Getting a Licence FAQ

Please see our fee schedule for current application fees.

Only licence information is public. As trainee registrants and applicants are not licensees, their information is not displayed on our website.

If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.

No. Licence applications, and other licence change requests are placed in a queue and reviewed in the order in which they are received. We cannot allow applicants/licensees to jump ahead of the queue as that would be unfair to other applicants/licensees who have been waiting longer.

Please note, our processing times are displayed on our website here.

If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.

Processing time depends on volume and the types ofapplication we receive. Processing time can be found on the website here.

If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.

Yes.

An applicant for an insurance agent or adjuster licence must have attained the age of 19 years.

An applicant for a general insurance salesperson licence must have attained the age of 16 years.

For more information, please refer to Council Rules.

We have identified a number of business activities that may be a conflict of interest. In most cases, we have been able to address any concerns through licence conditions or restrictions, however, we have identified specific business activities where there is a high conflict of interest that a licence will not be granted. Before making a licence application, please review the List of Other Employment and Business Activities Considered Conflict of Interest by Council.

Applicants are required to provide evidence that they have completed the educational requirements for the licence requested (i.e. examination results or designation). Under Council Rule 2(20), where an applicant does not meet the qualification requirements a licence application will be considered if the applicant can demonstrate that alternate education and/or experience obtained is equivalent to the requirements as set out in Council Rules.

To properly assess a request for equivalency, applicants must provide a detailed description of work history, including specific job duties, and the breadth of insurance products dealt with.

These applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with precedents on file and will take longer to review.

For more information, please refer to Applying for a Licence Based on Equivalency.

If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.

If your examination marks have expired, you will be required to either requalify through the examination process or apply on an equivalency basis (see above question).

Where an application has been accepted from an applicant but supporting documentation is missing or additional information is required, the applicant is given three weeks to provide the required information. If the required information remains outstanding after the three weeks, the applicant is given a further three weeks to provide the information. If, after that time, the applicant has not provided the information required to complete the licence application as requested by the Insurance Council, the applicant’s licence application is deemed incomplete and the application file will be closed.

The provincial government fee paid by, or on behalf of, the applicant will be refunded accordingly. Please note, application fees are non-refundable.

Your BC registration must mirror your licence in your home jurisdiction. To apply for any form of non-resident licensing in BC, applicants must apply for the same class and comparable level of licence in their home jurisdiction. Under Council's Code of Conduct (10.3.1), licensees must hold themselves out in the matter in which they are licensed. Please ensure your licence application properly reflects how you will be conducting business in BC.

For more information, please refer to Licensing for Non-BC Residents.

If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.

All British Columbian applicants are required to successfully complete the Ethics and Professional Practice (Common Law) module, to qualify for a life and accident and sickness insurance agent licence. In Quebec, the Ethics and Professional Practice module of the Harmonized Life Licensing Qualification Program (“HLLQP”) is based on the civil code, whereas the rest of Canada uses a version based on common law.

For more information, please refer to Getting a Licence

Applicants are required to provide the bankruptcy discharge or full performance document. If the bankruptcy and/or consumer proposal was discharged less than 7 years ago, include the Statement of Affairs. If the bankruptcy and/or consumer proposal has not been discharged or fully performed, please provide a letter from the trustee confirming the status.

If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.

You are required to provide details of any pending charges and/or convictions. Depending on the relevancy of your charge/conviction, you may be required to provide further information such as supporting court documents, documentation from your probation or parole officer, and a copy of your record.

For more information, please refer to Suitability to Hold a Licence.

If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.

If you have been disciplined, we require a copy of the decision. If you are under investigation, please provide as much detail as possible, ideally information from that regulatory body.

For more information, please refer to Suitability to Hold a Licence.

If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.

You are required to provide an overview of the proceedings, your involvement, and the expected trial dates. We may ask that you provide a copy of the statement of claim and defence.

For more information, please refer to Suitability to Hold a Licence.

If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.

