Michigan Insurance CE Requirements: Complete Guide

Michigan's continuing education framework keeps licensed insurance producers current with evolving products, regulations, and professional standards while maintaining Michigan's consumer protection priorities. Michigan's CE system has several distinctive features worth understanding — including a proctor requirement for online CE final exams (unusual among recent states), a carryover cap of 12 hours (not unlimited), a $1.00 per credit hour reporting fee, and a review date system tied to your birth month and year. For both new and established Michigan producers, knowing the rules precisely helps you stay compliant efficiently.

Here's a clear breakdown of Michigan insurance CE requirements.

The Basic Framework

Under Michigan Compiled Laws Chapter 500 (MCL 500), the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services requires licensed insurance producers to complete continuing education during each 2-year review period.

Standard Michigan CE requirements:

24 hours of CE every 2 years

3 hours of Ethics — mandatory every review period

Remaining 21 hours may be in any DIFS-approved line of authority

CE is non-line-type specific beyond the ethics requirement — producers may take approved courses in any line

Michigan's 24-hour requirement places it at the higher end of CE requirements nationally.

Your CE Review Date

Michigan's CE review cycle is tied to your birth month and birth year:

Review date = First day of your birth month in your even or odd birth year cycle

Born in an even year: CE review dates fall in even years (e.g., January 1, 2026)

Born in an odd year: CE review dates fall in odd years (e.g., January 1, 2027)

Your first CE review date is printed on your license document in the lower left-hand corner. This date is set by DIFS when issuing your license, and it must allow you at least 12 months to complete 24 CE hours after your license is first approved.

Example: If born in June 1990 (even year), your CE review dates are June 1 of even years: June 1, 2026; June 1, 2028; etc.

Verify your review date using the online Insurance Agent Locator at the DIFS website or by reading your physical license.

License Is Perpetual

Michigan producer licenses are perpetual — they remain active as long as you meet CE requirements. There is no traditional expiration date or separate renewal application process. As long as your CE is current, your license remains in good standing.

CE failure consequences:

License suspended for 90 days (or until CE is completed — whichever comes first)

After 90 days without CE completion: license qualifications terminated

Can reinstate within 1 year of termination

After 1 year of termination: must reapply as new license applicant (new PLE, new state exam, new NIPR application)

These consequences make missing CE extremely costly — treat the review date as a hard deadline.

The 3-Hour Ethics Requirement

Michigan requires 3 hours of DIFS-approved Ethics CE every 2-year review period:

Mandatory for all resident producers and solicitors

Must be specifically DIFS-approved as Ethics

Cannot be substituted with general insurance content

Excess ethics hours carry over as general credit only — they don't satisfy the next period's ethics requirement

Must take 3 hours of fresh ethics each period regardless of prior excess

Bottom line: Take 3 ethics hours every single CE review period. Carryover of ethics doesn't count toward ethics — only toward the general 21-hour remainder.

The 12-Hour Carryover Cap

Michigan allows CE carryover — with a specific maximum:

Up to 12 hours of excess CE may be carried over to the next review period.

This cap is important because:

Some states allow unlimited carryover (like Pennsylvania with 24 hours)

Michigan caps at 12 hours — earning 36 hours in one period gives you 12 carried hours, not 12

What carries over:

Excess general CE hours (up to the 12-hour cap)

Excess ethics hours — but they convert to general credit when carried over

What does NOT carry over:

Ethics credit — excess ethics carries as general only; doesn't satisfy next period's ethics

Duplicate courses — courses taken twice in the same period earn zero credit and cannot be carried

Any hours beyond the 12-hour maximum

Strategy: Completing more than 24 hours in a period is often worthwhile — up to 36 total gives you the maximum 12-hour carryover buffer. Beyond 36 hours provides no carryover benefit.

Course Repetition Rule

Cannot take the same course twice within a 2-year review period. Duplicate completions earn zero credit.

A "duplicate course" is one with the same course name OR the same course material as a course already completed in the period.

However, a course completed in one period may be taken again in a subsequent period for credit.

The Online CE Proctor Requirement — Michigan's Distinctive Feature

Michigan requires a disinterested third-party proctor for online CE final exams. This is a distinctive requirement — many states (including North Carolina) have eliminated the proctor requirement for online CE, but Michigan maintains it.

Definition of "disinterested third party": Someone with no family, friend, employment relationship, or financial relationship with the student. Cannot be employed by the same company as the student.

