Ohio Announces Changes to Agent Continuing Education Process

The Ohio Department of Insurance recently announced that it will no longer require Continuing Education (CE) providers to collect an agent’s Social Security Number (SSN) starting Jan. 1, 2008. The Department said that the procedural move was being made to better protect agents’ identity.

After Jan. 1, 2008, Ohio CE providers should no longer request or collect an agent’s Social Security number for purposes of reporting CE credits to the Department or for any other documents used for purposes related to the Ohio Continuing Education process. Agents will be required to submit their National Producer Number (NPN) in place of their Social Security number.

Agents may obtain their NPN at the following links:

Ohio Department of Insurance web site:

· www.ohioinsurance.gov/ConsumServ/Ocs/agentloc.asp
· www.ohioinsurance.gov/agent/scripts/LicNumQuery.asp

National Insurance Producer Registry web site:

· www.nipr.com/html/PacNpnSearch.html
Sircon Compliance Express web site:

· http://www.sircon.com/ComplianceExpress/Inquiries/index.jsp?nonSscrb=Y&lid=si_aa7&sc=yoqmbuwl&sscribid=9028

Please note that between now and Jan. 1, 2008, CE providers may still need to collect an agent’s Ohio license number, NPN or SSN for course rosters and other CE-related documents to ensure consistency in reporting. After Jan. 1, 2008, the use of NPN for all Continuing Education related documents will be mandatory.

Insurance agents who have questions concerning this new policy can contact the Department’s Licensing Division at 614-644-2665 or visit the Department’s web site, www.ohioinsurance.gov.

Source: Ohio Department of Insurance

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