

CE Tracking System

• Provider Reporting: Approved CE providers report completions directly to MIA
• Producer Access: Producers can check CE credits through NIPR (www.nipr.com)
• Compliance Monitoring: MIA tracks each producer's CE status
• Audit Risk: MIA may audit CE compliance randomly or for cause

Verifying CE Credits

Check Your CE Status:

1. Visit NIPR at www.nipr.com
2. Create account or log in
3. Navigate to "Continuing Education"
4. Review reported CE hours by course and provider
5. Verify ethics hours are properly designated
6. Ensure credits posted before renewal

If CE Not Showing:

• Contact course provider immediately
• Provider has 30 days to report completions to MIA
• Keep completion certificates as backup documentation
• Submit proof of completion to MIA if necessary

Renewal Process

Timely Renewal (Before Expiration)

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Complete 24 CE Hours:

   • Include 3 ethics hours
   • Must be completed BEFORE renewal application
   • Verify credits show in NIPR system

2. Verify CE Credits:

   • Log into NIPR
   • Confirm all 24 hours are reported and approved
   • Ensure ethics requirement met

3. Submit Renewal Application:

   • Access renewal through NIPR or state system
   • Confirm personal information is current
   • Update address if changed
   • Pay renewal fee
   • Submit application

4. Receive Renewed License:

   • Processing typically 3-5 business days
   • License extended for 2 more years
   • New expiration date: Same birth month, 2 years later
   • Updated license card mailed

Exam Tip: CE must be completed BEFORE submitting the renewal application. Applying without sufficient CE will result in application rejection and potential late renewal penalties.

Late Renewal (After Expiration)

If your license expires, you have 12 months to reinstate without retaking the exam.

Late Renewal Requirements:

Exam Tip: After 12 months of license expiration, you must start over completely—retake exam, new application, all fees. Don't let licenses lapse beyond 12 months!

Maintaining Your License

Active Status Requirements

To keep your license active and in good standing:

Required:

• ✓ Renew every 2 years before expiration
• ✓ Complete 24 CE hours (3 ethics) per renewal period
• ✓ Maintain at least one active company appointment
• ✓ Pay renewal fees on time
• ✓ Update address/contact information within 30 days of changes
• ✓ Comply with Maryland insurance laws and regulations
• ✓ Maintain errors & omissions insurance (if required by appointing company)
• ✓ Report any criminal convictions or regulatory actions within 30 days

Prohibited:

• ✗ Allowing license to lapse without renewal
• ✗ Falsifying CE completion or attendance
• ✗ Conducting business after license expiration
• ✗ Violating Title 27 unfair trade practices
• ✗ Failing to disclose material information
• ✗ Misrepresenting policy terms or benefits

Special Renewal Situations

Military Service Exception

Active military members serving outside Maryland:

• CE Extension: May request CE deadline extension
• Renewal Extension: May request renewal deadline extension
• Documentation Required: Provide military orders or deployment documentation
• Post-Service: Must complete missed CE and renew within 6 months of return to civilian status

Change of Address

Must report within 30 days:

• Update address through NIPR or MIA system
• Update physical address and mailing address
• Update email and phone number
• Ensure all correspondence goes to correct address

Failure to Update:

• May miss important renewal notices
• MIA correspondence goes to address of record
• Producer responsible for knowing renewal deadlines
• "I didn't receive notice" is not an excuse for late renewal

Name Change

If your legal name changes (marriage, divorce, court order):

• Submit name change request to MIA
• Provide supporting documentation (marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order)
• Update license with new name
• May need to update with NIPR and appointing companies
• Company appointments may need to be re-submitted under new name

Exam Tip: Address and name changes must be reported to the MIA within 30 days. This is a commonly tested timeframe on the exam.

CE Exemptions and Waivers

Limited Exemptions

Maryland provides limited CE exemptions in specific circumstances:

Possible Exemptions:

• First-time license renewal (CE still required but may have shortened period)
• Military service deployment (temporary extension)
• Serious illness or disability (must provide documentation)
• Emergency circumstances (natural disasters, etc.)

No Exemptions For:

• "Too busy" or inconvenience
• Lack of awareness of requirements
• Financial hardship
• Living out of state
• Not actively selling insurance

Requesting Exemption

To request CE exemption:

1. Submit written request to MIA
2. Provide detailed explanation and documentation
3. Include supporting evidence (medical records, military orders, etc.)
4. MIA reviews on case-by-case basis
5. Approval is discretionary and not guaranteed

Exam Tip: CE exemptions are rare and granted only in extreme circumstances. Lack of time or awareness of requirements is NOT grounds for exemption.