Vermont 2012 License Renewals

Vermont resident and non-resident individual adjuster license renewals may be submitted online starting January 6, 2012, by clicking on “Renew your license” in the left menu.

Adjuster, Appraiser, Consultant, Public Adjuster, Surplus Lines Broker, Reinsurance Intermediary, and Life Settlement Broker licenses will expire on March 31, 2012. Retaliatory fees apply to non-resident licenses and will be reflected on the license renewal invoice.

License applications for the above license types that are submitted between now and March 1, 2012, will expire on March 31, 2012, and the licensee will receive an invoice for the renewal fee prior to the expiration date of that license. Applications received at the Insurance Department AFTER March 1, 2012, will not be issued effective until April 1, 2012, unless specifically requested.

Note that licenses will lapse for producers who fail to pay the renewal fee by the expiration date. Licenses of workers’ compensation adjusters will also be non-renewed because of failure to complete continuing education requirements. There is no grace period for license renewals and licenses cannot be reactivated. Once the license has lapsed, the individual or business entity must reapply for a new license by submitting a new application, application fee and license fee.

Production System Downtime to Support Uniform Application Updates

NIPR will be implementing the newly adopted versions of the NAIC Uniform Applications on January 13, 2012. In order to complete this implementation, license application and license renewal services will be disabled from 7:30 p.m. ET on January 12, 2012, until 7:00 a.m. ET on January 13, 2012. When services are restored, the updated versions of the Uniform Applications for license applications and license renewals will be in place.

During this downtime:

• License applications and license renewals may not be submitted to any jurisdiction during the system downtime.
• All other services will remain available.

Georgia Immigration Affidavit Requirement

Effective January 1, 2012, the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner is changing its procedures regarding the verification of lawful presence of persons applying for all licenses, permits, registrations, and certificates.

In accordance with the Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act of 2011, which amends Chapter 36 of Title 50, the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner is requiring EVERY individual, corporation, partnership, or other business entity submitting a license application to submit the following documents along with the application:

(a) a signed and notarized copy of a Citizenship Affidavit form; and

(b) a copy of one secure and verifiable identification document.

All applicants will be required to submit these documents before the application can be processed.

The Citizenship Affidavit form is available for download from the state website at http://www.gainsurance.org/Agents/Forms-Agents.aspx. The form includes as an attachment the list of acceptable identification documents.

If an applicant is a corporation, partnership, or other business entity, an authorized employee or officer of the entity must complete and submit these documents.

If applying electronically, an applicant may complete the Citizenship Affidavit form, have it notarized, scan the form and identification documents, and send them as an email attachment to agents@oci.ga.gov. If submitting a paper application, submit the two required documents together with the application by mail.

The Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner is required by O.C.G.A. §50-36-1 to verify through the Federal Systematic Alien Verification of Entitlement (SAVE) program the immigration status of an applicant who is not a United States citizen.

Please contact the Office of Commissioner of Insurance at (404) 656-2101 with any questions.

North Carolina Appointment Renewals

The North Carolina Department of Insurance is preparing to open the 2012 appointment renewal period and will electronically process appointment renewals for the following license types:

• Producer (all six major lines of authority)
• Auto Physical Damage
• Medicare Supplement/Long Term Care
• Limited Representative
• Title Insurance
• Credit Agent
• County Farm Mutual

The invoice and listing of appointments will be available online beginning February 1, 2012, and must be processed and paid electronically through NIPR’s electronic options. Renewal payments may not be sent directly to the Department.

Terminations for appointments that are not to be renewed must be received by NIPR no later than 5 p.m. January 25, 2012, to allow sufficient time for posting to the Producer Database (PDB) before the renewal billings are created. Any appointment that is active on PDB when the invoices are created will be included on the invoice and payment will be required.

Appointment terminations can be submitted through Vertafore's Compliance Express.

Appointments and Terminations submitted after 5 p.m. January 25, 2012, will be held until processing resumes on February 1, 2012. Terminations submitted during this time period will appear on the invoice and the annual appointment fee for them must be paid.

Invoices must be paid in full; companies cannot terminate or cross off any licensees on the appointment renewal invoice. Invoice payments are due by March 31, 2012, but a short grace period will allow payments to be accepted until May 16. If payment is not made by May 16, 2012, all appointments will be cancelled.

Wisconsin Annual Appointment Billing Reminder

The Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance has announced that invoices for filing the required resident and non-resident annual initial and renewal billings will be mailed on or shortly after January 1, 2012.

Companies should access the state website at http://www.oci.wi.gov to complete the payment process and also to download a list of agents associated with each invoice. The list includes names of producers who were initially appointed in the previous year as well as those whose appointments are being renewed.

All appointments not terminated by December 31, 2011 will appear on the renewal billing. Companies may not terminate appointments from the invoice once it is issued and must pay the amount billed.

Wisconsin requires all payments to be completed by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). All other forms of payment will be returned unprocessed.

Terminations can be easily and efficiently submitted through Sircon Compliance Express. Compliance Express also offers the "Terminate Appointments from a List" service, which allows you to review a list of your company's actively appointed producers in Wisconsin and terminate unneeded appointments.

Please direct any questions you may have to the Agent Licensing section of the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance at ociagentlicensing@wisconsin.gov.

Nebraska Agency Branch Licensing

Effective May 1, 2012, the Nebraska Department of Insurance will no longer require insurance agency branch locations to be licensed.

Agencies must maintain a list of branches and all licensed producers at each location. Branch locations may be registered with the Nebraska Department of Insurance, and the Department will keep records of branch locations and telephone numbers. However, a separate license for each branch location is no longer required.

Active branch office agency licenses will expire on April 30, 2012, and will not be renewed.

