In some states, not long has passed since insurance professionals had continuing education (CE) requirements imposed upon them; forcing mandatory hours of training into their already heaping schedules.
The response to mandatory CE is mixed. One camp believes its purpose is honorable. Those in the other camp struggle with a feeling of resentment for being lopped in with others who apparently know so little about insurance that they need frequent training. Their opinion of CE is that it's an easy out for governing bodies tired of fielding consumer complaints concerning individuals licensed as practitioners through watered down licensing requirements. Trust me, I hear it every week.
This camp is typically dominated by "grizzled vets" who believe their longevity and financial success are evidence that learning days are behind them and unnecessary. I see this when I teach CE and ask the class how many of them actually deal with the policy/coverage that I am teaching. When so few hands go up I am reminded how many are simply choosing hours rather than content; whatever makes it easiest to "get it over with."
I can't make sense of this. With the huge selection of CE available to insurance practitioners (just type "insurance CE" in Google) through numerous portals- designation programs, on-line courses and webinars, just to name a few- there's no shortage of hours available for selection. Nor is there a shortage of content. Yes, some courses are a drag. But my experience teaching on programs in different states has allowed me to be consistently startled by the brilliance of many teachers out there; fantastic presentations loaded with exceptional content that entertain and make better insurance people.
Young practitioners: take control of your CE. Don't let the grizzled vets in your office convince you that "just get it over with" is right. Select only CE courses that are relevant to products you sell/service on a daily basis. Ask your peers for recommendations on programs and instructors. If no one in your office wants to take the same program, take it alone, it's your career. And if there's an excellent course you believe will help you get better at what you do don't skip it simply because you don't need the hours (some states will roll them over anyway.) Success in this business is all about seizing opportunities, Why treat CE any different?
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