We have approved accessible online applications via Triton Canada for licence applicants to obtain criminal record checks. Online checks must be completed through the direct Triton link from our website as external Triton Canada links are not verified and cannot be accepted.* Visit here to complete your criminal record check with Triton Canada. Criminal record checks can also be obtained through your residing municipal police or RCMP detachment. Please see here for more information on how to obtain your criminal record check through Triton Canada or your residing municipal police or RCMP detachment.

*Effective December 1, 2022, all online criminal record checks must be completed through Triton Canada via the secure link on the Insurance Council's website. The Insurance Council will only accept criminal record checks dated on or before November 30, 2022, from ScreeningCanada or other entities that use information obtained by the Canadian Police Information Centre. Criminal record checks must be dated within 90 days of the licence application submission date to the Insurance Council.

Please note: If you have resided in Canada for less than five years, a criminal record check from the country you have previously resided in is also required. For more information about criminal record checks, please see here .

The completion of a criminal record check is required for all licence applications except:

• Individuals applying for a Restricted Travel Agent licence;

• Non-residents who are licensed and in good standing in a Canadian jurisdiction; or

• Individuals applying for a General Insurance Salesperson licence under the age of 18. (Per the

  Youth Criminal Justice Act.)

Criminal record checks must accompany applications for licensing, where the applicant:

• Has never previously held a general, life, accident and sickness, or adjuster licence with the Insurance Council of BC; or

• Has not within the past 2 years

  held a general, life, accident and sickness, or adjuster licence with the Insurance Council of BC.

Applicants who have resided in Canada for less than five years must obtain/provide a criminal record check from the country they have previously resided in, in addition to a local Canadian criminal record check. The international background check result can be submittied via email to licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com.

Applicants are responsible for arranging for their own criminal record check and any associated fees. ​Criminal record checks provided to the Insurance Council must be dated within 90 days of the date the Insurance Council receives the licence application.

In addition to providing a criminal record check, applicants must still disclose their criminal record and details on their licence application form, if applicable.

If your Criminal Record Check indicates that you have resided in Canada for less than five years, we may deem your criminal record check as incomplete. As such, either a Criminal Record Check from the country you previously resided in or a copy of your Canadian permanent resident card is required.

If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.

No, you do not have to submit your E&O renewal documents to Insurance Council each year.
During annual licence renewal, you will be required to confirm that you are covered by E&O Insurance. If an E&O Insurance Audit is initiated by Council, you will be asked to produce evidence you have maintained E&O Insurance on an ongoing basis.

You must immediately cease conducting insurance activities and notify Council within five business days. Your licence will be automatically suspended if you remain uninsured for a period exceeding 30 calendar days, so be sure to let Council know once your policy is in place. Once your insurance is reinstated, you may return to work. If, however, you remain uninsured for a period exceeding 30 days, your licence will be cancelled.

Council Rules requires that E&O Insurance be in place for all licensees, including insurance agencies and firms. A policy may cover both the agency/firm and the licensed individuals authorized to represent it. Life insurance agencies are directed to review Council Notice ICN 07-007 under Notices for more detailed information.

Yes. Although you may not be selling new business, you are still providing advice, and may make changes to existing clients' policies. Council therefore considers there to be a risk to the client that would necessitate E&O insurance.

More specific information about requirements for E&O can be found in the Errors an Omissions section of the website. The below is a list of notices issued and are currently in effect regarding E&O.

ICN 15-007 Direction to General Insurance Agents Engaged in the Sale of Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance (29 June 2015)
ICN 15-006 Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance (25 June 2015)
ICN 09-002 E&O Insurance Life Agencies (28 April 2009)
ICN 07-007 Errors and Omissions Insurance Advisory (11 September 2007)

Yes. The Council Rules Course is delivered in two streams:

1. Life and/or accident & sickness insurance – tailored to life licensees

2. General insurance and adjusters – tailored to general and adjuster licensees

Effective March 1, 2019 and in accordance with Council Rule 2(14), all individuals, including non-residents, must complete the Council Rules Course to qualify for licensure with the Insurance Council, except those that qualify for licensure under the Reinstatement Provision in Council Rule 2(19).

