News & Information from CEU Institute

Oregon Implementing State Based System

2012-01-25T12:19:00.003-05:00

State Based Systems Implementation -- Effective May 7, 2012

The Oregon Insurance Division will begin using State Based Systems (SBS) effective May 7, 2012. With the SBS implementation we will take the opportunity to implement several NAIC uniformity initiatives as well as the opportunity to streamline many of our processes. SBS also provides a wide array of online tools that allow you to submit, view and print license information on a 24/7 basis.

For more information on changes affecting individual and business entity licensing, see

http://www.statebasedsystems.com/ORAnnouncement.pdf

State Based Systems Implementation -- Puerto Rico

2011-12-22T14:44:00.001-05:00

The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance of Puerto Rico will begin using State Based

Systems (SBS) effective January 23, 2012. With the SBS implementation, they will take

the opportunity to implement several NAIC uniformity initiatives as well as the

opportunity to streamline many of their processes. SBS also provides a wide array of

online tools that allow you to submit, view and print license information on a 24/7 basis.

For more information on changes affecting individual and business entity licensing, go to

the following link: http://www.statebasedsystems.com/PRAnnouncement.pdf.

New ALABAMA Indepenent Adjusters Requirements

2011-10-12T14:43:00.008-04:00

Effective January 1, 2012. Independent Adjusters in Alabama will be required to complete 24hrs of continuing education biennial including 3hrs of ethics. Refer to Ala. Act No 2011-637. Ala. Code 27-9A-1 et seq (2011).

All adjusters will renew as usual by December 31, 2011.

After renewing his/her license in 2011, an adjuster born in an odd-year (e.g., 1971): (a) is required to next renew his/her license by the end of his/her birth month in 2013, but (b) is not required to have completed CE as a condition for renewal in 2013. CE completion will be required for subsequent renewals.

After renewing his/her license in 2011, an adjuster born in an even-year (e.g., 1972): (a) is required to next renew his/her license by the end of his/her birth month in 2014, and (b) must have completed 24 CE credit hours, of which 3.0 credit hours must be in ethics, by the time of renewal in 2014.

The actual term of a license renewed in 2011 will vary due to implementation of the year/birth month system for future renewals. Because of system limitations, a license renewed in 2011 will show an expiration date (December 31, 2013) that may NOT be the actual expiration date. Each adjuster is responsible for determining the actual expiration date of his/her license.

Adjuster should periodically check the Department's web-site (www.aldoLgov) for further information about implementation of the new laws, including implementing regulations and a notice to print a new license with an updated expiration date.

Kentucky Insurance Department provides procedures to update licensees' addresses to avoid monetary penalties for return mail.

2011-10-11T09:11:00.007-04:00

THE FOLLOWING IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE:

It is very important that the Kentucky Department of Insurance be able to communicate with all licensees. We regularly receive returned mail due to bad addresses on file. In an effort to correct this problem, we are sending this notice to all those licensed as an individual or business entity, as well as those who serve as an administrator and submit paperwork on behalf of a licensee. If the Department has correct addresses for your account, you may disregard this e-mail and no action is required.

Kentucky law requires all persons holding licenses to maintain current residence, business/home office, and mailing addresses with the Department. Kentucky law further requires licensees to contact the Department within 30 days of any change in an address. The failure to maintain current addresses on file with the Department is a violation of KRS 304.2-120(4). If the department is unable to correspond with you due to insufficient or invalid addresses on file, you will be subject to a $250 fine. Penalties may be increased for multiple violations. Further, penalties may be imposed if any address on file with the Department is determined to be an insufficient or invalid.

Please check your addresses on file with the Department to determine if any changes need to be made. If so, you must change your addresses on file by logging into your e-Services account on the Department's website at http://insurance.ky.gov/. Click on eServices in the upper right corner. You may log in with your user name and password. If you have forgotten your password, please click on Forgot your password? under the log in box. To set up an eServices account, click on First Time Here?, also under the log in box.

Once you have logged in, please click on Record Correction Request (Form 8303 / Address / SSN / Name / Email / Phone) and make the necessary changes. The Department will not be able to accept changes by phone, e-mail, etc. All corrections must be made by the licensee through the eServices account. Please keep in mind that it may take up to 48 hours for the changes to show up on the account.

An advisory opinion on this topic is available at
http://insurance.ky.gov/Documents/AdvOp11_06InvalidAdd100311.pdf

We appreciate your cooperation.

MN temporary government shutdown includes the Insurance Department

2011-07-01T11:58:00.003-04:00

All aspects of insurance business including producer licensing and continuing education, will shut down July 1, 2011

Initial or renewal license applications, license reinstatements or reactivations, appointments or terminations, license printing, pre-license examinations, name or address changes, letters of certification, letters of clearance, and license education transcripts or uploads; online processing through their website or via Sircon, NIPR, PSI or PULSE to any licensing functions; automated appointment and termination services.

For more info and announcements visit: http://www.bereadymn.com/

New York exam monitoring site in Florida

2011-04-29T10:45:00.001-04:00

CEU Institute (Lake Mary, FL.) has been approved as a approved New York testing site monitor. Approval #NYMO-502775

OH Department of Insurance to Employ Electronic Licensing System

2011-04-27T15:04:00.001-04:00

COLUMBUS — Ohio Lieutenant Governor and Director of the Department of Insurance Mary Taylor announced the Insurance Department would soon be creating efficiencies in its licensing division by employing a new electronic licensing system. The new system will help the Department implement the new licensing laws (HB300). The implementation of this computer system will take place beginning at close of business on May 5 and continue through May 16.
During this time period, there will be limited online access to licensing pages on the Department of Insurance website. The Department will resume accepting and processing applications and service requests beginning May 16.

