Attention F & I - Ohio Department of Insurance Limited Lines Authority Licenses Now Renew Biennially

Limited Lines Authority Licenses may be renewed online

On February 25, 2010, House Bill 300 was signed into law. The bill incorporates national licensing standards designed by state insurance regulators and industry trade associations into Chapter 3905 of the Ohio Revised Code. The changes are an effort to bring Ohio into uniformity with NAIC standards as to insurance agent licensing and oversight. The total cost of renewal is $30.00. Any dealer who has a “limited lines authority license” to sell credit life and disability insurance will be required to renew their license.

Effective January 1, 2011, all Ohio insurance agents who hold a major line, limited line and/or title insurance license are required to renew their license(s) every two years by the last date of their birth month. Renewal applications may be submitted up to 90 days prior to an agent's license expiration date. The Department of Insurance will send a renewal notice at least 30 days prior to the license expiration. If ODI does not receive a renewal response from the agent by the due date on the notice, the limited authority license will be suspended for failure to renew.  

Agents who renewed their licenses in 2011 will not need to renew their licenses again until the end of their birth month in 2013. Agents with a 2012 license expiration date are required to renew their licenses this year by the end of their birth month.

The good news - Persons holding a limited authority license are exempt from continuing education requirements. If you are not currently licensed but wish to obtain a license, applicants are not required to complete any pre-licensing education or examination. An appointment is not required at time of application, but is required in order to sell, solicit, or negotiate policies/information for a company. 

How to renew?

1. Go to www.insurance.ohio.gov the home page for the Ohio Dept. of Insurance
2. Go to the bottom of the page on the left side, click “Renew My Agent License”
3. On this page at the top you will see the category “Individual Renewal Applications”. In the left column you will see “Resident” and “Resident Instructions”. Click “Resident Instructions” and print this page as this will walk you through the steps of renewal.
4. When you are ready to renew click “Resident’. You may ignore the first page as this is for agent license that require Continuing Education (CE). Scroll to the bottom of the page. At the bottom of the page click “Begin”.
5. Next you will see a “Use Agreement” which you will either “Accept” or “Decline” in order to move to the next step.
6. Complete the requested information on the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) site.
7. Once renewed you will be notified and you may print off a copy of your license. It may take several days for you renewal to be processed and for you to receive your notification.

If a license is not renewed on time, a $100 fee will be assessed and a 30 day grace period will begin. If the license is not renewed during that 30 day grace period, the license will be suspended and all company appointments will be terminated.

Once a license has been suspended, an agent is to cease all insurance activities as they are no longer eligible to sell, solicit or negotiate insurance in Ohio.

If you have questions,   call Sara Bruce at OADA 614-923-2243.  You may contact the  License   Division of the Ohio Department of Insurance at 614-644-2665.