Licensed insurance professionals such as agents and adjusters in every state must periodically take continuing education courses and earn CE credits in order to retain their licensing. Today there are more options than ever when it comes to choosing the means to accomplish this.
Just a few years ago, there were very few choices other than physically attending classes and taking written exams to obtain the appropriate credits with which to retain your professional status. Within the last decade, online training vendors have appeared and are widely accepted because of the benefits that they can offer the busy professional. These benefits include lower costs of training and flexibility of learning. Since most people own and know how to use a computer, being able to learn at ones own pace without taking time off from work is a huge advantage over traditional classroom training.
Finding an online insurance CE vendor is as simple as logging onto your computer and using a search engine. Unfortunately, it is not always easy to tell from a vendors web site which one will best meet your requirements. One factor to consider is the price of the course that you need; however, purchasing what appears to be the lowest priced course may not be the best option as there may be hidden fees and additional charges that are not revealed up front.
To help simplify the process of selecting an online insurance continuing education program, below are some questions that each agent or adjuster should ask before selecting a vendor.
What format is the course presented in? Some online courses consist of little more than transcribed text on the computer screen. It can be difficult to follow the material and stay focused on the content when it is presented in this way. If possible, view an online demo or try to take a sample course before committing to a specific vendor. If you find the material boring or hard to follow in the sample or demo, you will probably have a hard time getting much benefit from the actual courses.
Does the presentation follow the format of a slide show, with illustrations, diagrams, and bullet points? Many people learn best when presented with a varied set of visual reinforcements that help them understand the course material.
Does the presentation include audio support? An audio track will provide additional reinforcement of the material when added to a quality visual presentation. Most people learn effectively by combining both visual and auditory input. It can be extremely helpful if a continuing education vendor can provide lessons that can be downloaded in a common audio format that can be loaded into an mp3 player or burned to a compact disc. Lessons can then be listened to and reviewed while doing household chores or driving, for example.
Are the courses broken down in to modules or chapters? There is a reason why books are segmented into chapters, or by lessons. Human beings retain information better if similar ideas are grouped together and assimilated piece by piece. Do the lessons have practice questions for review? This helps to reinforce the lessons while they are still fresh in a students mind, giving an immediate perspective on how well certain aspects of the lesson have been learned, and what may need to be reviewed again
Are there any hidden fees or charges? Some online courses require a fee to take the exam. If the person does not pass the exam on the first try, they are obligated to pay for another attempt. Some vendors, on the other hand, allow unlimited exam retakes at no charge. They also allow the student to retake the course as often as necessary to pass the exam. Remember, the whole point of taking the online insurance course is to successfully complete the exam and achieve the required insurance continuing education credits. Some courseware, on the other hand, seems to be structured more toward maximizing the income of the vendor.
Another factor to consider is the cost of filing your insurance CE credits with the state insurance department. Is this included in the cost of your course? Many states allow for the course provider to report the credits but often a fee is charged for this service. Other vendors will include this fee in the cost of the course, for some it is a hidden charge that you dont find out about until you have already purchased your course materials.
Many states require insurance CE credits be completed on a periodic basis, typically every two years. Some vendors provide a means for the students to check on the status of their credits and be able to track them over time. You should inquire as to whether the vendor you are interested in using has an online interface whereby you can view your certifications and print a report on the credits achieved and when they were submitted to the state insurance division. This can be helpful, especially if you change employers during your career.
If you are in the process of selecting a provider, we hope the information provided above will help you make a good choice regarding the provider of your insurance continuing education credits
Bruce MacMillian is the President and CEO of CEU.com. CEU offers multimedia-rich online courses to help licensed insurance professionals maintain their
online insurance continuing education credits requirements.
