IBAO

What IBAO does

IBAO (Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario), founded in 1920 and headquartered at 1 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, is a not-for-profit member association representing 17,821 insurance professionals across Ontario. The organization functions as a quasi-regulatory trade body: it administers RIBO (Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario) licensing examinations at Levels 1 and 3, delivers licensing-equivalency exams accepted by the Ontario regulator FSRA, and runs continuing-education programs that brokers must complete to maintain credentials. Its core technology comprises a Learning Management System for online course delivery, an exam administration platform supporting both online and in-person testing, a member portal (members.ibao.org), and the consumer-facing OntarioBrokers.ca directory launched ahead of the July 1, 2026 Ontario Auto Insurance Reform.

IBAO's product portfolio spans a two-week Broker Launchpad course leading to RIBO Level 1 certification, an Exam Clinic for candidates who have already attempted or self-prepared, Equivalency Prep courses for experienced P&C professionals transitioning from other license classes, a 4th-edition Broker Launchpad Digital Textbook, and a continuing-education catalog including 2026 Ontario Auto Reform modules and the IBAC co-developed AI-for-brokerages course. The association operates through 30+ regional affiliate associations that cover every Ontario territory (Northwestern/Northeastern, Southwestern, Central West, Toronto/York/Peel, Central East, Eastern Ontario), runs flagship industry events including IBAOcon and the Young Brokers Conference (YBCcon), publishes The Ontario Broker Magazine, and maintains advocacy channels into provincial regulators.

IBAO's revenue model is diversified across recurring membership dues from Ontario brokers, one-time course fees (e.g., Equivalency Prep at member $140 / non-member $175), exam administration fees (e.g., RIB Act Equivalency Exam at $325 non-member), textbook sales (digital textbook member $215 / non-member $260), exam-clinic attendance, event registration for IBAOcon and Awards of Excellence, and member-service discounts. The association does not publish financial results. Governance rests with a CEO (Colin Simpson), three directors (Operations, Education, Events & Engagement), a Head Instructor, and a Board of Directors chaired by Shara Bierman with Pamela Derksen as President and Jake Scrivens as Incoming President; most directors and board members are practicing brokers at Ontario brokerages including NFP Canada, Brokerlink, Aon, Westland Insurance Group, and KRGinsure, reflecting the association's member-elected representational structure.

Name

IBAO

Legal name

Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario

Website

https://ibao.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IBAO is a not-for-profit Toronto-based association founded in 1920 that represents 17,821 Ontario insurance professionals, administering RIBO licensing exams, delivering continuing-education courses, and operating 30+ regional affiliate associations across the province.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from insurance brokers across Ontario
2. Licensing Course Fees: Equivalency Prep courses - Member $140, Non-Member $175 for 180-day access
3. Exam Fees: RIBO exam administration fees - RIB Act Equivalency Exam Non-Member $325
4. Exam Clinic Fees: Two-day exam clinic - Member $355, Non-Member $385
5. Textbook Sales: Digital and hardcopy textbooks for licensing preparation - Digital Textbook Member $215, Non-Member $260
6. Event Registration: Conference and event fees including IBAOcon, Awards of Excellence, YBCcon, and AGM
7. Member Services: Member-exclusive discounts, professional services, and industry resources

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

IBAO is a not-for-profit professional association that educates, licenses, and advocates for insurance brokers in Ontario. It delivers RIBO licensing courses and exams, continuing education programs, conferences, publications, and consumer education campaigns, while representing the broker profession before regulators and stakeholders.

