SACRAMENTO, CA, Sept. 8, 2016 — The California Department of Insurance is looking for insurance broker-agents who would be willing to consider serving on the Curriculum Board that advises the Insurance Commissioner and key members of his professional staff on all matters related to the continuing education requirements that insurance licensees are required by law to satisfy in order to newly obtain, or renew, their licenses.
The deadline for application is September 23. Interested candidates should send an email outlining their professional background, and explaining why they would like to consider appointment, to IIABCal General Counsel Steve Young, at syoung@iiabcal.org. Candidates who submit a formal application to CDI are required to complete a personal questionnaire, undergo a background check, submit a financial interests statement, and take a special ethics course.
“Serving on the Curriculum Board has been a great experience. It’s been an honor to be of assistance to the Commissioner and his very talented professional staff. I feel I have a much better appreciation for the complexity of the job CDI is required to do, and I believe CDI may have a better understanding of the ways in which its decisions can help or hinder independent agents and brokers in serving the needs of California insurance consumers,” said Scott Dunn, vice president of Pan American Insurance Agency, who served on the IIABCal Board of Directors and whose term on the Curriculum Board is concluding.
Pursuant to California Insurance Code Section 1749.1, the Curriculum Board oversees the development of prelicensing and continuing education curriculum for agents and brokers, including a list of preapproved courses of study and courses of study for professional designations.
The Board also develops standards for providers and instructors of prelicensing and continuing education courses, programs and seminars. Subcommittees of the Board are routinely established to develop and/or update education and examination content outlines for all lines of insurance as well as curriculum for continuing education courses. Subcommittees meet twice per month via teleconference calls. Additionally, Board members may be called upon to participate in examination workshops where the licensing examination questions are reviewed for context, clarity and cultural biases.
The Commissioner appoints representatives comprised of individual insurance agents, brokers, life agents, producer trade groups, insurance companies, consumer groups, bail agents and insurance adjusters. The term of service is three years, and the Board customarily meets in Sacramento three times a year (recently, on the third Thursday in February, July, and October). Members are entitled to reimbursement for reasonable travel expenses, but are not otherwise compensated for their services.
There are two current positions available on the Board: Property & Casualty Trade Association Representative; and Life Agent Representative. The next scheduled meeting of the Board is October 20.