Effective - 28 Aug 2014, 2 histories
375.020. Continuing education for producers, required, exceptions — procedures — director to promulgate rules and regulations — fees, how determined, deposit of. — 1. Beginning January 1, 2008, each insurance producer, unless exempt pursuant to section 375.016, licensed to sell insurance in this state shall successfully complete courses of study as required by this section. Any person licensed to act as an insurance producer shall, during each two years, attend courses or programs of instruction or attend seminars equivalent to a minimum of sixteen hours of instruction. Of the sixteen hours' training required in this subsection, the hours need not be divided equally among the lines of authority in which the producer has qualified. The courses or programs attended by the producer during each two-year period shall include instruction on Missouri law, products offered in any line of authority in which the producer is qualified, producers' duties and obligations to the department, and business ethics, including sales suitability. Course credit shall be given to members of the general assembly as determined by the department.
2. Subject to approval by the director, the courses or programs of instruction which shall be deemed to meet the director's standards for continuing educational requirements shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) American College Courses (CLU, ChFC);
(2) Life Underwriters Training Council (LUTC);
(3) Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC);
(4) Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU);
(5) Insurance Institute of America (IIA);
(6) Any other professional financial designation approved by the director by rule;
(7) An insurance-related course taught by an accredited college or university or qualified instructor who has taught a course of insurance law at such institution;
(8) A course or program of instruction or seminar developed or sponsored by any authorized insurer, recognized producer association or insurance trade association, or any other entity engaged in the business of providing education courses to producers. A local producer group may also be approved if the instructor receives no compensation for services.
3. A person teaching any approved course of instruction or lecturing at any approved seminar shall qualify for the same number of classroom hours as would be granted to a person taking and successfully completing such course, seminar or program.
4. Excess hours accumulated during any two-year period may be carried forward to the two-year period immediately following the two-year period in which the course, program or seminar was held.
5. For good cause shown, the director may grant an extension of time during which the educational requirements imposed by this section may be completed, but such extension of time shall not exceed the period of one calendar year. The director may grant an individual waiver of the mandatory continuing education requirement upon a showing by the licensee that it is not feasible for the licensee to satisfy the requirements prior to the renewal date. Waivers may be granted for reasons including, but not limited to:
(1) Serious physical injury or illness;
(2) Active duty in the armed services for an extended period of time;
(3) Residence outside the United States; or
(4) The licensee is at least seventy years of age.
6. Every person subject to the provisions of this section shall furnish in a form satisfactory to the director, written certification as to the courses, programs or seminars of instruction taken and successfully completed by such person. Every provider of continuing education courses authorized in this state shall, within thirty working days of a licensed producer completing its approved course, provide certification to the director of the completion in a format prescribed by the director.
7. The provisions of this section shall not apply to those natural persons holding licenses for any kind or kinds of insurance for which an examination is not required by the law of this state, nor shall they apply to any limited lines insurance producer license or restricted license as the director may exempt.
8. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a life insurance producer who is limited by the terms of a written agreement with the insurer to transact only specific life insurance policies having an initial face amount of fifteen thousand dollars or less, or annuities having an initial face amount of fifteen thousand dollars or less, that are designated by the purchaser for the payment of funeral or burial expenses. The director may require the insurer entering into the written agreements with the insurance producers pursuant to this subsection to certify as to the representations of the insurance producers.
9. Rules and regulations necessary to implement and administer this section shall be promulgated by the director, including, but not limited to, rules and regulations regarding the following:
(1) Course content and hour credits: the insurance advisory board established by section 375.019 shall be utilized by the director to assist him in determining acceptable content of courses, programs and seminars to include classroom equivalency;
(2) Filing fees for course approval: every applicant seeking approval by the director of a continuing education course under this section shall pay to the director a filing fee of fifty dollars per course. Fees shall be waived for state and local insurance producer groups. Such fee shall accompany any application form required by the director. Courses shall be approved for a period of no more than one year. Applicants holding courses intended to be offered for a longer period must reapply for approval. Courses approved by the director prior to August 28, 1993, for which continuous certification is sought should be resubmitted for approval sixty days before the anniversary date of the previous approval.
10. All funds received pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be transmitted by the director to the department of revenue for deposit in the state treasury to the credit of the insurance dedicated fund. All expenditures necessitated by this section shall be paid from funds appropriated from the insurance dedicated fund by the legislature.
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(L. 1988 S.B. 430, A.L. 1990 H.B. 1739, A.L. 1991 H.B. 575, A.L. 1993 H.B. 709, A.L. 2001 S.B. 193, A.L. 2007 S.B. 66, A.L. 2009 H.B. 577, A.L. 2014 S.B. 794)