Last Updated on November 3, 2025 by Jacques Wong, B.Sc.
Insurance brokers in Ontario need their RIBO license to do their job. If you are doing some online research on how to become an insurance broker in Ontario or want to learn more about RIBO licensing, the RIBO exam, and the whole process, this guide will explain everything.
How To Use This Guide
This guide will cover everything you need to know about RIBO and being an insurance broker in Ontario. Throughout this guide, you will find links (in RED) to other resources that provide you with more details on those topics. If you cannot find answers to your questions in this guide or using the links below, you can also read our PNC Learning FAQ page or use the search function to find what you are looking for on our website.
What Is A RIBO License?
RIBO stands for Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario. It’s a self-regulating body that governs insurance brokers that operate in the province. As a result, they’re responsible for licensing, enforcing codes of conduct and accrediting continuing education courses for insurance brokers in Ontario.
A RIBO insurance license lets you work as a general insurance broker in Ontario. That means you can sell car, home, commercial, liability, and other types of property and casualty insurance. To sell life or health insurance, you will need an LLQP license (a topic for another day).
An insurance broker is different from an insurance agent in that a broker can sell products from multiple insurance companies, whereas an agent can only sell products from 1 insurer (to get your insurance agent license, you should take the Other-Than-Life aka OTL exam).
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RIBO License Levels
RIBO Level 1
A RIBO 1 license is the entry-level credential. It’s the first license you need to get if you want to work as an insurance broker in Ontario. To get it, you have to pass the RIBO 1 exam.
With this, you’ll mainly learn about personal lines insurance (home, auto, etc.), but you’ll be qualified to sell all types of general insurance. The main restriction is that you have to work under supervision from a licensee who holds a RIBO 2 or higher.
To get this license, it is a straightforward 3-step process:
1. Study our RIBO 1 course
2. Register for the RIBO 1 exam and pass the RIBO 1 exam
3. Apply for RIBO entry-level jobs and get your license. After passing the exam, your new employer will sponsor your license application. You now have your RIBO designation.
After you get this license, you can start to work as an insurance broker and sell all types of general insurance, such as home, auto and business. This is all you need, and the other licenses are optional.
RIBO Level 2 Unrestricted Technical
After you get your RIBO Entry Level 1 license, you can start to consider getting your RIBO 2. This license will allow you to work independently without the supervision of a Level 2 or 3 broker.
The steps to get your RIBO 2 license are the same as for Level 1. You study the Level 2 course, pass the exam, and complete the RIBO application form to upgrade your license.
RIBO Level 3 Unrestricted Management
RIBO – Unrestricted Management is the last level offered. With this, you can become a principal broker and manage or start your own brokerage. To get this, you have to pass an exam covering mostly the insurance rules of Ontario and different things you need to know to run a successful brokerage or business.
The steps to obtaining this license are the same: study the Level 3 course and pass the RIBO Management exam.
You need at least 2 years of experience before you can take this exam and get the Management license.
RIBO Open-Book Exam
Under the new changes, candidates will have access to a consolidated PDF document containing crucial reference materials during the exam: OAP 1, RIBO By-Laws, RIB Act, and Ontario Regulations. You can preview these resources inside your respective courses. I recommend getting familiar with the layout so you can quickly locate things during your exam. You won’t have a lot of time to search around.
RIBO Exam Fees
The RIBO exam fee is $300 (for each level), but please read our RIBO license cost guide for more information on the total cost of RIBO licensing, including annual license renewals.
RIBO and OTL
Many students are confused about RIBO vs OTL. Both licenses are related to general insurance, but the RIBO certification is for insurance brokers, and OTL is for insurance agents. Unless you have a specific job in mind that requires an OTL license, most students will benefit more from getting a RIBO license instead of an OTL.
If you currently have an OTL or license in another province, you can get your RIBO by completing a RIBO Equivalency Exam.
How To Get Your RIBO License
As we explained above, getting your RIBO insurance certification is quite simple. You just need to study (you can take our exam prep course, study the books by yourself, or take classes if you need more help), pass the exam, and then apply for jobs and licensing.
One of the most important things to help you on the exam is to get used to practicing the exam questions, because many people find the case study questions challenging.
How to Become an Auto Insurance Agent in Ontario
The largest segment of the general insurance industry in Canada is auto insurance. Other types of insurance, like property and liability, trail far behind in terms of the number of clients and premium volumes being written annually. Most people getting into the industry see auto insurance as an easy way in because everyone needs to buy it, it is fairly standardized and easy to sell, but first, you need to get your license.
To become licensed as a car insurance broker in Ontario, you need to take the RIBO 1 Auto Insurance License Course Ontario and pass the exam. This is the same as the standard RIBO 1 exam & license everyone gets.
Once you study the auto insurance course and pass the exam, all you need to do is find a brokerage that will employ you and sponsor your license application. With this RIBO 1 license, you can work at an insurance brokerage and sell all types of insurance products except health and life insurance.
Auto insurance is so easy to sell because everyone needs it, but once you sell them the auto insurance and build a relationship, you can also very easily upsell them to home, travel, and even business insurance later on. You can maximize the value you are getting from each client by taking advantage of this upselling strategy. So even if you only plan to sell auto insurance now, do not forget about this possibility.
RIBO CE Credits & Requirements
Once you have your license, you need to make sure you meet RIBO’s continuing education requirements each year to renew your license. For most brokers, that means getting 8 hours of CE credits each year from RIBO-accredited courses within the licensing period from October 1st to September 30th the following year (ie. October 1st, 2020 – September 30th, 2021).
Your requirements vary depending on the class of license you have. There are 2 types of requirements that RIBO imposes on brokers: the number of hours and the types of courses that are eligible.
Ontario CE Requirements for Principal Brokers & Deputy Principal Brokers
Number of hours required: 10 hours
Types of courses required:
- 1 hour of Ethics CE
- 5 hours of Management CE
- No Personal Skills CE courses can be used towards credits
Once you’ve met these minimum criteria of 1 Ethics hour and 5 Management hours, you can use whatever courses you want to get the remaining 4 hours of CE credits.
All Other Brokers
Number of hours required: 8 hours
Types of courses required:
- 1 hour of Ethics CE
- 3 hours of Technical CE
- Up to 2 hours of Personal Skills CE (Personal Skills credits are not mandatory but if you take PS courses, you can only count up to 2 for credits)
Once you meet these minimum criteria, you can use whatever courses you want to make up the remaining hours until you reach 8 hours.
Conclusion
Getting your RIBO license is the first step to starting a rewarding career as an insurance broker in Ontario. This guide walked you through what RIBO is, the different license levels, exam requirements, and the steps to become licensed.
In short, the process is straightforward: study for and pass the exam, apply for licensing through an employer, and keep your license active by meeting annual CE requirements. Once you earn your RIBO designation, you’ll be qualified to sell auto, home, commercial, and liability insurance across Ontario.
Being RIBO licensed not only opens the door to stable and flexible job opportunities but also gives you the ability to build profitable long-term relationships with clients, grow your income and expertise, and even open your own brokerage as you progress to higher license levels. Whether you’re starting out with RIBO 1 or aiming for RIBO 3, this license provides a clear pathway for career growth in Ontario’s largest insurance segment.
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