For more information, please refer to Council Rules Course.

Yes, all new nominee requests and nominees changing agencies or firms must complete the course relevant to their licence class prior to submitting their request as of August 1, 2023. Current nominees are encouraged to take the course as the content will better help their understanding of their responsibilities and requirements.

Login to your portal account to register for the course. Instructions on how to register can be found here.

Existing nominees are not required to take the course, but it is recommended that they take the course to refresh their knowledge of their nominee obligations.

Level 3 agents and licensed life/A&S nominees who take the course relevant to their licence class can receive CE credit.

Starting October 1, 2024, new level 3 licence applicants are required to complete the Supervision Course for General Insurance Agents, available for registration, through the Insurance Council’s online portal. Licence applicants who took the course through IBABC prior to this date and have submitted an application are not required to take the new course offered by the Insurance Council.

Login to your portal account to register for the course. Instructions on how to register can be found here.

Current level 3 licensees are not required to take the course. However, we do recommend that Level 2 and 3 licensees with supervisory duties take the course to understand their regulatory responsibilities and best practices when supervising others. Licensees who take the course are eligible to receive CE credit towards the current licensing year.

Login to your portal account to register for the course. Instructions on how to register can be found here.

If you are applying to obtain a general insurance agent level 3 licence, the Supervision Course for General Insurance Agents is considered an education prerequisite therefore does not count towards CE credits.

If you are an existing level 2 or level 3 general insurance agent, you are then eligible for CE credits for completing the course. The Supervision Course for General Insurance Agents qualifies for two CE credits for the licensing period, in which the course is taken.

Remember to download the Course Completion Certificate upon completion as you may be asked to produce it as part of a CE audit.

Once you have registered for the course through the Insurance Council’s online portal, you have 30 days to complete the course.

If you completed the course while you were licensed as a level 3 general insurance agent, the results remain valid as long as you maintain your general insurance licence.

If you are reinstating a cancelled license, you will not be required to complete the course again if you qualify for licensure under the Reinstatement Provision in Council Rule 2(19).

If you completed the course before obtaining a level 3 general insurance licence, the results are valid for one year.

You must provide the name of your former supervisor and complete a Supervisor Undertaking Form that is signed by you and your new supervisor. Once completed, send the form via email.

New life and/or accident and sickness (A&S) agents must be supervised for a minimum of 24 months. Some exceptions apply. Please refer to our Guidelines for Supervision of New Life and/or Accident & Sickness Agents. At the end of the supervision period, the supervisor must submit the Confirmation of Completion Form to the Insurance Council via email. It is the supervisor’s responsibility to determine what additional supervision duties are required to ensure that there is an adequate level of supervision for the new life and/or A&S agent.

If a supervisor withdraws as a new life and/or accident and sickness (A&S) agent’s supervisor, then written disclosure must be made to the Insurance Council within 5 business days in accordance to Council Rules. Please submit a written request to our Licensing Department by email, and provide the name of the licensee, and the date your supervision of the licensee ceased. If the reason for withdrawing as a supervisor is related to the new life and/or A&S agent’s suitability or conduct as a licensee, the supervisor must include this in the written disclosure to the Insurance Council. The supervisor must also notify the agent of the withdrawal immediately. Until notification is provided, they are still accountable for the agent.

For more information please refer to our Guidelines for Supervision of New Life and/or Accident & Sickness Agents.

If you wish to make your licence inactive, you must submit a written request by email. In your submission, please include your full legal name, licence number, and the effective end date you are making your licence inactive. There is no time limit at this time for how long a licence may remain inactive, please refer to our website regularly for updates.

With an inactive licence, licensees:

• may not conduct any insurance activities, including servicing existing clients;

• must continue to meet continuing education requirements;

• must complete the annual filing to avoid licence termination; and

• during time of inactivity, are not required to hold E&O insurance.

