Stay Current with Continuing Insurance Education Credits



by Ed Hulse


Insurance education courses are required to sit for the test and to obtain a license to sell policies. Testing confirms that you understand all the relevant policies and that you are able to meet your customers' financial needs. Each state creates the tests and creates regulations concerning continuing education credits.

The industry was created to protect people from extreme financial losses. It is designed to get them back to the same financial position they were in before the accident. If a policy has a high deductible, it is less expensive than one that has a much lower deductible.

Developed to help people recover from financially damaging accidents, the insurance industry acts by pooling policy payments. When some of its members suffer financial losses due to accidents, money is taken from the pool. Companies may stop selling certain types of insurance, for example flood insurance, if the losses in an area are too high. There are very strict regulations concerning this.

The only people authorized to sell policies are licensed agents. Each type of policy requires that a license be held. Some of the types include life and health or property and casualty. When looking for the required test, look for the relevant number of the test. They are named using numbers, like Series 63 or Series 6.

Financial advisers who are involved in the stock market and other investment tools must take the Series 7 test. It is a very difficult examination that covers all aspects of the industry. Those who will be taking the test often study for six months or more to pass it. There are courses available to help them to prepare for it.

Obtaining a license is only the first step. It is an ongoing process to keep the license in effect. Each state has specific requirements for continuing education so that the agents continually update their knowledge. Most of the courses are self-study and many can be completed online.

At minimum, a bachelor's degree is required for potential insurance sales people. They are hired on a probationary basis and must complete the requirements for the licensing within a certain period of time. When getting a bachelor's degree, those who look forward to a career in insurance get a major in business courses. Other courses in public speaking are also very helpful. Daily interaction with customers or groups of customers is mandatory.

Insurance education is required to not only obtain a license, but to keep your license. Keep your knowledge current and refresh what you already knew. Local regulations will list all of the requirements you must satisfy to be licensed.




About the Author: