| Licensing Frequently Asked Questions |
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1. How will I know when it's time to renew my license? The license expiration date is shown on the front of the license. The Department mails a renewal notice about ninety days before your license expires. If, for any reason, you do not receive a renewal notice, you may refer to the back of your license for instructions on renewing. 2. How do I inform the Department of my address change? You must inform the Department of any address change in writing. You may notify us by completing our address change form (447-7) and mailing it in or you may submit a letter signed by you stating which address is to be changed (residence, business or mailing). Please include your license number. 3. How do I know how many continuing education hours I will need to renew my license? Thirty-hours (30) of continuing education are required per renewal term for licenses issued prior to 1/1/92; those licenses issued after 1/1/92, will need to complete twenty-five hours (25) per year for each of the first four years; thereafter, they will complete thirty-hours (30) hours for every two-year term. We suggest you to complete your required hours at least 60 days prior to the expiration date of your license to allow the provider to submit the necessary information and for the department to update your record. If hours are completed at the end of your renewal term, the license renewal process may be delayed while your hours are processed. 4. How can I check to see if the Department of Insurance has received my continuing education hours and how many hours of credit I have accumulated? Inquiries should be made 45 days after the course completion date. To check your continuing education hours, you may call our 24-hour Interactive Voice Response System at (916) 322-3555 to hear your hours and/or receive a FAX of those hours; or you may visit our License Status Inquiry webpage, for on-line license status information. 5. After I complete my continuing education hours, do I need to send the certificates to the Department of Insurance? No, it is the provider's responsibility to submit the credits to the Department. DO NOT send your certificate, or copies of the certificate, even if your renewal form indicates you are deficient in hours. The certificate is for your records; the Department must enter the hours from the providers roster. 6. Will I still be able to continue transacting if my license expires and I haven't received the renewed license yet? If the renewal fee was received, and the continuing education hours were completed before the expiration date of the license, you may continue operating under the existing license for 60 days or until notified that the renewal application is deficient (Insurance Code Section §1720). 7. What if my renewal is late? A renewal is late if it is postmarked after the expiration date, or if the continuing education hours are completed after the expiration date. A 50% penalty fee is required to late renew the license and all endorsements, appointments, employee/employer relationships must be reestablished with the appropriate forms and fees. There is no grace period. You have one year from the expiration date to late renew the license; after which time you must file a new application, appointment, fees, pre-licensing certificates and pass the qualifying examination. 8. What if I want to be licensed as a non-resident in another state? You should contact the other state for their license requirements. A letter of certification from the California Department of Insurance is usually required when filing in another state as a nonresident. Indicate the state you need the certificate for, your name, license number and/or social security number, and the address where you would like the certificate mailed. The fee is $14 (per state). Please allow 2-3 weeks for issuance of certificate. 9. I'm moving to another state. What do I need from the California Department of Insurance? A clearance letter is required when you are moving to another state. This cancels your license in California. To obtain a clearance letter, you must submit a signed statement requesting clearance, return your original license (if lost, you must so state in the letter), name the state you wish to become licensed in, provide your name, license number and/or social security number, and the address where the clearance letter is to be mailed. The licensee's original signature is required. The fee is $19. Please allow 2-3 weeks for issuance of clearance letter. 10. How do I obtain a duplicate license? Submit a request referencing the licensee name, license and/or social security number and fee of $19. Licenses are sent to the mailing address of record. |