To change the nominee of a licensed agency/firm, please complete the Add/Update Agency Nominee form and submit it to our Licensing Department by email. Please note this form must be signed by the new appointed nominee, as well as a major shareholder, director, officer, or partner of the agency/firm appointing the new nominee.

Individual licensees who are leaving one employer and moving to another, adding another employer, or ceasing employment with an agency must notify the Insurance Council in writing via email within 5 business days.

Corporate licensees/nominees (or authorized delegates) can update authorizations to represent through the online portal, by signing into the corporate licence account.

Add authorization to represent (ATR):

• Log into the portal.

• Click on Manage Authority to Represent.

• Select Create ATR.

• Fill in the required information. If you receive any error messages, correct the information or contact the licensing department for assistance.

• Review the information, make any necessary changes, and click Continue.

• A confirmation message with a green check box will indicate that your request has been processed and the new information will be displayed in the Licensee Directory.

Some ATR requests will still need to be processed by the licensing department. Specifically, these include anyone with a supervisory requirement, level 3 licensees and nominees. For these requests, please complete and submit an Add Authority to Represent (ATR) Form.

Important: Insurance Council does not automatically end your previous ATR simply because you submit a new Add ATR form. It is your responsibility to notify the Insurance Council when you leave an employer.

Both the employer and the licensee must submit written notification that authorization has been withdrawn. Please submit a written request to our Licensing Department by email, and provide the date on which you are no longer representing an insurance agency, adjusting firm, or general insurance direct writer within five business days of the withdrawal, as set out in Council Rule 7(4). Your licence will become inactive until an Add Authorization to Represent form is submitted and reviewed by the Insurance Council.

Corporate licensees/nominees (or authorized delegates) can update authorizations to represent through the online portal, by signing into the corporate licence account.

End Authorization to Represent (ATR):

• Log into the portal.

• Click on Manage authorizations to represent (ATR).

• Select End ATR.

• Fill in the required information. If you receive any error messages, correct the information, or forward your request to licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com for processing.

• Review the information, make any necessary changes, and click Continue.

• A confirmation message with a green check box will indicate that your request has been processed.

A licensee must notify Council within 30 calendar days of any change in personal contact information, or in the case of an insurance agency, adjusting firm, or the nominee of a direct writer of the opening or closing of branch offices and of a material change in the ownership of an insurance agency or adjusting firm, as set out in Council Rule 7(4).

Please log into the online portal in order to update your contact information.

Submit an online licence cancellation request through the online portal, this option can be found under ‘Licence Updates’ in the main menu after login. Alternatively, you can submit a fully completed Cancellation of Licence Form by email to the Insurance Council’s Licensing Department at licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com.

If you decide to reinstate your licence at a future date, please review the Reinstatement Provision as you may be required to re-take qualifying education if you do not meet the requirements of the provision.

To change your name, please submit a Change of Name form and a copy of your name-change document to our Licensing Department by email. Once we receive your request form, we will email you advising on how to make your payment of the amendment fee in the online portal.

If the name of your company or trade name has changed, please submit the same Change of Name form; however, it is recommended that you first contact us to determine what other information you will need to be provide as the change may have other implications to your licence. Please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.

Notes for Trade Name/Operating Names:

A trade or operating name,

• is a name other than your given name under which you conduct your business.

• is the identifier that most people will use to refer to your business.

• can optionally be the full or shortened version of your corporate name.

Trade names must meet the following requirements for approval by the Insurance Council:

• Must be registered with BC Registry.

• Should include a descriptive element to explain the nature of your business and broaden the range of naming options available.

• Must not be a name that could lead the public into believing it’s an insurance company.

• Must not be similar to an existing licensed agency or firm, or another trade name. (i.e., must have a descriptive element to differentiate it from another licensee’s name). This includes:

• Concerns raised by a third party.

• Similar sounding names (but different spelling).

• Adding or removing one or two letters from a name.

