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Do insurance agents have to take continuing education?
It depends on your state and your license. In Florida, licensees in lines of insurance that need an exam complete a 4-hour update course every 2 years, with exceptions such as title insurance agents. Florida lets a nonresident who must take hours at home use them if the home state recognizes Florida's in return. We haven't confirmed other states, so check yours.
By State Cert GuideChecked against the sources listed below.
The steps, in order
Find your state's rule
Hours differ by state
Check your license line
Some licenses are exempt
Take the required courses
In Florida, a 4-hour update course
Add any elective hours
Keep your records
Five steps in order: find your state's insurance department, check your license line, take the required courses, add any elective hours, then keep your records. In Florida that means a 4-hour update course plus elective hours, with exceptions. The hours and the exceptions differ by state.
What the rule says
Who has to take it in Florida?
People licensed in Florida to sell insurance or adjust claims, for the lines that require an exam for licensing.
www.leg.state.fl.us · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
Who is left out in Florida?
Among those Florida's rule leaves out are holders of a license for a line with no exam and holders of a limited license as a crop or hail and multiple-peril crop agent. A licensee who cannot comply because of active military duty may ask the department for a waiver in writing.
www.leg.state.fl.us · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
What does every cycle ask for?
Each licensee except a title insurance agent completes a 4-hour update course every 2 years that is specific to the license held. A provider offers it, and the department approves it.
www.leg.state.fl.us · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
What does the update course cover?
It addresses all lines that require an exam and a license. The named subject areas include law updates, ethics, disciplinary trends and case studies, industry trends and premium discounts, among others.
www.leg.state.fl.us · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
Are there hours beyond the update course?
Yes. Beyond the update course, the law sets 20 elective hours every 2 years, or 16 for a licensee who has been licensed for 6 or more years. Other licensees have other amounts.
www.leg.state.fl.us · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
What do title insurance agents do?
A title insurance agent completes a minimum of 10 hours every 2 years in Florida title insurance and escrow management, in courses the department approves. At least 3 of those hours are on ethics, rules, or compliance with state and federal regulations on title insurance and closing services.
www.leg.state.fl.us · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
Do my home-state hours count in Florida?
They can. A nonresident who must take these courses at home may use those hours if the home state recognizes Florida's hours in return. If your home state has no such rule, hours from another state where you hold the same class of license count if that state reciprocates with Florida. Otherwise, you follow Florida's own rules.
www.leg.state.fl.us · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
Where people go wrong
- Florida's update course must be specific to the license you hold. If you hold more than one, take one specific to at least one of them.
- A Florida title insurance agent does not take the update course. Florida sets that agent's hours separately.
Questions
What does the NAIC model act say about nonresidents?
The NAIC document this page cites is a Producer Licensing Model Act dated January 2005. It says a nonresident's home-state hours satisfy a state's rule if the home state recognizes that state's hours on the same basis. It is a model, so each state's own law may differ.
Can extra hours roll over?
In Florida, yes. Excess hours earned during any 2-year period may be carried forward to the next one.
How many hours does a customer representative need?
In Florida, a customer representative who is not a licensed life or health agent takes the 4-hour update course and also at least 6 hours of other courses every 2 years.
Do I earn hours for teaching a course?
In Florida, a person who teaches an approved course or lectures at an approved seminar and attends the entire course or seminar earns the same classroom hours as a student. Otherwise, credit is limited to the hours actually taught.
Your next step
To check these rules in their own words, read Florida's statute on continuing education and the NAIC model act. If you hold a license in another state, ask that state's insurance department.
Sources we read
- www.leg.state.fl.us › index · read Nov 13, 2026
- content.naic.org › model law 218 · read Nov 13, 2026
Who publishes this guide
State Cert Guide is an independent guide to what each state requires. If a fact on this page is wrong, tell us and we fix it.