The Insurance Council of British Columbia has fined Francisca Obra $3,000 for not completing sufficient continuing education over three licensing periods, between 2018 and 2021. Licensed since July 2014, except for an 18-month period between 2019 and 2020, Obra was also ordered to complete the Council Rules Course for life and/or accident and sickness insurance before the end of April 2024, and was assessed investigation costs in the amount of $687.50.
When Obra’s 2021 annual license renewal declaration was submitted incomplete, she was provided with an opportunity to resubmit her declaration, at which time she disclosed that she had not met her CE requirements. Following an audit, it was determined that she did not complete CE for three licensing periods. During the course of the investigation when she provided additional CE certificates to the council, these were determined to be duplicates.
Made efforts to remedy the breach
“The licensee immediately acknowledged to the committee that she had not obtained the required CE credits and that it was her responsibility to be aware of that obligation,” the council’s intended decision states. “Council found the licensee’s efforts to remedy the breach and proactively make up the CE credits to be mitigating. Council also found the licensee’s breaches to be the result of awareness as to her obligations, rather than an intentional omission, which the council also found mitigating.”
Ought to have been aware of obligations
Aggravating factors included the fact that the conduct persisted over three licensing periods. “Further, given the licensee has been licensed with council for nearly a decade, council found that she ought to have been aware of her obligations.”
Taken as a whole, they say the mitigating factors were not sufficient to displace the baseline $1,000 fine per licensing period established by precedent. “However, in recognition of the licensee’s mitigating conduct, council determined it was appropriate that the licensee be provided additional time to pay the financial penalties ordered.” Obra was ultimately given 180 days to pay the fine and costs.