054.00.90 Ark. Code R. 002
Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 10, October, 2024
Rule 054.00.90-002 - Rule and Regulation 47: Pre-Licensing Education Requirements for Legal Insurance AgenciesSECTION 1. PURPOSE The purpose of this rule is to establish curricula for courses of instruction required to be completed by applicants seeking an agent's license to sell legal insurance in Arkansas under Ark. Code § 23-91-219 (Supp. 1987), to establish a mechanism of examination and review of the performance and quality of the instruction, and to establish respective duties of the Insurance Advisory Examining Board.
SECTION 2. AUTHORITY The rule is issued pursuant to the authority vested in the Commissioner under Ark. Code Ann. §§ 23-61-108 (1987), 23-91-224 (1987), and 23-91-219 (Supp. 1987), and 25-15-202 (1987), et seq.
SECTION 3. APPLICABILITY AND SCOPE This rule shall apply to all new applicants seeking an agent's license on and after August 1, 1990 to sell legal insurance for all insurers holding an Arkansas certificate of authority pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. §§ 23-63-201, et seq., or 23-91-201, et seq. This rule shall not be applicable to agents holding a valid license to sell legal insurance on or before August 1, 199 0.
SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE The effective date of this rule shall be May 1, 1990.
SECTION 5. COURSE REQUIREMENTS All candidates for an Arkansas legal insurance agent's license are hereby required to complete a course of instruction with a minimum of eight-(8) hours of classroom instruction, with a minimum five (5) hours on Ark. Code Ann. §§ 23-66-201, et seg., 23-66-301 et seq.,23-91-201, et seq., and other applicable provisions of the Arkansas Insurance Code and Rules and Regulations of the Arkansas Insurance Department, and with a minimum three (3) hours on legal insurance and general insurance principles. All candidates for a legal insurance agent's license who have previously completed thirty-six (36) hours of education pursuant to Department Rule and Regulation 31 will only be required to complete a course of three (3) hours on legal insurance and general insurance principles to comply with this Rule.
SECTION 6. INSTRUCTOR QUALIFICATIONS AND PROVIDER REQUIREMENTS A. Instructors must have had training or educational experience satisfactory to the Advisory Examining Board and approved by the Arkansas Insurance Commissioner in order to be certified to teach any part of an approved course. Each instructor must have five (5) or more years of experience in the field of insurance generally, or advanced education, or five years of experience and advanced education combined, and must be approved prior to teaching any course, or any part of a course, by the Insurance Advisory Examining Board c/o Arkansas Insurance Department.B. No person will approved as an instructor who has received disciplinary action by the Arkansas Insurance Department, the Insurance Department of another state, or any similar regulatory body or court. The Commissioner shall have the authority to waive this requirement after a hearing to determine the instructor's qualifications.C. Application for approval as a provider shall be submitted to the Insurance Advisory Examining Board c/o Arkansas Insurance Department not less than sixty (60) days prior to the expected use of the program. A provider shall include the following information in duplicate; 1] Detailed description of the instruction program including a course outline and list of resource materials;2] Completion of Exhibit 1 for the initial certification;3] Description of all facilities and schedules of classes for all locations;4] Completion of Exhibit 2 upon any change in curriculum or instructor or location; and5] Completion of Exhibit 4 as to each instructor. Course providers previously certified under Department Rule and Regulation 31 may amend their existing applications to add three (3)hours of instruction on legal insurance to comply with this Rule, or may file new applications for eight (8) hours of instruction on legal insurance pursuant to this Rule.
D. Changes in class schedules are to be filed with the Insurance Department no later than two (2) weeks before each class begins.E. The Board may consider the type of facility to be used for training, the sufficiency of teaching aids, and the exclusive use of that portion of the facility being used for training in making a determination to certify the provider.F. The provider shall maintain detailed attendance records for all students for all classes, which may be reviewed by the Commissioner and the Board. In this regard, any studying which is not conducted under the direct supervision of the instructor at the facility during scheduled classes may not be credited toward completion of the required eight (8) hours.SECTION 7. LICENSING PROCEDURE OF APPLICANT A. The required hours of classroom instruction must be completed prior to the date of license issuance. Certification must be on the form as shown in Exhibit 3 and must be signed by the applicant and the instructor or designated official of the provider where more than one (1) instructor is used.B. The instructor or designated official of the provider is responsible for promptly transmitting the certification to the Insurance Department. The instructor or designated official of the provider shall complete an original and one (1) copy of each individual certification. Exhibit 3, and forward to the Insurance Department with a self addressed, stamped envelope. The Insurance Department will return a copy, indicating proof of receipt, to the instructor or designated official of the provider. Failure of the instructor or the designated official of the provider to file the certification promptly will be considered a violation of this Regulation.SECTION 8. COMPLETION OF COURSE REQUIREMENTS Educational requirements must be completed no more than one (1) year prior to license issuance for course certification to be valid.
SECTION 9. VIOLATIONS Pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, approval of instructors and providers of instruction courses may be suspended or revoked for violations of this Regulation and provisions of the Arkansas Insurance Code or other laws of the State of Arkansas, upon notice and hearing.
SECTION 10. PROGRAM REVIEW The Board and the Department shall have the authority to visit a training facility and review its program at any time, including, but not limited to, curriculum records and attendance records.
054.00.90 Ark. Code R. 002