Georgia Annual License Renewals

Georgia insurance license renewals for 2012 are now available for online processing. All agent and agency renewals are due November 1, 2011. Renewals received November 2, 2011 through December 31, 2011, will be accepted but must include a $15.00 late filing fee.

Georgia now allows licensees to electronically attach documents to their license renewals that are submitted using www.sircon.com/georgia.

Licenses can be renewed online through the Sircon website at http://www.sircon.com or through the agent's personal subscription to Sircon ProducerEDGE.

Once the insurance department approves the license renewal, the licensee may print the license through Sircon's Compliance Express or via the licensee's subscription to Sircon ProducerEDGE. This service is free for up to 30 days for license renewals completed through Compliance Express. Duplicate license copies can be printed at any other time at a cost of $5.50.

Subscribers to Sircon ProducerEDGE can print licenses for free at any time by accessing the their Sircon ProducerEDGE account and clicking on the "Print a license" link.

Note that renewals received after December 31, 2011 will not be accepted by the Department.

West Virginia Continuing Education Services

Prometric has partnered with Sircon Corporation to offer a comprehensive solution to the continuing education needs of West Virginia. Effective September 20, 2011, licensees can look up education courses/credits or request a continuing education transcript through www.sircon.com.

Texas Legislative Changes

The Texas Department of Insurance has issued Commissioner's Bulletin #B-0037-11 regarding recently enacted legislation. The bulletin provides brief summaries of bills and other information affecting individuals and regulated entities licensed in Texas. The bulletin is available on the state web site at http://www.tdi.texas.gov/bulletins/2011/cc37.html.

The legislative changes may affect Texas adjusters, producers and agencies in the following ways:

• Creates a nine-member Adjuster Advisory Board to advise the commissioner on matters related to the licensing, testing and continuing education of licensed adjusters.
• Changes continuing education requirements for agents selling annuities from 4 hours to 8 hours biennially.
• Removes the requirement that a corporation or partnership must register with the Secretary of State's office as a prerequisite to obtaining an insurance license.
• Requires business entities to be licensed as adjusters.
• Requires a resident of Canada to successfully pass the adjuster exam and comply with other applicable portions of the code in order to be licensed in Texas.
• Updates definitions that apply to adjuster licensing.
• Adds to the list of people excepted from insurance adjuster licensing requirements.
• Viatical and life settlement contracts have been combined under the label of Life Settlements in a new chapter of the Texas Insurance Code.
• Requires a person acting as a life settlement provider or broker to be licensed.
• Provides for the expiration and renewal of a life settlement broker license and requires fifteen hours of continuing education training biennially.

The Department encourages you to refer to the full text of the bills to assist in your compliance efforts.

Please contact the Texas Department of Insurance, Licensing Division at (512) 322-3505 or email License@tdi.state.tx.us with any questions regarding the legislative changes.

Minnesota 2011 License Renewals

Minnesota license renewal postcards have been mailed to all individuals and agencies scheduled to renew on October 31, 2011. Renewals must be processed online at http://www.sircon.com/minnesota or through an individual ProducerEDGE account at http://www.produceredge.com/minnesota.

The Department of Commerce Licensing Division offers the following reminders to producers and adjusters:

• Adjusters and non-exempt producers must have completed 24 hours of continuing education, including at least 3 hours in ethics.
• The license renewal date will change to the last day of the producer's birth month.
• Adjusters must now pay a $35 technology surcharge.
• All lines of authority expire when the producer license expires.

Lines of authority that were added during the license renewal period, or in the weeks leading up to it, will not be reflected on the Sircon renewal system. If a line of authority was added after the renewal record was generated, it will still expire on the renewal deadline, but it will not appear on the record when renewing the license. If you encounter this situation, please call the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Licensing Division, at 651-296-6319. A producer should renew their license before adding a new line of authority to avoid this situation. The new line will then be effective until the next renewal deadline.

Producers who want to add a major line of authority to an existing limited lines license should renew the limited lines license first. Otherwise, they will be required to comply with continuing education requirements for the new major line before renewing the license.

For agency renewals, the agency's EIN must be entered into the system as it appears on the renewal postcard, even if the EIN on the postcard is incorrect. If the EIN on the postcard is incorrect, then AFTER submitting the renewal, go to http://www.commerce.state.mn.us/EINSubmission.html and provide the correct EIN. If the postcard is no longer available or you did not receive one, enter the agency's correct EIN. If the system then indicates that no renewal for that EIN can be found, it may be that the EIN on file for the agency with the Department of Commerce is incorrect. In this case, contact the Department of Commerce, Licensing Division at 651-296-6319, or send an e-mail to Licensing.Commerce@state.mn.us with NEED POSTCARD EIN as the subject. In the body of the message, include the full agency name and license number.

Please contact the Department of Commerce, Licensing Division at 651-296-6319 with any questions regarding license renewals.

Minnesota State Government Returns to Work

Minnesota electronic services through Sircon are available as of 7 am ET, Friday, July 22, 2011. Any transaction that was submitted during the shutdown and prior to 7 am on July 22 will be declined and will need to be resubmitted.

Minnesota State Government Returning to Work

Sircon has been notified that the Minnesota State Government will recall employees beginning at 6 a.m. on Thursday, July 21, 2011. All state employees will be asked to report to work at their normal start time or a time as directed by their agency. We will keep you informed as details are released.

Electronic services through Sircon are anticipated to again be available on the morning of Friday, July 22, 2011.

Oklahoma Insurance Department Licensing Services Conversion

The Oklahoma Insurance Department has completed their conversion to a new database licensing system. Electronic license applications, license renewals and appointment processing services through Sircon are once again available.

