PIACT Flood Training

Beginning Jan. 1, 2008, the FloodSmart campaign by the National Flood Insurance Program will require flood insurance training as a prerequisite for participation in the Agent Referral and Co-Op Programs.

The Agent Referral Program generates free, qualified leads for all enrolled agents through the Federal Emergency Management Agency Call Center and through the “Find an Agent” tool on the FloodSmart.gov Web site. The Agent Co-Op Program provides reimbursement up to 75 percent of the cost of advertising. For details, click here.

PIA is offering flood courses throughout the state; if you do not see a course that fits your schedule, we can come to your office and train your entire staff. PIA suggests you take a course as soon as possible.

Resident property/casualty and personal lines producers must complete a one-time, three-credit NFIP flood insurance course. The three credits will be applied to the licensee’s total property/casualty credit requirement. Producers must complete course prior to the first time their licenses renew on or after Aug. 1, 2007. Producers with birth dates in August 2007 may complete the course any time in the month of August.

This training course meets FEMA’s minimum training and education requirements as required by section 207 of the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004, for all insurance agents and brokers who sell Standard Flood Insurance Policies issued through the National Flood Insurance Program. This course will enable agents to gain a basic understanding of the NFIP, so that they can share this information with their customers.

According to the Conn. Insurance Dept., Connecticut Resident Insurance Producers with Property/Casualty or Personal Lines authority may satisfy this minimum training and education requirement by completing a one-time, three-credit NFIP Flood Insurance course, approved by the Connecticut Insurance Department.

Failure to comply with this continuing education requirement could jeopardize the Producer’s authority to write insurance through the NFIP.

Producers will have to to be able to demonstrate to the Insurance Dept., upon request, that they have complied with the flood training requirement.