How to Find Arizona DIFI-Approved CE Providers

Completing Arizona's 48-hour CE requirement efficiently starts with understanding how Arizona's CE approval and reporting system works — and then choosing providers who are genuinely approved, reliably report completions, and offer courses across the credit types you need. Arizona's CE system has some distinctive features compared to other states: no proctor requirement for self-study final exams, CE administered through the SBS (State Based Systems) portal, and separate handling by PSI Services (course approvals) and DIFI (license renewals). Knowing how these pieces fit together helps you avoid the most common CE compliance mistakes.

Here's how to find and work with DIFI-approved Arizona CE providers.

The Arizona CE System Architecture

Arizona's CE system involves three parties working together:

DIFI (Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions):

Sets CE requirements under A.R.S. Title 20

Manages licensee records, license renewals, and name/address changes

Receives CE completion evidence as part of renewal applications

Issues Certificates of Compliance

PSI Services:

Handles CE provider and course approval applications on behalf of DIFI

Reviews provider qualifications and course content for Arizona approval

Manages instructor registration

Processes course revisions and provider updates

State Based Systems (SBS) portal (statebasedsystems.com):

Platform through which providers submit CE rosters and course completions

Producers access CE transcripts through SBS

CE fees are invoiced through SBS

All provider/course/instructor applications submitted through SBS

Practical takeaway: When you complete a CE course, your provider submits completion to SBS. DIFI accesses this data when processing your renewal. Check your transcript at statebasedsystems.com to verify completions are posted before submitting renewal.

Finding DIFI-Approved Providers

Official DIFI CE provider page: difi.az.gov/insurance-ce lists CE resources including links to the approved course and provider database.

SBS approved course list: Through the SBS portal, you can search approved courses by:

Course title

Course type (classroom or self-study)

Credit type (General, Ethics, Flood, Long Term Care, Crop, Annuity Best Interest)

Range of credit hours

What to verify before enrolling:

Course is in the DIFI-approved database with a valid Arizona course ID

Course credit type matches what you need (Ethics, LTC, Flood, or General)

Provider has a current Arizona approval status

Course hasn't been previously taken during the current CE period

Key Information to Confirm Before Enrolling

DIFI approval and Arizona course ID. Every approved course has an Arizona DIFI course ID number — reputable providers display this prominently. If a provider cannot confirm their Arizona course ID, do not enroll.

Credit type. Confirm whether the course credits are General, Ethics, Flood, LTC, Annuity Best Interest, or Crop. Taking a general course when you need ethics won't satisfy the 6-hour ethics requirement.

Credit hours. Confirm the exact credit hours awarded. One CE credit = 50 minutes of instruction in Arizona.

Self-study exam policy. Arizona eliminated the proctor requirement — verify the provider's current exam policy. If a provider still requires a proctor when Arizona no longer mandates one, consider whether that provider is current.

Reporting timeline. How quickly does the provider submit completions to SBS? Delays in reporting create problems at renewal time. DIFI specifically warns to complete CE early to account for reporting delays.

Cannot-repeat verification. Some providers track your completion history and alert you to potential duplicates. This is a helpful feature given Arizona's cannot-repeat rule.

Refund policy. Arizona CE providers must have a clear refund policy — "no refunds" is not acceptable under DIFI's provider requirements. Verify the refund policy before purchasing.

Self-Study vs. Classroom CE — Format Comparison

Self-study (online, at your own pace):

Complete content at any time, any location

No attendance requirements

Pass certificate exam (70%+) to receive credit

Open-book or closed-book at provider's discretion

No proctor required — Arizona eliminated this requirement

Most cost-effective and schedule-flexible format

Recommended for most producers given flexibility

Classroom instruction:

Scheduled sessions with live instructor

Must attend the entire course to receive credit — partial attendance earns no credit

Instructor may earn double credit hours for teaching to 5+ students

Better for candidates who benefit from structured, interactive learning

Less scheduling flexibility than self-study

Live webinar:

Real-time online instruction with scheduled sessions

Typically treated similar to classroom for attendance verification

No proctor needed — live instructor serves that function

More flexible geographically than physical classroom

Most Arizona producers use self-study online CE for its combination of scheduling flexibility, no proctor requirement, and cost efficiency.

Major Arizona CE Providers

Multiple established CE providers serve Arizona producers:

Multiple national providers and online platforms offer state-approved courses. Verify approval through the relevant state department of insurance before enrolling.