Users can now access the following services through the Oklahoma Insurance Department website; they are not available directly through Sircon:

• Association maintenance services
• Individual name changes
• Address changes including email
• License printing
• Agent/agency lookup services
• Continuing education transcript services

License numbers of some business entities changed with the conversion. Oklahoma indicated they would send a notification to business entities affected by the change with directions on how to obtain the new license number.

Massachusetts Implements Continuing Education Compliance Program

The Massachusetts Division of Insurance has issued Bulletin 2011-12 to notify resident insurance producers of the Division’s review of continuing education (CE) compliance status and the implementation of a compliance program for those producers lacking the necessary CE credits.

The Division contracts with Prometric to maintain CE records of resident insurance producers. Prometric has informed the Division that a significant number of licensed producers have not completed all CE requirements for past compliance periods. Licensees can check their CE credits on Prometric’s website.

The Division has indicated that all licensed resident insurance producers have until December 31, 2011, to comply with any outstanding CE requirements. The Division has also indicated it will not take any enforcement action against such non-compliant licensees during 2011.

Resident insurance producers who are lacking the necessary CE credits will receive a letter from Prometric informing them of the number of CE credits they must complete by December 31, 2011, to become compliant. Producers will fall into one of two groups based on their CE compliance date:

• For licensees whose current three-year CE compliance period ends on or before June 30, 2011, the licensee will be required to complete the number of CE credits outstanding from the licensee’s most recent complete three-year CE compliance period.
• For licensees whose current three-year CE compliance period ends between July 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011, the licensee will be required to complete the number of CE credits outstanding from the current CE compliance period, as well as the immediately previous complete three-year CE compliance period.

Regardless of the total number of CE credits owed, no non-compliant licensee will be required to complete more than 105 CE credits by December 31, 2011, as part of the Division’s CE compliance program.

On or after January 1, 2012, the Division will again review the CE compliance status of all licensed resident insurance producers, and may take enforcement action against any licensee who is out of compliance with CE requirements at that time. The Division will consider the licensee’s total number of outstanding CE credits from January 1, 2004, through the present date when evaluating a licensee’s CE compliance for potential enforcement action.

Please direct any CE credit questions to Prometric at (800) 742-8731.

A copy of Bulletin 2011-12 is available on the state website at Bulletin 2011-12; Review of Continuing Education Compliance of Resident Insurance Producers Continuing Education Compliance Program; Issued June 3, 2011.

Oklahoma Issues Legislative Update for 2011

The Oklahoma Insurance Department released detailed information on June 1 regarding legislative, administrative code, and Insurance Department changes which may affect producers, adjusters and continuing education providers in the upcoming months.

Licensing changes effective June 20, 2011, apply to:

• Renewal cycles
• Pre-licensing, continuing education, and application requirements
• Lines of authority offered on the Adjuster license

Bail Bonds Licensing changes effective in September 2011 apply to:

• Renewal cycle
• Pre-licensing, continuing education, and application requirements
• License and renewal fees

Licensing changes effective August 28, 2011, apply to:

• Licensing and appointment fees
• Updates to certain Surplus Lines and Adjuster licensing requirements and procedures
• Changes to certain CE provider requirements

The full presentation of the upcoming changes is available in the Special Notices section of the Oklahoma Insurance Department website: http://www.ok.gov/oid/Licensing_and_Education/Special_Notices.html

Please contact the Oklahoma Insurance Department at (405) 521-3916 or licensing@oid.ok.gov with any questions regarding the legislative changes.

Ohio Department of Insurance Licensing System Database Conversion

The Ohio Department of Insurance has completed their conversion to a new database licensing system. All electronic license application and renewal services are available.

Access to CE transcripts will resume on Friday, May 20, 2011.

The following services may now be accessed through the Ohio Department of Insurance website using the link in the left-hand column:

• Association maintenance services: Submit changes/updates via Notification of Changes for Business Entity.
• Agent/Agency Locator Service: This service includes the licensee's license number and NPN.
• Address changes including email: Submit changes/updates via Agent/Agency Services.

California Announces New Examination Scheduling Service

PSI Services, LLC, has begun scheduling examinations to be taken on or after April 2, 2011, for individuals seeking licensure by the California Department of Insurance (CDI) Producer Licensing Bureau.

Instructions for scheduling examinations are posted on PSI's website at http://candidate.psiexams.com. Exams may be scheduled either online or by telephone.

CDI's current examination scheduling service at https://cdisecure.exambuilder.com is still in use for scheduling license examinations taking place through March 30, 2011. Individuals may also schedule examinations through March 30, 2011 as part of the online resident license application at www.sircon.com.

In addition to the current CDI examination sites, PSI will provide additional sites and other test development services for CDI. Individuals will be able to take their qualifying license examination and obtain the required fingerprints at the PSI sites. There will be a $30 convenience fee to take an examination at the PSI locations.

Information about the current and new examination process is available on CDI's website at Insurance License Examination Information.

Please direct any questions you may have to CDI's Producer Licensing Bureau, Examination Section at (916) 492-3570.

North Carolina Business Entity License Numbers

North Carolina business entity license renewals are due by March 31, 2011.

The NPN information listed in the North Carolina State notification (dated February 17, 2011, and mailed to business entities as a a renewal reminder) was incorrect and should not be used to complete the renewal application. For North Carolina resident business entities renewals, the business entity license number is the FEIN number entered without dashes. For non-resident business entity renewals, use the business entity's resident state license number. Business entities should NOT use the incorrect NPN number from the North Carolina mailed notification. Please direct any questions to the North Carolina Agent Services Division at (919) 807-6800.

Mississippi Adjuster License Renewals

The Mississippi Insurance Department (MID) will mail independent and business entity adjuster license renewal invoices the week of April 4-8, 2011. Licenses may be renewed online through Sircon beginning April 4, 2011. Independent and business entity adjuster licenses, once renewed, will be effective June 1, 2011, to May 31, 2012.

