Although Missouri insurance brokers are not required to take a pre-licensing education class in order to become an insurance producer in the state, they must take continuing education classes in order to maintain and renew their insurance license.
Insurance producers can't take classes from any school or education provider. The school giving the insurance courses must be pre-approved by the Missouri Department of Insurance. The number of course hours varies by type of license. For example, title insurance producers are only required to take eight hours of continuing education classes while property, casualty and life insurance producers are required to take 16 hours.
Locating State-Approved Insurance Continuing Education Providers
There is a database of pre-approved insurance education providers along with an extensive course listing by provider on the Missouri section of the SBS (State Based Systems) website. To access the database visit the Continuing Education Provider Lookup page.
Be aware, however, that the database is only accessible to producers using the Internet Explorer web browser. Using other web browsers may display the database results in an unintelligible fashion.
Selecting Continuing Education Classes
Once on the provider lookup page insert the necessary information to find the courses you wish to take. You can search by course category, provider name, course name and/or learning method. Learning method includes, but are not limited to traditional classroom method, online or self study.
The initial search information displays a listing of the education provider's name, address and a hyperlink to a listing of approved courses. Upon clicking the approved courses link you'll see a display of the course names, license category grouping and number of credit hours along with all of the necessary information to register for the course.
Tracking Insurance Continuing Education Credits
It is important that you keep meticulous records of your completed credits because the state of Missouri asks for a listing of continuing education classes completed in order to renew the producer's license. On their Continuing Education Certification Summary form which must accompany the license renewal application, they ask for detailed information such as education provider, course title, the Missouri course number, date completed (month, day and year) and the number of credits for the course.
If you find it difficult to keep such meticulous records, you should register with the SBS Connect website. This is a service offered by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). As a member of SBS Connect not only can you print a copy of your license but you can view your continuing education transcripts and request an CE extension if necessary. Since registration is free, you have nothing to lose and much to gain.
Additional Reading
How to Become an Insurance Broker in the United States
Agent or Broker: What's the Difference?
Skills and Qualities of a Successful Insurance Customer Service Representative
Felicia A. Williams - Felicia A. Williams is a full time freelance writer with over 20 years of business writing experience.