• Must not imply the business has expertise in a specific area (unless its licensee or authorized reps are qualified).

• Must not purport to be a financial planner unless the licensee meets the requirements of a financial planner.

• Must not use the term and Associates unless there are two or more licensees in the business.

For online presence, the trade name must not use the same domain name as another licensee’s legal name or trade name.

A Licensee must notify the Insurance Council within 30 calendar days of any material change in ownership, in accordance with Council Rule 7 (4) (b) (ii). Material changes in ownership can include share purchases, asset purchases, and amalgamations. Further details on these changes, and the required notifications to the Insurance Council, can be reviewed here.

Submit a licence upgrade application through the online portal, this option can be found under “Apply for Licence Upgrade” in the main menu after logging into your portal account. Alternatively, you can submit a fully completed New Licence Upgrade Application Form by emailing the Insurance Council’s Licensing Department at licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com.

While most business activities/jobs have no impact on a licensee's insurance activities, there are incidences that are considered to be a potential conflict of interest.

As long as you are not engaged in business activity that the Insurance Council has declined to issue a licence (List of Other Employment and Business Activities Considered by Council), you are not required to notify us of a business activity you commenced after you obtained your licence.

If you engage in a role that's not on the list, you should consider whether the role is similar to one on the list and if so, how you might need to tailor your insurance activities going forward.

If you would like further direction, please submit a Request for Review of Other Business Activities form.

BC insurance licences are continuous and therefore don't have an expiry date, but you must submit an annual licence renewal to Council each year.

The deadline for the annual licence renewal for all licensees is June 1st. If you file after June 1 and up to July 31, you will be charged a late fee. Any licensees who don't file before July 31 will have their licence cancelled.

As the licence renewal date in BC is the same for all licensees and is the same every year, licensees are not individually notified of their licence renewal deadline. You may receive a courtesy reminder email, but it is your responsibility to ensure you submit your annual licence renewal on time.

Yes. You must submit an annual licence renewal declaration and fee for your corporate licence and you must submit an annual licence renewal declaration and fee for your own individual insurance licence.

As this may vary from year to year, check Council's website under the Annual Licence Renewal tab (under Licensee Resources) prior to submitting your licence renewal each year.

Recent amendments to Council Rule 4(4) require licensees to have met their CE requirements before they can renew their licence. Licensees are encouraged to complete their CE credits well ahead of the May 31 deadline to ensure they meet requirements to renew their licence.

All licensees, whether their licence is active, inactive or suspended, must complete CE learning based on the guidelines for their licence class as outlined in Council Rule 7(5) by the end of their licensing period. Licensees who are not residents of BC, must either meet annual CE requirements of their home jurisdiction if applicable or meet Insurance Council CE requirements. Travel agency salespersons may have partial CE credit completion based on their licensing period (January-December).

Yes. You must submit an annual licence renewal declaration and fee for each insurance licence held, regardless of whether your licence is active, inactive or suspended.

• Advocis

• Business Career College

• College for Financial Professions; Collège des Professions Financières

• CSI (Canadian Securities Institute)

• iA Financial Group - Industrial Alliance

• Learnedly Canada Inc, (Learnedly)

• Oliver Publishing Inc.

• Primerica Life Insurance Company of Canada

• REMIC Inc. (Real Estate and Mortgage Institute of Canada

• SeeWhy Learning

Click here for the course provider’s contact information

See Scheduling and Fees for In-person exams in our In-person Exam section.

See the Exam Information and Registration page for more information about how to register for the exams.

Examinees have 75 minutes to complete each exam module.

Each exam module contains 5 pilot questions, which are not included in the final score. The Life Insurance, Segregated Funds and Annuities, and Accident and Sickness Insurance modules each have 35 questions, but are scored out of a total of 30 points. The Ethics and Professional Practice modules (Common Law and Civil Code), each have 25 questions, but are scored out of a total of 20 points.

