(a) For the protection of the people of this state, the director may not issue or renew a license except in compliance with this chapter and may not issue a license to a person, or to be exercised by a person, found by the director to be untrustworthy, incompetent, or who has not established to the satisfaction of the director that the person is qualified under this chapter.

(b) To qualify for issuance or renewal of an individual license, an applicant or licensee shall comply with this title and regulations adopted under AS 21.06.090 and

(1) shall be 18 years of age or older;

(2) if for a resident license, shall be a bona fide resident before issuance of the license and actually reside in the state;

(3) shall successfully pass an examination required under AS 21.27.060;

(4) shall be a trustworthy person;

(5) may not use or intend to use the license for the purpose principally of writing controlled business, as defined in AS 21.27.030;

(6) may not have committed an act that is a cause for denial, nonrenewal, suspension, or revocation of a license in this state or another jurisdiction.

(c) To qualify for issuance or renewal of a license as a firm insurance producer, a firm managing general agent, a firm reinsurance intermediary broker, a firm reinsurance intermediary manager, a firm surplus lines broker, or a firm independent adjuster, an applicant or licensee shall

(1) comply with (b)(4) and (5) of this section;

(2) maintain a lawfully established place of business in this state, except when licensed as a nonresident under AS 21.27.270;

(3) designate one or more compliance officers for the firm, except that not more than one compliance officer may be designated for each class of authority;

(4) provide to the director documents necessary to verify the information contained in or made in connection with the application; and

(5) notify the director, in writing, not later than 30 days after a change in the firm's compliance officer.

(d) If the director finds that the applicant or licensee is qualified and that application, license, or renewal fees have been paid, the director may issue or renew the license.

(e) [Repealed, § 94(a) ch 23 SLA 2011.]

(f) The director may adopt regulations establishing additional education or experience requirements for applicants, licensees, and continuing education providers under this chapter upon due consideration of the availability and accessibility of education and training opportunities in rural areas of the state. Regulations adopted under this subsection are subject to the following provisions:

(1) additional educational or experience requirements may not apply to a licensee who has been licensed by the division of insurance before January 1, 1980;

(2) a licensee shall complete at least 24 credit hours of approved continuing education courses during each two-year license period;

(3) if a licensee has accumulated more credit hours than required under (2) of this subsection by the end of the license period, a maximum of eight hours may be carried over to meet the requirements of (2) of this subsection in the next license period;

(4) a program or seminar may not be approved as an acceptable continuing education program unless it is a formal program of learning that contributes to the professional competence of the licensee; individual study programs or correspondence courses may be used to fulfill continuing education requirements if approved by the director;

(5) a nonresident licensee is exempt from the requirements of this subsection.

(g) The director shall establish a continuing education advisory committee. The committee consists of one representative from the division of insurance, one life and health insurance representative, one property and casualty insurance representative, and one independent insurance adjuster representative. Each committee representative from the insurance industry must possess a valid, current insurance license issued in this state for the field to be represented.

(h) The director may make arrangements, including contracting with an outside agency, for administrative services.