For decades, insurance professionals have had three primary ways to complete their continuing education requirements.
The traditional option has been to attend a live classroom course offered by a local instructor, association, or insurance education provider. Classroom courses allow students to interact face-to-face with instructors and other attendees, but they require travel and are often available only on specific dates. In many areas, classroom offerings have also become less common over the years, giving insurance professionals fewer local choices.
A second option is to attend a scheduled live webinar. Live webinars provide many of the same benefits as classroom instruction without requiring travel. Students can complete their CE from home or the office and, in most states, receive credit without taking a final exam. The trade-off is that the webinar begins at a scheduled date and time, so your calendar has to match the provider’s schedule.
The third option is self-study. Self-study offers maximum flexibility because you work through the material whenever you choose. Every insurance self-study course requires a final exam before continuing education credit is awarded.
Each option has advantages and disadvantages.
BMFCE created Anytime Live™ CE Webinars to combine many of the advantages of live webinar education with the scheduling flexibility that insurance professionals have been asking for.
Comparing the Common Ways to Complete Insurance CE
| Feature | Classroom Course | Scheduled Live Webinar | Self-Study Course | Anytime Live™ CE Webinar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel Required | Usually | No | No | No |
| Attend at a Scheduled Time | Yes | Yes | No | Choose from available start times |
| Final Exam Required | No | No (where permitted by state law) | Yes | No (where permitted by state law) |
| Live Instructor | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Schedule Flexibility | Low | Moderate | High | High |
| Best For | Traditional classroom learners | Students who can attend at a scheduled time | Students who don’t mind taking an exam | Students who want the benefits of a live webinar with greater scheduling flexibility |
As the table illustrates, each method serves a different need. Classroom instruction offers face-to-face interaction. Scheduled webinars eliminate travel while preserving the live learning experience. Self-study provides complete scheduling freedom but requires a final exam.
Anytime Live™ CE Webinars were designed to bridge the gap by offering the advantages of a live webinar while giving students much more control over when they attend.
Live Webinar CE on Your Schedule
Anytime Live™ CE Webinars combine the flexibility of self-study with the advantages of a live webinar.
Instead of searching a calendar for a class that fits your schedule, you choose when you want your webinar to begin. Available start times are offered throughout the day, allowing you to complete your CE when it works for you.
You still attend a webinar. You still receive live webinar credit. You still have access to instructor support.
The difference is simple: you control the schedule.
No Final Exam Required
One of the biggest reasons insurance professionals choose live webinars is to avoid the final exam required with self-study courses.
Anytime Live™ CE Webinars maintain that same advantage.
You complete the webinar, answer attendance prompts during the presentation, and earn your CE credit without taking a final exam where permitted by state regulations.
For busy insurance producers and adjusters, this removes one of the biggest frustrations associated with license renewal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Anytime Live™ CE Webinars live or pre-recorded?
Anytime Live™ CE Webinars are live webinars that include live attendance verification and real-time instructor support.
Do self-study insurance CE courses require a final exam?
Yes. Insurance self-study continuing education courses require a final exam before credit is awarded.
Do Anytime Live™ CE Webinars require a final exam?
No. Anytime Live™ CE Webinars do not require a final exam where permitted by state regulations. Instead, students receive credit by participating in the live webinar and responding to attendance verification prompts.
Are Anytime Live™ Webinars the same as self-study?
No. Self-study and live webinars are different methods of completing insurance continuing education. Anytime Live™ is a live webinar format that gives students greater flexibility in choosing when to begin while retaining the advantages of live instruction.
Can I start whenever I want?
Students choose from available start times throughout BMFCE’s operating hours. Rather than waiting days or weeks for a scheduled class, you can often begin the same day.
Is Anytime Live™ available in every state?
Availability depends on each state’s continuing education regulations and approved course offerings.
Why did BMFCE create Anytime Live™?
Insurance professionals told us they wanted the flexibility of self-study without giving up the benefits of live webinar education. Anytime Live™ was developed to provide exactly that.