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1. What is the PCCP Association?
The Association of Property & Casualty Claims Professionals is a professional educational association serving more than 25,000 licensed property and casualty adjusters and other claims professionals. The primary purpose of the PCCP is to provide a means for these professionals to secure the continuing education units that are required by the various jurisdictions for continued licensure as an adjuster. Also, and just as important, it is the goal of the PCCP to enhance the effectiveness, integrity and ethical conduct of insurance adjusters as they relate to other segments of business and industry, as well as the consumer.
2. How much is membership in the PCCP Association?
Memberships are on a calendar-year basis (January-December). Adjuster Memberships are $45 each per year. Associate Memberships are $100 each. Service Partner Memberships are $225 each.
3. What is the difference between an Adjuster Membership, an Associate Membership, and a Service Partner Membership?
For a detailed explanation of each type of membership, click here.
4. What are the benefits of being a member?
For details on member benefits, click here.
5. How do I become a member?
You can join on line by clicking here. Or, we can fax, mail, or e-mail you a membership application. Just complete the application and return it to our office with the proper membership dues.
6. How can I pay for my membership and/or course cfferings?
The PCCP accepts cash, check or credit cards (MasterCard,Visa, and AmEx). You may mail the appropriate membership dues along with your Membership Application, or you can join online and charge your membership dues. You can also mail or fax us a completed charge/credit card authorization form and we will process your charge in our secure server environment. Either way, you will receive an email receipt immediately upon processing your credit card.
If pre-registering for a course, you may mail your course fees with a copy of the Registration form, or complete the charge/credit card authorization contained on the registration form. If there is not enough time to mail prior to course offering, please fax the registration form to (813) 632-9377 and bring payment to the class and pay at the door.
You can also pay by credit card by simply calling us and we will charge it for you over our secure server environment.
7. What are CEUs?
Continuing Education Units.
8. Who must take continuing education units?
Licensed adjusters...staff, independent, public, limited and all lines. Each jurisdiction has its own requirements. Some states require CE’s of all adjusters, regardless of type. Other states (e.g. Georgia, Mississippi, et al.) require CE of independent adjusters only. You should check the regulations of the state(s) that require you to be licensed.
9. What is my compliance period?
Your compliance period begins on the first day of month immediately following your birth month after you were licensed. To find out when your compliance period begins and ends, you have two options:
- Option #1: Go back to your original date of licensure (whether it is 3 years or 30 years ago), and then identify your next birthday (month/year) after your date of licensure. The first day of the next month began your first compliance period, and that 24 month compliance period will end with the last day of your birth month two years later.
- Option #2: Go to the Department of Financial Services Continuing Education Database and register to view your Licensee Profile. If you have already done this, you will have a login name and password. If not, click to register as a “First Time User” and the system will prompt you to select your login and password.
You will then be able to view your profile, including 1) your current mailing address, 2) the end date your compliance period, 3) your transcript, and 4) a compliance evaluation of where you stand in meeting your requirement.
Here you can find the date when your current compliance requirement is due.
Following is an example of how to determine your compliance period under Option #1:
Example #1: You got your license on February 12, 1997. Your next birthday is August 8th, 1997. Your first compliance period will began September 1, 1997 and ended 24 months later on August 31, 1999. Thereafter, your subsequent compliance periods end on August 31, 2001, 2003 and 2005.
Example #2: If you got your license on October 3, 2001 and your next birthday was January 3rd, 2002, your compliance period would have started on February 1st, 2002 and it would have ended on January 31st, 2004! Your current compliance period will end January 31, 2006.
10. When are my credits due under the new CE law? I have heard that the DFS has granted an extension?
The Department of Financial Services has extended the initial enforcement date of the new CE law to those compliance periods ending January 2006. This means that DFS will not begin to enforce the 24 hour requirement until then, and that they will start with anyone whose compliance period ends January 31, 2006.
Licensees whose compliance periods end in any month in 2005 will not be checked, and their 24 hour CE requirement won’t be due, until their 2007 compliance date.
*Important* If you receive information to the contrary from anyone, refer them to the Department of Financial Services memo dated January 21, 2005. (click here for a copy)
11. What about the credits I’ve already earned since 7/1/2003 in anticipation of a 2005 compliance requirement? Will they be wasted?
Absolutely not! Any hours accumulated between 7/1/2003 and your next compliance date (2006, 2007, etc) will all count toward that first compliance requirement. Pursuant to CE Rule dated 1/17/2005, any excess hours you accumulate will carry over to your next compliance period.
12. How can I request a copy of my credits on file or CEU transcripts?
The PCCP can always provide you with a transcript of all credits earned through the PCCP. However, if you get CEs from other providers during your compliance period, you will have to get your transcript from the Department of Financial Services. To do this, simply click on the following link:
...login, and request your transcript. If you’ve never been here before, sign in as a first time user. It’s easy! Just be sure you save your login ID and password.
13. What should I do if I attended a course and the CEUs do not appear on my transcript?
Course rosters are normally reported to the Department of Financial Services within 30 days after a course offering, and your credits should be reflected on your transcript within 30 days after you take the course. However, following large conferences or peak seminar periods, these time frames may be slightly extended. If the normally allotted time has lapsed, the credits aren’t there, and the course was provided by the PCCP, please fax or email us the name of the course, the date and location attended, and the number of CEUs that are missing from your transcript. If available, include a copy of the Certificate of Completion you were given or mailed after the course. We will research the sign in sheets for the specified course and if your signature is verified we will process a correction immediately with the DFS and update your transcript.
Unfortunately, if you get your CEs from another provider, we cannot help you. You will have to hunt them down to fix the problem. (That’s why you should always come to the PCCP for your CEs!)
14. What happens if I am not in compliance? Can I get an extension?
You will have to arrange for an extension with the Department of Financial Services. They will usually give you up to 90 days to secure the needed credits, and you will have to pay a $250 penalty.
15. How do I change my address with the Department of Insurance?
This can be done very easily and quickly by going to the "Online Licensing" section of the Department's website. Just click here: https://aalf.fldfs.com/common/com_index.asp
Simply click on the Name and Address Change button and follow the directions for individual licensees. You will be asked to indicate and confirm certain demographic information such as your resident mailing address, business address and mailing address, as well as telephone numbers and email address. Please Note: Your residence address is for Department's use only, and is not accessible by the public.
Licensees who fail to update their addresses within 30 days of a change may be subject to a penalty or fine issued by the Department of Financial Services. So please...do it now, and tell a friend!
16. How do I change my name on my adjuster license to my married name?
Just click on the link above and go to the Online Licensing section of the DFS website. It’s easy! Just follow directions. And then call or email the PCCP so we can update our records!
17. What if I live out of state and have a Florida non-resident license?
The Education Section of the Department of Financial Services reports that Florida has reciprocity with all states for P&C continuing education. If you are currently licensed as an adjuster in a state that requires CE, and you are in compliance with that state’s laws, Florida will accept a Letter of Certification from that state in satisfaction of your Florida CE requirement.
The PCCP will, however, be able to provide numerous opportunities to stay current on Florida laws and exposures while still earning CE credit through its distance learning programs. For more information on Distance Learning, click here.
Note: This is only for P&C claims. If you handle any WC at all, you must satisfy Florida’s CE requirements, even if you are a non-resident and are in compliance with other states’ laws.
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