5 Tips to Help Illinois Insurance Agents Complete CE Courses

Illinois insurance continuing education (CE) is so much more than a licensure requirement. With the right approach, you can turn this mandatory coursework into a strategic advantage.

These five tips will help you maximize the benefits of your CE courses to improve your insurance business!

Tip #1: Know What’s Required for IL Insurance Continuing Education

Illinois continuing education requirements for insurance producers currently include the following:

• Take 24 hours of course study every two-year renewal period.

• Three of those 24 hours must be dedicated to Ethics.

• The Ethics course must be taken in a classroom or via online webinar.

• Complete all CE courses at least 10 business days before your license renewal date.

You can check the status of your CE courses through the State Based Systems (SBS) portal.

Tip #2: Leverage Online Tools

Online tools make it easier to meet your Illinois insurance CE requirements in several ways:

• For 21 of your 24 CE hours, you can take online courses in relevant topics such as risk management and claims handling.

• Rather than traveling to and from a classroom for your three-hour Ethics course, enroll in a live webinar version of the course to save time.

• Take online quizzes and practice exams to reinforce the concepts learned in your CE courses.

Tip #3: Stay Ahead of Regulatory Changes

Insurance regulations change regularly in Illinois. Adapting to industry changes is a pillar of being a successful insurance agent. Failure to stay current can cost you time, money, or even your license.

You might learn about regulatory changes through industry publications and connections. But continuing education courses allow you to learn the nuances of the changes in a more structured learning environment.

Tip #4: Go at Your Own Pace

Every insurance agent is different. Some like to complete their CE courses months in advance to minimize any stress of short-notice enrollment and learning. Others thrive on deadlines and wait until the last minute. Some cover the course content quickly while others take their time to let the concepts sink in.

Online CE courses allow you to go at your own pace, working your learning around your busy schedule. Early birds and night owls can even complete their courses before or after work hours to avoid any interruption to their business.

Tip #5: Leverage New Skills and Knowledge to Grow Your Career

Continuing education provides an opportunity to increase your industry knowledge and expand your insurance skillsets. This empowers you to better serve your clients and grow your business.

Your CE courses could even introduce you to new lines of authority that can take your insurance practice to the next level. For example, an intro to commercial property could spark an interest that takes you further into commercial insurance. Or a course on understanding annuities could prepare you to expand into more financial product lines.

Enroll in Your Illinois Insurance CE Courses Today

Make the most of your IL insurance CE courses by enrolling in a convenient, affordable continuing education package. Our online courses and live webinars make it easy to meet your requirements while helping you improve your practice and grow your business.

We also offer live ethics webinars multiple times each week, so you can enroll today and meet your ethics requirement in just a few days. We report your course completion on your behalf to the IL Department of Insurance to make sure you get credit for your work.