• Examinations

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Examination Overview

All individuals must meet the “qualifications” outlined in Section 5 of Ontario Regulation 991 of the RIB Act. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Passing the Level 1 Examination or its Equivalency;
  • Satisfying the “only business or employment” requirement;
  • Employment with a RIBO registered general insurance brokerage firm. Employment (sponsorship) is not required to write the examination but is a requirement for registration.

Individuals who pass the examination and are otherwise “qualified” will be sent an Employment Letter Form attached to their passing letter. This form must be completed and signed by the Principal Broker of the brokerage and returned to RIBO with the required registration fee.

The annual registration fee (currently $220 and subject to change without notice) covers the period from October 1 to September 30. New registrations processed during the months of July, August and September are required to pay 50% of the annual registration fee plus the full annual renewal fee for the next licensing term. The certificate of registration will expire September 30 of the following year. Otherwise no reduction is allowed for part of a year. Fees are not refundable in whole or in part.

Registration must be completed within 12 months from the date of successful completion of the examination. If registration does not occur within 12 months, the applicant will be required to write the examination again. We regret there are no extensions.

Individuals who have a Shell or Tax Corporation set up to receive commissions for tax purposes only must also register the corporation with RIBO as a “Non-Active Member Firm.” The registration fee for the non-active firm is the same as it is for an individual registration.

Once registered, all licensed insurance brokers must comply with RIBO continuing education requirements.

Individuals who have passed the examination but who have not registered and not received their certificate of registration cannot hold themselves out as or act in the capacity of a broker. Acting as a broker without a certificate of registration will result in your file being reviewed by the Qualification and Registration Committee and may jeopardize your eligibility for licensing.

Maintaining Exam Integrity

At RIBO, we collaborate closely with our exam service providers to uphold the integrity of our examinations. This commitment is exemplified through routine reviews of exam results to detect any irregularities. If such irregularities are found, the affected exams will be nullified, and individuals impacted will be promptly contacted by their exam service provider and/or RIBO.

RIBO Exam Rules

When taking a RIBO exam, it is imperative to diligently adhere to the RIBO Exam Rules, as any violation of these rules will lead to immediate nullification, potentially affecting a broker’s eligibility to hold a license.

Our Exam Providers

RIBO has established partnerships with the Insurance Institute of Ontario (IIO) and the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO), to administer RIBO examinations. We recommend that individuals planning to take an examination carefully review the RIBO Exam Standards applicable to their specific exam. Furthermore, it is vital to adhere not only to RIBO Exam Rules but also those set forth by our exam service providers to ensure a smooth and successful examination experience.

Registering for the Exam

  1. You can register for a RIBO exam with the following exam providers:
  2. If you are applying for an equivalency exam please review RIBO’s equivalency guide. In some cases, you may be required to request an equivalency review based on your qualifications. Please contact equivalency@ribo.com for more information.

Important Changes to the Level 1 (Entry-Level Broker) Exam:

In accordance with the standards and best practices in exam development, RIBO is introducing pilot questions to its Level 1 Exam in November 2023, with 100 multiple choice questions being graded beginning in January 2024. 

As exams are continuously updated, piloting questions provides a critical opportunity to gather statistical data on the questions prior to including them on the exam. Careful considerations have been made to ensure that the addition of these questions does not negatively impact the candidates’ performance. 

The candidates will not be able to identify the pilot questions as they will be indistinguishable from the others on the exam. The pilot questions will not be scored and will not contribute to the candidate’s grade. The exam duration will be 3 hours. 

Exam Results

All official results will be provided to the candidate by the exam service providers two weeks after taking the exam.

Re-marks

Re-marks for exams written are only available for Level 2 Technical and Level 3 Management exams.

Rewrite Policy

Candidates are eligible to rewrite within the 8-month period following their first examination per exam provider. Candidates after two failed attempts are subject to an 8-month waiting period following their second failed attempt with the same exam provider.

Exam results will be invalid and will not count towards licensing if an individual attempts any exam(s) more than twice in an 8-month period with any single exam provider. No refunds will be provided for such individuals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have any questions? Read frequently asked questions regarding RIBO’s exams.

Disclaimer

The Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO) does not create, accredit, or review educational courses or study kits designed to prepare candidates for RIBO exams. RIBO exclusively accredits Continuing Education (CE) courses and does not accredit preparatory educational materials provided by third parties. Any preparatory courses are offered independently of RIBO and are undertaken at the candidate’s own risk. RIBO assumes no responsibility for the accuracy, authenticity, or quality of content provided by such preparatory materials. Candidates are advised to independently verify the relevance and reliability of any preparatory resources they use.