All property and casualty licenses expire April 30 in odd-numbered years and all life, health and accident licenses expire April 30 in even-numbered years regardless of the of the date of issuance. Surplus lines broker licenses expire April 30 of every year.
Renewal applications are mailed to each licensee in November of the year before expiration of the license. The renewal is mailed to the mailing address on record for each licensee. This form must be completed and returned postmarked no later than January 1 (i.e. the renewal for a license which expires on April 30th of 1999 must be returned to this Department by January 1, 1999).
A late fee of $50.00 is imposed upon any renewal post marked after the filing date, which is located in the upper left-hand corner of the renewal application.
Failure to notify the Department of a change of address within ten (10) days of the change will result in a $50 invalid address fine.
Replace the words agent, broker and solicitor with the word Producer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Renewals
The following are some of the most commonly asked questions about renewals and answers to those questions.
Q: What is the date that the renewals have to be returned to the Department of Insurance?
A: Renewals must be returned to our office postmarked no later than the filing date shown in the top left-hand corner of page 1 of the renewal form.
Q: When does my license actually expire?
A: A life, health and accident license will expire on April 30 of every even-numbered year. A property and casualty license will expire April 30 of every odd-numbered year. A surplus lines license expires April 30 of every year.
Q: What can cause my license not to be renewed?
A: License renewal depends upon properly filling out the application, submitting the proper fee, meeting the required amount of continuing education dependent upon your license status.
Q: What is a valid company appointment?
A: It is an appointment from a licensed insurer doing business in Louisiana.
Q: Can I reinstate my license after it expires?
A: Yes. You have five (5) full years from the date of expiration of a license to file for reinstatement. All continuing education requirements must be completed and the required forms and fees must be submitted.
Q: What happens if a licensee's address changes and he/she doesn't notify the Louisiana
Department of Insurance?
A: New addresses must be reported to the Department of Insurance within 10 days of the change of address. There is a $50.00 fine for failing to do so.
Q: Are firms (corporations and partnerships) required to provide information on
changes in their management, ownership and employees as in previous renewal seasons?
A: No. That section was deleted from the renewal application because that information is recorded in the Department's Licensing database. We hope this change will help simplify and expedite the completion of renewal applications for firms.
Please note: Firms are still required to file changes in management, ownership and employees as they occur on LDOI Form COR-1. A monetary penalty is assessable if changes are not reported to the Department within ten working days.
Q: What documents do I need to prove continuing education compliance?
A: Photocopies of continuing education certificates (Appendix 5) issued by the continuing education providers must be attached to your renewal application when it is submitted to us. Copies of Appendix 6 will not serve as proof of meeting continuing education requirements.
Q: When must continuing education credits be completed?
A: Continuing education credits for the next renewal period should be completed before the renewal application is filed with the Department. Renewal applications are due in the Department postmarked before the filing date. Licenses can still be renewed after this date, but the licensee will be required to pay an additional $50.00 late fee if the renewal is postmarked after the "filing date" (which is always preprinted on the front of the renewal form).
Q: How many hours of continuing education may I carry over to the next renewal period?
A:
Effective August 15, 2004, per Act 512 of the 2004 Louisiana
Regular Legislative Session, you may use up to 10 hours of Property and Casualty
carry over hours and 6 hours of Life, Health and Accident carry over hours to renew
the applicable license. Carry over
hours must be from courses taken within the last 2 years preceding renewal of the
license (or the previous renewal period).
Q: Can I take all of my continuing education hours as correspondence or self-study?
A: No. Only one-half of the total hours needed to renew your license can come from correspondence or self-study courses. For example, a P & C renewal requires 24 hours of continuing education. Only one-half (or 12) of these hours can come from correspondence or self-study courses.
Q: Are there any exemptions from continuing education requirements?
A: Yes. The insurance code provides an exemption from continuing education if the licensee is:
65 years of age or older, with at least 15 years of experience as a licensed agent, broker or solicitor and either:
a) no longer actively engaged in the business of insurance and are receiving social security benefits (if eligible).
b) actively engaged in the business of insurance and represents or operates through a licensed Louisiana insurer.
Eligible licensees should contact the Agent Licensing Division to obtain the form necessary for exemption.
Q: Should I save a copy of my application?
A: Yes. It is wise to keep an extra copy of your application and all supporting material before submitting it to the Department.
Q: What notice do I get if my license is renewed?
A: The Louisiana Department of Insurance no longer mails or otherwise produces certificates
other than the one via the online form.
Q: Whom do I talk to at the Department of Insurance if I have a question about my
license?
A: The main telephone number for the Agent Licensing Division is (225) 342-0860.