Once implemented, the new computer system improves efficiency at the Department by storing all the collected information in one place. That information includes CE credits, criminal back ground check results, examination results, pre-licensing education information,
and appointments. The new system also will increase the speed in which a license is approved by utilizing an automatic approval process. The average time will decrease from 2-to-5 days down to 1-to-2 days. The new system also will allow for enhanced email communication with agents
potentially saving the Department $80,000 per year in mailing costs.

The Department will release phase II of the system in July which creates a web portal for agents to access and manage their personal information and monitor their CE credits and appointments. It also enables agents to print their own license and certification letters. The law, signed in February of 2010, requires licenses to be renewed every two years. An agent license will expire on the last day of the agent’s birth month on the year it’s renewable. In addition, the continuing education requirement has increased by 4 credits to 24 with three of those credits required to be ethics credits.

Oklahoma Insurance Department moves to State Based Systems (SBS) in June 2011

2011-04-21T10:13:00.006-04:00

The Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) is preparing to make the lives of licensees and other entities it regulates easier with the introduction of the State Based Systems (SBS) regulatory system.

SBS is a software system designed with state regulation in mind. The product suite offers services for producer licensing, company licensing, consumer services, enforcement, and revenue management. The system simplifies and streamlines the communication of business-critical information to the state and reduces the licensee’s time spent on licensing-related issues, increasing the time available for conducting business. SBS gives users control over numerous aspects of their licensing records, reducing data entry errors, incomplete applications, and processing delays, which, in turn, optimizes efficiency.

The system will work hand-in-hand with the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). The combined services provide the ability to apply for an original license or to renew an existing license online. The system also integrates the state’s license testing and continuing education processes, uploads attachments directly to applications and makes address changes with renewal submittals.

The SBS Online Licensee Services (OLS) enables licensees and license administrators to manage one or many licenses and to produce reports on all licensees, either singly or in groups. Other services include:

License printing;

Making address changes;

Viewing continuing education transcripts or license detail;

Signing up for automatic email notifications.

SBS’ Licensee Lookup is a free service that provides consumers with 24-hour access to pertinent information about licensees from the OID. SBS Licensee Lookup allows consumers to verify that a licensee is legitimately licensed to do business in the state and that the license is in good standing.

During the system change and data migration, all licensing and CE systems will be unavailable from June 1, 2011-June 20, 2011. All licensees have the ability to renew up to 90 days early. The OID recommends anyone whose license is due to renew in the months of June or July take advantage of the ability to renew early and do so prior to May 31, 2011.

To assist licensees, license administrators and managers, CE providers and others handling licensing and CE for professionals in the insurance industry, the OID will host events offering your choice of 2 or 3 hours of Legislative Update Credit for FREE to showcase SBS and NIPR. The OID will provide additional information on registering for the events in future emails. Please mark your calendars with the following dates:

June 14th 2011, in Oklahoma City, at Francis Tuttle Technology Center.

June 15th 2011 in Tulsa, at Tulsa Technology Center.

For both events, registration will begin at 8:00am. Information for licensees will be from 8:30-10:30 and for CE providers and other interested parties from 8:30-11:30.
SBS and NIPR will be operational towards the end of June. Between now and then, the Oklahoma Insurance Department will be providing licensees with periodic updates about the switch to the new system. Watch the Oklahoma Insurance Department website ---www.oid.ok.gov – for additional updates.

New Hampshire Adjuster Update

2011-04-12T16:54:00.003-04:00

Effective January 1, 2011, the amendment to RSA 402B:5-a was implemented. NH began accepting the “designated home state” for adjusters that live in states without a resident license. This change will eliminate continuing education requirements for non-resident adjusters. Only NH resident adjusters or those that select NH as their “designated home state” will be required to complete NH approved continuing education for future renewals. “402-B:5-a Continuing Education. Every 2 years, at least 60 days prior to the renewal date of their license, persons holding an adjusters license shall be certified by the insurance department as having completed 20 hours of continuing education instruction. Licensees with workers’ compensation authority shall comply with the approved 10 credit hours of workers’ compensation and 10 credit hours of multiline requirement pursuant to RSA 281-A:63. Those licensees without workers’ compensation authority may satisfy their 20 credit hour requirement exclusively with multi-line approved credits or any combination of approved workers’ compensation or multi-line courses. Such continuing education instruction shall be approved by the insurance department. If a nonresident licensee has complied with the continuing education requirements of his or her state of residence or designated home state, he or she will not be required to comply with the requirements of this state.”

Maryland to implement the State Based System (SBS)

2011-03-29T13:19:00.003-04:00

The Maryland Insurance Administration will begin using State Based Systems (SBS) effective April 11, 2011. With the SBS implementation they will take the opportunity to implement several NAIC uniformity initiatives as well as the opportunity to streamline many of their processes. For more information on changes affecting individual and business entity licensing, visit the Maryland DOI website and click on the Producer tab.

Amendment to New Jersey Public Adjuster Law

2011-03-28T15:23:00.004-04:00

Effective 7/4/2011, Public Adjusters are moving to a 2 year compliance period. 15hrs of CE required for the compliance period for renewal. Reference P.L. 2010, c. 116. Ref: www.njdobi.org.

CEU Institute to exhibit at NASP Conference

2011-01-05T12:35:00.003-05:00

We will be exhibiting at the National Association of Subrogation Professionals conference November 6-9 at the Gaylord Palms Hotel in Orlando, FL.

Email addresses required for Resident and Nonresident NC Licensees

2011-01-04T11:00:00.004-05:00

The North Carolina Department of Insurance requires by statute an e-mail address for resident and non-resident applicants and for all active licensees in accordance with N.C.G.S. 58-2-69(b). This requirement was effective January 1, 2010 and during 2010, several licensees have updated their e-mail addresses. However there are still several thousand licensees without an e-mail address. The Department plans to impose the administrative fee of $50 for failure to provide an e-mail address in 2011.

If you have any questions, please contact Agent Services Division at (919) 807-6800.

