Continuing Education Exemptions for Licensees on Parental Leave
A licensee may submit a request to the Insurance Councils of Saskatchewan (ICS) to have their Continuing Education (CE) credit hours waived while they are on parental leave and their licence is suspended.
See the following resources for more information:
Eligible Licences
The exemption applies to licensees subject to CE requirements under the:
- General Insurance Council (GICS) Bylaws that must follow the continuing education requirement (P&C, Restricted Auto, P&C Adjuster, Travel, Crop Hail Adjuster); and
- Life Insurance Council (LICS) Bylaws that must follow the continuing education requirement (Life and/or Accident & Sickness).
It does not apply to mandatory ethics training required by section 9-3 of the GICS and LICS Bylaws, which must still be completed.
Key Conditions
The exemption:
- Applies for a maximum of 12 months;
- Is effective from the date the licence is suspended to the date it is reinstated; and
- May result in prorated CE requirements depending on the length and timing of the parental leave.
CE credit hours are prorated using the Prorated CE Credit Hours Table if the request is for less than 12 months or spans one or more CE reporting years.
Total prorated CE credited hours will be rounded to the nearest whole credit hour.
All required prorated CE credit hours must be completed by the end of the applicable reporting period or prior to licence reinstatement, as applicable.
Licence Suspension Requirements
The licensee’s licence must be suspended during the parental leave.
While suspended:
- the licensee cannot carry on the business of insurance or collect commissions during this time; and
- Errors and Omissions (E&O) coverage is not required.
Following the licensee’s parental leave, the licensee must reinstate their licence.
Requesting a CE Exemption during Parental Leave
- Licensees must request a CE exemption as soon as possible and at least 30 days before the start of the leave by using the Request for Continuing Education Exemption for Parental Leave Form.
- The licensee must complete the request indicating the:
- anticipated start date of their parental leave;
- anticipated end date of their parental leave; and
- required prorated CE credit hours for the current reporting year (if applicable).
- If the CE exemption for parental leave period occurs within one CE reporting year (annual reporting year) and is for less than 12 months, the hours will be prorated for that year. All required prorated CE credit hours for the reporting year must be completed before the application is approved. (See the Prorated CE Credit Hours Table).
- If the CE exemption for parental leave period falls over two CE reporting years(annual reporting years), the hours will be prorated for each reporting year. All required prorated CE credit hours for the current reporting year must be completed before the application is approved. (See the Prorated CE Credit Hours Table).
- The request is to be signed and dated by the licensee and their recommender.
- The request and supporting documentation must be emailed to info@skcouncil.sk.ca. ICS will acknowledge receipt of requests within five business days.
Request Approval Process
- Incomplete requests will be returned for correction before processing.
- ICS will make reasonable efforts to issue a decision within 30 calendar days of receiving a complete request. The licensee will be informed by email if their Request meets the exemption requirements.
- If the Request does not meet the requirements, the response will include the reason(s) why, as well as information on how to request a review of the decision.
Review of Decisions
The licensee may request a review of a decision within 14 calendar days of receiving the decision.
The request must be sent by email to info@skcouncil.sk.ca. The written request should include the reason(s) for the review and any supporting information the licensee wishes to provide.
Once a matter is reviewed, the decision will be considered final.
Reinstatement of Licence Following Parental Leave
- It is the responsibility of the licensee to reinstate their licence at the end of the parental leave. Failure to reinstate may result in cancellation of the licence.
- Reinstatement should be requested at least 30 days before the reinstatement date by completing the Request for Reinstatement Following Parental Leave Form.
- Once the licensee’s Reinstatement Request is approved, ICS will provide the licensee with the CE credit hours required for the licensee’s CE reporting year (annual reporting year), based on the Prorated CE Credit Hours Table.
Failure to complete the required CE credit hours will result in a suspension of the licence until the licensee has earned the required CE credit hours (bylaw 9-1(8)).
CE Exemption for Parental Leave FAQs