So, you want to stay in the game and sell on the Federal Facilitated Marketplace (FFM)? Open Enrollment runs from November 1st to January 15th. Before you start selling, it is important to know that you must get certified through an online training portal provided by the government.

Here is all the info you need to get started:

1. Register for an account on the CMS portal and choose “Federally Facilitated Marketplace (FFM)” under the dropdown. You will be required to use Multifactor Authentication (MFA) each time you login.
2. Once logged in, choose “Federally Facilitated Marketplace (FFM)/Request for MLMS Training Access” under ‘Select an Application’. Then choose “Agent Broker Training Access” under ‘Select a Role’.
3. Next you will move to the step to ‘Complete Identity Verification’. You will follow the identity proofing steps and receive an ID number for the FFM. The ID is how you get credit for your enrollments.
4. Complete your online training by clicking on the tile for “Marketplace Training – Agent Broker”. You will be asked to enter your contact information and National Producer Number (NPN). To successfully meet the training requirements, you must register for a curriculum. Registering for individual courses will not allow you to earn the completion status that’s required to sell on the FFM.
5. There are free courses for selling individual and small group health insurance. There are also paid trainings available from approved vendors.
6. At the end of the training, you will complete a Marketplace training exam. You will be given 10 questions and must pass with a score of 70% or above. If you want to sell small group and SHOP exchange plans you are not required to complete training.
7. Once done with the training, wait 48 business hours before trying to access identity proofing—the next step in the process. Allowing this time to elapse will better ensure that your training records have been fully transmitted to the portal.
8. Launch, read, and select all the applicable agreement(s).
9. Print your training completion certificate(s).
10. The CMS portal is a high-traffic site with lots of users trying to access the training. You may experience delays or have difficulty getting on. According to the Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight (CIIO), the best times to try to get into the portal are before 11:00am EST or after 5:00pm EST when traffic is slower. You will have to be patient with this busy site.

Once you are certified and registered with an account, you’ll be good to go. Best of luck to all our valued brokers!

Note: For the training you will need a desktop computer or laptop. The training is not compatible with mobile devices. Brokers working in a state that has set up its own marketplace must register with their state. Check your state’s exchange site for details on how to register.

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