IL MCLE Update

2010-12-22T12:51:00.004-05:00

Illinois Supreme Court issued two orders amending court rules as a part of an ongoing effort to enhance the level of professionalism practiced by Illinois attorneys. The rule changes were recommended by the Commission on Professionalism.

The first rule change, announced on October 1, 2010, amends Illinois Supreme Court Rule 794(d)(1) to raise the professional responsibility CLE credit requirement to six credit-hours beginning with attorney reporting periods ending on June 30 of 2012 or 2013. This amendment does not change the total number of CLE credit-hours required to be reported for compliance, only the proportion of which must be devoted to areas related to professional responsibility. As you are aware, professional responsibility courses include not only professionalism, but also issues related to diversity, mental illness and addiction, civility, or legal ethics.

The court also amended Illinois Supreme Court Rule 795 to add “lawyer-to-lawyer mentoring” as an approved activity that may satisfy the professional responsibility CLE credit requirement. The rule change, effective October 12, 2010, states that “Lawyers completing a comprehensive year-long structured mentoring program, as either a mentor or mentee, may earn credit equal to the minimum professional responsibility credit during the two-year reporting period of completion, provided that the mentoring plan is preapproved by the Commission on Professionalism, the completion is attested to by both mentor and mentee, and completion occurs during the first three years of the mentee’s practice in Illinois.” The rule allows attorneys to earn up to the maximum number of professional responsibility credits required by engaging in this activity.

The amendment of Rule 795 was prompted in part on experience gained from a collaboration between the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism and the IL Seventeenth Judicial Circuit to develop the first circuit-wide professionalism programs that could serve as models to be shared across the state. A principal focus of the collaboration was to establish a mentoring program for all newly admitted attorneys, and in January 2009, the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit implemented the State of Illinois’ inaugural circuit-wide lawyer-to-lawyer mentoring program. This mentoring program is designed to pair trained and experienced attorneys with the newest members of the bar in order to provide a resource and framework for new attorneys to gain experience, seek advice, and to obtain information about the law and law-related interests, as well as to become more knowledgeable and involved in the community. Participants in the mentoring program are provided with a detailed mentoring guidebook developed by the Commission on Professionalism and develop an individualized mentoring plan that they work to complete within the period of one year.

With the enactment of the new Rule 795(d)(12), the Commission on Professionalism will begin developing guidelines for implementation of the rule, including creation of standards for approval of structured mentoring programs. Once developed, these guidelines will be available on the Commission’s website. In the meantime, information about mentoring may be found in the Commission’s Mentoring Guide, available at: http://www.ilsccp.org/pdfs/ilsccp_lawyer_to_lawyer_mentoring.pdf

CE Requirement for Illinois Public Adjusters

2010-11-12T16:41:00.004-05:00

Effective January 1, 2011, Public Act 096-1332 becomes effective:

Resident Public Insurance Adjusters will be required to complete 24hrs of CE with 3 of the 24hrs to be classroom ethics. Public Adjusters who maintain a Producer license will be required to meet these requirements seperately for each license. Adjusters will not be required to be CE compliant until their 2013 renewal.

More Information: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/96/PDF/096-1332.pdf

CA Adjusters required to have 3hrs Ethics

2010-11-11T09:53:00.004-05:00

Assembly Bill (AB) 2782 (Chapter 400, Statutes of 2010) will become effective on January 1, 2011. Included among the provisions of the bill was to set the ethics training requirement for both independent and public insurance adjusters at three hours each two-year license term and to stagger the renewal dates for new applicants. The effects of this change are as follows:

Current Insurance Adjuster Licensees
Current law specifies that both independent and public insurance adjusters must complete a minimum of 24 hours, including ethics, of continuing education (CE) courses pertinent to the duties and responsibilities of their insurance adjuster license every two years prior to renewing their license. However, current law does not specify the number of hours of training on ethics that should be completed.

AB 2782 amends the California Insurance Code to specify that 3 of the required 24 hours of CE must be on ethics. Therefore, current independent and public insurance adjuster licensees who renew their license, which expires on May 31, 2012, will need to ensure that in addition to completing 24 CE hours prior to their renewal that 3 of those 24 hours must be in ethics. Licenses will not be renewed unless both these requirements are met.

Insurance Adjuster License Applicants
Further, beginning on January 1, 2011, all new independent and public insurance adjuster license applicants, who qualify for a license, will be issued a two-year license that will expire in two years on the last day of the same month the original license was issued. For instance, a license issued on January 15, 2011 will expire on January 31, 2013.

AR Launches Electronic Filing of CE Hours

2010-10-25T16:45:00.001-04:00

The Arkansas Insurance Department ("Department") is instituting a change in the filing of continuing education hours. Currently providers are required to e-mail or send paper Appendix H Rosters to the Department for staff to manually key the hours into the licensee's record. While the current system works, the volume of manual keying can cause a delay in the completion showing up in the Department records. As a result, we have asked the developers of our computer licensing system ("Lion") to provide the Department with an electronic method for providers to input completed continuing education hours.

This new program (LEO) allows Providers to electronically file the completions with this Department by download of a batch file or individual input of a completion record. The program will allow for "real time" validation of the record against the Department's files for the name and license number of the licensee. The cost for the filing is $1.00 for the course and $1.00 for each individual who is listed on the roster. The cost will be paid directly to LEO by the provider for use of the electronic continuing education filing system. The continuing education provider can pass along this cost of electronic filing to the licensee. Providers are directed to contact LEO Customer Service at 877-376-1175 for information regarding registration with LEO. Providers can also find LEO information on the Arkansas Insurance Department website at www.insurance.arkansas.gov/license/divpage.htm to start filing continuing education rosters electronically via the LEO system starting November 15,2010.

