Virginia Insurance CE Requirements for Agents

Virginia's continuing education requirements for Property & Casualty producers are administered by the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC), Bureau of Insurance. The state takes a tiered approach to CE: the number of hours you owe depends on how many lines of authority you hold. Whether you write P&C exclusively or hold multiple license types, understanding Virginia's specific rules will keep you in compliance and keep your producer license active.

TLDR: Virginia P&C producers need 16 CE hours every 2 years for a single license type, or 24 hours if licensed in two or more lines (with at least 8 hours per line). 3 hours of ethics are required in every biennium. Licenses renew on the last day of your birth month.

Who Needs CE in Virginia

All resident individual insurance producers holding a Major Lines license in Virginia are subject to CE requirements. Major Lines in Virginia covers Property, Casualty, Personal Lines, Life, Accident & Health (Health & Sickness), and Variable Products.

Agents holding a single line of authority — for example, only a Property & Casualty license — must complete 16 hours of CE per biennium. Agents holding two or more lines of authority (e.g., P&C plus Life & Health) must complete 24 hours per biennium, with at least 8 hours applicable to each license type held.

Limited lines licensees (such as credit insurance, travel insurance, or car rental supplement) are generally exempt from CE requirements. Surplus lines brokers have their own requirements and should check directly with the Virginia SCC.

Non-resident producers licensed in Virginia are exempt from Virginia-specific CE as long as they maintain compliance with their home state's CE requirements. The home state must have a CE requirement in place for this exemption to apply.

How CE Hours Break Down

Virginia's CE structure is straightforward, but the tiered system means agents need to pay attention to their specific situation:

Single-line P&C producers (16 hours total):

• 3 hours of ethics
• 13 hours of elective CE in approved P&C topics

Multi-line producers (24 hours total):

• 3 hours of ethics
• At least 8 hours applicable to each line of authority held
• Remaining hours in any approved topic

The ethics requirement covers professional conduct, fiduciary responsibility, regulatory compliance, and similar subjects. Virginia defines eligible ethics topics broadly, so most courses labeled as "ethics" by approved providers will count.

One important restriction: no more than 75% of your required credits may come from courses provided by insurance companies or insurance agencies. This means that if you need 24 hours, no more than 18 of those hours can come from carrier-sponsored or agency-sponsored training. The remaining hours must come from independent providers, industry associations, or educational institutions. This rule exists to ensure agents receive education that is not solely product-focused.

Virginia also requires P&C and Personal Lines producers to complete a one-time 3-hour NFIP flood insurance training before selling flood policies. This is separate from the general CE requirement and does not reduce your total hours owed.

Renewal Timeline and Deadlines

Virginia licenses renew biennially on the last day of your birth month. The specific year of your renewal is tied to whether you were born in an odd or even year. If you were born in an odd-numbered year (e.g., 1985), your license expires at the end of your birth month in odd-numbered years (e.g., March 31, 2027). If born in an even-numbered year, the pattern follows even years.

You must complete all required CE hours before your renewal deadline. Virginia does not offer a formal grace period for CE completion — if your hours are not done by your expiration date, your license will not renew.

The Virginia SCC sends renewal notices, but ultimately it is your responsibility to know your deadline and complete your hours on time. We recommend finishing your CE at least 30 days early to account for provider reporting delays.

Late renewals: If your license expires, Virginia does allow reinstatement within 12 months of the expiration date. You will need to complete all outstanding CE, submit a renewal application, and pay applicable fees (including a late fee). During the lapse period, you cannot conduct insurance business in Virginia.

The biennial renewal fee for a Virginia producer license is approximately $50 per line of authority. Fees are payable through the Virginia SCC's online licensing system.

Approved CE Providers

Virginia uses Pearson VUE (formerly Prometric) to administer its CE program. All CE courses must be approved by Pearson VUE on behalf of the Virginia SCC before they count toward your requirement. You can search for approved courses and verify provider status through the Pearson VUE Virginia CE portal.

Both online and classroom courses are accepted in Virginia. Unlike New Jersey, Virginia does not impose a minimum number of classroom hours — you can complete all of your CE through self-paced online courses if you prefer.