Independent adjusters who need to provide verification of continuing education (CE) may fax CE certificates to (601) 359-1951. Home state licensure will be verified by the MID on the national producer licensing database for all nonresident independent and business entity license renewal applications received. The MID will not accept applications printed from the state website in place of the renewal application.

Note that a late fee of 50% of the renewal fee will be assessed to all renewal invoices received after May 31, 2011.

North Dakota Nonresident Business Entity Surplus Lines Renewals

Effective immediately, North Dakota nonresident Surplus Lines Business Entities are currently unable to submit electronic renewals due to a technical issue at the NIPR Gateway. NIPR states that applicants may resume submitting online renewals for Surplus Lines on March 10, 2011, once the issue is resolved.

West Virginia Surplus Lines Renewals

The NIPR has notified us that West Virginia Surplus Lines licenses are not being loaded to the PDB. Therefore, licensees holding this license type are unable to renew. The NIPR is working to correct the issue as quickly as possible and expects resolution prior to the end of the renewal period, May 31st. We will send another notification once NIPR notifies us that Surplus Lines licenses have been properly loaded to PDB.

Washington Adopts New License Processing Rules

The Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) has adopted new rules that apply to all licensees, insurance education providers, and insurers. The new rules require all licensing processes to be completed online.

Licensees must provide a valid e-mail address to the OIC, which will be used for all communication. The OIC will no longer print or mail license documents, such as licenses, appointments, affiliations, or renewal notices. Licensees will have the ability to self-print these documents from the OIC website.

Paper processing will be phased out starting with license renewals on June 1, 2011, and license applications on July 1, 2011. All license renewals and applications must be completed online and can be completed via the state website. Nonresident applications and renewals may be processed online through Compliance Express.

Insurance companies must complete new appointments, appointment renewals and appointment terminations online starting May 1, 2011. Insurance education providers must submit education courses for approval by electronic format, such as an e-mail with attachment, fax, or compact disc (CD), starting February 28, 2011.

West Virginia Insurance Producer Licensing Changes

The West Virginia Office of the Insurance Commissioner recently converted to a new web-based licensing system. As a result of the conversion, an individual producer's West Virginia license number is now the same as the producer's National Producer Number (NPN).

In addition, the State is moving from a fixed annual renewal date to a biennial renewal date based on the individual's birth month. After the current renewal cycle ends May 31, 2011, all licenses will be renewed for a minimum of two years and the license expiration date will transition to the last day of the licensee's birth month. The next renewal period will begin 24-35 months later, depending on the licensee's birth month. The expiration date will be listed on the renewed license, and no renewal date will be less than two years.

To view a renewal schedule chart for existing licenses, access the following link: http://www.wvinsurance.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=OoV9CyEQT84%3d&tabid=503&mid=1225

The conversion to birth month renewal applies only to producers and viatical settlement brokers. Company adjusters, crop adjusters, public adjusters and surplus lines licensees will continue to renew licenses annually between March 1 and May 31.Business entities will continue to renew licenses annually between March 1 and June 30.

Please direct questions regarding these changes to the West Virginia Agents Licensing and Education section by email at Agent.Licensing@wvinsurance.gov or by calling (304) 558-0610.

Nebraska Business Entity Annual License Renewals

The Nebraska Department of Insurance has mailed its annual renewal billing notice to Nebraska business entities announcing that licenses expire April 30, 2011.

Non-resident business entity renewals may be processed online through Sircon. Resident business entities may be renewed by mailing or faxing the renewal form and fee included in the notice to the Department. If adding a new designated producer to the business entity license include Form 9002A. The fax number is (402) 471-4610.

The business entity is asked to clarify the proper legal and/or Doing Business As (DBA) name associated with the entity license on the renewal notice. If the business entity has been licensed under a DBA name, hereafter the entity license will be issued in the entity's current legal name. If a single corporation owns more than one business entity, all entities will be licensed under the same legal name. If the business entity wishes to operate under a DBA name, the DBA name will be listed on the license in addition to the legal name.

Renewed licenses are effective May 1, 2011 to April 30, 2012.

Please direct questions regarding business entity license renewals to the Nebraska Department of Insurance at (402) 471-2201.

Sircon Services Interruption Arkansas License Renewals

Nonresident license renewals for the state of Arkansas are currently unavailable through Sircon. We anticipate that the issue will be corrected on February 11, 2011. You may submit your February renewals through Sircon beginning on that date.

If you need to process a renewal prior to February 11, you may process them on the Arkansas website with a credit card: https://leo.aithent.com.

Delaware Crop Insurance Adjusters and Producers

The Delaware Insurance Department has issued Regulation 506, which applies to all persons acting as a crop adjuster or crop producer in the State of Delaware. The regulation became effective January 1, 2011 and requires the following:

• Individuals currently licensed as Producers for Property who are selling crop Insurance must complete an amendment Form 2C and fax it to the Department at 302-736-7906 to add the Crop line of authority to their existing license.
• Individuals currently licensed as Adjusters for Casualty who are adjusting crop claims must complete an amendment Form 2C and fax it to the Department at 302-736-7906. Crop Adjusters must also submit a copy of their CAPP Card (Crop Adjuster Proficiency Program) with their amendment request.

The request for amendment for producers and adjusters must be received by March 31, 2011. There is no fee involved.

Note that resident crop producer applicants are required to take the Delaware crop exam in order to qualify for licensing. The exam is available through Pearson VUE, Delaware's examination vendor. Resident and non-resident adjusters are required to submit a copy of their CAPP card in lieu of an exam.