New Hampshire Removing the CE Requirement for Non-Resident Adjusters

2010-10-21T12:46:00.004-04:00

http://www.nh.gov/insurance/producers/documents/cont_ed-faq.pdf

Effective 1/1/2011

Oklahoma Updates License, CE Requirements for Work Comp Adjusters

2010-10-12T14:56:00.003-04:00

The Oklahoma Department of Insurance issued a bulletin reminding workers' compensation insurance adjusters they must be licensed to operate in the state. Licensed workers' comp claims adjusters also must complete six hours of ethics continuing education as part of the 24 hours of CE requirement. Both requirements are effective Nov. 1, 2010.
Insurers are required to verify that their resident or non-resident adjusters have satisfied the requirements.

Self insured organizations are exempt from the new requirement because self insurance does not involve a contract between an insurance company and an employer, it is not subject to state insurance regulation; therefore, an adjuster employed by a self-insured corporation is not required to be licensed by the Oklahoma Insurance Department.

OK Insurance Department Bulletin: http://www.ok.gov/oid/documents/workers'%20comp%20CE%20notice.pdf

Arkansas releases Rule 50 governing the CE requirements for Adjusters

2010-10-07T11:15:00.007-04:00

Arkansas has released it's update to RULE 50 which governs the continuing education requirements for adjusters. The requirements are 24hrs/2yrs with 3 of those hrs in Ethics. Most notable is that the requirement does not apply to Staff Adjusters, only Independent & Public Adjusters.

Below is an exerpt from the rules for Exemptions and Educational Requirements:

SECTION 3 EXEMPTIONS

A. This Rule shall not apply to the following individuals:

1. Individuals holding licenses for which an examination is not required;
2. Company employed adjusters and limited adjusters as defined in Rule and Regulation 68;
3. Any limited or restricted license the Commissioner may exempt;
4. Any individual, licensed as a resident producer prior to July 1, 2003, who is at least sixty (60) years of age;
5. Any individual, licensed as a resident producer prior to July 1, 2003, who has held a license as a producer, insurance consultant or broker for a period of at least fifteen (15) consecutive years;
6. Third-party administrators who do not solicit business;
7. Non-resident producers, non-resident consultants, and/or non-resident adjusters, unless the home state does not have any comparable continuing education requirements;
8. Licensed insurance consultants;
9. Any producer or adjuster called to active duty in any branch of the United States military services including, but not limited to, the United States Coast Guard and Reserves, during the entire period of active duty service;
10. The exceptions contained in Subsections (A)(4) and (5) of this Section are no longer applicable to insurance producers who became resident licensees after July 1, 2003, or insurance producers who have let their Arkansas producer license lapse and have become re-licensed, or to title insurance agents; and
11. Individuals (or an appointed guardian or person with an appropriately worded power of attorney) with grave or debilitating illnesses or injuries may request an extension for no more than twelve (12) months, for completion of the CE hours required for a particular licensing renewal period. The request must be accompanied by a written doctor’s statement confirming the medical history and a medical estimate as to how long the individual will be unable to function normally enough to complete the rule requirements. The request from the producer must include his/her mail or electronic mail note that he/she is voluntarily waiving the private or confidential nature of the illness or injury in order to qualify for this extension. With similar documentation, including a signed note from the attending physician and a privacy waiver from and signed by the patient, producers (or the relative’s appointed guardian or person with an appropriately worded power of attorney) may also file for an extension due to the terminal or debilitating illness of a grandparent, parent, spouse, sibling, or child. The Commissioner has discretion to grant such time extensions for good cause under Ark. Code Ann. § 23-64-304(b), but only up to one (1) year; and may deny requests from anyone failing, or who has in the past failed, to comply with Arkansas laws or rules, or failed to comply within any extended time period granted by the Commissioner under this subsection.

SECTION 4. EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

A. Number of Course Hours

1. Upon the effective date of this Rule, any non-exempt persons licensed as producers shall, biennially on or before their birthdays, satisfactorily complete a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education instruction approved by the Commissioner, which must include at least three (3) hours of ethics in each two year license renewal cycle, if the individual is licensed to sell:

a. Life insurance;
b. Accident and health or sickness insurance;
c. Property insurance;
d. Casualty insurance;
e. Variable products insurance; or
f. Personal lines insurance.

2. Upon the effective date of this Rule, any person who holds an adjuster license shall satisfactorily complete a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education instruction approved by the Commissioner, which must include three (3) hours of ethics in each two year license renewal cycle. This provision shall not apply to:

a. An adjuster that is licensed in another state;
b. The licensing state requires continuing education; and
c. The adjuster has satisfied the continuing education requirements of the licensing state.

3. If a person is a non-exempt producer required to obtain continuing education under this Section and a licensed adjuster, that person shall be required to meet the continuing education requirements of both licenses.

4. The continuing education requirements in this section do not apply to title insurance agents. License renewal and continuing education requirements for title insurance agents are governed by Rule 87.

B. Biennial Licensing Period

1. Effective until January 1, 2011, all initial licensees and all renewal licensees for the above-referenced licensees will continue to be issued on an annual basis, with the continuing education requirements of eight (8) or ten (10) hours due annually.

2. Effective January 1, 2011, continuing education will be due biennially under the following schedule:

a. For existing individual licensees born in odd-numbered years, a two-year license will be issued for the 2011 renewal on the licensee’s birth date, and renewed biennially thereafter. Twelve hours (12) of continuing education, which must include two hours of ethics, must be completed prior to the licensee’s renewal in 2011. Beginning in 2013, the continuing education requirements of twenty-four (24) hours, which must include three (3) hours of ethics, will be due at each two year license renewal cycle based on the licensee’s birth date. The first continuing education requirement of twenty-four (24) hours, which must include three (3) hours of ethics, is due by the expiration/renewal birth date in 2013, and at each subsequent two year license renewal.