Arizona-focused materials: Some providers develop specific Arizona content including DIFI regulatory updates, Arizona Insurance Code provisions, and Arizona market-specific scenarios.

Full-package providers: Many providers offer "all 48 hours" CE packages covering the complete 4-year requirement including 6 ethics hours, making it straightforward to purchase and complete everything at once.

When evaluating providers:

Confirmed DIFI course approval with current Arizona course IDs

Availability of Ethics, General, and specialty training courses

Reliable SBS reporting track record

No-proctor self-study compliance

Reasonable pricing with transparent fee disclosure (including the $1.50/hr state reporting fee)

Customer support quality for compliance questions

The $1.50 Per Credit Hour Reporting Fee

Arizona charges $1.50 per CE credit hour as a state reporting fee:

For 48 hours of CE: $72.00 total in reporting fees

Fees invoiced through SBS

Non-refundable and non-transferable

Typically included in provider pricing or disclosed separately

When comparing provider costs, confirm whether the $1.50/hr reporting fee is included in the listed price or added separately. The total cost of 48-hour CE in Arizona includes both provider course fees and $72 in state reporting fees.

CE Transcript Access and Verification

Accessing your Arizona CE transcript:

Go to statebasedsystems.com (SBS portal)

Make a transcript inquiry using your producer information

View all posted course completions

Verify credit types and hours are correctly recorded

What to verify:

All completed courses appear in your transcript

Credit hours match what you expected

Credit types are correctly categorized (Ethics counted as Ethics, not General)

Total hours are sufficient for your renewal

Timing caution: Completions may not post immediately after course completion. There can be a delay between your provider submitting to SBS and the transcript updating. Check your transcript at least 2-3 weeks before your renewal deadline — not the day before.

Course Approval Timeline for Providers

For context: CE providers must submit applications through SBS at least 30 days before the course date for DIFI/PSI review. This means newly approved courses may not appear immediately in the course database. When searching for courses, don't be surprised if very recent courses haven't yet received approval.

Courses That Don't Count

Arizona is specific about what qualifies for CE credit. Do not pay for courses in these categories expecting CE credit:

Sales techniques and motivation

Prospecting and lead generation

Communication skills and psychology

Office software training (Excel, CRM systems, etc.)

Personnel management and recruiting

Marketing and advertising

Any subject not directly related to the insurance license

Courses in these categories, even from approved CE providers, will not receive Arizona CE credit. Verify the course has DIFI approval with an Arizona course ID before purchasing.

How CE Fits Into License Renewal

The renewal sequence:

Complete all required CE (48 hours including 6 ethics and any specialty training) before submitting renewal application

Verify completions are posted in your SBS transcript

Submit license renewal through NIPR ($120 renewal fee per license class)

DIFI processes renewal using SBS transcript to verify CE compliance

Receive renewed license confirmation

Do not submit renewal before CE is complete. DIFI requires evidence of CE completion as part of the renewal application. Submitting incomplete CE causes renewal delays and potential license lapse.

The $100 late penalty: If your license expires before renewal is processed, a $100 late renewal fee applies and you must cease insurance activity until the license is reinstated.

5 Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I find DIFI-approved Arizona CE courses? Through the SBS portal (statebasedsystems.com) or through the DIFI CE page at difi.az.gov/insurance-ce. Search by credit type, course type, and credit hours to find approved courses matching your needs.
• Who handles CE provider approvals in Arizona — DIFI or PSI? PSI Services handles CE provider and course approval applications on behalf of DIFI. Providers submit applications and course rosters through the SBS portal. DIFI manages licensee records and renewal processing.
• How long does it take for CE completions to appear in my transcript? Delays between course completion and transcript posting are normal. DIFI specifically advises completing CE early to account for these delays. Check your transcript well in advance of your renewal deadline.
• What's the state reporting fee for Arizona CE? $1.50 per credit hour, invoiced through SBS. For 48 hours of CE, total state reporting fees are $72. These fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
• Do I need to send CE certificates to DIFI? No — providers report completions directly to SBS, which DIFI accesses during renewal. Keep your certificates for your own records as backup documentation, but don't submit them to DIFI.

Choose the Right Arizona CE Provider the First Time

Provider selection affects both compliance reliability and learning quality. At JustInsurance, our Arizona CE courses are DIFI-approved with reliable SBS reporting, current content, no proctor requirements, and transparent pricing inclusive of all state fees.

Enroll today and complete your Arizona CE with confidence.