Council Rules Course
Required for new life and A&S agents, in addition to the four LLQP exams. Check its current format and access on the Council’s licensing page.
How to get your life insurance licence in British Columbia
In BC, the Insurance Council of BC both runs the LLQP exams and licenses agents. That makes the path shorter to describe but stricter on a few points: exams are written in person, online results written after June 30, 2023 are refused, rewrite attempts made elsewhere count, and new agents work under supervision for at least two years.
In personexam sittings with the Insurance Council of BC
3 or 5business days for results: Metro Vancouver or elsewhere
24 monthsminimum supervision for a new agent (12 with CLU, CFP or RFP)
1 yearto apply for the licence after passing
Step 1: the course and the exams
Complete the LLQP course with an approved provider, then write the modules with the Insurance Council of BC.
The exams follow the harmonized national format: Life Insurance, Accident and Sickness, Segregated Funds and Annuities, each with 30 scored and 5 pilot questions in 75 minutes, and Ethics and Professional Practice with 20 scored and 5 pilots, also 75 minutes. The A&S-only licence needs A&S and Ethics. The passing mark is 60% per module, and all required modules must be passed.
Your course certificate is valid for 12 months from completion. You need it to register, and to rewrite. If you trained in another province and are moving to BC, check that your course and any exam already written meet the Council’s rules before you book the rest.
The online exam trap
The Council does not accept LLQP exams written online after June 30, 2023. If you plan to move to Vancouver or Surrey from a province where online sittings exist, an exam written online there may not count for a BC licence. Write in person, or confirm with the Council first.
Step 2: results and rewrites
Results arrive within 3 business days in Metro Vancouver and 5 business days elsewhere in the province.
BC’s current waiting-period rules took effect on July 1, 2024. They follow the national CISRO policy: up to 3 rewrites per module, a mandatory 24-hour wait between attempts, and after a fourth failure a one-year wait and a repeat of the course.
One BC detail matters for people who have written elsewhere: attempts made in other jurisdictions count toward your total. A candidate who failed twice in Alberta does not start again at zero in Kelowna.
| Attempt | What applies |
|---|---|
| First attempt | While your course certificate is valid |
| Rewrites 1 to 3 | At least 24 hours after the previous attempt |
| After a 4th failure | Wait 1 year, retake the LLQP course |
| Attempts elsewhere | Counted |
Step 3: the Council Rules Course and the application
Passing the exams is not the last requirement. The Council asks for two more things before and after you are licensed.
Application within 1 year
You must apply for the licence within one year of passing. Plan the Council Rules Course and your supervision arrangement inside that window.
Supervision
New life and A&S agents are supervised for at least 24 months. Holders of a CLU, CFP or RFP designation are supervised for at least 12 months.
A realistic timeline
Here is how the BC clocks fit together for a candidate who finishes the LLQP course at the start of a year. The dates are an illustration; the limits come from the Council and CISRO.
| When | Step |
|---|---|
| Month 0 | Course completed: the 12-month certificate starts |
| Months 1 to 2 | Timed practice, then the four modules in person; results within 3 or 5 business days |
| Month 3 | A rewrite if needed, at least 24 hours after the failed attempt, while the certificate is valid |
| Months 3 to 4 | Council Rules Course, supervisor arranged, licence application filed well inside the one-year limit |
| Next 24 months | Working under supervision (12 months with CLU, CFP or RFP) |
Preparing in BC
With in-person sittings, each rewrite costs you a trip and a booking, so it pays to book only when your practice scores are clearly above 60%.
- Write one timed practice exam per module before you book anything
- Give Ethics extra time: 20 scored questions leave little margin
- Practise the segregated fund and needs calculations until they take under three minutes
- Book the next module the week after a pass, while the method is fresh
Can I write the LLQP exam online in BC?
No. The Council runs in-person exams and does not accept online exams written after June 30, 2023.
How fast are BC results?
3 business days in Metro Vancouver, 5 business days elsewhere, according to the Council.
Does supervision apply to the A&S-only licence too?
The Council’s supervision rule applies to new life and A&S agents. Confirm your exact case with the Council when you apply.
Does the Council Rules Course replace the Ethics module?
No. You still write the LLQP Ethics module. The Council Rules Course is an additional BC requirement. See the Ethics module guide.
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