Last Updated on August 30, 2026 by Jacques Wong, B.Sc.
Continuing Education (CE) credits are a critical component of maintaining an active insurance licence, whether you are an agent, broker or adjuster. CE ensures you stay up to date with the latest regulatory changes, product innovations, ethical standards, and client needs in the insurance industry. Maintaining your insurance licence isn’t just a regulatory formality; it’s a signal to clients and employers that you’re committed to keeping up to date on your knowledge. Fortunately, online solutions such as PNC Learning make it fast, convenient and affordable to fulfil your CE requirements.
What Are CE Credits in the Insurance Industry?
CE credits are proof that you have taken continuing education courses. These courses offer further training beyond your basic licensing requirements. Each province and class of license has their own CE credit requirements. Check the requirements of each province you’re licensed in to make sure you’re compliant.
If you fail to meet the required number of CE credits in a term, your license could get suspended or revoked.
Why Continuing Education Is Required
Regulators in both Canada and the U.S. require CE credits to ensure professional standards remain high, especially as products, regulations, and client risks evolve. Insurance continuing education is mandatory in many jurisdictions to ensure license holders remain competent and ethically grounded.
For example, in Canada, provinces such as Ontario, B.C., and Alberta each have their own CE frameworks; in the U.S., most states follow versions of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) model, typically requiring around 24 hours every two years.
How CE Credits Work
CE credits are earned by completing a certain number of hours of approved learning activities. These include:
- Online self-paced courses
- Live webinars or in-class seminars (hybrid options are also common).
Licensees will typically receive a certificate or transcript from the course provider once they have completed their hours, which then must be logged or reported to the appropriate provincial regulator or licensing body.
CE credits are tracked and required by the appropriate regulator/licensing body in each jurisdiction, including:
- Insurance Council of British Columbia (ICBC)
- Alberta Insurance Council (AIC)
- Insurance Councils of Saskatchewan
- Insurance Council of Manitoba
- RIBO (Ontario) for general insurance brokers
- FSRA (Ontario) for life & A&S agents
- Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) – Québec
- Chambre de l’assurance de dommages (CAD) – Québec
- Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) in the U.S. (example of state-level oversight)
Each body sets its own CE requirements, reporting rules, and renewal periods.
Some jurisdictions accredit specific courses or course providers, while others take a more open approach, publishing only a set of requirements for valid CE activities. Others will require you to upload your certificates to renew your license, while others just require you to keep records in case you are audited.
The provider’s or the course’s accreditation ensures that the course content, duration, and delivery format meet regulatory standards. If you skip accredited courses, your hours may not count toward your licence renewal.
How to Get CE Credits for Insurance?
Step 1. Know Your Provincial or State Requirements
The first step is to identify what your licence renewal cycle requires.
Here is an overview of the CE requirements for general insurance brokers and agents across all provinces:
| Province / Territory | CE Requirement | Regulator / Licensing Body | Notes |
| Alberta | 15 hours per year | Alberta Insurance Council (AIC) | Applies to General/Adjuster licences |
| British Columbia (BC) | 8 credits per licence period (June 1–May 31) | Insurance Council of British Columbia | Must be relevant to the class of licence |
| Ontario (General Brokers) | 8 hours per year (varies by licence class) | Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO) | Includes Ethics/Technical/Management minimums |
| Saskatchewan | 12 hours per year | Insurance Councils of Saskatchewan | Experienced licensees may require fewer hours |
| Manitoba | 8 hours per year | Insurance Council of Manitoba | Varies slightly depending on the licence |
| Québec (Damage Insurance) | CE required (varies) | Chambre de l’assurance de dommages (ChAD) | Applies to damage insurance agents/brokers |
| New Brunswick | No mandatory CE requirement | Financial and Consumer Services Commission | Company/designation rules may still apply |
| Nova Scotia | No mandatory CE requirement | Nova Scotia Department of Finance | |
| Prince Edward Island | No mandatory CE requirement | PEI Superintendent of Insurance | |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | No mandatory CE requirement | Digital Government & Service NL | |
| Territories (YT, NT, NU) | No formal CE requirements listed | Territorial insurance registrars | Requirements vary by insurer/company |
In the U.S., CE credit requirements generally range from 15 to 30 hours every two years (including specific components, such as ethics), but there are also variations by state. See a full list here.
Always check your licence renewal date, approved provider list and any required topics or ethics hours before selecting your courses.