Pilot questions are integrated into the exams to measure the quality of newly developed exam questions prior to using the questions for scoring purposes. There are five pilot questions in each modular exam; however, pilot questions will be excluded from the examinee’s final score to avoid impact on the examinee’s test performance. Pilot questions are not bonus questions, the results will not be counted towards the examinees'' final score, regardless of whether the questions were answered correctly or not.

As of September 1, 2018, the pilot testing approach in all Canadian jurisdictions is as follows:

• five pilot questions will be integrated into each exam module.

• Examinees will still be allotted 75 minutes to complete each exam.

• Pilot questions will be excluded from the examinees’ final score.

• Pilot questions will be managed to avoid impact on examinee performance.

Examinees may still continue to use the Comments page attached to exam questionnaires to share any comments or concerns regarding the exam.

For more information, please visit: https://www.cisro-ocra.com/

See In-Person Exam Information for important information you need to know about writing your in-person exams with the Insurance Council.

No. Food and beverages are not permitted in the exam room. Depending on the test centre, water in a clear bottle without a label, may be acceptable.

*If you have a proven medical condition which makes it necessary for you to have food and/or beverages into the exam, you must obtain approval from the Insurance Council prior to exam registration. Please see Exam Accommodations and contact Examinations at 604-695-2006 or Examinations@insurancecouncilofbc.com for exam accommodation requests.

A minimum of 60% is required to pass each exam module.

Exam Results Written Within Metro Vancouver (Vancouver and Surrey)

Exam results are released by 4:30 p.m. PT, three business days after the date of the exam. You can view exam results in your Insurance Council online portal account by navigating to the “View my exam results” tab in the main menu.

Exam Results Written in Other BC Regions Outside of Metro Vancouver

Exam results are released by 4:30 p.m. PT, five business days after the date of the exam. You can view exam results in your Insurance Council online portal account by navigating to the “View my exam results” tab in the main menu.

Please note the following:

• A mark of 60% or higher is required to pass the LLQP exam;

• Exam scores for exams written before March 1, 2020 are not provided; only a grade of “pass” or “fail” is provided;

• Exam results for LLQP exams written online after June 30, 2023, are not accepted;

• If you are a BC resident and intend to write your licence examination in another jurisdiction, you must first contact the Insurance Council to ensure that the results will be valid in BC;

• The Insurance Council does not review appeals regarding the content of the examination or possible responses to examination questions. The content of the examination is not subject to appeal; and

• Due to the sensitive nature of the examination material, examinees are not permitted to review their examination documents.

If you are unsuccessful in passing an exam, you can attempt to re-write it; however, a waiting period will apply after a number of attempts.

*Certification for LLQP prerequisite course completion is only valid for one year. Therefore, examinees who are required to wait a year before rewriting the exam will also need to re-take the prerequisite LLQP course. The initial exam attempt following the one-year waiting period will be counted as a first attempt.

Note:

• LLQP prerequisite course validity will still expire one year after the date of completion, regardless of whether it was taken during an exam re-write waiting period. Exam modules cannot be written once the course validity expires. Re-taking the prequalification course does not change the exam writing waiting periods.

• Regardless of where the examinee has previously written the LLQP exam in Canada, if they are unsuccessful in any exam module and register to re-write it in BC, they will be subjected to the waiting period implemented in BC. Similarly, if the examinee is unsuccessful in an exam module in BC, the BC waiting period will still apply, even if they choose to re-write the exam in another jurisdiction. It is the examinee's responsibility to disclose any previous exam attempts in other jurisdictions when registering to write the LLQP exam with the Insurance Council, and vice versa.

Each passed exam module is valid for 1 year from successful completion. You must complete the HLLQP and hold a licence within 1 year from the first exam module you have passed.

It is valid for 1 year from the certification completion date.

See the Exam Information and Registration page for information on how to register for the exam.

No. You must have a valid course certification date in order to register for the HLLQP exams. Contact your course provider to retake the course.

No, you must first be issued a licence by the Insurance Council.

No, you must be suitable to hold an insurance licence. Click here for more information.