b. For existing individual licensees born in even-numbered years, a one-year license will be issued for the 2011 renewal on the licensee’s birth date. Resident producers and adjusters will be required to have twelve (12) hours of continuing education, which must include two (2) hours of ethics, due for license renewal in 2012. Beginning in 2012, these licensees will renew their licenses for a two-year period and renew biennially on their birth date thereafter. The continuing education requirement of twenty-four (24) hours, which must include three (3) hours of ethics, will be due at the first two year license renewal cycle based on the licensee’s birth date in 2014 and biennially on the birth date thereafter.

c. For new individual licensees issued in 2011 and subsequent years, license renewal periods will not be based on birth year. The initial license will be issued for a two-year period and renewed biennially on the licensee’s birth date thereafter. The continuing education requirements of twenty-four (24) hours, which must include three (3) hours of ethics, will be due at each two year license renewal cycle.

d. The continuing education requirements for resident adjusters and for those non-residents who have qualified for an Arkansas Adjuster license by taking the Arkansas adjuster exam will be 24 hours every two years of which 3 hours must be ethics. The requirement for adjusters to complete continuing education on or before their birthday will start January 1, 2012. Non-residents who have qualified by being licensed as an adjuster in their home state are exempt from continuing education requirements.

New CE topics scheduled for 2011

2010-09-20T22:03:00.006-04:00

Heart Attack, Stroke, Cardiovascular Event Compensability
FL Average Weekly Wage Disputes. Case Law, Calculation and Concurrent Employment.
Economic Trends and their Affects on WC
Effects of Aging Workforce on WC
Special Challenges of Immigration / Ethnicity on WC and Healthcare
Returning Veterans to the Workforce.
Cutting Edge Medical Treatment for Backs/Necks.
Ethical Dilemma of Fighting Fraud for Insurance Carriers.
EDI Forms Compliance
Work Place Safety and Benefits of Loss Control
Social Security Offset Determination and Calculation.
Respiratory and Occupational Disease Type claims in the Workplace
Employer/ Employee Issues (Independent Contractor, Subcontractor, Casual Employee, Owner/Officer, etc.)

Arkansas Adjuster Continuing Education

2010-09-14T17:29:00.004-04:00

Arkansas has recently updated thier compliance requirement for resident Adjusters to their birthdate in 2012. At which time, Adjusters are required to meet 24hr/2yrs [3 Ethics].

Rule 50 governing the continuing education requirements for adjuster in Arkansas has yet to be completed.

Minnesota Adjuster Requirement

2010-08-23T15:28:00.004-04:00

Effective July 1, 2010, all Independent and Public insurance Adjusters will be required to complete 24 hours of continuing education, starting with the 10/31/2010 renewal. Three hours of Ethics are required as part of the total 24 hours of CE due each renewal period. There is no restriction for Adjusters regarding the method of instruction, but the hours must be from Commerce-approved courses.

Minnesota does not require that insurance Producers complete only modules relating to the lines of authority that they hold. For example, a Producer who holds a Life line of authority can complete and use a continuing education course pertaining to property and casualty. We will be following this same rule with the Independent and Public Adjusters in that they can complete any course that is currently approved for insurance Producers.
In other words, all insurance courses will be approved for “Insurance” continuing education; we will not distinguish between Producer or Adjuster licensees.

We are currently working with Sircon to create the required licensee and education course categories needed to track the education for Independent and Public Adjusters. Again, Independent and Public Adjusters can complete continuing education courses approved for insurance Producers. We are also working with Sircon on a method to allow approved courses completed by Adjusters before 7/1/2010 to be applied to the new Adjuster education requirements, including the Ethics requirement.

Online MN Agent courses are available at: http://www.ceuinstitute.net/CEU_ceLearning.cfm

NEW CE Requirement for Kentucky Independant/Public Adjusters

2010-07-15T12:26:00.003-04:00

Effective July 15, 2010, independent adjusters, staff adjusters, and apprentice adjusters will no longer be required to file proof of financial responsibility with the Department of Insurance (DOI). Independent, staff and apprentice adjusters must continue to maintain a level of financial responsibility to protect the consumer. Additionally, resident public adjusters will be required to increase their minimum limit of $1,000 surety bond or cash bond to a minimum limit of $20,000 surety bond or cash bond. Resident public adjusters must continue to file proof of coverage with DOI.

Effective July 15, 2010, crop agents will be required to hold a Kentucky adjuster license to adjust crop claims.

Twenty-four hours of continuing education will be required for all Kentucky resident independent and public adjusters who have held a license for at least one year. The continuing education compliance period is every two years, and is based on the licensee’s birth year whether born in an even-numbered year or odd-numbered year. The first compliance due date under this new requirement will be July 31, 2012.

To ensure compliance with the continuing education requirement, please see details below:

Who is subject to this change? All licensed Kentucky resident independent and public adjusters. Licensees may use their eServices account to verify their residency. https://insurance.ky.gov/Eservices/ A resident licensee may have a place of residence or a principal place of business in Kentucky. However, some licensees have chosen Kentucky as an alternative home state, based on the fact that their resident state does not issue an adjuster license. Those individuals are considered Kentucky residents and are required to comply with continuing education.
Will I be notified by DOI? Licensees will be mailed an initial continuing education / license renewal notification at least 45 days prior to their compliance due date. A second email reminder alert is sent on the first day of the licensee’s birth month, if continuing education and license renewal are not yet complete. It is critical that you keep current addresses, phone numbers and an email address on file with DOI to receive important notifications and future alerts. This information may be updated through your eServices account.
How many continuing education hours are required? A total of 24 hours is required per compliance period, and three hours must be in a course concentration of ethics.
When should I begin taking Kentucky-approved continuing education courses? Resident independent and public adjusters may begin taking continuing education courses on or after July 15, 2010, to receive credit that will be filed with the Department of Insurance.
How do I find a class to take? Licensees will only receive continuing education credit from Kentucky-approved continuing education providers. A listing of providers and courses may be found at this link: http://insurance.ky.gov/CE/. Under the Continuing Education section, select "view active independent providers."
Can I take online courses? Courses may be taken as classroom, correspondence, online self-study, or any combination thereof.