Paper applications for the new lines will be accepted until February 11, 2011. After this date applications must be submitted electronically, and may be submitted through Sircon's Compliance Express service.

Delaware Workers' Compensation Adjusters

Delaware has issued Regulation 507, which applies to all persons acting as Workers' Compensation Adjusters in Delaware. As a result of the new regulation, the Workers' Compensation line of authority was added to all individuals currently licensed as an adjuster for the casualty line of authority. Licensees were not required to submit an amendment request. The regulation became effective January 1, 2011.

Resident adjuster license applicants who apply for the Worker's Compensation line of authority will be required to take the Workers' Compensation Adjuster Exam. The exam is available through Pearson VUE, Delaware's examination vendor. Non-resident adjusters who are qualified for Workers' Compensation from another state may apply for the new line of authority without testing. Applications may be submitted through Sircon's Compliance Express service.

Vermont License Renewals

Vermont resident and non-resident individual and business entity producer license renewals may be submitted online through Sircon starting January 5, 2011.

Vermont producer, producer business entity, bail bond agent, limited lines producer, limited lines business entity, title agent, and managing general agent licenses expire on March 31, 2011. Retaliatory fees apply to non-resident licenses and will be reflected on the license renewal invoice.

License applications submitted between now and March 1, 2011 expire on March 31, 2011, and the licensee will receive an invoice for the renewal fee prior to the expiration date of that license.

All applications received at the Insurance Department AFTER March 1, 2011 will not be issued effective until April 1, 2011, unless specifically requested.

Please note that licenses will lapse for producers who fail to pay the renewal fee by the expiration date. Licenses will also be non-renewed because of failure to complete continuing education requirements. There is no grace period for license renewals and licenses cannot be reactivated. Once the license has lapsed, the individual or business entity must reapply for a new license by submitting a new application, application fee and license fee.

Arkansas Nonresident License Renewals Currently Unavailable

Nonresident license renewals for the state of Arkansas are currently unavailable.

Applications submitted prior to January 1, 2011 and not yet approved will be held in Awaiting Validation (AV) status until January 1, 2011.

Online renewal submissions will become available through Sircon January 1, 2011, at which time the new 2-year renewal fees of $75.00 will apply.

Licenses that expire prior to January 1, 2011, will need to be renewed directly through the Arkansas Department of Insurance.

California Announces Six Month Delay in Implementing Licensing Requirement

The California Department of Insurance is delaying the implementation of a new licensing requirement for six months. The requirement, contained within Assemby Bill 2782, mandates that existing fire and casualty licensees who want to continuing selling health insurance must obtain a separate license by January 1, 2011.

A six-month extension has been granted, meaning that fire and casualty broker-agents licensed prior to December 31, 2010 will now have until June 30, 2011, to obtain the accident and health agent license necessary to continue to sell accident and health insurance. The extension applies to individuals and business entities as well as California residents and nonresidents.

The department indicated that the decision to delay implementation resulted from the fact that AB 2782 was only signed by the Governor in late September 2010, and many of the affected fire and casualty broker-agents are just now becoming aware of the new requirement. The number of broker-agents impacted by the new law is significantly more than was originally estimated and the Department recognizes it may be difficult for these indivividuals to obtain a license by the January 1, 2011 deadline.

When applying for an accident and health agent license, individual California residents currently licensed as fire and casualty broker-agents will need to complete 20 hours of prelicensing education covering accident and health insurance as well as pass a qualifying examination consisting of 75 questions. As current licensees, the fingerprinting requirement and the 12-hour training requirement on ethics and the California Insurance Code will be waived. Detailed information for obtaining an accident and health license for both California residents and nonresidents and for both individuals and business entities is available on the Department website.

Note that individuals who are not licensed as either an accident and health agent or a fire and casualty broker-agent as of January 1, 2011, must obtain the accident and health agent license beginning on January 1, 2011, in order to transact accident and health insurance.

Please direct any questions to the California Department of Insurance, Producer Licensing Bureau via email at E-Mail Inquiry Services or call the Department's Producer Licensing Toll-Free Hotline at (800) 967-9331.

Michigan Temporarily Discontinues Life and Variable Annuities Combination Exam

The Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR) has announced it will discontinue offering the combination Life and Variable Annuities (16-84) Producer combination licensing examination. This decision was made following a recent examination review workshop in which it was determined that the current examination requires an update in content to adequately test for minimum entry level competence.

Candidates will be allowed to take the Life and Variable Annuities combination examination (16-84) through December 8, 2010. After December 8, 2010, the combination examination will no longer be offered while the examination content is under redevelopment. Candidates will be required to take the Life and Variable Annuities licensing examinations separately.

The Michigan OFIR asks that any questions regarding examination availability be directed to Paige Colley, Testing and Education Specialist, at (877) 999-6442.

To schedule an examination(s) contact Prometric at (800) 742-8736 or go to their website at www.prometric.com/michigan.

North Carolina Announces Changes to the Adjuster License Process

The Agent Services Division of the North Carolina Department of Insurance has announced changes to its adjuster licensing process, effective January 1, 2011. Changes are as follows:

Concerning Company/Independent and Hail Adjusters Alike:

• The Agent Services Division will issue one final quarterly billing in January 2011 for adjuster license fees and terminations processed from October 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010.
• Afterward, the Agent Services Division no longer will issue quarterly and annual billings to adjusting companies for annual license fees.
• Licenses will lapse for adjusters who fail to pay the annual license fee.
• Effective January 1, 2011, the current Agent Services Division procedures for appointment and termination forms will be eliminated.

Concerning Company/Independent Adjusters Only:

• Individuals applying for a license will pay $125.00, which includes a $50.00 registration fee and $75.00 license fee.
• The annual license fee of $75.00 is due on or before April 1 each year. The Agent Services Division will notify individual adjusters by email requiring the annual payment to be submitted electronically.

