New policy for requesting accommodations from the Insurance Council

Published July 16, 2024

The Insurance Council of BC has developed an accommodation request policy to support individuals who may need accommodation if there is a barrier that prevents them from meeting an Insurance Council requirement or participating in an Insurance Council process—for example, an examinee may require modifications to an exam format to address accessibility concerns, or a licensee may require an extension to a deadline due to illness. While the Insurance Council has always tried to accommodate where feasible, the new policy aims to make the process more transparent by clarifying what grounds accommodations will be granted for, what supporting documentation is needed, and who will be assessing requests and how. The policy will also help the Insurance Council ensure that administrative fairness principles are adhered to throughout the accommodation request process.

This policy aligns with the Insurance Council’s legislative duty to accommodate under the BC Human Rights Code. It also aligns with the Insurance Council’s 2024-2026 Strategic Plan—namely Goal 4, which encompasses work the Insurance Council is doing to foster equity and inclusion in its regulatory practices.

A related Accommodation Request Form has also been developed and will streamline the process for individuals, making it easier to provide the information needed for the Insurance Council to make a fair and thorough assessment.

Both the Accommodation Policy and related Accommodation Request Form can be found on the Insurance Council’s Policies and Other Documents webpage. If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department at licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com.