Continuing Education Course Selection for California Brokers

At Word & Brown, we are committed to helping brokers and employers gain a better understanding of compliance, products and services, security, and technology. We offer Broker Continuing Education (CE) Courses and Employer HRCI & SHRM Courses across a broad range of topics, including Accident and Health Insurance, business administration, and ethics training for California brokers. 

Note: CE Course Credits are available only through the California Department of Insurance. All courses listed below are one hour. HRCI and SHRM credits are available nationwide.

CA CE COURSES

Our full California course list appears below. You can filter the list by class type or target audience. Click on a course to view more information.

Class Type

Target Audience

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Word & Brown is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®.

ACA

ACA 4-1-1

This course educates brokers on the macro principles and requirements within the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA). Participants will gain a better understanding of all aspects of the ACA and its impact on clients and the overall market. Brokers will become more informed on ACA compliance principles and health care mandates, with a special emphasis on 2023 relevance. After successful completion of this course, brokers will be better able to discuss insurance exchanges, Medicaid options, and shared health care system responsibilities.

ACA

Broker & Employers

CE #388899

ACA Compliance in the Employer Market

This course explores topics of utmost relevance to brokers and employers as it relates to Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliance. Participants will be able to discuss employer shared responsibility (employer mandate) principles, determine employer compliance responsibilities according to group size, calculate “Full Time” and “Full Time Equivalent” numbers, and learn about MEC and Minimum Value requirements, and varying plans available in the market. Brokers will also learn the basics of ACA IRS reporting — including a review of reporting intentions and purpose. Ultimately, participants will be refreshed on the ACA and its mandates in the group health insurance space, so they can better advise clients and their employees.

ACA

Broker & Employers

CE #387041

SHRM Certified

ACA IRS Reporting

This course dives into complex ACA reporting to the IRS for Applicable Large Employers (ALEs). We discuss group size and FTE counts, look at Forms 1094 and 1095, show you how to use differing IRS codes to report on coverage offers (required for anyone employed FT for at least one full month of the reporting year), and talk about who reports what — and why — and more. CE Credits: 1.

ACA

Broker & Employers

CE #389604

SHRM Certified

ACA Non-Compliance: IRS Letter Panic Prevention

Employers are receiving notices from the IRS seeking massive penalties for potential noncompliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) employer mandate. They are also receiving IRS notices requesting ACA reporting Forms 1094-C and 1095-C from previous years, if they did not submit them (which the IRS believes they should have). Employers are also receiving notices from the Exchange signaling a potential future ACA non-compliance penalty, which is triggered by an eligible FT employee getting a Premium Tax Credit to pay for Exchange coverage. This class educates brokers on what these letters are, how to walk clients through them, and how employers should respond. Many will find no need to panic, as these letters can often be responded to and closed without any penalty assessment. CE Credits: 1.

ACA

Broker & Employers

CE #364811

SHRM Certified

Product & Health Market Strategy

Account Based Plans — POP, FSA, HRA, HSA

This course focuses on the most-common compliance topics and pitfalls surrounding Account Based Plans. It looks at the “ins and outs” of Premium Only Plans (POPs), Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs), and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). We also discuss plan requirements, design options, advantages, eligibility, participation, HRA/HSA/FSA “stacking,” plan limitations, and more. CE Credits: 1.

Product & Health Market Strategy

Broker & Employers

CE #331252

SHRM Certified

Celebrating 50 Years of ERISA

This course provides insurance agents with a comprehensive understanding of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and its impact on employer-sponsored group benefit plans. Focusing on the law’s core principles, evolving regulations, and recent changes under the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021, the course educates participants with knowledge to effectively discuss ERISA with employers, help them navigate compliance requirements, and reduce audit and penalty risks.

Product & Health Market Strategy

Brokers Only

CE #390373

SHRM Certified

FSA 101 — Compliance, Administration, Education

Gain insight on the compliance, administrative, and educational complexities of Health Flexible Spending Accounts (Health FSAs), Limited Purpose FSAs, and Dependent Care FSAs. The course highlights benefits, allowances, restrictions, and document compliance requirements. It compares and contrasts accounts, including a discussion of Premium Only Plans (POPs) embedded in FSAs. Participants gain an understanding of how accounts are established, funded, and managed — and the benefits of sponsoring and participating in such plans. CE Credits: 1.

Product & Health Market Strategy

Broker & Employers

CE #377351

SHRM Certified

HSA 101 — Compliance, Trends, and Consumer Education

This class offers an in-depth look at Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and provides guidance on how to succeed in the administration, education, and promotion of HSAs as well as employee education of HSA-compatible health plans and High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs). It will help you understand modern HSA trends, learn the importance of educating stakeholders and employees on HSAs, and provide guidance on how to serve employers’ needs more effectively by promoting HSAs in a compliant manner. CE Credits: 1.

