Encouraging insurance producers to educate themselves benefits the insurance-buying public

TRENTON, N.J.—For the last three years, the Professional Insurance Agents of New Jersey has worked with the Department of Banking and Insurance to add amendments to the state’s insurance regulation to allow insurance producers to carry over continuing-education credits into a new licensing term, and other changes that would allow insurance producers to be rewarded for their dedication to their education. The association’s hard work has paid off—these finalized amendments were published in the New Jersey Register on June 19, 2023. The regulation was effective immediately.

Under the finalized amendments to N.J.A.C. 11:17-3.6, the regulation will: allow producers to carry over up to 12 CE credits into a new licensing term; allow producers to use one insurance-fraud credit hour toward professional ethics requirements; and give CE instructors twice the approved credit hours for the courses they teach.

“These finalized amendments have been a long time in the making, and we thank the DOBI’s representatives for their willingness to work with us and update these requirements,” said PIANJ President Connie Mahoney. “Throughout PIANJ’s meetings with the DOBI, we always argued that insurance producers should be encouraged to educate themselves—which only benefits themselves and the insurance-buying community. The insurance industry is ever changing, and the more insurance producers know about it, the more they can help their clients make informed decisions about their insurance purchases.”

PIANJ and representatives of the DOBI first met in 2020 to discuss whether to allow insurance producers to carry over a certain number of CE credits into a new licensing period. Since then, PIANJ worked closely with the DOBI to craft amendments that would reward producers aptly for their efforts to educate themselves. Three years later, PIANJ’s tireless efforts have come to fruition and these finalized amendments reflect that work.

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PIA New Jersey is the premier professional association for independent insurance agents, working to advance the needs of its members and be a leading voice in the insurance industry. PIANJ provides members with the very best education, information, advocacy, and business tools possible.