Equivalency

Below is information to help you identify the exams required to qualify for a RIBO licence.

Upon successfully completing your Equivalency exam(s), you can proceed with registration as an insurance broker with a RIBO registered brokerage firm. This is subject to meeting the suitability requirements.

Prepare for your registration by consulting the Registration Checklist before taking the exam(s).

Candidates are responsible for verifying their licensure eligibility before taking any exam. Passing the exam does not guarantee full eligibility, as additional background checks will be conducted during the formal licensing application process. These background checks include, but are not limited to, criminal records and conflicts of interest with other licensing bodies.

Candidates required to take multiple exams, such as the RIB Act, Regulations, and By-laws Equivalency Exam and the RIBO Ontario Automobile Equivalency Exam, must pass all exams within twelve months.

Each exam result is valid for 12 months from the date of passing. If a candidate passes one exam and fails another, they must retake and pass the failed exam within twelve months from the original exam date of the passed exam. The eligibility to apply for their licence will be based on the earliest pass date, thereby potentially shortening the overall licence eligibility period.

Eligibility for Individuals Who Hold

  • A current out-of-province license general Property & Casualty (P&C) license (see provincial licensing guide below) or;
  • Those who hold an Other-Than-Life (OTL) insurance agent license with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA).

Individuals who don’t hold a current agent licence, such as those employed as Underwriters or Adjusters, may be eligible for an equivalency. These individuals may submit the following information/documentation for review:

  1. Resume outlining experience to-date
  2. Copy of any P&C designations held (e.g. CAIB or CIP)

The above can be sent to equivalency@ribo.com.

Exam Requirements

Experience and Education Requirements

This page is designed to assist individuals who are seeking to be RIBO licensed for the first time.

To be eligible for a RIBO Level 2 licence, you must hold an active Canadian Property and Casualty (P&C) insurance broker or agent licence, or have held one within the past 12 months, or hold one of the following designations: CAIB, CIP, FCIP, CCIB and CRM and meet one of the following pathways.

Pathway 1: You already hold a Level 2 licence in another jurisdiction.

 

Pathway 2: You hold a Level 1 licence in another jurisdiction and wish to obtain a RIBO Level 2 licence.

Applying for equivalency approval before registering for an exam is not mandatory but it is strongly encouraged to avoid registering for exams you may not be eligible to take because exam fees are non-refundable.

To determine eligibility, applicants should submit the following documents in PDF format to exam@ribo.com:

  • Copy of your resume outlining experience-to-date
  • Copy of your OTL and/or out-of-province insurance licence
  • Copy of any insurance designations you currently hold (transcript and certificate).

And answer the following:

  • Indicate what RIBO licence you are seeking: Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 (to be a Principal Broker or Deputy Principal Broker)
  • Do you intend to operate as a Managing General Agency (MGA)?

Please indicate if any of the documents/questions requested do not apply to you. We may request additional documentation or clarification to process your equivalency application.

The two-year waiting period will be waived for individuals who are actively licensed and have been employed in another jurisdiction for more than two years.

See guide below for more information, including requirements for holding a “Principal Broker or Level 3 Licence.”

Exam Requirements for Out-of-Province Licensees

In addition to meeting the Level 1 licensing criteria, certain out of province licensees may qualify for an exemption from the Level 2 – Technical/Commercial Exam. (See guide below for eligibility for exemption from this exam based on your home province’s license.)

Out-of-province licensees seeking a Principal Broker designation must successfully complete the RIBO Level 3 – Management Exam and RIBO Ontario Automobile Equivalency Exam.

Below is a guide for out of province applicants who hold a licence in their home jurisdiction.

Level 1 – Entry Level Broker

If you hold one of the following licences in your home jurisdiction, you may be eligible for a Level 1 licence in Ontario, following the successful completion of the RIB Act, Regulations, and By-Laws Equivalency Exam and RIBO Ontario Automobile Equivalency Exam.

Alberta

  • General Level 1 or Level 2 Agent licence

British Columbia

  • Level 1 General Insurance Salesperson licence

Manitoba

  • Level 1 General Insurance Salesperson licence

New Brunswick

  • Level 1 General Insurance Agent

Newfoundland & Labrador

  • Level 1 or Level 2 Broker licence

Northwest Territories

  • General Insurance Agent licence

Nova Scotia

  • Level 1 General Insurance Agent licence

Ontario (FSRA)

  • OTL (Other Than Life) licence
  • Note: OTL agents are exempted from the RIBO Auto Equivalency exam

Prince Edward Island

  • General licence

Quebec

  • Personal Lines Damage Insurance licence

Saskatchewan

  • Level 1 Agent licence

Yukon

  • Salesperson or Broker licence

Level 2 – Technical/Commercial

If you hold one of the following licenses in your home jurisdiction you may be eligible to waive the technical exam requirement for qualifying for a Level 2 license in Ontario.

Out of province licensees seeking a Principal Broker designation must successfully complete the Level 3 – Management Exam. 

Alberta

  • Level 2 Agent licence

British Columbia

  • Level 2 or Level 3 Agent licence

Manitoba

  • Level 2 or Level 3 Agent licence

New Brunswick

  • Level 2 or 3 General Insurance Agent

Newfoundland & Labrador

  • Level 3 Broker licence

Nova Scotia

  • Level 2 or Level 3 General Insurance Agent licence

Quebec

  • Full Sector Damage or Commercial Lines Damage licence

Saskatchewan

  • Level 2 or Level 3 Agent licence
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