Education Corner - Fall 2026

Professional Development Is a Habit - Not a Deadline

For many members, continuing education (“CE”) can feel like a seasonal chore: a rush in late summer, a flurry of certificates, and a sigh of relief once the required credits are finally submitted. The National IRES Continuing Education (“NICE”) Program makes annual CE mandatory, but treating CE as an annual obligation misses the point and the opportunity. To gain the most from the program, you should treat professional development as a habit woven into the rhythm of your work, not a compliance box to check. And that shift in mindset changes everything.

Why the Habit Matters

Regulation Moves Faster Than the Calendar

Insurance markets evolve constantly - new products, new distribution models, new technologies, new consumer protection concerns. If you wait until August to catch up, you’re already behind. A steady learning habit keeps you aligned with the industry you regulate, not the deadline you’re trying to meet.

Better Learning Happens in Smaller Doses

A year’s worth of CE crammed into a few weeks is rarely meaningful. You remember less, apply less, and benefit less. Spacing learning throughout the year reinforces knowledge, deepens understanding, and makes it easier to connect new concepts to your day‑to‑day examination work.

Your Work Improves Immediately — Not Annually

Professional development isn’t theoretical. Each webinar, workshop, or course gives you tools you can use now: sharper analytical skills, updated regulatory frameworks, new examination techniques, or insights from peers across the country. When learning becomes a habit, your work benefits continuously instead of once a year.

You Reduce Stress and Eliminate the Scramble

The August rush is stressful - tracking certificates, finding qualifying courses, double‑checking credit types, and hoping you didn’t miss anything. A habit of ongoing CE spreads the workload across the year, making compliance simple and predictable.

You Strengthen Your Professional Identity

IRES designations signal commitment to excellence in insurance regulation. Treating CE as a habit reinforces that identity. It shows you’re not just maintaining a credential - you’re actively investing in your expertise and the integrity of the regulatory profession.

How to Build the Habit

Make CE Part of Your Monthly Routine

Set aside one hour a month to learn something new. Mixing up the learning formats you pick each month helps keep learning fresh and engaging.

Use CE to Solve Real Problems

When you encounter a new issue in an examination, look for CE that addresses it. Learning becomes immediately relevant and easier to retain.

Track Progress Throughout the Year

A quick monthly check of your CE transcript keeps you aware of your progress and prevents surprises. Just as important: report CE as soon as you earn it. Submitting credits throughout the year ensures your transcript stays accurate, reduces the chance of missing documentation, and eliminates the end‑of‑year scramble to remember what you completed and where the certificates are stored. Treat reporting as part of the learning habit — complete the activity, upload the documentation, and move on with confidence.

The Bottom Line

Continuing education is required, but professional development is chosen. When you treat CE as a habit, you gain more than credits: you gain confidence, competence, and a stronger connection to the regulatory community. And with a new compliance year just beginning, this is the perfect moment to reset your mindset. Instead of gearing up for another late‑summer rush, start fresh with a year‑long learning rhythm that supports your growth, strengthens your expertise, and keeps you aligned with the evolving insurance marketplace.

The NICE Program sets the minimum. Your learning habit sets the standard.

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Jo LeDuc, CIE, MCM, CPCU, FLMI, AIDA, APIR, is a member of and a past President of the Insurance Regulatory Examiners Society (IRES). She holds an M.B.A. and a B.S. in Business Administration. Additionally, she has earned the CIE (Certified Insurance Examiner), MCM (Market Conduct Management), CPCU (Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter), FLMI (Fellow, Life Management Institute), AIRC (Associate, Insurance Regulatory Compliance), AIC (Associate in Claims), Associate in Insurance Data Analytics (AIDA), and API (Associate in Personal Insurance) designations.