Rolling Certification Process

Explanation and Description

 

A new “Rolling” Producer Certification Program has been implemented effective January 1, 2005, by the Association. This revamping of the current program allows already certified agency offices with additional staff members completing the Certification Seminar to extend the Certification Status for that office.

 

Rolling Certification Process

 

            Certification    Certified Period           Recertification                    Recertified Period

            Year as of        (January 1 to               Required by                 (January 1 to

            January 1        December 31)              December 31               December 31)             

 

            2002                 2002—2005                  2005                             2006—2008

            2003                 2003—2006                  2006                             2007—2009

            2004                 2004—2007                  2007                             2008—2010

            2005                 2005—2008                  2008                             2009—2011

 

 

Additionally, the waiting period for non-certified agency offices to receive standard (full) commissions after submitting the Certificate of Certification Course Completion has been significantly reduced.  Provided are exhibits to explain the new process. The Producer Certification/Recertification Key Information Page is also being updated.

 

The Association believes that these changes make the process more efficient and easier to administrate for all involved. Please review the following material. If there are any questions, please contact your Underwriter.

 

1. The number of Producers from each Agency that need to be certified/recertified is based on the number of active policies in force through the Association as of  January15, of the year the certification expires.
1. Writing less than 50 policies—1 person minimum*
2. Writing 50 or more policies—2 person minimum
   
   

*It is recommended that Agencies with active policies slightly below 50 strongly consider having 2 people certified/recertified. This will allow the Agency to meet the certification requirement once the office reaches 50 or more policies.

 

2. The Producer Certification Course is prepared by the Associations and filed for continuing  education  credit with the Department of Insurance. When appropriate the Association will update and refile the course. Approved instructors for Member Companies, Education Vendors and Producer Associations may present the course. Upon satisfactory completion of the course the Producer will receive continuing education credit (currently 3 hours). 
   
   
3. It is anticipated that the Certification Seminars will be made available annually by all providers. Commission changes will be implemented as outlined on the Certification Processing Chart.
   
   

 

4. After the completion of the Seminars, the Agency will submit a Certification of Course Completion to the Association. This Certificate can be a copy of the Course Certification with the Producer’s code written on it. For non-certified Producers, the processing of the certification and subsequent correction to standard (full) commission could take up to ten (10) calendar days. (See the New Interim Certification Chart below).
   
   

 

 

New Interim Certification Chart

 

 

            Information Received         Processed within                                Full Commission for

            From Producer                  10(calendar) days of Receipt            New/Continued* Business

 

                       07-01-05                          07-05-05                                        07-01-05  New Business

                       07-01-05                          07-05-05                                        08-19-05  *Direct Bill 

                       07-01-05                          07-05-05                                        10-03-05  *Agency Bill 

 

*Continuations released from the Association to continue in 45 days for Direct-Bill policies and 90 days for Agency-Bill policies

 

5. Once the required number (2) Producers (depending on the number of policies written through the Association and to be determined by the Association) have attended the Seminars and submitted their Certificate of Completion, the Agency will be certified. The Certification lasts until the three-year time period expires. Even if the individual leaves the Agency, he/she will need to retake the Certification course before their new Agency can be certified. Certification is based on an Agency sending Producers to be certified and not on the individual Producers.
   
   
6. Each location is considered a separate Agency. Each producer code requires documentation of certification based on number of active policies written through the Associations.
   
   
7. Agencies with only one Producer and no Insurance-handling support that write more than 50 policies with the Association can submit a request for waiving the minimum requirement with a notarized statement describing the current situation.

 

All other procedures regarding the Certification/Recertification remain unchanged.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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