May 6, 2011

As the result of legislation passed in Ohio, all insurance agents who hold an Ohio insurance license will be required to renew their license every two years, by the last date of their birth month.

Resident insurance agents who were required to complete 20 hours of continuing education by December 31, 2010 will be required to renew their license by the last date of their birth month in 2011. Individuals born in the months of January through May will have until June 30, 2011 to renew their licenses.

Resident insurance agents assigned to the December 31, 2011 compliance period will have until the end of their birth month in 2012 to renew their license, however, agents who fall into this category will need to have twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education completed and posted to their licensing record by their respective license expiration date. Three (3) of the twenty-four hours must be Ethics related, and approved as such by the Department.

Non-resident agents who were issued an Ohio insurance license in an even numbered year prior to 2010 will be required to renew their licenses by the last day of their birth month in 2011. Individuals in this category who were born in the months of January through May will have until June 30, 2011 to submit their renewal application.

Non-resident agents issued a license in prior to 2010 in an odd numbered year will be required to renew their license by the last day of their birth month in 2012.

Agents who fail to renew their license by the end of their birth month will have a 30 day grace period to come into compliance, however, agents falling into this category will be assessed a $100 extension fee for missing the deadline established. Agents who fail to renew by the last day of the grace period will have their license(s) suspended and all of their appointments will be terminated. The suspension can be lifted if the renewal requirements and a $300 late fee is paid within one year of an agent’s license renewal expiration date. Agents who fail to reinstate their license within the one year period will be required to go through the agent licensing process as if they were a new agent.

While Ohio’s new agent licensing laws went into effect on January 1, 2011, the license renewal process has been delayed until May 16, 2011 as it was necessary for the Department to adopt a new electronic licensing system. The implementation of this computer system will take place beginning at the close of business on May 5, 2011 and will continue through May 16, 2011.

During this period there will be limited online access to licensing pages on the Ohio Department of Insurance website.

On May 16, 2011, the Department will begin accepting license renewal applications from our business partner, NIPR. Due to the volume of agents who will be required to renew their licenses, the computer system will only permit those agents who are within 90 days of their license expiration date to file a renewal application.

Agents can determine their Ohio license expiration date by accessing the Department’s website (www.insurance.ohio.gov) and clicking on the Agent/Agency locator located under the Quick Links section.

To ensure the agent community is fully aware of Ohio’s new licensing laws, all companies who do business in Ohio are asked to disseminate this information to all of their appointed agents.