Continuing Education Requirements

Maine requires licensed producers to complete continuing education (CE) to maintain current knowledge and professional competence. CE requirements are found in Title 24-A MRS § 1534 and Bureau regulations.

General CE Requirements

Basic Requirements

Who Must Complete CE

Required for:

• All resident Maine P&C producers
• Producers who maintain Maine as their home state license

Exempt from Maine CE:

• Non-resident producers who meet CE requirements in their home state
• Producers licensed less than 6 months before renewal date (first renewal only)
• Inactive licenses (not appointed, not transacting business)

Exam Tip: The 24 CE hours MUST include 3 hours of ethics. The remaining 21 hours must be relevant to P&C insurance.

Approved CE Courses

Course Approval

CE courses must be:

• Approved by Maine Bureau: Course provider submits course for approval
• Relevant to P&C: Content relates to property and casualty insurance
• Educational Value: Provides substantive education, not promotional
• Tracking: Provider reports completion to Bureau (NIPR system)

CE Delivery Methods

Finding Approved Courses

Producers can find approved CE courses through:

1. Maine Bureau Website: List of approved providers at maine.gov/pfr/insurance
2. CE Provider Websites: Major providers include WebCE, Kaplan, ExamFX, etc.
3. NIPR: National Insurance Producer Registry (nipr.com)
4. Insurance Company Sponsors: Many insurers offer free CE to appointed producers

Ethics Requirement

3-Hour Ethics Mandate

Key Points:

• Required Every Renewal: 3 ethics hours required for each 2-year period
• Cannot Waive: Ethics requirement cannot be waived or substituted
• Specific Ethics Courses: Must be designated as ethics course by Bureau
• Topics Covered: Professional conduct, prohibited practices, consumer protection

Ethics Course Topics

Typical ethics CE courses cover:

Important: Ethics courses must be specifically designated and approved as "ethics" by the Maine Bureau. General courses do not fulfill this requirement even if they cover ethical topics.

Product-Specific CE Requirements

Maine requires additional one-time and ongoing CE for certain insurance products:

Annuity Training

One-Time Requirement (Before Selling Annuities)

• 4-Hour Annuity Training: "Annuity Suitability and Best Interest Standards"
• Required Before: First annuity sale
• Content: Annuity features, suitability, consumer protection, best interest standards
• One-Time Only: Does not need to be repeated

Who Needs This:

• Any producer who will sell, solicit, or negotiate annuity products
• Required by Maine Bureau regulation

Long-Term Care (LTC) Insurance Training

Initial 8-Hour LTC Training

• Required Before: Selling any LTC insurance
• Content: LTC product features, suitability, policy provisions, consumer protections
• One-Time: Initial training only required once

Ongoing 4-Hour LTC Training

• Frequency: Every 24 months (2 years) after initial training
• Content: LTC updates, regulations, market changes
• Due Date: No later than 24 months after completing initial 8-hour course
• Ongoing Requirement: Required as long as producer sells LTC

Example Timeline:

1. Complete 8-hour initial LTC course (January 2026)
2. Complete 4-hour ongoing LTC course by January 2028
3. Complete 4-hour ongoing LTC course by January 2030
4. Continue every 24 months...

Flood Insurance Training

One-Time 3-Hour NFIP Training

• Required For: Property/Casualty and Personal Lines producers selling flood insurance
• Content: National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) basics, coverage, eligibility
• Requirement: Complete before selling NFIP policies
• One-Time: Does not need to be repeated

Exam Tip: Product-specific training (annuity, LTC, flood) does NOT count toward the 24-hour general CE requirement. These are separate additional requirements.

CE Compliance and Tracking

Producer Responsibilities

Producers must:

1. Track CE Completion: Maintain records of completed courses
2. Verify Reporting: Confirm CE provider reported course to Maine Bureau
3. Complete Before Renewal: Ensure all CE done before license expiration
4. Keep Certificates: Retain CE certificates for at least 3 years

CE Reporting System

Maine uses the NIPR system for CE tracking:

• Automatic Reporting: Approved providers report completions electronically
• Producer Access: Check CE transcript at nipr.com
• Bureau Monitoring: Bureau tracks compliance for all producers
• Renewal Verification: Bureau verifies CE completion before processing renewal

Verifying CE Completion

To verify your CE hours:

1. Visit NIPR: Go to nipr.com
2. PDB (Producer Database): Access Producer Database
3. Login: Use SSN or NPID (National Producer Number)
4. View Transcript: Review completed CE courses
5. Confirm Hours: Verify 24 total hours (including 3 ethics)

CE Noncompliance Consequences

Failure to Complete CE

If producer fails to complete required CE before renewal:

Consequences:

• License Not Renewed: License expires on renewal date
• Cannot Transact Business: Illegal to sell insurance with expired license
• Must Complete CE: Must finish all CE hours before reinstatement
• Late Renewal: May require late fee or reinstatement application

Reinstatement After Lapse

To reinstate lapsed license:

1. Complete All CE: Finish 24 hours CE (including 3 ethics)
2. Submit Reinstatement Application: Through Sircon
3. Pay Reinstatement Fee: Fee determined by lapse period
4. Renewal Fee: Pay regular $100 renewal fee
5. Bureau Approval: Bureau reviews and reinstates license

Grace Period: Maine provides a limited grace period (typically 30 days) after expiration, but producer cannot transact business during this time.

Fraudulent CE Claims

Serious penalties for CE fraud:

• Criminal Penalties: False CE claims may result in criminal prosecution
• License Revocation: Bureau may revoke license for CE fraud
• Fines: Civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation
• Suspension: Immediate license suspension pending investigation

Important: Always ensure CE providers are approved and properly report completions. Never claim credit for courses not actually completed.

Special CE Situations

New Licensees (First Renewal)

Producers licensed for the first time:

• Less than 6 months before renewal: Exempt from CE for first renewal
• More than 6 months before renewal: Must complete full 24 hours CE

Example:

• License issued: September 2025
• Birth month: February (renewal February 2026)
• Time period: 5 months
• Result: Exempt from CE for first renewal in February 2026

Military Service

Active duty military personnel may receive:

• CE Extension: Extension of CE deadline during active service
• Credit for Military Training: Certain military education may qualify for CE credit
• Documentation Required: Must provide proof of active duty status

Designated Responsible Producers

Agency designated responsible producers:

• Same Requirements: Must complete same 24 hours CE as other producers
• No Additional Hours: Being responsible producer doesn't add CE requirements
• Agency Compliance: Responsible for ensuring agency compliance overall

CE Best Practices

Recommended Approach

1. Complete Early: Don't wait until last minute before renewal
2. Track Progress: Monitor CE hours throughout renewal period
3. Ethics First: Complete 3 ethics hours early in renewal cycle
4. Variety of Topics: Take courses on different P&C topics
5. Product Training: Complete annuity/LTC/flood training as needed
6. Verify Reporting: Check NIPR to confirm courses reported properly
7. Keep Records: Save CE certificates for 3 years

Typical CE Schedule

Example 2-Year Renewal Cycle: