A new survey of Canada’s life insurance regulators by the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA) summarizes the main licensing requirements of life agents in all provinces and territories across the country. “The survey was completed in the summer of 2025 and reflects requirements in effect at that time,” they write.
The survey found that licenses are most costly to obtain in Quebec. It also found that licenses would appear to be easiest to obtain and maintain in the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and in some cases, the Yukon where maintaining errors and omissions (E&O) insurance and obtaining sufficient continuing education (CE) is not required.
Features of note, by province
Alberta
In Alberta, according to the Agent Licensing Requirements 2025 document, an accreditation committee approves CE courses and providers. All approved courses are posted on the Alberta Insurance Council (AIC) website. Agents may carry forward credits totalling 7.5 hours from one certificate term to the next.
Agents are required to maintain their CE records for three years.
Non residents with mandatory CE requirements in their home jurisdiction will not be required to meet Alberta’s CE requirements, as well, provided their home jurisdiction certificates remain in good standing.
Sponsorship is mandatory; sponsors must be a licensed life insurance company.
Police checks are required for all applicants and those seeking reinstatement after six months.
Effective 2023 the AIC has suspended all virtual examinations.
British Columbia
Up to one licensing year’s worth of CE credits can be applied to the next licensing period in British Columbia. The province advises the CLHIA that all CE records should be retained for five years. Non residents are not required to meet the province’s CE requirements provided their licenses remain in good standing in their home jurisdictions.
Supervision is mandatory for two years but may be reduced by up to 12 months if the applicant is a chartered life underwriter (CLU), a certified financial planner (CPF) or a registered financial planner (RFP). Supervisors must be actively licensed in British Columbia for five of the preceding seven years ahead of the supervisory start date.
Applicants must complete a criminal record check. Those residing outside of the province who are licensed and in good standing with another Canadian jurisdiction are not required to provide a criminal record check.
All individuals wanting to obtain an insurance license in British Columbia, except for those applying for reinstatement, must complete the Council Rules Course to qualify.
Agents have up to two years from the date of cancellation to reinstate their license.
Manitoba
In Manitoba, CE is required, but the province provides an exemption in the licensing year the agent completes the provincial Life License Qualification Program (LLQP) examination.
“Canadian non-residents residing in jurisdictions that have CE requirements will be deemed to have met the requirements in Manitoba,” they write. “Agents/brokers residing in a jurisdiction where CE is not mandatory, and U.S. residents, are required to comply with Manitoba’s CE requirement.”
Continuous supervision is required; sponsors must be a licensed insurance company in the province of Manitoba. Supervisors must have three years of continuous experience.
Manitoba is notable as the only province which specifically required those engaged in bankruptcy proceedings to provide a copy of bankruptcy documentation, including a list of creditors. “The Insurance Council of Manitoba (ICM) may not be able to proceed with the issue of a license if bankruptcy proceedings are underway,” they write.
First time applicants and those seeking restatement after one year are required to obtain a police background check. (Not required of applicants from other jurisdictions unless the applicant has been convicted of a criminal offence, has pending criminal charges or has received a discharge. Residents of the U.S. are required to obtain two separate criminal records checks from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and from the applicants’ home state police department.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is notable for being one of the Canadian jurisdictions which doesn’t require mandatory completion of any CE credits.
Sponsorship by a licensed life insurance company is required for a license. Police checks are routine for all new agents.
The report notes that amendments which came into force on October 1, 2025 allow life and A&S agents, as well as agencies, to add travel insurance as part of their application process to their existing licenses. “This change eliminates the need for a separate travel insurance agent or agency license,” they note.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Also notable for having no CE requirements, Newfoundland and Labrador requires continuous sponsorship from a licensed life insurance company. Part time work is permitted, as is the case in all provinces, but new licensees are required to work a minimum of 21 hours each week. This requirement is unique to the province.
The reinstatement period for inactive agents is two years.
Northwest Territories
Particularly notable in the Northwest Territories is the fact that the territory does not require agents to carry E&O insurance. It also has no CE requirements.
Sponsors are required continuously for licensure. Sponsors must be a licensed insurance company in the territory. Police checks are required on application for a license.
Nova Scotia
Like the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia does not require agents to carry E&O insurance or complete any requisite CE. Agents may only place business with a sponsoring company during the first two years of being licensed.
Part time work is permitted only with approval from the Superintendent. Police background checks are required with all new agent applications. The province’s reinstatement period is two years.
Nunavut
E&O insurance is mandatory in this territory for new applicants only. CE is not required.
Continuous sponsorship is required by a licensed life insurance company in Canada. Police checks are required for new applicants only. The territory’s reinstatement period for inactive agents is one year.
Ontario
In Ontario, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) requires agents to maintain their CE documentation for at least four years. For non-residents, FSRA considers its CE requirements to be met if the applicant’s home jurisdiction has equivalent requirements – 30 credits of CE every two years.
Notable in the province is the fact that agents do not require sponsorship after two years. Criminal background checks are required. The province’s reinstatement period for inactive agents is two years.
Prince Edward Island (PEI)
E&O insurance is not required in the country’s island province. Similarly, PEI does not require agents to complete CE to remain licensed, either.
Like other provinces, continuous sponsorship by an agent licensed for the class of insurance the applicant is also providing, is required in PEI.
Credit checks are required in the province “if there is a suitability concern.” Police checks are only required if the applicant discloses a criminal record or charges. The reinstatement period for inactive agents in the province is two years.
Quebec
In Quebec, agents are required to maintain CE records for two years following the end of the reporting period.
The province is notable for requiring a probationary period for new licensees at career entry. “All products and services offered by the trainee must be approved by the supervisor prior to proposing them to the client,” they stipulate. Supervisory periods include 12 weeks at 28 hours per week for insurance and group insurance licensed agents or six weeks at 28 hours per week for A&S and group annuity agents.
College students may be exempt from the probationary period if the agent has completed a training period in accordance with agreements entered into between teaching institutions and the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF). To obtain the exemption, agents must also pay for the following documentation: $84 for the issuance of a training period certificate, $84 for the issuance of a probationary certificate and $48 for any request to analyze a future supervisor’s file.
Also notable in Quebec is the fact that agents must produce a clear credit check but not a police records check – they say judicial records are verified by the AMF. Reinstatement periods range between one and three years, depending on the circumstances. “More than three years after the surrender or non-renewal of the certificate, the agent must go through the career entry process,” they write. Exams in Quebec are in-person only.
Saskatchewan
E&O insurance is not required in Saskatchewan.
Agents in Saskatchewan are encouraged to keep their CE records for four years. In addition, the province is notable for requiring mandatory ethics training, generally within three years of being licensed and once every five years.
Supervision is required for a minimum of one year, plus 50 placed and in-force policies. Supervisors must have at least three years of experience as a licensed agent. A criminal records check is required with initial licensing applications. Reinstatements without completing pre-licensing requirements, must occur within two years.
Yukon
E&O insurance is mandatory for self-employed agents in the province, only. CE is not required. Supervision is continuous. “Agents must provide signed insurers recommendation of agent for each insurer they are authorized to represent in the Yukon. Sponsors must be licensed in the Yukon for the placement of life insurance.
Police checks are required with all new agent applications.
