Broker’s licence suspended for cheating on CAIB 3 exam

For the second time this year, a broker in British Columbia has had their license suspended for cheating on a CAIB 3 exam.

In the latest incident, the proctor observed the broker open PDF files of exam notes twice during the exam and use the Internet to look up exam answers once, the Insurance Council of B.C. noted in a disciplinary decision, released Oct. 18. Warnings to stop were ignored by the broker, Timothy Li, the regulator said.

“Council views academic dishonesty to be serious, particularly when it is carried out in order to obtain or upgrade an insurance licence, as is the case here,” the provincial broker regulator wrote in its ruling. “Such behaviour, in council’s opinion, must not be tolerated as any other stance could bring the qualification process to hold an insurance licence into disrepute.”

In considering the appropriate penalty, council noted three previous cases involving academic dishonesty. One of these cases was a decision released June 19 in which the proctor noticed a broker had opened her email and study notes on a web browser during her CAIB 3 exam. More than once, the proctor sent a note to the broker on her computer screen to advise her no other browsers could be open.

Li admitted to the council that he had cheated. The broker regulator suspended him for one year and required him to pay investigation costs. Council noted it was necessary to impose a significant sanction “for both specific and general deterrence purposes,” as instances of qualification exam cheating continue to be identified.

“Council concluded its June 19, 2018 decision was most instructive for the licensee’s situation,” the Oct. 18 decision said. “It remains necessary for council to impose a significant suspension in cases of academic dishonesty. Council also concluded the licensee would benefit from ethics education.”

Li is required to complete an ethics course no later than Jan. 17, 2019. He was ordered to pay the council’s investigative costs.

The CAIB 3 exam is offered by the Insurance Brokers Association of British Columbia and written online. It’s a step toward qualifying to hold a Level 2 agent licence. This licence is required for commercial lines representatives or personal lines supervisors.