CE Hours and Content

• Agents who hold Maryland licenses to sell title insurance must complete 16 hours of continuing education during each licensing cycle. All other Maryland insurance agents need 24 continuing education hours. For all agents in the state, at least three of their hours must come from coursework dealing with ethics. In addition, Maryland long-term care insurance agents must complete at least two hours of continuing education coursework specifically in long-term care. Agents in all other insurance specialties may take any state-approved courses of interest to them to earn the remainder of their education credits.
  
  

CE Rules

• The Maryland Insurance Administration permits insurance agents to complete online and self-study coursework to fulfill the continuing education requirements; however, these types of distance education classes may not make up more than 50 percent of the total education hours. Candidates may take the same course during two consecutive licensing cycles, but at least six months must pass between the two sessions. Insurance agents who have held a Maryland license for at least 25 consecutive years may request to have their continuing education requirements decreased by eight hours.
  
  

CE Providers

• Maryland insurance agents may only complete continuing education courses with providers that have approval from the Maryland Insurance Administration. As of 2011, more than 250 providers had state approval. Among the options for training are nonprofit organizations, national continuing education training schools and private insurance schools based in Maryland and the D.C. metropolitan area. Prometric provides a searchable list of Maryland's approved providers on its website. Agents can also track how many hours of coursework they have left to complete during each cycle using the Prometric site.
  
  

Application and Fees

• All Maryland insurance agents must hold a fidelity or surety bond -- or a letter of credit in a minimum amount of $150,000 -- to qualify for renewal. Agents must provide the Maryland Insurance Administration with proof of the bond or letter. To renew their licenses, agents must visit the administration's website and complete an online renewal application; paper applications are not available. The state requires agents to pay a fee for each renewal; the renewal fee was $69, as of 2011.