About the LLQP
Under Ontario's Insurance Act, individuals who want to be licensed in Ontario as life insurance agents, or accident and sickness insurance agents, are required to successfully complete a training program that is approved by both the Canadian Insurance Services Regulatory Organizations (CISRO) and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA).
The LLQP is the only accepted training program in Ontario. An organization may not offer an LLQP training course in Ontario that was developed before January 1, 2016, without obtaining a new approval from CISRO.
Approved courses for the LLQP are not provided by or on behalf of the FSRA. They are available through several course providers in either English or French.
How to obtain approval to offer an LLQP training course in Ontario
Companies that want to offer courses for the LLQP examination in Ontario must first apply to CISRO for national accreditation and then to FSRA for approval in Ontario, as described below.
Step 1: Obtain approval from CISRO
CISRO confirms whether an organization has the appropriate expertise and experience to offer a quality training program for the LLQP.
Companies who want to obtain the CEO's approval to offer an LLQP training course in Ontario must first:
- Obtain a national recommendation from CISRO as an accredited course provider; and
- Sign the licence agreement for using the CISRO-authorized LLQP examination preparation materials.
The national recommendation criteria, application for accreditation and the licensing agreement can be downloaded from the CISRO website.
Once accredited, CISRO will provide standard reference materials to offer a quality training program for the LLQP.
Receiving accreditation from CISRO as a national course provider means that your organization may request approval to offer an LLQP training course in any Canadian province or territory. Each province and territory has its own requirements for approving LLQP course providers in its jurisdiction. However, all provinces or territories require that a potential course provider first receive the Canadian Insurance Services Regulatory Organizations (CISRO) accreditation.
Once accreditation has been granted, CISRO will notify the jurisdictions in which a potential course provider indicated it wishes to offer an LLQP course. In order to initiate the approval process the potential course provider must still contact each jurisdiction in which it wishes to offer the course.
Step 2: Submit an application to FSRA
FSRA has a responsibility to determine the acceptability of a training program for insurance licensing. In order to carry out this responsibility, FSRA asks for certain information about the proposed course after the course provider has reviewed the authorized reference materials. Once approved the LLQP course is valid indefinitely, until it is withdrawn by FSRA.
Companies that want to offer an LLQP training course in Ontario must provide to FSRA the following information or documents:
- A sample cover letter for LLQP course provider application.
- A copy of the letter from CISRO that confirms its national recommendation as an accredited course provider.
- A copy of the signed licence agreement.
- The name and contact information for the individual who will respond on behalf of the organization to FSRA's requests for information for the purposes of the approval.
- The course outline, which should include the following:
- The title of the course;
- The type of licensing for which it is intended (e.g., full LLQP, accident and sickness only);
- The structure of the course;
- How the course content aligns with the applicable LLQP competencies;
- A description of any additional content that is not included in the LLQP competencies and that will be covered in the course;
- An estimated number of hours required by students to complete the course, in total and by each LLQP competency;
- A description of the methods by which the course will achieve the LLQP learning objectives and assess student learning (e.g., self-study, exercises, case studies, collaborative work, etc.);
- A description of the evaluation methods that will be used;
- A description of any additional study aids or supplementary training that will be offered;
- Whether the course provider plans to use the Canadian Insurance Participant Registry (CIPR) or paper certificates/spreadsheets to confirm course completion;
- A description of policies and procedures (if any) to administer the course and manage candidate appeals; and
- The date the course is expected to launch in Ontario.
- General information about the course (which is required for FSRA's information only and will not affect the approval decision):
- Language(s) in which the course will be offered;
- How often the course will be offered;
- For courses with a classroom component: locations in Ontario where the course will be offered (including addresses, if known);
- Expected fees for the program and for any additional study aids or training; and
- Sample marketing materials including link(s) to applicant's website.
- The name and contact information for the individual who will respond on behalf of the organization to FSRA's request for information, if the application is approved (this may be the same as above).
Note: Currently there is no fee for FSRA to review this content.
Please do not provide a copy of draft or final course materials unless requested to do so by FSRA.
The application package may be sent to FSRA by email (the preferred method) or mail:
- Send an email to [email protected] and include "Application for approval as an LLQP course provider" in your subject line.
- Mail your application to the following address:
Attention: Head, Licensing and Risk Assessment
Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario
25 Shepherd Avenue West, Suite 100
Toronto, ON, M2N 6S6
What happens after an application is submitted to FSRA
After an application is submitted to FSRA:
- FSRA will contact the applicant to confirm the receipt of the application.
- FRSA’s primary contact will provide his/her contact details – phone number and email address
- FSRA will review the application submitted and will contact the applicant if further details are needed.
- The application package will be reviewed, along with any information that is received from CISRO.
- FSRA may request further information or clarification regarding the submission.
- The applicant will receive a letter from FSRA that specifies if the submission was approved. Your company may not begin to offer the course until you receive this letter.
- If the submission is approved, the name of the course and a link to the course provider's website will be added to a list of approved LLQP courses on FSRA's website.
FSRA's review and approval
When FSRA reviews an application package, it will consider factors such as whether:
- All of the required information has been provided;
- There is a reasonable explanation for any discrepancies between the information that was provided to CISRO and to FSRA;
- There is complete coverage of the LLQP competencies, as described in the course outline;
- The proposed method(s) of achieving the learning objectives appear to be effective in preparing students for the LLQP examination;
- The required hours of study appear to be realistic and adequate; and
- The policies and procedures provide a fair and legitimate learning experience for candidates.
If all of the required information is provided, applicants will generally be notified of FSRA's decision within 90 days.
If the application package requires clarification or is missing any required information, FSRA will follow up with the main contact for the potential course provider. The application's status will remain "incomplete" until FSRA is satisfied that the necessary information and clarification have been provided.
FSRA reserves the right to:
- consider any other factors;
- change, amend or add additional criteria as it deems necessary;
- revoke approval at any time;
- request copies of the course materials for review;
- request information about student pass rates;
- audit the course at any time and require remedial actions; and
- share information about the course and course provider with other CISRO members.
If you have any questions please contact FSRA by email [email protected] or call 416-250-7250.