Washington: Insurance Continuing Education

The state of Washington produces more apples than any other state. But that isn’t the only juicy fact we’ve got on the Evergreen State. Washington is also home to some very extensive producer licensing continuing education (CE) requirements.

Maintaining resident producer licenses is absolutely mission-critical to keeping nonresident licenses in good standing. And CE is a big part of keeping up-to-date on resident licenses. So, while we know what we’re talking about when it comes to Washington CE requirements, we recommend you always go straight to the source. In this case, that’s the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner website. 

What is the due date for Washington Insurance CE Credits? 

In Washington, resident producers must renew their licenses biennially on the last day of the licensee’s birth month from the date the license was issued. And to keep things extra simple, Washington CE requirements must be completed on the very same day. 

If you struggle to remember your birth month, Washington will do you a solid by sending over a notice 60 days prior to the expiration date.

Who’s exempt from Washington Insurance CE?

If you’re a nonresident producer, you may not need to complete these CE requirements so long as you’re compliant in your resident state. The exception here is with long-term care requirements, which are outlined below.  

Even if you are a resident producer, you may be eligible for CE exemptions. Licensees who are at least 65 years old, are retired from actively selling insurance products, and don’t represent any insurer or insurance agency won’t need to maintain CE requirements. On top of that, those with good cause may request a waiver and apply for a CE exemption. Similarly, those holding a limited license for credit life and disability, credit casualty, travel, vehicle, or surety are exempt from CE.

How many hours of CE are required for Washington insurance producers?

Resident agents, brokers, and solicitors licensed in life, disability, property, or casualty must complete 24 hours of CE each renewal period. Three of those 24 hours of CE requirements must be in approved ethics courses. 

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. That said, courses cannot be retaken within a single renewal period.

Annuity training requirements

Before selling annuity products, producers must first complete a one-time, four-hour suitability training course. 

Long-Term Care Partnership training requirements

Those looking to sell long-term care partnership insurance must take eight hours of initial training credits approved for long-term care and concerning Washington-specific long-term care regulations. This training can be counted toward the total 24 hours of CE credits. Additionally, these producers must be sure to take a four-hour refresher course every two-year renewal cycle. Both resident and nonresident producers must be sure to complete this requirement. 

Flood training requirements

FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program establish a national baseline minimum of three hours of flood-specific training for producers selling flood insurance. 

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.

Washington Insurance CE FAQs