Note: At PNC Learning, we ensure our courses are accredited where required (in B.C., Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba) so you can be sure your learning will count toward your requirements.
Step 2. Choose an Accredited Provider
“Accredited” means the provider and/or individual course has been reviewed and approved by the licensing body in your jurisdiction (where required). For example, the Insurance Council of B.C. maintains a list of approved courses and providers. When evaluating CE credit providers, consider the following:
- Provider accreditation status
- Course catalogue (life, A&S, general lines, ethics, risk management)
- Format (online/self-paced vs. live)
- Support/access (tutor, learning communities, mobile access).
Here’s how PNC Learning fits:
- Accredited course provider in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
- Course accreditation in Ontario (which accredits courses, not providers).
Step 3. Complete Courses and Track Your Progress
- Once you’ve registered for your chosen CE courses, log in, complete your modules/quizzes, and obtain your completion certificate or transcript.
- For jurisdictions that require you to self-report (e.g., Alberta), you’ll upload the certificate to your licensing portal or enter details manually.
Use CE courses strategically. Choose topics that support your niche (commercial lines, risk management, ethics), so you gain both credits and career value.
Keep duplicates of your certificates for your own records, as regulators may audit you. For example, B.C. requires you to keep records for five licence periods, while Texas requires four years. Generally, seven years will be on the safe side.
Step 4. Report and Renew
Once the learning is complete and your CE hours are recorded:
- Visit your licensing body’s portal (e.g., Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO) for Ontario) and file your renewal.
- Document that you’ve met CE requirements before renewal submission. Usually, renewal won’t be permitted unless CE is complete.
- Set reminders for the next renewal cycle to avoid scrambling at the last moment. Late completion may result in licence suspensions, disciplinary action or fines.
- Maintain the habit of completing your CE well ahead of deadlines and keep consistent records in case you get audited.
Where to Get Insurance CE Credits Online
When comparing online CE platforms, look for these features:
- Accreditation for your jurisdiction
- Transparent pricing
- Large course library
- Reviews/testimonials
- Ease of reporting.
In Canada, you’ll want a provider that operates under provincial accreditation rules (or is transparent about jurisdictions where course approval is possible).
What Makes PNC Learning Different
- Plain-language, real-world insurance-industry focused content (not generic)
- Accredited course provider in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba; course-approved in Ontario.
- A catalogue of CE bundles and individual courses designed for brokers/agents across Canada.
- Transparent about jurisdictions where accreditation is available (so you’re never taking hours that don’t count)
- Exclusive learning communities for licensed professionals, gaining access to private, members-only communities where brokers across Canada share real-case insights, industry updates, career advice, and practical tools.
- Certification storage keeps all CE certificates organized in a dedicated digital folder so you can quickly provide proof during renewals or random audits
If you want to get your CE done efficiently, PNC Learning is your trusted partner.
I was very lucky to choose PNC Learning as my course provider for the Alberta General Insurance Level 1 exam- I passed it on my first try! (…)~Vladimir Rusanov
Tips to Maximize CE Credits (and Your Career)
- Choose CE topics aligned with your niche. E.g., commercial lines underwriting, ethics, risk management. These not only earn credits but also build your advisory value.
- Complete CE early in your cycle. Avoid the last-minute rush and give yourself time for audit or re-take if needed. Most provincial regulators do not audit every broker or agent. Instead, CE audits are typically randomized, meaning only a selection of licensees are asked to provide proof of their completed CE hours during each cycle.
- Use CE time as upskilling time. Don’t just do the minimum. Use CE to deepen your expertise and position yourself for promotion or specialty lines.
- Track your certificates digitally and physically. Many regulators conduct random audits, and you’ll want to produce evidence quickly. PNC tracks your credits/certifications making it easy.
- Stay aware of regulatory changes. CE requirements may evolve (for example, B.C.’s program updated effective June 1, 2025).
Earn CE Credits Stress-Free With PNC Learning
Maintaining your CE requirements doesn’t need to be confusing or time-consuming. By understanding your jurisdiction’s requirements, selecting an accredited online provider, tracking and reporting your completion, you can stay compliant and move your career forward. With PNC Learning, you have a trusted partner that offers accredited, flexible, and plain-language CE courses designed for busy insurance professionals.
Ready to get started? Explore our CE courses and bundles today, or sign up for a free trial and complete your next renewal with confidence.