Concerning Hail Adjusters Only:

• Individuals applying for a license will pay $70.00, which includes a $50.00 registration fee and $20.00 license fee.
• The annual license fee of $20.00 is due on or before April 1 each year. The Agent Services Division will notify individual adjusters by email requiring the annual payment to be submitted electronically.

Note that email addresses are required from all licensees. The Department reminds all licensees to verify that their current email address is on file.

Please direct any questions about the process changes to the North Carolina Department of Insurance Agent Services Division at (919) 807-6800.

California Issues Notice Regarding Licensing Changes

The California Department of Insurance has issued a Notice announcing that Assembly Bill (AB) 2782 (Chapter 400, Statutues of 2010) will become effective Janaury 1, 2011. This bill made several changes to the California Insurance Code to bring the state closer to uniformity with other states' insurance producer licensing laws. The following outlines the changes taking effect January 1, 2011:

• Fire and casualty broker-agents will be required to hold an accident and health agent license in order to transact disability insurance.

Current law allows licensed fire and casualty broker-agents to transact disability insurance under the authority of their license. Beginning January 1, 2011, fire and casualty broker-agents must hold an accident and health agent license to continue to transact disability insurance. This new requirement applies to California resident and nonresident individuals and business entities.

Individual California residents currently licensed as fire and casualty broker-agents who apply for an accident and health agent license will need to complete 20 hours of prelicensing education covering accident and health insurance as well as pass a qualifying examination. As current licensees, the fingerprinting requirement and the 12-hour training requirement on ethics and the California Insurance Code will be waived.

Note: "Disability insurance" as it applies to this requirement are those lines of insurance contained in Section 1626(a)(2) of the California Insurance Code (CIC) which defines accident and health insurance as insurance coverage for sickness, bodily injury, or accidental death and may include benefits for disability income.

• Separate licenses will be issued to property broker-agents and casualty broker-agents.
• The combined property and casualty broker-agent license will continue to be issued.
• Continuing Education hours for current resident fire and casualty broker-agents licensed for less than four years is being reduced.

Beginning January 1, 2011, new applicants for what is currently known as the fire and casualty broker-agent license will apply for a property broker-agent license and a casualty broker-agent license. When applying for these licenses on the same application the fee for both of these licenses will total $128.

The prelicensing education requirement for individuals who are California residents will remain at 40 hours in addition to 12 hours on ethics and the California Insurance Code. These applicants will be required to pass the same qualifying examination that fire and casualty broker-agents do now. The CE requirement for these individuals will be 24 hours each two-year license term.

The Department of Insurance expects the majority of applicants to still apply for both the property broker-agent license and the casualty broker-agent license on the same application. However, beginning on January 1, 2011, individuals and business entity applicants may apply for only the property broker-agent license or the casualty broker-agent license. When applying separately, the application fee is $128 for each license type.

For individuals who are California residents, the prelicensing education requirement for either of these license types will be 20 hours on the applicable subject matter in addition to 12 hours on ethics and the California Insurance Code. For both license types the CE requirement will be 24 hours each two-year license term.

Applicants can apply for these new license types through the California Department of Insurance HUwebsiteUH, beginning December 6, 2010. The new license types will also become available through Sircon.

Please direct any questions you may have to the California Department of Insurance, Producer Licensing Bureau via email at HUE-Mail Inquiry ServicesUH or call the Department's Producer Licensing Toll-Free Hotline at (800) 967-9331.

Hawaii Announces New Resident Fingerprint Requirement

The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Insurance Division has announced that beginning November 1, 2010, all applicants for an insurance license who are residents of Hawaii must submit a full set of fingerprints as a requirement of licensing. Residents with active licenses are not affected. Applicants who are required to take an examination may submit fingerprints after passing the exam.

Individuals who submit applications for two licenses simultaneously (e.g., producer and surplus lines broker), need only be fingerprinted once. However, individuals who submit applications on different dates will be required to be fingerprinted again.

Fingerprints are taken by FieldPrint, a vendor for the Insurance Division. To schedule an appointment, call Fieldprint's toll-free phone number at (877) 614-4364 or access their website at http://www.fieldprinthawaii.com. A fee will be charged to cover fingerprinting and related state and federal fees.

The Insurance Division will no longer collect the $40 fee for criminal history record check and fingerprinting from residents or nonresidents after November 1, 2010.

Please direct any questions you may have to the Licensing Branch, Insurance Division at (808) 586-2788.

South Dakota Insurance Licensing Services

Beginning October 1, 2010, the South Dakota Division of Insurance will calculate expiration dates for producer and surplus lines broker licenses using the end of the licensee's birth month. In addition, non-residents and surplus lines brokers will switch from a one year to a two year license term. Currently, these license expiration dates are calculated using a fixed date.

On October 1, 2010, new producer and surplus lines broker licenses will be issued as follows:

On October 11, 2010, South Dakota will convert existing producer and surplus lines broker licensees to end of birth month expiration dates:

For Resident Producers, the CE Assigned Review Date will also be changed so that it becomes the same as the License Expiration Date. This is the only change to Continuing Education requirements.

Surplus Lines Broker and Non-Resident Producer renewals with a 1/31/2011 expiration date will open 12/1/2010.

On the morning of Monday, October 11, the PDB will contain the current fixed date renewal dates. It is anticipated that the PDB will be updated with the converted license renewal dates on or before Monday, October 18, 2010.

