Effective January 1, 2025, California has introduced a new continuing education (CE) requirement for life insurance agents. The Four-Hour Life Insurance CE Requirement, from Senate Bill 263 (SB 263), mandates that life agents licensed on or after January 1, 2024, complete a four-hour training course before soliciting individual consumers to sell certain life insurance policies. The California Department of Insurance (CDI) has approved the curriculum for this course, which focuses on individual life insurance policies other than term life with no cash value.
Who Is Affected?
This requirement applies to both resident and non-resident life agents who:
- Were licensed on or after January 1, 2024.
- Intend to sell individual life insurance policies other than term life with no cash value on or after January 1, 2025.
Agents must complete the four-hour training course before engaging in the sale of these specified life insurance policies.
Course Curriculum Overview
The four-hour training course encompasses the following key areas:
- Types of Individual Life Insurance Policies and Benefits: Understanding various policy structures and their respective advantages.
- Applicable California Laws and Requirements: Familiarization with state-specific regulations governing life insurance sales.
- Prohibited Sales Practices: Identifying and avoiding unethical or illegal sales tactics.
- Unfair Trade Practices: Recognizing actions that constitute unfair competition or deceptive practices.
The curriculum is based on the Prelicensing Education for Life Agents and is designed to ensure that agents are well-versed in the ethical and legal standards required in California.
Integration with Existing CE Requirements
For California resident licensees, the four-hour course integrates the existing continuing education requirements and is not an additional obligation. This means that completing this course will count towards the total CE hours required for license renewal.
How to Find Approved Course
To find the appropriate two-hour variable life insurance course:
- Visit our Course Catalog Page.
- Select California
- Select the license category – Life Only/ Life & Health/ Annuity (Reg BI) / Ethics / LTC / AML
- Add course Life Insurance Policies to cart
Final Thoughts
The implementation of this new training requirement underscores California’s commitment to ensure that life insurance agents prepared to serve consumers ethically and competently. Agents should proactively complete this training to remain compliant and continue providing valuable services to their clients.
For further information or assistance, agents can contact the CDI’s Curriculum Review Section at CDI.Education@insurance.ca.gov or call (916) 492-3064.
Why Use Success CE
The Success Family of Continuing Education Companies provides the highest quality Life/Health and Property/Casualty Insurance Continuing Education. CFP Continuing Education, CIMA Continuing Education, CPA Continuing Education, CLU/ChFC (PACE) Continuing Education, and MCLE (Legal). Continuing Education available in all 50 states in Live Insurance, Online Insurance, and Textbook Insurance formats. Learn More
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