SEE 2022 UPDATE BELOW...
Who qualifies to speak at a CGIB event?
Our speakers represent a diverse group with experience from many areas across, and related to, the benefits industry. They may include representatives from; accounting firms, employment lawyers, group insurance (benefit) advisors, insurance companies, TPA’s, the pharmaceutical industry, employers, human resource professionals, regulators, industry trade associations, ministries of health etc. etc. They are required to have the relevant experience to speak knowledgeably on the topic assigned and the majority have over a decade of experience (on occasion, less experienced advisors may be included on panels to demonstrate the range of understanding and the challenges facing newer advisors).
For more information on our speaking requirements CLICK HERE
What topics qualify for Continuing Education (CE) credits?
We use the FSRA (previously FSCO & OIC) guidelines for topics and content. We do NOT allow any type of sales presentations and generally do not allow speakers to speak on topics that they may sell.
- Continuing education must be related to the technical aspects of life insurance. Education related to improving production or sales techniques cannot be included to meet the CE requirement.
- Examples of topics that are considered “technical” for this purpose include legal, legislative and regulatory matters, fundamentals/principles of life insurance, financial planning, taxation, client needs analysis, proper use of life insurance products, rating/underwriting/claims, accounting and actuarial considerations, risk management principles, and provisions and differences in policy contracts.
- Examples of topics not consider related to the technical aspects of life insurance include motivation, consumer psychology, salesmanship, health/stress/exercise, recruiting, office skills, telephone techniques, computer training, management training, and training on specific products offered by a company.
CE credits certificates
CGIB produces Continuing Education (CE) Certificates for those that attend the entire session. Generally these are e-mailed within 2 days of the event completion. CGIB members may pick up copies of past event certificates on the secure MemberZone page. Certificates include the attendees name, the date and location of the event, the name of the seminar, the number of hours (less breaks) and the speaker or panel that delivered it, and are signed by the CGIB Registrar.
CGIB CE Certificates are self accredited to Ontario standards. They are NOT registered with ADVOCIS (as not required), nor are they accredited by other provinces.
AS CGIB events expand into other provinces, accreditation may be obtained to meet specific provincial requirements (such as those of the Alberta Insurance Council).
2022 - The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario has updated their website here...
2022 - The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario Guidance here...
Here is what Canadian Life & A&S Insurance Advisors Should Know About Each Provinces CE Credits & License Cycles. (from: Erin MCkee of Manulife (US) - emckee@manulife.ca
1. British Columbia
Licence cycle: June 1 to May 31 (annual)
15 hours per period
Carry forward up to 15 hours
Non-residents with mandatory CE at home jurisdiction are exempt
Keep original CE certificates for five licence periods
2. Alberta
Licence cycle: July 1 to June 30 (annual)
15 hours per licence class (Life and A&S separately)
Carry forward up to 7.5 hours per class
Courses must be AIC-approved and entered in your profile
Retain CE certificates for three years
3. Manitoba
Licence cycle: June 1 to May 31 (annual)
15 hours required
No carry forward
Residents must report CE online; non-residents meet home jurisdiction rules
Retention period not specified—best practice: keep for at least four years
4. Ontario
Licence cycle: Two-year term from effective date
30 hours every two years
Upload CE and E&O details in FSRA portal at renewal
Maintain CE records for at least four years
All life/A&S agents (residents and non-residents) must report CE course details when they renew their licence with FSRA. Non-resident agents who are domiciled in another Canadian jurisdiction are considered compliant if their home jurisdiction’s CE requirements equal or exceed Ontario’s 30‑hour, 2‑year standard.
5. Saskatchewan
Licence cycle: Annual, based on licence anniversary
15 hours required (technical content only, max 8 hrs/day so you can't cram them in last minute)
No routine carry-forward
Non-residents can satisfy with home jurisdiction mandatory CE
Retain CE certificates for four years
6. Québec
Annual renewal; PDUs tracked in two-year reference periods
30 PDUs required: 10 General, 10 Compliance/Ethics, 10 Discipline-specific
Don't forget the CSF's mandatory compliance course every other cycle.
Non-residents must submit the “Application Form for the Recognition of Professional Development Units (PDUs) Canada-Wide Agreement” to CSF for their review. Personally, I complete all my CE credits as CSF approved, since Québec has very high standards for what counts as a PDU, and it's just easier to satisfy their requirements first.
Keep certificates for 24 months after the end of the reference period
7. New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland & Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut
No CE credit requirements for life and A&S licensees
Licence cycles vary—most are annual, except Nova Scotia (3-year) and NWT (2-year). No retention period applicable