Course providers report completions to Pearson VUE, which updates your Virginia CE transcript. This reporting typically happens within 10 business days of course completion. Keep your own certificates of completion as backup documentation.

National providers like Kaplan, WebCE, ExamFX, and AD Banker all offer Virginia-approved courses. The Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia (IIAV) also offers CE programs tailored to Virginia P&C producers. For questions about Virginia CE administration, you can contact Pearson VUE at 877-234-6093 or email VirginiaInsuranceCE@pearson.com.

Common Mistakes Agents Make

Miscounting hours for multi-line producers. If you hold both P&C and Life & Health licenses, you need 24 total hours with at least 8 applicable to each line. Taking 24 hours of P&C courses does not satisfy the Life & Health minimum (and vice versa). Plan your course selection to cover both lines.

Exceeding the 75% carrier/agency course limit. Many agents default to carrier-sponsored training because it is free and convenient. But if more than 75% of your hours come from carrier or agency courses, you will fall short of compliance. Track the source of your credits and include independent provider courses in your plan.

Confusing the odd/even year renewal cycle. Your renewal year is tied to your birth year, not the year you were licensed. An agent born in 1986 (even year) renews in even years, regardless of when the license was originally issued. Verify your renewal date through the Virginia SCC portal to avoid surprises.

Assuming flood training counts toward general CE. The one-time 3-hour flood insurance course is a separate requirement. It does not reduce your 16 or 24-hour general CE obligation.

Not keeping personal records. The state transcript is the official record, but it can take weeks for providers to report completions. Maintain your own log of courses completed — including dates, hours, and provider names — so you can resolve discrepancies quickly.

How Virginia Compares to Other States

Virginia's CE requirements are among the more moderate in the country. The 16-hour requirement for single-line producers is below the national average of roughly 24 hours per biennium. Even at 24 hours for multi-line producers, Virginia is at or slightly below what most states require.

The tiered system — 16 hours for one line, 24 for two or more — is relatively uncommon. Most states set a flat CE requirement regardless of how many lines you hold. This tiered approach can be advantageous if you only write P&C business, since you owe fewer hours than your counterparts in states like New Jersey (24 hours flat) or Massachusetts (45 hours every three years after the initial period).

The 75% cap on carrier/agency-provided courses is a notable Virginia-specific rule. Most states do not restrict where you take your CE, so agents who are accustomed to relying heavily on carrier training in other states need to adjust their approach for Virginia compliance.

Virginia's 3-hour ethics requirement is on the lower end but consistent with most states. Arizona requires 6 ethics hours, though over a four-year cycle. Washington also requires 3 hours of ethics biennially.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take CE courses online in Virginia?

Yes. Virginia places no restrictions on the format of CE courses. You can complete all of your required hours — including ethics — through self-paced online courses, live webinars, or traditional classroom settings. The only constraint is that courses must be approved by Pearson VUE for Virginia credit, and no more than 75% of your hours can come from carrier or agency providers.

What happens if I don't complete CE on time in Virginia?

Your license will not be renewed, and you must stop conducting insurance business in Virginia immediately. You have up to 12 months from your expiration date to reinstate your license by completing the outstanding CE and paying renewal and late fees. If you do not reinstate within 12 months, you will need to reapply for a new license, which may involve retaking the licensing exam. A lapse can also affect your carrier appointments, as many carriers require active license status.

Do CE hours from other states transfer to Virginia?

Virginia does not automatically accept CE credits earned under another state's approval. Courses must be specifically approved for Virginia credit. However, many national CE providers offer courses that hold approvals in multiple states simultaneously — so a course you take through a national provider may already have Virginia approval. Check the course's state approval list before enrolling. Non-resident Virginia producers can satisfy the requirement by meeting their home state's CE obligations.

How do I verify my CE hours with the Virginia DOI?

You can verify your CE transcript and compliance status through the Virginia SCC Bureau of Insurance portal. Pearson VUE administers the CE tracking system, and you can also access your transcript through their platform. If you believe credits are missing, contact your course provider first to confirm they reported your completion. For unresolved issues, reach out to Pearson VUE at 877-234-6093 or email VirginiaInsuranceCE@pearson.com.