Prior to selling insurance in Arizona, prospective agents must acquire a license from the Arizona Department of Insurance. Once issued, this license remains valid for two years and requires agents to complete 40 hours of continuing education prior to licensing. The state approves specific schools to offer its programs. As of February 2011, 12 institutions in Arizona and more than 50 out-of-state schools offered approved programs.
Non-profit Organizations
Four non-profit organizations in Arizona carried state approval to serve as insurance schools. The Arizona Association of Health Underwriters offers classroom-based courses throughout the state on Medicare and healthcare costs and reform for health insurance agents. Classroom-based financial planning courses are available from the Greater Phoenix Chapter of Society of Financial Service Professionals. The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisers-Arizona features classroom-based courses in ethics and life and health insurance, and the Arizona Chapter of the CPCU Society offers classes in identity theft insurance.
Public College
Established in 1969, Pima Community College is a public, two-year institution based in Tucson. The college offers a certificate program in insurance to help students prepare for the licensing examination in Arizona. Twelve courses are necessary for the certificate, including business insurance, service excellence, ethics and speech. Students can take as many or as few classes as they wish per term. Qualified students can receive financial aid to help pay for the cost of the program.
Private Schools
Six private schools in Arizona offered state-approved continuing education courses as of February 2011. The Auto-Owners Insurance Company offers classes in life, auto, long-term care and property insurance from its location in Mesa. Attorney Ilene L. McCauley provides seminars throughout the state on financial planning. Insurance Training & Education Center in Phoenix provides courses in insurance law, flood insurance, loss mitigation and other topics. The Phoenix Insurance and Securities School features courses both for exam preparation and continuing education in commercial and personal insurance lines. Titan Restoration in Mesa sponsors classes in water damage for homeowners and flood insurance agents.
Out-of-State
The majority of the out-of-state schools approved to provide insurance training in Arizona offer self-study courses. These types of classes allow students to complete coursework independently from their homes or offices. Both online classes and workbook-based programs are available. At the completion of these courses, agents typically take an examination to verify that they have mastered the topics covered in the class. Passing this examination is necessary to receive the continuing education. Out-of-state schools approved to provide training in Arizona include Training 360's LearnInsurance.com and Broker Educational Sales and Training.
Tags: continuing education, approved provide, classroom-based courses, February 2011, financial planning