Ref: http://insurance.ky.gov/Documents/AdjLicLegisChanges060710.pdf

New rule for Oklahoma Resident Adjusters

2010-06-23T22:22:00.007-04:00

As of July 14, 2010, the following CE requirements will go into effect for resident adjusters:

All Resident Adjusters will now be required to complete (2) hours of Legislative Update, during each biennial renewal period.
The (2) hour Legislative Update is included in the (24) twenty-four biennial requirement.

Resident adjusters whose license expires as of July, August or September 2010, will have the ability to renew their license prior to the effective date of the new requirement as long as they meet all current CE requirements. Please note: Your license expiration date will not be affected.

License Renewal Extensions: In order to assist resident adjusters whose license renews in the month of July, August or September 2010, with an easier transition into the new CE requirement, Oklahoma is implementing the following renewal deadline extension process:

All resident adjusters subject to the new CE requirements with a renewal date set for July 31, 2010, will have until September 30, 2010, to obtain the required hours and renew their licenses before being considered “late.” All resident adjusters who wish to utilize the extension must possess at least 22 hours of continuing education by July 31, 2010, in order to qualify.
All resident adjusters subject to the new CE requirements with a renewal date set for August 30, 2010, will have until October 31, 2010, to obtain the required hours and renew their licenses before being considered “late.” All adjusters who wish to utilize the extension must possess at least 22 hours of continuing education by August 30, 2010, in order to qualify.
All resident adjusters subject to the new CE requirements with a renewal date set for September 30, 2010, will have until October 31, 2010, to obtain the required hours and renew their licenses before being considered “late.” All producers who wish to utilize the extension must possess at least 22 hours of continuing education by September 30, 2010, in order to qualify.

Oklahoma legislators seek to reform WC system

2010-06-02T02:40:00.001-04:00

Four bills to reform workers’ compensation in Oklahoma were sent to the governor, including one that would require legislative approval of judges overseeing benefits for injured workers.

The bills approved by the Oklahoma House of Representatives would, among other things, reduce the number of workers’ compensation judges in the state (HB 2652); further define what is a work-related activity for coverage purposes (HB 2650); allow the state Supreme Court to review claims as in other civil cases (SB 1973); and require all claims adjusters to complete six hours of continuing education on state workers’ compensation law as part of their total 24 hour requirement (HB 1611).

NATIONAL PRODUCER NUMBER (NPN) TO BE REQUIRED FOR ROSTER SUBMISSION

2010-05-10T09:01:00.003-04:00

CHANGE IN EFFECTIVE DATE FOR INDIVIDUAL LICENSEE

On October 30, 2009, NC announced that beginning January 6, 2010 a North Carolina licensee’s individual National Producer Number (NPN) will be required as the unique identifier when submitting course rosters. The NPN will also be required to access a licensee’s online transcript. You can view that notice on the North Carolina Provider
Information webpage at http://www.prometric.com/CE/ncceprov

The effective date of this change has been moved from January 6, 2010 to December 30, 2009. Beginning January 1, 2010, another state’s CE program is moving away from the use of SSNs as a licensee’s unique identifier. In order to implement these 2 program changes with the least amount of disruption to our CE Online Services and your ability to access those services, the program changes will be implemented at the same time.

December 30, 2009 is the date selected for those implementations.

CEU Institute partners with 360training

2010-03-26T13:59:00.005-04:00

CEU Institute partners with 360training to offer self study online courses to insurance and healthcare professionals.

The primary focus of the partnership will enable CEU Institute to offer self-study programs to our key audiences to meet their compliance needs. ceLearning[sm] by CEU Institute is powered by 360training.com's e-learning technology and content.

"CEU Institute is pleased to partner with 360training.com. While we continue to expand and focus on our core competency for onsite CE programs, 360training's expertise and technical abilities will enable us to provide additional services to our clients", said CEU Institute executive, Michael Benner.

Self Study programs by CEU Institute: http://www.ceuinstitute.net/CEU_ceLearning.cfm

About CEU Institute:
CEU Institute is a nationally accredited provider of CE programs to the Insurance and Healthcare industries. Our key audience within the insurance industry is: adjusters that handle general liability, commercial, specialty, personal, and WC claims, agents, attorneys, and nurse case managers. Our key audience within the healthcare industry is: nurses, rehab and LTC professionals, and hospital/MCO case managers.

About 360training.com:
360training.com (Austin, TX) delivers training content, technologies and services to over 2,500 strategic e-learning partners and over 3 million users worldwide. The company's e-learning and training programs help organizations and professionals simplify the ever-changing needs of workforce compliance, licensing, continuing education and certification. Ranked as one of the fastest growing companies, 360training.com's clients include leading corporations, colleges and schools across a diverse range of disciplines.

Reporting requirements for Certified Case Managers [CCM]

2010-03-17T13:27:00.004-04:00

Certified Nurse Case Managers are now required to report their credits to the Commission for Case Managers Certification via their web site at http://www.ccmcertification.org/.

CEU Institute is a continuing education provider for Certified Case Managers, Certified Rehabilitation Counselors, and Certified Disability Management Specialists. Contact our office for additional information.

NJ Supreme Court Adopts New CLE Rule

2010-01-04T10:09:00.002-05:00

The New Jersey Supreme Court has adopted Court Rule 1:42, which sets forth requirements for mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE) for New Jersey attorneys. The new requirements go into effect immediately beginning December 18, 2009.

In conjunction with the new court rule, the Court has amended its Administrative Determination regarding the continuing legal education requirement. Both the court rule and the administrative determination are the result of recommendations made by the Ad Hoc Committee on Continuing Legal Education. Retired Associate Justice Peter G. Verniero served as chair of the committee, and retired Assignment Judge Arthur N. D’Italia served as vice chair.

