Beware Webinar/Webcast Offerings That Compromise CE Rules

Today, new “webinar/webcast” technologies have the potential for dramatic improvements in the quality, delivery and convenience of training and education with a comparable reduction in expense for licensees and their employers.  Unfortunately, in the wrong hands and delivered improperly, they also threaten the integrity and authorization of the process for all beneficiaries.  We know that vendors sponsoring in-house CE programs have, in recent years, occasionally promoted or allowed attendance at such programs “by telephone or conference call”.  Unbeknownst to most [adjuster/agent] licensees and their employers, this method of attendance for CE was strictly forbidden by the Rules, exposing licensees to deauthorization of expected CEs and serious penalties for the Provider responsible for certification.

Despite what licensees and their employers may have been told, CE by webinar/webcast was only recently approved by the Department of Financial Services in early 2009, and then only after a small series of test runs.  Because of a very real threat to the integrity of the process, the difficulty of ensuring actual attendance (sorry folks, saying you’re attending by phone does nothing to ensure there is actually someone on the other end paying attention), and the potential for abuse, the rules for webinar/webcast delivery are comprehensive and strict. Consequently, it is important that all licensees (agent and adjuster) and their employers know what those requirements are.  If a vendor or provider delivers or sponsors a CE offering and you do not see obvious compliance with these requirements, you may be a victim of abuse, and may end up forfeiting any CE you or your employees were expecting.

So, if you are hosting, attending or subscribing to a webinar/webcast program certified for CE, make sure you see obvious compliance with these rules:

1.       All webinar/webcast courses must be also be approved as classroom courses. Previously approved classroom courses must be resubmitted to the Department for approval as a webinar.  *Simply because someone has a course that was approved and delivered for CE does not mean it is also approved for delivery by webinar/webcast. Secure the Course ID# and check with the WCCP or DFS before you commit.

2.       The title of the course must clearly state that the course is web-based.

3.       The courses must be taught by an approved Florida instructor.

4.       The class must be conducted in real time in all locations.  *This means no “previously recorded” programs can be delivered independently for CE.

5.       Students in all locations will be able to interact in real time with the instructor.  *This interaction can be by telephone or email.

6.       The provider must be able to confirm or verify the attendance, identity and license number of all participants…while the course is being delivered.

7.       Providers must send the Department of Financial Services an invitation to each of their webinars.  *DFS personnel will, at least for the initial year or two, be attending most scheduled seminars to confirm compliance with these rules.

8.       Materials required for the web course must be provided to all participants at all locations.  *These course materials and handouts may be submitted electronically and confirmation of their distribution will be confirmed by DFS personnel or other online, real-time process.

9.       The provider must verify the sign in and sign out of all participants [during the program] and maintain a record of their attendance.

10.    Attendees are required to complete an Affidavit of Webinar/Webcast Attendance following each program.  The Provider must maintain records of all affidavits from attendees verifying their identity and their participation in the course.  Electronic affidavits are acceptable.  *This is the webinar/webcast version of the “sign-in sheets”.