Flood insurance CE required for property line insurance pros in Oklahoma

Resident producers, CSRs and adjusters will have to complete one hour of continuing education per license period.

Residents enter their flooded home to collect personal belongings in Bonita Springs, Florida, on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017. (Photo: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg)

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Property insurance professionals in Oklahoma will soon be required to expand their knowledge of flood insurance. Governor Mary Fallin has signed a rule requiring one hour of flood insurance continuing education beginning January 2019.

Related: Flood season never ends, and neither should efforts to educate clients

“Many Oklahomans don’t know they can purchase flood insurance if they don’t live in a flood zone,” Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak said. “But flood damage is not covered under a standard homeowner’s policy, and it can be a catastrophe that many property owners would not rebound from without coverage.”

With the new education requirement, insurance professionals will learn what is covered in flood policies.

Provide accurate information on flood coverage

“Our goal is to make sure Oklahomans have the facts on flood insurance. It was apparent to us that the best way to communicate that message was directly through insurance professionals,” Commissioner Doak said. “The knowledge gained from this flood insurance course will allow insurance professionals to provide the most accurate information on flood coverage.”

Resident producers, customer service representatives (CSRs), and adjusters with a property line of authority will have to complete one hour of continuing education per license period. The flood CE credit will be included in the 24 hours (13 hours for CSRs) as general credits.

Flood courses will be available in September but are not required until January.

Related: Take a fresh look at your insurance agency’s education program

Steven A. Meyerowitz, Esq., (smeyerowitz@meyerowitzcommunications.com) is the director of FC&S Legal, the editor-in-chief of the Insurance Coverage Law Report, and the founder and president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc.