| Like many other service professionals, registered | | | | - The training cost is much lower - often a mere |
| Insurance agents and adjusters are required to stay | | | | fraction of the classroom version. |
| up to date with the latest rules, regulations, and best | | | | - Online insurance CE training is available at any time |
| practices of their industry through regular Insurance | | | | (including nights or weekends). It's accessible |
| Continuing Education (CE) training. While each state | | | | whenever the professional has some spare time in his |
| has its own unique licensing requirements, all states | | | | or her schedule. |
| require some level of periodic Insurance CE to | | | | - Students can move through course material at their |
| maintain a license in that state. | | | | own pace. |
| Typically, a minimum number of insurance CE credits | | | | - Insurance professionals who are licensed to work in |
| must be earned every two years. The providers of | | | | several states can fulfill their CE requirements at one |
| continuing education training must themselves be | | | | time and place. |
| certified to train in the state in which the insurance | | | | - Some online insurance CE providers allow unlimited |
| professionals are licensed. | | | | test re-takes, until the candidate passes. |
| Insurance CE training has historically been offered in a | | | | - Reminders of individual Insurance Continuing |
| traditional classroom setting or in hotel conference | | | | Education deadlines are sent via email to ensure |
| rooms. The licensee attends lectures which are | | | | timely completion of course requirements. |
| followed by an exam. Once an exam is passed the | | | | - Reporting of training credits to the licensing board is |
| results are submitted to the state's licensing board | | | | done automatically by some online insurance CE |
| where the credits are recorded. A minimum number | | | | course providers upon exam completion (where this |
| of credits must be passed within a two year period | | | | is allowed by the individual state). |
| in order to renew their license. | | | | - Companies that sign up for online CE training in bulk |
| There are certain advantages gained by learning in a | | | | can monitor the training requirements and status of |
| classroom environment. Most everyone went through | | | | every licensed employee via the Internet. |
| school in a similar learning environment and so it is a | | | | Online training courses are typically delivered via slide |
| familiar venue. Insurance agents and adjusters can | | | | presentation using a computers web browser. Most |
| meet each other, network, compare notes and | | | | people know how to use a web browser and |
| discuss the lecture. There are some disadvantages to | | | | therefore require no additional training. |
| this learning model however, which include: | | | | Some online Insurance CE courses now provide |
| - The costs associated with this kind of training are | | | | multimedia support that augments the presentation |
| high due to the need to rent classroom space and | | | | slides. Insurance professionals should choose an online |
| hire a professional trainer, as well as the associated | | | | Insurance CE provider that includes audio training as a |
| travel and lodging costs. | | | | complement to on-screen slides. For example, the |
| - Most classes are offered during the week during | | | | audio can be downloaded as a "podcast" and the |
| business hours, causing lost productivity. | | | | insurance professional can listen and learn while driving |
| - Completed course credits usually need to be | | | | to an appointment. |
| reported by the trainee to the licensing board. | | | | If you are an insurance professional and are |
| Insurance is a very competitive business. Time away | | | | considering using an online provider to complete your |
| from the office may result in lost opportunities or a | | | | insurance CE, you may be able to find special deals |
| backlog of work which needs to be attended to. To | | | | that offer unlimited courses for a fixed price. This can |
| address these deficiencies, online insurance continuing | | | | save you a lot of time and money, not to mention |
| education courses provide a number of advantages | | | | the convenience of being able to study at the |
| not found in the classroom, including: | | | | location and time of your choosing. |