Minnesota Insurance Licensing Services

On July 1, 2010, the "Licensing Bill," which was signed by the Governor on May 12, 2009, took effect. The Licensing Bill impacts pre-licensing education, continuing education, fingerprinting, and renewal dates for individual insurance producers and adjusters. For both producer and adjuster license types, renewal dates will be moved from a date certain (October 31) to the last day of the licensee’s birth month. A transition plan is included in the legislation.

As part of the transition plan, all active Minnesota individual licenses with a current expiration date of 10/31/2010 will still renew on 10/31/2010; similarly, licenses with an expiration date of 10/31/2011 will still renew on 10/31/2011. Upon renewing, a new expiration date will be assigned based on the licensee’s birth month. Business Entity license renewals are unaffected. New individual licenses issued after August 1, 2010, will have the new birth month renewal.

Also, in accordance with Minn. Stat. §16E.22, a new OET Surcharge Fee will be charged to license classes that do not require continuing education for initial and renewal applications. This surcharge is being collected on behalf of the Minnesota Office of Enterprise Technology to fund a statewide electronic licensing system. Please call 651-556-8005 for further information.

The OET Surcharge Fee is:

• License fee is $0.10 - $50: Surcharge Fee is $5
• License fee is $50.10 - $1,500: Surcharge Fee is 10%
• License fee is more than $1,500: Surcharge Fee is $150

For renewals, the OET Surcharge Fee is based on the original renewal fee, not the late renewal fee. Please note that the Technology Fee will continue to be charged for all license classes that require continuing education for initial and renewal applications. Effective July 1, 2010, the Resident Independent Adjuster and Resident Public Adjuster license classes will have continuing education requirements and will be assessed the Technology Fee.

In support of implementing the new law, the State’s PDB data was updated. License qualifications available through Compliance Express were directly impacted by the data maintenance activities. The following highlights the changes:

License Type Description	Available Qualifications Through June 30, 2010	Qualifications Effective July 1, 2010
Independent Adjuster	Adjuster - Fire & Allied Lines Adjuster - Casualty Adjuster - Multiple Lines	Indep Adj Property & Casualty Indep Adj Workers Comp Indep Adj Crop Insurance
Public Adjuster	Adjuster - Fire & Allied Lines Adjuster - Casualty Adjuster - Multiple Lines	Public Adj Property & Casualty Public Adj Workers Comp Public Adj Crop Insurance
Catastrophe Adjuster	Adjuster - Fire & Allied Lines Adjuster - Casualty Adjuster - Multiple Lines	Cat Adj Property & Casualty Cat Adj Crop Insurance

The qualifications on the above active licenses were converted to the new related Property & Casualty qualification.

Reinstatements are now available for the individual adjuster license classes except Catastrophe Adjuster. For adjuster licenses that converted on July 1st, reinstatements will be available electronically this fall following the October 31st, 2010 renewal. For licenses that expired before July 1 with the old qualifications, the reinstatement request must be submitted by paper to the Department. To reinstate an expired license, the request must be submitted within 12 months of the previous renewal date, and a penalty in the amount of double the unpaid renewal fee is required.

Idaho MGA License Renewals

Effective immediately, the state of Idaho is requiring Managing General Agent (MGA) license renewals to be submitted by paper instead of online. To process your renewal on paper, access the Department of Insurance website at http://www.doi.idaho.gov/licensing/mga_renewal.aspx for details. The MGA license expires on June 30th of every year.

Washington Nonresident Producer License Renewals now Available Online through Sircon

Washington individual nonresident producer license renewals are now available online through Sircon for the following lines:

• Life
• Disability
• Property
• Casualty
• Personal Lines
• Variable

The nonresident license must be active for the requested lines of authority. Renewals must be submitted no earlier than 60 days prior to the license expiration and no fewer than 10 days prior to the license expiration date. Name and address corrections should be completed prior to renewal and must match current PDB data.

The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner does not print or mail renewal licenses. Licensees will need to register for the Washington Online Services to print their own license. To register for Washington's online services go to https://fortress.wa.gov/oic/onlineservices/Login.aspx?module=LSE.

Producer licenses expire every two years on the licensee's birth date. The first renewal occurs one year after the individual's birth date after the license is issued.

Virginia Announces Online Printing of Producer Licenses

The Virginia Bureau of Insurance issued Administrative Letter 2010-02 on March 15, 2010, announcing that insurance producer licenses may now be printed online. The Bureau of Insurance has been mailing a paper license to the producer when the license is approved. Effective immediately, the Bureau will no longer mail paper licenses.

Electronic producer license applications may be submitted to the Bureau through Sircon's Compliance Express service. Once the license has been approved by the Bureau, Sircon sends an email notification to the producer who may then print their license at http://www.sircon.com/virginia. This service is free for up to 30 days once the license application submitted through Sircon has been approved. After the first 30 days, the license may be printed for a service fee. Duplicate licenses may also be printed at any time for a service fee.

In addition to producer licenses, online license printing is available through Sircon for the following resident and nonresident licenses:

Individual license types

• Consultant
• Limited Lines Producer
• Surplus Lines Broker
• Viatical Settlement Broker

Firm license types

• Consultant
• Surplus Lines Broker
• Viatical Settlement Broker

The Bureau encourages producers to review licensing information in the pamphlet, General Information Pertaining to All Licenses, on the Bureau's website at http://www.scc.virginia.gov/division/boi/webpages/licenseforms/licenseinfo.pdf.

To view a copy of the Bureau of Insurance Administrative Letter, visit the state website at http://www.scc.virginia.gov/division/boi/webpages/adminlets/10-02.pdf.

Louisiana Online Resident License Application Services Expanded

Prometric, as part of its Louisiana online examination registration process, is expanding its offering of online application services to include claims adjuster, surplus lines broker, and public adjuster in addition to producer license applications. Following completion of pre-licensing education, a producer license applicant may go online to www.sircon.com/prometriclouisiana to submit a license application for any producer license qualification that will require an examination.