Under the new rule, all New Jersey attorneys are required to take 24 hours of continuing legal education every two years, including at least four hours on topics related to ethics or professionalism. MCLE is required for all New Jersey attorneys, including judges, law clerks and in-house counsel. Attorneys will be responsible for verifying that they have met the requirements and a random audit system will help ensure compliance. This is a change from the prior system, where only new attorneys and those seeking designation as certified attorneys in specific areas of practice were required to take coursework beyond law school.

The new court rule also calls for the Supreme Court to create a board on continuing legal education to administer the legal education program in accordance with the new rule. An Order signed by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner names Supreme Court Associate Justice Roberto Rivera-Soto as board chair and retired Superior Court Judge Arthur N. D’Italia as board vice-chair. In accordance with the Rule, the Order also names Judge Glenn A. Grant, acting administrative director, or his designee as a non-voting board member.

Under the new Rule 1:42, the board has the authority to determine the courses and activities that qualify for continuing legal education credit under the program; to designate approved continuing legal education providers and approved courses and programs that shall qualify for continuing legal education credit; to monitor compliance with the program by continuing legal education providers and by attorneys; and to carry out other administrative duties.

The Court Rule and the Administrative Determinations can be found at njcourts.com
http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/pressrel/pr091218a.htm

CEU Institute receives provider number in DC

2009-10-19T21:20:00.001-04:00

CEU Institute is now a Continuing Education provider for producers in DC [District of Columbia].

Illinois Producer Continuing Education Changes

2009-10-19T21:17:00.003-04:00

Effective January 1, 2010:

All resident producers who renew on or after January 1, 2010 will be required to complete 24hrs of CE; 3 of them must consist of classroom ethics.

Michigan - Continuing Education (CE) Date of Birth (DOB) Conversion

2009-10-16T16:44:00.001-04:00

In 1995, when CE was established in Michigan for producers, the 23-month rule was used to establish a review schedule for newly licensed producers with a line of authority requiring CE. With the amendment of Section 500.1204c, the 23-month rule is being eliminated.

The new CE review date will be based on the month and year of a producer’s birth. Licensees with dates of birth in odd years will have CE due the first day of their birth month every two years in all odd years. Licensees with dates of birth in even years will have CE due the first day of the birth month every two years in all even years.

Schedule for New Licensees
The commissioner shall review an insurance producer’s hours of study according to their month and date of birth within 12 months after issuance of the initial license. The first scheduled review date must permit a producer at least 12 months. If it does not, the hours shall be reviewed on the next scheduled review date.

Schedule for DOB CE Conversion
Producers and Solicitors with an even year date of birth will have CE due the first day of their birth month in 2010 and every two years thereafter.

Producers and Solicitors with an odd year date of birth will have CE due the first day of their birth month in 2011 and every two years thereafter.

Producers and Solicitors with CE due January through June 2010 will automatically be granted a one-time 90-day extension to complete the 24 credit hours. There is no need to submit a request to OFIR staff.

NJ to require Continuing Legal Education for Attorneys

2009-10-13T13:42:00.004-04:00

New Jersey will join 42 states, including New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware, and a number of overseas territories that require mandatory legal education. New Jersey's Supreme Court announced Thursday that it will require mandatory continuing legal education for all plenary-licensed attorneys, starting next year.

Attorneys licensed to practice in New Jersey, including judges, law school professors and limited license in-house counsel, will have to take 24 hours of continuing legal education every two years.

A Board on Continuing Education will administer the MCLE programs and be made up of a maximum of 11 attorneys appointed by the court. Members will serve staggered, three-year terms.

Lawyers will have to earn four hours of ethics and professionalism credits during each two-year cycle. A range of verifiable formats -- including audiotape, videotape, teleconferencing, video conferencing, satellite simulcast and Internet -- will be permitted.

Attorneys will receive one-to-one credit for courses taken in other jurisdictions.

Attorneys may carry over 12 hours of credit from one cycle to the next.

Credits earned as of Jan. 1, 2009, may be applied forward.

The court agreed with the committee that attorneys participating in approved Inns of Court receive full credit for up to 24 hours of instruction, and that pro bono work can be counted after the initial program is implemented.

Attorneys will self-report at the end of the two-year cycle and that the board would establish a random-audit system to ensure compliance. If random audits show significant noncompliance, the court "shall take all steps necessary to ensure compliance," including adoption of the committee's model.

Source: http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202434409037&thepage=1

New requirements for Oklahoma Producers and Adjusters

2009-10-08T14:10:00.004-04:00

As of November 1, 2009, the following CE requirements will go into effect for OK:

Resident producers with the exception of Title and Aircraft Title producers will be required to complete twenty (24) hours of CE, including three (3) hours of ethics, during each biennial renewal period. (Please note: any producer who intends to sell Medicare Advantage products and plans including PFFS and Part- D and/or Long Term Care products and plans have additional CE requirements which must be met during each biennial renewal period. Please visit the Oklahoma Insurance Department website at www.oid.ok.gov for additional information)
Resident Title and Aircraft Title producers will have to complete sixteen (16) hours of CE, including (2) hours of ethics, during each biennial renewal period.
Customer Service Representatives will now be required to complete thirteen (13) hours of CE, including three (3) hours of ethics, during each biennial renewal period.
All Resident Adjusters will now be required to complete twenty-four (24) hours of CE, including three (3) hours of ethics, during each biennial renewal period.

Credit Posting Fees are part of the overall cost

2009-08-12T11:56:00.005-04:00

As a nationally accredited provider of continuing education to the insurance, healthcare, and legal communities [CLE], we post credit for 1,000's of attendees per year in all the respective states for these disciplines.

It's important to remember that many states require a fee to post the CE/CLE credit. Many also utilize the services of third party vendors to manage this process which pushes the costs a bit higher as well.

At times, CEU Institute receives questions regarding these "state submission fees". Typically, they will come to our clients in the way of a secondary invoice showing the states the fees are being posted in. We send a secondary invoice once the course roster is received in house and can be totaled for proper billing/posting and the fees are passed through without additional markup from CEU Institute.

