Rhode Island: Insurance Continuing Education

Covering an area of only 1,214 square miles, Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in producer licensing continuing education (CE) requirements. 

We know our stuff when it comes to Rhode Island’s producer licensing CE requirements but we always recommend that you check out the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation Insurance Division website. They’re the first to know when it comes to changing licensing requirements.

What is the due date for Rhode Island Insurance CE Credits? 

In Rhode Island, producer licenses expire every two years on the last day of the licensee’s birth month. To avoid any confusion, CE is due on the very same day. And, to make sure nobody forgets, Rhode Island will send a notification reminder 90 days before license expiration and CE due date.

Who’s exempt from Rhode Island Insurance CE?

If you’re a nonresident producer and you comply with the CE requirements of your resident state, then, for the most part, you’re exempt from Rhode Island CE requirements. The exception here is with regards to long-term care insurance, which we’ll cover below. 

If you’re a resident producer in Rhode Island, you’re over the age of 60, and you’ve held your license for at least 20 consecutive years, then you’re exempt from CE. Similarly, if you’re a resident producer in Rhode Island, you’re over the age of 55, and you’ve held your license for at least 25 consecutive years, then you’re exempt.

How many hours of CE are required for Rhode Island insurance producers?

Resident producers in Rhode Island are expected to complete 24 hours of CE training each renewal period, of which three must be in an approved ethics course. 

To get CE credits, students must take an exam at course completion. These courses are closed book and must be passed with a score of 70 percent or higher. Don’t stress if you struggle with an exam as they can be taken an infinite number of times. 

If you’re a CE instructor, you can get the same amount of CE credits as your students for the course you’re teaching. 

We know you love your CE. We do too! Rhode Island will reward your CE enthusiasm by allowing you to carry over 12 surplus CE credits per renewal period. It’s important to note, however, that extra ethics credits will be carried over as general credits for the next renewal period. 

Annuity requirements

If you’re a resident producer in Rhode Island and you’re gearing up to sell some annuity products, first, you’ll need to be sure you’ve completed a one-time, four-credit training course. This course must be approved by the department of insurance AND provided by a department of insurance approved education provider. 

If a producer has completed the annuity requirement before April 1, 2021, then they must within six months, also complete one of the following: 

• A new four-credit best interest training course approved by the department of insurance after April 1, 2021.
• A one-time, one-credit best interest training course approved by the department of insurance and provided by a department of insurance approved education provider specifically on appropriate sales practices and replacement and disclosure requirements. 

Long-Term Care Partnership training requirements

Before selling long-term care products, producers must first take an initial eight-hour training course. To maintain the license, producers must take a four-hour training course every two years. This requirement is true for both resident and nonresident producers. That said, if a nonresident producer is required to meet these very same requirements in their resident state, then they will not be required to repeat those requirements in Rhode Island. 

For resident producers, these credit hours can count toward overall CE requirements so long as the state approved the course taken to meet the long-term care requirements approved for CE credits. 

Flood training requirements

FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program establish a minimum three hours of flood insurance credits for producers looking to sell flood insurance. Rhode Island doesn’t add any additional requirements on top of it. 

For more information about state-specific licensing requirements, or to find out how AgentSync can make it easier to operate across multiple states, check out our state pages.

Rhode Island Insurance CE FAQs