§431:9A-153 Courses. (a) No continuing education course hours shall be credited for a course unless the provider conducting the course has a valid continuing education course provider certificate at the time the course is conducted.

(b) In determining whether to approve a course, the commissioner may consider whether the course:

(1) Is a formal program of learning that contributes directly to the professional competence of licensees;

(2) Will enhance and improve the knowledge of licensees with regard to the conduct of the business of insurance in the State;

(3) Includes methods to evaluate and assess the effectiveness of the course;

(4) Is appropriately classified as "basic", "intermediate", or "advanced"; and

(5) Includes a bibliography of reference materials and supplemental teaching aids.

(c) The commissioner shall not grant continuing education credit for any course work that focuses on:

(1) Personal development;

(2) Motivational or public speaking;

(3) Salesmanship;

(4) Product presentation;

(5) Mechanical office skills, including but not limited to typing, speed reading, use of calculators, computers, or other office machinery; or

(6) Other subject matter not related to the business of insurance as determined by the commissioner.

(d) A continuing education course provider shall submit for approval to the commissioner a course application at least sixty days prior to the date the course will be offered. Course applications shall be submitted to the commissioner for approval for new courses, renewals of course certificates, or whenever changes are proposed in the course material, course hours, method of presentation, or method of examination. A continuing education course provider shall obtain the commissioner's prior approval for the course before advertising or soliciting for the course.

(e) Continuing education credit hours shall be approved in increments of not less than one credit hour.

(f) No course shall be approved for more than twenty-four credit hours.

(g) The continuing education course certificate shall expire:

(1) On July 1 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year the application for the initial certificate was received, if the application was received in the months of January through June; or

(2) On July 1 of the second calendar year following the calendar year the application for the initial certificate was received, if the application was received in the months of July through December.

The certificate may be renewed once for a two-year period by application beginning on July 1 and ending on July 1 of the second calendar year; provided that the certificate is not suspended, expired, or revoked by the commissioner. [L 2003, c 55, pt of §1; am L 2006, c 154, §35; am L 2013, c 190, §2]