Product & Health Market Strategy

Broker & Employers

CE #375311

SHRM Certified

General Compliance

Avoiding Compliance Pitfalls

Learn the most-common compliance pitfalls that impact employers in our market. This course covers ERISA plan documents, COBRA administration, Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), and Section 125 Premium Only Plans (POPs). It includes an overview of common mistakes for each account type, fines and penalties for non-compliant plans, exemptions, limitations, and exclusions, and tips on troubleshooting errors. CE Credits: 1.

General Compliance

Broker & Employers

CE #334133

SHRM Certified

COBRA 101

This course details the specifications of COBRA, the federal law that allows eligible employees and dependents to temporarily continue their employer-based health insurance plan(s). It covers enforcing agencies, penalties, what employers are subject to the law, qualifying events, election rights, paying for coverage, what an employer must do to stay in compliance and avoid costly fees, legislative updates, and more. The class also covers Cal-COBRA basics for employers with health plans in California. CE Credits: 1.

General Compliance

Broker & Employers

CE #331251

SHRM Certified

Compliance Blast - ERISA and Account Based Plans

This course provides an overview of three major employer-sponsored account based plans: Premium Only Plans (POPs), Health Flexible Spending Accounts (Health FSAs), and Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs). Participants will learn how plan options overlap, contrast, and complement each other. They will also gain a stronger understanding of ERISA compliance to help clients better adhere to the complexities of federal law relating to employer-sponsored health and related plans.

General Compliance

Broker & Employers

CE #388966

Compliance Compass 2024

Master the evolving landscape of health insurance with this in-depth course. Gain a comprehensive understanding of key compliance areas, transparency initiatives, and legislative changes to proactively address client concerns. Help your clients avoid surprise bills and navigate new regulations with confidence. Equip yourself with the knowledge and confidence to advocate effectively for your clients’ best interests. Contribute to the industry's pursuit of increased transparency in health care. Advance your compliance expertise through a concise, impactful presentation.

General Compliance

Broker & Employers

CE #390064

SHRM Certified

Determining Employee Eligibility

This course gives agents a clear understanding of who is eligible for medical insurance in the Small Group marketplace. It helps producers distinguish between eligibility methods employers are able to implement, and offers guidance on which method might work best for different types of businesses. It includes guidance on defining a full-time employee – and information to help employers avoid non-compliance fines and prevent employee mislabeling. CE Credits: 1.

General Compliance

Broker & Employers

CE #383876

SHRM Certified

Group Health Insurance Compliance Notifications

This course covers the myriad of different mandated health insurance compliance and notification responsibilities for employers. Participants will gain an understanding of the laws, contents, and purposes of required notices discussed in the course (including common notices applicable to most employers). You will review the model language for notices, learn to whom employers are required to distribute notices, find out the best time to facilitate distribution (or redistribution), and receive guidance on compliant methods for distribution.

General Compliance

Broker & Employers

CE #389085

Group Insurance and Medicare Integration

This course educates brokers on the evolving overlap of group health benefits and Medicare, with more employees working past the traditional retirement age. Participants will learn about compliance and pitfalls when employers have employees eligible for Medicare and working past age 65. Brokers will gain a broad understanding of how Medicare works alongside typical group health plans. Topics include compliance regarding workforce size, health plans, drug coverage, employer contributions, avoiding fines, improving the insurance experience for working seniors, and more

General Compliance

Broker & Employers

CE #388904

SHRM Certified

Let’s Talk Compliance

This class educates health insurance brokers on key compliance requirements for group-sponsored health plans. The course emphasis is on COBRA, tax law, Premium Only Plans (POPs), the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and ERISA. Participants completing this class will be able to: 1) understand the main objectives, requirements, and timelines for each topic covered; 2) identify potential consequences of noncompliance; 3) address the latest health insurance industry compliance developments; and 4) provide reliable guidance to employers on compliance matters.

General Compliance

Broker & Employers

CE #389701

SHRM Certified

Fast Flash Compliance Tips

This class educates health insurance agents on the top compliance areas in the group benefits space. Designed to move quickly, the course provides participants with a diverse array of compliance tips on the most troubling and important areas for employer clients with regard to health plans. Agents will gain insight to provide group health plan insurance solutions and compliance insight to employers, navigating the related pitfalls associated with such plans and general benefit administration to provide clients better peace-of-mind in the often-confusing compliance space. CE Credits: 1.

General Compliance

Brokers Only

CE #385668

Group Health Insurance: Compliance and Calculations

This course educates agents on the myriad of Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliance responsibilities and calculations business clients face under the law. The presentation covers critical principles for employers under the ACA and includes an advanced look at some of the law’s most challenging requirements, especially mandated calculations. Also addressed are “affordability” testing and related COBRA and Medicare Primary/Secondary payer calculations. CE Credits: 1.

General Compliance

Broker & Employers

CE #383878

SHRM Certified

Single Payer in California

Participants will learn about “single payer” proposals across the country with an emphasis on efforts in California. This course will help you understand the complexities and better respond to clients’ questions, such as “What would single payer do?”, “How much would it cost?”, and “How would it change the health system — and why?” Topics addressed include the challenges with implementing such a system, disruptions to the current system, estimated costs, changing roles for employers and insurance agents, and more. Agents will gain a deep understanding of California single payer proposals — especially the most-recent proposal (AB 1400) and its funding mechanism (ACA 11).

