Covid-19 Licensing Relief

KIM REYNOLDS DOUG OMMEN GOVERNOR COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE ADAM GREGG LT. GOVERNOR TWO RUAN CENTER / 601 LOCUST STREET / 4th FLOOR / DES MOINES, IOWA 50309-3738 Telephone 515-281-5705 / Facsimile 515-281-3059 / https://iid.iowa.gov BULLETIN 20-05 To: Licensed resident insurance producers and state-registered securities professionals From: Doug Ommen, Iowa Insurance Commissioner RE: Covid-19 Licensing Relief Date: March 25, 2020 _____________________________________________________________________________________ On March 22, 2020, Governor Reynolds signed a new proclamation continuing the State Public Health Emergency Declaration as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak. Among other relief, the proclamation provides professional licensing relief by suspending the regulatory professions of Iowa Code chapters 502 and 522B and related administrative rules to the extent they: 1. Impose requirements for in-person continuing education as a condition of professional license renewal or impose continuing education deadlines or requirements that are unable to be satisfied due to this Disaster Emergency; and 2. Set an expiration date or renewal requirement for a professional license that expires during the duration of the Proclamation. The suspension of these two provisions extends through the duration of the Governor’s Proclamation and any future extension. The Division is fully operational and continues to process applications and renewals of all licenses and registrations. Insurance licensees may continue to be timely renewed, and the Iowa Insurance Division is implementing procedures to avoid suspensions and non-renewals and provides the following guidance to licensed resident insurance producers and state-registered securities professionals: 1. The Division will be waiving the classroom method requirement and proctor requirements for continuing education until further notice. Continuing Education requirements can now be met by completing self-study courses or classroom equivalent webinars. Many classroom equivalent webinars are live and interactive and offer a similar experience as classroom courses. Course availability can be found online at: https://www.sircon.com/ComplianceExpress/NonSscrbEducation/index.jsp?nonSscrb=Y&sscrbid= 9999. 2. Producer License Renewals can be submitted up to 90 days in advance and should be submitted online at www.nipr.com. Should you have any questions with processing your renewal application please reach out to the division at producer.licensing@iid.iowa.govor 515-725-0690. The Division does not anticipate any changes to current procedures for state-registered securities professionals as online education is already permitted and registrations do not expire until the end of the calendar year. Applications for registration continue to be processed as they are received. Stateregistered securities professionals with questions can contact the Securities Bureau at 515-242-5310. The Division reminds licensed insurance producers of the transition to a new version of SBS taking place between May 8 and May 14 which is the subject of Bulletin 20-02.