Acceptable proctors:

Testing center employee

Librarian

Teacher

Public official

NOT acceptable:

Family members (immediate and extended family, including in-laws)

Coworkers (including those in supervision positions relative to the student)

Practical implications:

Online CE requires scheduling a proctor for final exam completion

Cannot take final exam late at night at home without an appropriate proctor

Libraries and testing centers are popular proctor venues

Plan proctor scheduling into your CE timeline

Note: This proctor requirement applies to online/self-study final exams. Classroom and webinar courses have different completion verification methods.

State Reporting Fee

Michigan charges a $1.00 per credit hour state reporting fee:

Among the lowest CE reporting fees in the country

Charged through the provider at registration or course completion

Total for 24-hour requirement: $24.00 in reporting fees

Providers handle fee collection and DIFS reporting

Certificate Retention Requirement

Michigan producers must retain completion certificates for 5 years. Important rules:

Do NOT send certificates to DIFS — keep them yourself

DIFS tracks CE compliance through provider reporting

You are NOT required to submit proof of CE compliance to DIFS

Retain certificates as documentation in case of audit or dispute

Retain certificates digitally (PDF) AND in a physical file for the full 5-year retention period.

Progressive Course Completion

Michigan requires sequential progression through CE course content — you must successfully complete each section before proceeding to the next. Providers enforce this progressively.

Non-Resident CE Treatment

Michigan is reciprocal with all states for CE:

Complete your home state CE requirements = automatic Michigan compliance

NOT required to submit proof to DIFS

DIFS monitors through the National Producer Database (PDB)

If your home state license lapses, your Michigan non-resident license will also be affected

Special note for LTC training: Non-resident producers selling LTC in Michigan must complete the LTC training requirement (8-hour initial + 4-hour ongoing) — same as resident producers. However, completing substantially similar LTC training in another state satisfies Michigan's requirement.

CE Exemptions

Lines exempted from CE:

Limited Life

Turkey, Crop & Hail

Travel

Accident and/or Baggage

Title

Credit Products

Limited Lines Property & Casualty

Producers licensed exclusively in these lines don't have CE requirements.

Hardship waivers available for:

Military duty (deployment orders required)

Terminal illness of the producer themselves or an immediate family member requiring extraordinary care

Medical disability/illness preventing CE completion

Waiver requests submitted to: DIFS Insurance Licensing Section Continuing Education Waiver Request PO Box 30220 Lansing, MI 48909

Include: current doctor statement, deployment orders, description of situation, impact on functioning, why CE prevented, length of time requested.

Specialty Training Requirements

Annuity Best Interest (effective June 29, 2021): 4-hour one-time course before selling annuities

LTC: 8-hour initial + 4-hour ongoing every 24 months before selling LTC

NFIP Flood: One-time 3-hour course before selling NFIP flood policies

All specialty training counts toward the 24-hour CE requirement in the period completed.

DIFS CE Contact Information

Phone: (877) 999-6442

Email: DIFS-Licensing@michigan.gov

CE Transcript Check: difs.state.mi.us/locators?searchtype=InsAgent

Mailing: DIFS Insurance Licensing Section, PO Box 30220, Lansing, MI 48909

Website: michigan.gov/difs

5 Frequently Asked Questions

• How many CE hours do I need every 2 years in Michigan? 24 hours total, with 3 hours of Ethics mandatory every review period. The remaining 21 hours may be in any DIFS-approved line of authority.
• Can I carry over excess CE hours in Michigan? Yes, up to 12 hours maximum. Excess ethics hours carry over as general credit only — they don't satisfy the next period's ethics requirement. Courses taken twice in the same period earn zero credit and cannot be carried over.
• Do I need a proctor for Michigan online CE final exams? Yes. Michigan requires a disinterested third-party proctor for online CE final exams — someone with no family, friend, or employment relationship with the student. Acceptable proctors include testing center employees, librarians, and teachers.
• Do I need to submit my CE certificates to DIFS? No. DIFS tracks CE compliance through provider reporting. You do not submit certificates to DIFS, but you must retain your completion certificates for 5 years.
• What happens if I miss my Michigan CE deadline? Your license is suspended for 90 days (or until CE is completed). After 90 days without completion, qualifications are terminated. Reinstatement is possible within 1 year. After 1 year, you must reapply as a new applicant including new PLE and state exam.

Stay Compliant Without the Stress

Michigan's CE is manageable with proper planning — especially understanding the 12-hour carryover cap, the proctor requirement for online courses, and the review date system. At JustInsurance, our Michigan CE courses are DIFS-approved and designed around Michigan's specific requirements.

Enroll in our Michigan CE courses today and keep your license active with confidence.