The information below is designed to allow individuals to determine which examinations they are required to write as part of qualifying for a RIBO license.
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Upon successfully completing your Equivalency exam(s), you can proceed with registration as an insurance broker with a RIBO registered brokerage firm. This is subject to meeting the suitability requirements.
Prepare for your registration by consulting the Registration Checklist before taking the exam(s).
Candidates are responsible for verifying their licensure eligibility before taking any exam. Passing the exam does not guarantee full eligibility, as additional background checks will be conducted during the formal licensing application process. These background checks include, but are not limited to, criminal records and conflicts of interest with other licensing bodies.
Candidates required to take multiple exams, such as the RIB Act, Regulations, and By-laws Equivalency Exam and the RIBO Ontario Automobile Equivalency Exam, must pass all exams within twelve months.
Each exam result is valid for twelve months from the date of passing. If a candidate passes one exam and fails another, they must retake and pass the failed exam within twelve months from the original exam date of the passed exam. The eligibility to apply for their license will be based on the earliest pass date, thereby potentially shortening the overall license eligibility period.
Applying for a Level 1 License
The following individuals may be eligible to write the Equivalency Exam(s):
- Those who hold a current out-of-province general Property & Casualty (P&C) license (see provincial licensing guide below)
- Those who hold an Other-Than-Life (OTL) insurance agent license with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA).
- Those who has been actively employed as an Underwriter or Adjuster for at least the last 2 years
To determine your eligibility for the Equivalency Exam, please provide the following in PDF format:
- Resume outlining experience to-date
- Copy of your OTL and/or out-of-province insurance license
- Copy of any P&C designations held (e.g. CAIB or CIP)
And provide a written answer to the following:
- Indicate what RIBO Licence are you seeking: Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 (to be a principal broker or deputy principal broker)
- Are you planning to be a Managing General Agency (MGA)?
The above can be sent to exam@ribo.com. Please indicate if any of the documents/questions requested don’t apply to you. We may request additional documentation or clarification to process your equivalency application.
Exam Requirements
- Individuals who are currently employed and licensed in another jurisdiction (or have been employed within the last year) are eligible to write the RIB Act, Regulations, and By-Laws Equivalency Exam + RIBO Ontario Automobile Equivalency Exam.
- Individuals who are currently employed and hold an active OTL license with FSRA (or have been employed within the last year) are eligible to write the RIB Act, Regulations, and By-Laws Equivalency Exam.
Applying for a Level 2 License
Eligibility for existing RIBO licensees:
- Existing registrants/licensees are eligible to write the Level 2 – Technical/Commercial Exam.
- Though not a mandatory exam, some individuals may wish to write the Level 2 – Technical Farm Exam to further their qualifications.
Please refer to the RIBO Exam Rules for more details
Exam Requirements for Existing RIBO Licensees
Individuals with any of the following designations may qualify for an exemption from the Level 2 – Technical/Commercial Exam: CAIB, CIP, FCIP, CCIB and CRM.
Effective August 10, 2022, individuals are no longer required to submit a Principal Broker support letter as part of their Level 2 Technical exam waiver request. Level 1 license holders who have completed one of the following designations: CAIB, CIP, FCIP, CCIB and CRM can now apply to have their license upgraded. If you hold a Level 1 license, and are currently working toward a designation, you can also apply for a Level 2 license after completing the following courses: CAIB 1, 2, and 3 (must have completed and passed all 3 courses); or, CIP Courses: C130 and C131 (must have completed and passed both courses).
You can apply and request your license upgrade, by emailing licensing@ribo.com and quoting “Technical Examination Waiver – Your Name – Your License Number” in the subject line of the email. Include course transcripts or a copy of your diploma as proof that you meet the eligibility requirements.
Non-Ontario resident individuals who hold a level 3 license in their home jurisdiction are also encouraged to apply to have their RIBO license upgraded.
Applying for a Level 3 License
Eligibility for existing RIBO licensees:
- RIBO Level 1 Licensees must pass the Level 2 – Technical/Commercial Exam and Level 3 – Management Exam
- RIBO Level 3 Licensees must pass the Level 3 – Management Exam
- Level 3 – Management Exam: Individuals must be actively working with a Level 1 license for a minimum of two years before attempting this examination. If individuals choose to take this exam beforehand, it will not be valid and the individual will need to rewrite it, once eligible.
Please refer to the RIBO Exam Rules for more details
Eligibility for Out of Province licensees seeking a Level 3 License to be a Principal Broker for a firm
- The two-year waiting period will be waived for individuals who are actively licensed and have been employed in another jurisdiction for more than two years.
- See guide below for more information, including requirements for holding a “Principal Broker or Level 3 License.”
Exam Requirements for Out of Province licensees
- In addition to meeting the Level 1 licensing criteria, certain out of province licensees may qualify for an exemption from the Level 2 – Technical/Commercial Exam. (See guide below for eligibility for exemption from this exam based on your home province’s license.)
- Out of province licensees seeking a Principal Broker designation must successfully complete the RIBO Level 3 – Management Exam and RIBO Ontario Automobile Equivalency Exam.
Out of Province Licensees
Below is a guide for out of province applicants who hold a license in their home jurisdiction.
Level 1 – Entry Level Broker
- If you hold one of the following licenses in your home jurisdiction, you may be eligible for a Level 1 license in Ontario, following the successful completion of the RIB Act, Regulations, and By-Laws Equivalency Exam + RIBO Ontario Automobile Equivalency Exam.
| Province | License |
| Alberta | General Level 1 or Level 2 Agent |
| British Columbia | Level 1 General Insurance Salesperson |
| Manitoba | Level 1 General Insurance Salesperson |
| New Brunswick | Class 1 Broker, Class 2 Broker, or Special |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | Level 1 or Level 2 Broker |
| Northwest Territories | General Insurance Agent |
| Nova Scotia | Level 1 General Insurance Agent |
| Ontario (FSRA) | OTL (Other Than Life) * |
| Prince Edward Island | General |
| Quebec | Personal Lines Damage Insurance |
| Saskatchewan | Level 1 Agent |
| Yukon | Salesperson or Broker |
Level 2 – Technical/Commercial
- If you hold one of the following licenses in your home jurisdiction you may be eligible to waive the technical exam requirement for qualifying for a Level 2 license in Ontario.
- Out of province licensees seeking a Principal Broker designation must successfully complete the Level 3 – Management Exam.
| Province | License |
| Alberta | Level 2 Agent |
| British Columbia | Level 2 or Level 3 Agent |
| Manitoba | Level 2 or Level 3 Agent |
| New Brunswick | Class 3 Broker or Class 4 Broker |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | Level 3 Broker |
| Nova Scotia | Level 2 or Level 3 General Insurance Agent |
| Quebec | Full Sector Damage or Commercial Lines Damage |
| Saskatchewan | Level 2 or Level 3 Agent |
*OTL agents are exempted from the RIBO Auto Equivalency exam