When preparing for an upcoming CE due date, you can take a few simple steps to make sure you’re getting the best educational experience, and make sure you get the credit you deserve. Licensees should always research a CE Provider before enrolling in a course. Social media, product reviews and internet searches are just a few tools you can use to become familiar with the quality of a Provider before giving them your money. Even a cursory review can better inform licensees by asking a few questions before enrolling. Below are five questions a licensee may want to ask of a CE Provider.

What is your Florida Provider ID number?

It is important for licensees to insure they are signing up for an approved CE course from an approved CE provider. A licensee also doesn’t want to duplicate a course. A duplicate course completion means the completion of the same CE course within 24 months. A duplicate course completion will appear on a licensee’s transcript, but it will not be allocated to a CE cycle for credit. Some Providers have Learning Management Systems (LMS) that will track courses previously completed, which will help to avoid duplication of a CE course. But if a CE Provider does not have this feature, then you will have to check your transcript and make sure any course you’re signing up for does not have the same course ID number as a course that you completed within the last two years. 

What must I provide in addition to completing the CE class to get credit with the DFS?

All CE Providers will have their own procedures, and it is important to make sure you are doing everything the Provider requires for them to report your CE credits to us. Make sure the Provider knows you are expecting CE credit to be reported to the Department, or any other state that you are wanting the course completion reported to, and make sure you are giving the Provider all information necessary for them to report your credits timely.

Is this an approved Law and Ethics Update course specific to my license type?

Licensees should be in the habit of always checking with the Provider to make sure that a 4 Hour Law and Ethics update course is applicable for your specific license type. If you complete an update course with the wrong course authority the system will allocate it towards the electives, and it will not satisfy the update requirement of your compliance period.

When will I receive my certificate of completion?

The Department does not issue certificates of completion, which is the responsibility of the CE Provider. The Florida Administrative Code stipulates that a Provider must issue a certificate of completion within 30 days of the completion date, although most Providers will issue them sooner.

How long does it take for my course completion to be reported to the state?

Providers have 21 days to report completed credits to the Department. If you completed a CE course that is not appearing on your transcript, and the course was completed within the last 21 days, you should contact the provider and request that they send those credits to us as soon as possible. If a course has not been reported to us and it has been more than 21 days since completion, you should email the Education unit and include a copy of the certificate of completion, and we can contact the Provider and inquire about the delayed reporting.

For all education related inquires, licensees can reach an Education unit team member by emailing us at Education@MyFloridaCFO.com.