Within the twenty-four (24) hour period after submitting the license application, the application will be either moved to "Approved Pending Exam" status or placed or flagged for Louisiana to review. Applicants with "Approved Pending Exam" status may continue the examination registration process by scheduling the related licensing examination on Prometric's web site at www.prometric.com/louisiana/insurance.

If there is no "Approved Pending Exam" status after 48 hours, your application is being reviewed by the State. Contact the State of Louisiana at (225) 342-5900 or (225) 342-0895 with any questions.

Mississippi License Reinstatements - More License Types Available Online

Through Sircon's website, insurance producers may electronically reinstate licenses that have an expiration date less one year from the current date by paying a license reinstatement fee of 50% of the license fee in addition to the license renewal fee. The license may be reinstated to the first day of the month of the reinstatement.

Please note: Appointments are not reactivated when a license is reinstated.

Previously reinstatement services were available for:

• Life, Accident and Health insurance agent licensees
• Property and Casualty insurance agent licensees
• Resident individual insurance licensees who have met the continuing education (CE) requirements

Reinstatement services are now available for the following for both resident and nonresident licensees:

• Business Entity Life, Accident and Health
• Business Entity Property and Casualty
• Business Entity Adjuster
• Individual Independent Adjuster

License Renewal Attachments

Through the license renewal service available through Sircon, license renewal attachments may be electronically submitted with license renewal applications for the following states:

• Colorado
• Idaho
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Nevada
• Oklahoma
• South Dakota
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia

Wisconsin Opens Association Maintenance Services

The Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance is now offering Association Maintenance Services, accessible through their state landing page at www.sircon.com/wisconsin. This new service allows insurance firms to quickly and easily add and remove Wisconsin-licensed designated representatives

Oklahoma License Applications and Renewals

Oklahoma resident and nonresidents can now submit individual producer and firm license applications and renewals quickly and easily online through Sircon for the following license types:

• Resident Individual Limited Lines Producer Applications
• Resident Firm Limited Lines Producer Applications
• Nonresident Individual Title License Producer Applications
• Resident Individual Title License Renewal
• Nonresident Individual Title License Renewal
• Resident Firm Title License Renewal
• Nonresident Firm Title License Renewal
• Resident Individual Surety and Credit Products License Renewals
• Nonresident Individual Surety and Credit Products License Renewals

The resident individual and firm limited lines applications may be submitted for the following qualifications:

• Agricultural Revenue
• Credit Products
• Crop/Hail
• Surety
• Travel Accident Baggage
• Vehicle Auto Rental

Print Your Nevada License Online

The ability to print Nevada licenses online is now available. To print a license online, select "Print a license" in the left-hand column of this page. A state fee of $10.00 for printing a license applies.

There is no Sircon service fee for up to 30 days after license approval and renewal for license applications and license renewals completed through Compliance Express. Duplicate license copies can be printed at any other time for the state fee and a Sircon service fee.

Utah License Reinstatements Now Available Online

Insurance licensees may now electronically reinstate licenses that have an expiration date of up to one year from the inactivation date. The license reinstatement request will be immediately considered and either renewed or placed on hold for review by the state.

Please note: Appointments and associations are not reactivated when a license is reinstated; all appointments and associations must be re-established.

The following groups of lapsed licensees may submit a reinstatement request:

• All insurance licensees.
• Note: Resident individual insurance licensees must have met the continuing education (CE) requirements.

The electronic reinstatement may be submitted online using Sircon's web site.

Resident individual insurance producers who have met the CE requirements but are unable to submit a reinstatement online because the system still lists their CE compliance as pending should review their CE transcript and contact the provider of any course that does not appear there. The provider will need to upload the associated course roster. Once the roster upload has been processed by the system, the producer will be able to submit the reinstatement application.

If you are an insurance licensee and your license expired more than one year ago, you must submit a new license application and satisfy all of the licensing requirements of a first-time licensee.

Print Your Vermont License Online

The ability to print Vermont licenses online is now available. To print a license online, select "More Services" above followed by Print a license". This service is free for up to 30 days after license approval and renewal for license applications and license renewals completed through this web site. Duplicate license copies can be printed at any other time for a service fee of $5.00.

The Department will no longer be sending out paper licenses for licenses. A licensee can confirm that their license status by going to the Department's licensing web page at www.vermontinsuranceagent.info and clicking on Check the Status of a License. Licensees can print a copy of the license information for his/her records.

NOTE: The Department does NOT require a licensee to possess a paper copy of their license.

Wonder what your National Producer Number (NPN) is?

This unique identifying number is assigned to licensed individuals by the NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners) and most states are beginning to use it for various licensing purposes. If you hold a license in CA, CO, GA, ID, IN, MN, MS, NV, OH, OK, PA, SD, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI and WY, use the free Sircon License Number/National Producer Number Inquiry to find your NPN today.

Nevada Resident License Applications

As a resource for submitting fingerprints to accompany Nevada resident license applications, LiveScan Digital Fingerprinting services are available through Pearson VUE, the Insurance Division's testing vendor. The LiveScan fee is $40.25 plus the vendor's $15 processing fee. Pearson VUE will electronically submit the prints to the FBI on behalf of the Division. Individuals may still submit hard copy fingerprint cards, however they are subject to the FBI manual hard copy submission fee plus the vendor's processing fee.

Sircon has expanded the Check Your Status with a State Service

To now include CA, CO, GA, ID, IN, MN, MS, NV, OH, OK, PA, SD, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI and WY. Your license transcript for the state will include the name, address, license, appointment, and continuing education information (where available) on file with the state. A nominal service fee may apply.