General Compliance

Brokers Only

CE #387198

SHRM Certified

Transparency: No Surprises

This class will educate you on the new and changing federal “transparency” laws for health plans. It looks at “Transparency in Coverage (TiC)” provisions – and what it means for health plans and consumers. You’ll learn about the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) No Surprises Act with a detailed overview of plan changes, requirements, deadlines, etc. The class also includes a discussion of federal “Mental Health Parity” changes, as enforced under CAA regulation. A high-level overview of federal agent commission transparency requirements is also included.

General Compliance

Brokers Only

CE #387829

Ethics Suite

Foundational Ethics and Principles for Health Insurance Agents

Learn the basic responsibilities of an honest, ethical agent in the health insurance space. The course looks at learned philosophical components of ethics — from principles taught in childhood to ethics and universal concepts, common sense principles, conduct in the workplace, and our industry’s code of ethics — and how to apply quality business practices and ethical solutions to real-life scenarios in health insurance sales. CE Credits: 1.

Ethics Suite

Brokers Only

CE #366636

Worthy of Your Clients’ Trust

This ethics course is designed to educate and inspire brokers to make integrity and customer CARE (compassion, advocacy, responsibility, and education), the foundation for all ethical decisions and service to clients. The course objective is to equip and encourage brokers to set, and consistently adhere to, a high standard of accountability and integrity for themselves and the team members who are under their supervision. CE Credits: 1.

Ethics Suite

Brokers Only

CE #366671

True North: NABIP Code of Ethics as a Moral Compass for Agents

This course challenges brokers to evaluate their own ethical practices to see how they align with the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals (formerly the National Association of Health Underwriters, NAHU). We discuss the association’s principles as the “true north” of a broker’s moral compass and the importance of privacy, honesty, and professional conduct in sales, service, and all of your dealings with clients, associates, other brokers, and the companies you represent. CE Credits: 1.

Ethics Suite

Brokers Only

CE #368971

Business Development

Legislation 101 for Insurance Agents

Shape California's health insurance future! Gain a clear understanding of California's legislative process and regulatory landscape, and how it compares to the federal level. Learn effective strategies to engage with legislators and contribute to health insurance policy discussions. This course prepares you to become a vocal advocate for clients, and to stay involved in compliance and legislation moving forward.

Business Development

Brokers Only

CE #390360

SHRM Certified

Evolution of Employee Benefits

This course looks at the evolution of employee benefits. It features a high-level overview of major principles in today’s insurance marketplace — including when certain programs and requirements were launched, how and why, and a discussion of how they operate and fit into the health care and insurance space today. Participants will learn why certain programs (like COBRA, Medicare, and Medicaid [Medi-Cal in California]) and laws were developed, resulting changes, and insurance and care issues solved by each. Attendees will be more familiar with the insurance market, and will be better able to use that knowledge to discuss major principles with prospects and clients.

Business Development

Brokers Only

CE #387199

SHRM Certified

Technology & Security

The Future of AI in Health Insurance

This course enables health insurance brokers and agencies to gain a thorough understanding of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) and its potential to transform customer service and automate the insurance experience. Participants will explore current and future applications of A.I. and gain insights and practical strategies to effectively integrate A.I. into daily operations. The information shared will also empower participants to navigate ethical and regulatory considerations associated with A.I. implementation.

Technology & Security

Brokers Only

CE #390359

SHRM Certified

How to Navigate the Insurance Marketplace Using Technology

Learn how to collaborate on obtaining the right health care options that meet your customers’ need for the best-possible price. Gain a broad understanding of available employee benefits packages you can quote for your clients — and how to ask the right questions and how to use the technology available to quote correctly. Topics addressed include potential coverage pitfalls, data needed to quote efficiently, understanding value-added services carriers offer, online enrollment, and more. CE Credits: 1.

Technology & Security

Brokers Only

CE #355351

The Fundamentals of Quoting Accurately

Employee benefits agents will gain a better understanding of the evolution, inner workings, and mechanics of quoting — accurately — in an ever-evolving marketplace. Learn the value a quote engine delivers and why quoting for products and policies is sometimes not available. Nuances between carrier and product quoting and their rules will help you deliver better customer support as you identify when group dynamics will support acquisition of a policy with a certain carrier or not, even before quoting. CE Credits: 1.

Technology & Security

Brokers Only

CE #381011

If you're an employer and want to request a course, contact your health insurance broker.

If you're a broker watch for courses that may be available through your local and regional health underwriter associations. Some courses are designed for brokers; others may benefit both you and your clients. Don’t forget, too, to watch for Word & Brown’s annual spring event, Week of Webinars, which features a full week of CE Courses online. (Credits not available outside of California.)

For general inquires and/or questions, please reach out to your Word & Brown Sales Representative, or email W&B's Compliance Support team at (ComplianceSupport@wordandbrown.com).