Keeping Continuing Education Unbiased

2009-08-04T22:04:00.005-04:00

No doubt there is a continuous and growing concern regarding the connection between continuing education [CE] and the sponsors who pay for it [aka: Commercial interests]. This is especially true in the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device worlds. It's anyone's guess if the next step involves migrating these requirements to other regulated industries such as insurance CE and legal education CLE.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/Ethics/15301

http://www.mmm-online.com/Nissen-ACCME-should-be-abolished/article/140874/

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200907291608DOWJONESDJONLINE000872_FORTUNE5.htm

Fortunately, there is a solution. Through educational grants, CEU Institute has worked with pharmaceutical and medical device firms to offer UNBIASED continuing education to the insurance and healthcare communities. We ensure the content and educational experience does not include marketing materials, logos, and other "solicitations". We work independently to recruit from our own national speakers bureau for the associated topic(s) and manage disbursements such as course location expenses and honorariums.

New Clients Added!

2009-07-24T11:06:00.006-04:00

CEU Institute has added the following to it's growing list of clientel:

Nurses of the US Aif Force Academy's 10th Medical Division
Birkshire Hathaway
Disney

See our list of sample clientel at http://www.ceuinstitute.net/CEU_OurClientsSample.cfm

Insurance Agents Being Targeted in Identity Theft ScamCallers

2009-07-23T08:44:00.001-04:00

Insurance Agents are being targeted in identity theft scam as callers posing as regulatory agents threaten fines and loss of license.

Insurance agents throughout the U.S. are being advised to be wary of telephone calls from people posing as insurance department regulators. This activity has been identified as a scam designed to obtain personal information for the purpose of identity theft. Several state insurance departments, including Oklahoma, Idaho, Nevada, and California, have reported similar scam attempts during recent months.

According to a report issued by the Nevada Department of Insurance, the scammers tell insurance agents that they represent a state regulatory agency. They lead the agents to believe they owe a penalty fee for some infraction, and they demand payment over the phone via credit card. They also ask the agents to provide their social security numbers and dates of birth, purportedly to avoid cancellation of their licenses.

Although the scam has only been reported in about half a dozen states so far, officials warn that it is likely to spread quickly. If you receive a call asking you to provide your social security number or credit card information, you are advised to contact both local law enforcement officials and your state's department of insurance. It is not the practice of any legitimate, state-sanctioned insurance department to solicit such information by phone.

Hawaii Attorney's will need Continuing Legal Education

2009-07-21T10:39:00.004-04:00

Continuing legal education will be mandatory for all Hawaii attorneys beginning Jan. 1, 2010.
The Hawaii Supreme Court announced Wednesday it has adopted new rules requiring all active licensed attorneys to obtain professional training throughout the course of their careers.
It is a move intended to maintain quality and competence among attorneys and also puts Hawaii in the company of 41 other states that require continuing education.
The court’s Commission on Professionalism proposed the new rules last fall. Supporters said it would bring lawyers in line with other licensed professionals such as dentists, pharmacists, public accountants and even real estate brokers, who all have to take continuing education to keep their licenses.

The new rules require attorneys to take at least three credit hours of continuing legal education on subjects such as legal ethics, proper administration of client accounts, bias awareness and prevention, and improving public access to the judicial system.
Attorneys will have to report their credit hours when they renew their licenses each year.
“Such training will not only benefit the legal profession, but, as importantly, will benefit the public at large,” said Chief Justice Ronald Moon in a prepared statement.
Hawaii is presently one of nine states with no explicit requirement for lawyers to continue taking educational or skills-development courses after they get their law licenses. The only exception was that new lawyers had to take a six-hour professionalism and ethics course within one year of getting their licenses.

Under the new rules, lawyers also will be encouraged, though not required, to take at least nine additional credit hours of legal training each year in subjects related to their specific practices.
Licensing of lawyers in Hawaii is regulated by the Hawaii Judiciary and the Hawaii State Bar Association.

The association will be responsible for administering the continuing education courses.

Strategic Affiliation

2009-06-18T13:52:00.001-04:00

The Council on Litigation Management and the CEU Institute Forge Strategic Affiliation
September 9, 2008

New York, NY - - (PRWEB) - - 9/9/08 - - The Council on Litigation Management (CLM) and the CEU Institute released today details of their newly formed strategic affiliation.

CEU Institute Executive Vice President, Jill Benner said, "The CEU Institute is excited to embark on this affiliation and utilize CLM professionals as instructors and panelists in our educational offerings. We believe it will provide tremendous benefit to both organizations and their respective constituents."

The association between the organizations will support the CEU Institute with speakers for its Insurance, Workers' Compensation and Legal continuing education programs, through the CLM Speakers' Bureau. In addition, the CEU Institute will assist in the accreditation process for the CLM's Live Standards Training, a newly created program to provide free training to CLM Fellows and Members.

"This important affiliation will enhance our goal of providing extensive, affordable training and educational opportunities to create a better awareness and expertise of litigation and the management thereof," said Adam Potter, Executive Director of the CLM. "In addition it will provide valuable opportunities for our Members and Fellows registered with the CLM Speakers' Bureau."

About the CEU Institute
CEU Institute offers dynamic and engaging, accredited continuing education with excellence and integrity for professionals in the insurance, workers compensation, and healthcare community. The Institute partners with thousands of professionals and insurance companies throughout the United States to provide the most up-to-date and pertinent information. For more information, please visit www.ceuinstitute.net.

About the Council on Litigation Management
The Council is a nonpartisan alliance committed to furthering the highest standards of litigation management. The Council sponsors educational programs, provides resources, fosters communications, and recognizes lawyers who meet high standards. Selected attorneys and law firms are extended membership by invitation only, based on nominations from CLM Fellows. For more information, please visit www.litmgmt.org.