If you sell Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace plans, it’s time to start preparing for Plan Year 2027.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has officially opened Plan Year 2027 Federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM) registration and training for returning agents and brokers.
There is an important distinction, however: the current training is for returning agents and brokers who completed Plan Year 2026 Marketplace registration and training. Agents who did not complete PY2026 training will need to wait until CMS makes the applicable training available.
Here’s what insurance agents need to know about completing their 2027 FFM certification.
CMS currently identifies PY2027 registration and training as available for returning agents and brokers.
To qualify as a returning agent for PY2027, you must have completed the required Plan Year 2026 Individual Marketplace registration and training.
Returning agents are eligible for a shorter training curriculum for PY2027, along with optional review modules.
If you did not complete PY2026 Marketplace registration and training, the applicable PY2027 training is not currently available.
This means agents should verify their previous certification status before beginning the 2027 process.
FFM registration and training is accessed through the CMS Enterprise Portal and Marketplace Learning Management System (MLMS).
Returning agents should generally expect to:
CMS provides additional instructions and resources on its Registration and Training for Marketplace Agents and Brokers page.
CMS Marketplace Agent and Broker Registration & Training
One of the benefits of maintaining your FFM certification from year to year is access to the shorter returning-agent training curriculum.
CMS states that agents and brokers who completed PY2026 Individual Marketplace registration and training are eligible for this abbreviated training for PY2027, with optional review modules also available.
For agents actively building an ACA book of business, staying current with annual certification can therefore make the next year's registration process more streamlined.
Agents who did not complete Plan Year 2026 Marketplace registration and training should not assume that the returning-agent curriculum applies to them.
As of September 2026, the PY2027 training currently available is for returning agents. HealthSherpa's current certification guidance likewise states that PY2027 FFM training for returning agents is available while training for new agents is not currently available.
Agents in this category should continue monitoring CMS for the release of the appropriate PY2027 training.
No. Plan Year 2026 registration and training is no longer the current certification cycle.
Agents preparing to participate in the Marketplace should focus on the appropriate Plan Year 2027 registration and training requirements based on whether CMS considers them a returning or new agent.
After completing your registration requirements, don't simply assume everything has processed correctly.
CMS provides two useful resources for checking your status.
The Agent and Broker Marketplace Registration Tracker allows agents to enter their National Producer Number (NPN) and ZIP Code to review their current Marketplace registration status. CMS notes that the tracker is refreshed once each business day by 5:00 p.m. ET, so changes may not appear immediately.
Check Your Marketplace Registration Status
Agents can also use the Agent and Broker FFM Registration Completion List to confirm completion of FFM registration requirements. The list can be searched by NPN and applicable plan year.
FFM Agent and Broker Registration Completion List
It is a good practice to verify your status before assisting clients with Marketplace transactions for the new plan year.
Agents may remember that HealthSherpa previously participated as a CMS-approved vendor for FFM training and offered opportunities to earn continuing education credits in many states.
For PY2027, however, agents should pay close attention to the updated training process rather than relying on prior-year procedures.
HealthSherpa's current PY2027 guidance states that all agents will need to complete FFM training through the CMS Marketplace Learning Management System (MLMS).
Because CE eligibility and state requirements can vary, agents should separately verify whether any training they complete qualifies for continuing education credit in the states where they are licensed.
ACA Open Enrollment can become one of the busiest periods of the year for health insurance agents. Waiting until the last minute to address certification can create unnecessary problems when you should be focused on clients.
Completing your requirements early gives you time to:
CMS also maintains additional Marketplace resources, compliance materials, webinars and guidance specifically for agents and brokers.
Before considering your PY2027 preparation complete, make sure you have:
The opening of PY2027 FFM certification is an important milestone for agents preparing for the next ACA Marketplace selling season.
If you completed your Plan Year 2026 Marketplace registration and training, you can begin the PY2027 returning-agent certification process now.
If you did not complete PY2026 training, continue monitoring CMS for the release of the appropriate PY2027 training rather than attempting to complete the returning-agent curriculum.
Most importantly, don't wait until Open Enrollment is approaching to verify your status. Complete the process, confirm your registration and make sure you're ready to assist Marketplace clients when the new selling season begins.
PSM helps independent insurance agents expand their ACA business with carrier contracting, technology, marketing resources, training, and experienced support. Get the tools and guidance you need to prepare for the 2027 Marketplace selling season.
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