Product overview

IBAO (Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario) is a not-for-profit association that operates as a professional membership organization offering a portfolio of licensing courses, professional development programs, exams, publications, and industry events for insurance brokers. The core offerings include Broker Launchpad (the primary licensing course for new brokers), Exam Clinic (exam preparation), and Equivalency Prep courses for experienced professionals. IBAO administers RIBO licensing exams at Levels 1 and 3. The product portfolio extends to professional development through Ontario Auto Reform courses, IBAC AI courses, and an annual conference (IBAOcon), Awards of Excellence, Young Brokers Conference, and The Ontario Broker Magazine. The organization also runs public awareness initiatives like the Consumer Education Campaign for Ontario auto insurance reforms and the Lyall Bell Scholarship supporting Black professionals in insurance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Broker Launchpad Entry-level licensing course that prepares aspiring insurance brokers in Ontario for the RIBO Level 1 exam.
• Exam Clinic Targeted review session designed to help candidates prepare for RIBO licensing examinations.
• Equivalency Prep - RIB Act, Regulations & By-Laws Course that prepares candidates from outside Ontario for the RIB Act, Regulations and By-Laws equivalency examination.
• RIBO Level 1 Entry-Level Broker Exam Provincial licensing examination required to register as an entry-level insurance broker in Ontario.
• RIB Act, Regulations and By-Laws Equivalency Exam Provincial equivalency exam for candidates seeking RIBO registration under the RIB Act, Regulations and By-Laws pathway.
• RIBO Ontario Automobile & RIB Act Combined Equivalency Exam Combined equivalency exam that tests candidates on Ontario automobile insurance and the RIB Act in a single sitting.
• RIBO Level 3 Management Exam Advanced licensing exam for Ontario insurance brokers seeking management-level registration with RIBO.
• Broker Launchpad Digital Textbook Digital textbook supporting the Broker Launchpad licensing course for aspiring Ontario insurance brokers.
• 2026 Ontario Auto Reform Courses Continuing education course series that updates licensed Ontario brokers on regulatory changes to the 2026 auto insurance reforms.
• IBAC AI Course Course delivered in partnership with the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (IBAC) covering artificial intelligence applications for insurance brokers.
• IBAOcon Annual convention organized by IBAO for Ontario insurance brokers, featuring keynote sessions, vendor exhibits, and networking.
• Awards of Excellence Annual IBAO recognition program honouring outstanding performance and contributions by Ontario insurance brokers and brokerages.
• Young Brokers Conference (YBCcon) Conference organized by IBAO specifically for young and emerging insurance brokers in Ontario.
• Annual General Meeting (AGM) Annual governance meeting of IBAO members used to conduct association business and elect leadership.
• The Ontario Broker Magazine Official IBAO publication delivering industry news, regulatory updates, and feature content to Ontario insurance brokers.
• Lyall Bell Scholarship Named scholarship program that covers course enrollment and textbook fees for candidates pursuing IBAO broker licensing education.

Quantifiable outcome

• 17,821 insurance professionals represented
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (IBAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational affiliate that coordinates with provincial broker associations. IBAC verifies graduates from IBAC designation programs and provides national broker development initiatives.
• CABIP (Canadian Association of Black Insurance Professionals)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCABIP partnered with IBAO to create the Lyall Bell Scholarship supporting Black professionals in the insurance industry. The award is presented annually at IBAOcon's Grad Ceremony.
• Wawanesa InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership in #BrokersCare t-shirt fundraiser initiative at IBAOcon 2025, supporting charitable giving within the broker community.
• Humber PolytechnicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBAO participated in Humber's Insurance & Risk Management Career Fair to attract new talent to the broker profession.
• 30+ Regional Affiliate AssociationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of territorial associations (Northwestern & Northeastern Ontario, Southwestern Ontario, Central West Ontario, Toronto/York/Peel, Central East Ontario, Eastern Ontario) that lead initiatives and promote broker leadership within their regions.
• FSRA (Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario)coreOthersOntario's financial services regulator that oversees insurance brokers. IBAO provides equivalency exams for OTL license holders from FSRA seeking broker licensing.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (IBAC): National coordinating body for provincial insurance broker associations across Canada. IBAC is explicitly named as IBAO's national affiliate and verifies graduates from broker designation programs, making it the closest structural and functional peer to IBAO.
• Insurance Brokers Association of Alberta: Provincial trade association representing insurance brokers in Alberta. Operates the same member/licensing/advocacy model as IBAO but at the provincial level in Western Canada, making it a directly comparable peer.
• Insurance Brokers Association of British Columbia (IBABC): Provincial trade association for insurance brokers in British Columbia. Provides the same mix of licensing support, continuing education, advocacy, and member services as IBAO and is a member of IBAC.
• Insurance Brokers Association of Manitoba (IBAM): Provincial trade association for insurance brokers in Manitoba. Mirrors IBAO's structure — member dues, broker education, advocacy, and events — at a smaller provincial scale.
• Insurance Brokers Association of Saskatchewan (IBAS): Provincial trade association for Saskatchewan insurance brokers. Offers member services, education, and advocacy aligned to the same mandate as IBAO, with equivalent functional overlap at smaller scale.

Broad incumbents

• Insurance Institute of Canada: National body that delivers industry-wide insurance education and designations (e.g., CIP). It overlaps with IBAO on the professional development/education axis but serves the broader insurance industry rather than Ontario brokers specifically, making it a broader incumbent.
• Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC): National trade association representing Canada's private property and casualty insurers. It operates on the insurer side rather than the broker side IBAO serves, but it is the dominant insurance industry advocacy body in Canada and interacts directly with IBAO's regulatory agenda.

Others

• Canadian Insurance Services Regulatory Organizations (CISRO): Coordinating body for Canada's insurance regulators, including FSRA. Relevant because CISRO directly shapes the inter-provincial licensing and regulatory frameworks that IBAO's RIBO licensing model depends on.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ibaontario
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@IBAOCanada
• Facebookfacebook.com/IBAOntario
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ibaontario
• Instagraminstagram.com/ibaocanada

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IBAO