1.3 License Maintenance and Continuing Education
Key Takeaways
- Maryland licenses renew on a 2-year (biennial) cycle, expiring the last day of the producer's birth month.
- Renewal requires 24 hours of CE including 3 hours of ethics, completed BEFORE submitting the renewal.
- Producers licensed continuously for 25+ years need only 8 CE hours (still including 3 ethics).
- Excess CE does NOT carry over to the next period, and a course cannot be repeated within the same term.
- Address, name, administrative-action, and criminal-charge changes must be reported to the MIA within 30 days.
License Term and Renewal
Maryland producer licenses run on a biennial (2-year) cycle. The license expires on the last day of the producer's birth month, every other year — so the exact expiration date is personal to each licensee, not a single statewide date.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| License term | 2 years (biennial) |
| Expiration | Last day of the producer's birth month |
| CE timing | Must be completed before submitting renewal |
| Filing channel | NIPR (nipr.com) |
Renewal Timeline
- The MIA/NIPR typically sends a reminder ahead of expiration, but the producer is responsible for timely renewal whether or not a notice arrives.
- Complete all CE first; the renewal cannot be processed with outstanding CE.
- Renew through NIPR and pay the renewal fee.
Continuing Education Requirements
The standard requirement is 24 hours of approved CE per 2-year term, of which 3 hours must be ethics.
| Requirement | Hours |
|---|---|
| Total CE | 24 |
| Ethics (mandatory subset) | 3 |
| Electives | 21 |
The 24-hour figure is per producer, not per line — holding both Life and Accident & Health does not double the requirement.
Veteran Reduction (Exam Favorite)
| Years Licensed Continuously | CE Hours per Term | Ethics |
|---|---|---|
| Under 25 years | 24 | 3 |
| 25 years or more | 8 | 3 |
Exam trap: A producer continuously licensed for 25+ years completes only 8 hours per term — but the 3-hour ethics requirement still applies. Watch for distractors claiming veterans are fully exempt; they are not.
CE Course Rules
- Courses must be approved by the Commissioner and taken from MIA-approved providers (classroom, correspondence, or online).
- No carryover: excess hours earned in one term are lost — they cannot be banked toward the next period.
- No repeats within the same license term; if the same course is repeated across two consecutive terms, the completion dates must be at least 6 months apart to earn credit.
- Providers report CE electronically, but the producer should verify the record before renewing.
Worked example: A 20-year-licensed Life & Health producer needs 24 hours (3 ethics + 21 electives) before renewing. A 30-year veteran needs only 8 hours (3 ethics + 5 electives). Neither may carry forward leftover hours into the following term.
Renewal Process Step by Step
- Complete 24 hours of CE (or 8 for 25-year veterans), including 3 ethics hours.
- Log into NIPR at nipr.com and confirm CE is recorded.
- Submit the renewal application.
- Pay the renewal fee.
What Happens If You Do Not Renew
| Timing | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Before expiration, CE complete | Normal renewal |
| Lapsed (not renewed by expiration) | License is no longer active — you may not solicit or sell |
| Long lapse | Reinstatement/reapplication may be required, possibly with retesting |
A producer may not transact insurance on a lapsed license; doing so is a violation that can trigger penalties even after the license is restored.
Reporting Changes (Within 30 Days)
Maryland producers must notify the MIA of material changes within 30 days:
- Change of business or residence address
- Change of legal name
- Administrative action taken by another state or a financial regulator
- Criminal charges or convictions (a producer must report a conviction promptly)
Exam trap: The reporting clock is 30 days — not "the next renewal" and not "60 days." Failure to report is itself a violation, independent of the underlying event.
Updates are filed through the NIPR portal or in writing to the MIA.
Special Training: Limited Lines Credit Insurance
Effective October 1, 2025, producers selling limited lines credit insurance must complete a Commissioner-approved program of instruction provided by the insurer offering the credit line. This applies to both resident and nonresident producers and is in addition to ordinary CE.
Disciplinary Authority
The Commissioner may discipline a licensee for cause:
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Warning/reprimand | Documented caution for a minor first offense |
| Probation | License continues under conditions |
| Civil penalty (fine) | Monetary penalty per violation |
| Suspension | Temporary loss of authority |
| Revocation | Permanent loss of license |
Grounds include violating insurance law, fraud or dishonesty, misappropriating premiums or funds, misrepresentation to clients, failing to meet CE, failing to report required information, and unfair trade practices.
Nonresident Licensing (Reciprocity)
Maryland grants reciprocity to producers licensed in good standing in their home state:
- A nonresident with an active home-state license may apply through NIPR for the same lines of authority.
- No Maryland exam is required if the home-state license is current.
- The producer must maintain the home-state license; if it lapses or is revoked, the Maryland nonresident license is affected.
Exam trap: Reciprocity waives the exam, not the application and fee. A nonresident still files through NIPR and pays the Maryland fee — they simply skip the Prometric exam.
How many CE hours must a producer continuously licensed for 25 or more years complete each 2-year term in Maryland?
When must a Maryland producer notify the MIA of a change of residence address?
A producer earns 30 CE hours in one term but only needs 24. What happens to the 6 extra hours?
When must all CE be completed relative to a Maryland license renewal?