Prioritizing Professional Growth
May 2, 2024 – RIBO’s continuing education (CE) accreditation guideline has undergone some significant changes over the last several years.
With the creation of our CE review panel, whose membership is made entirely of brokers, as well as our Licensing & Standards Committee, we’ve had the opportunity to work with brokers and industry professionals to update our CE standards and requirements.
Many of these changes involve revisiting our accreditation criteria and discontinuing the accreditation of course content that is not relevant for general insurance professionals or reflective of continuing education.
Previously Announced Changes
Our CE program is designed to provide opportunities for brokers to gain insights into industry trends and enhance their expertise. This is why, since April 2022, we have not accredited content focused on internal systems training.
Some course topics we no longer accredit include:
- Broker Management Systems
- Rating Tools
- Internal Software Programs
- Self-Marketing/Self-Promotional Material
Previously accredited courses in these areas will remain valid for CE credit, however will not be eligible for re-accreditation upon expiry.
A list of our most current definitions for each continuing education category can be found on our website.
Two New Updates to CE Accreditation Guidelines
As we continue to evolve our CE Accreditation program, we are announcing two new changes.
1. Accepting Microlearning Content
In response to industry feedback and the evolving educational landscape, we will now accept accrediting microlearning courses for RIBO CE hours.
Microlearning, characterized by the delivery of content in small, easily digestible units, is perfectly suited to the learning preferences of today’s insurance brokers.
The minimum accredited hours have been reduced from 1 hour to 0.5 hours, allowing for greater flexibility in course offerings.
Courses will now be accredited based on 0.25 increments, ensuring that brokers have access to a wider range of learning opportunities.
2. Updated Accreditation Standards
We have also updated our accreditation guidelines to provide clarity for panel reviewers and applicants. These changes include:
- Guidelines specific to conferences, and
- Limiting accreditation hours for a single day session to 6 hours.
The above two changes will be reflected in our updated Accreditation Application, which is coming soon.
RIBO is committed to maintaining high standards of competence and excellence within the insurance brokerage profession, and we will continue to keep you informed of future developments.