Before you begin 2027 Marketplace training, confirm that you are eligible to complete registration. This year’s process includes a new sign-in requirement and a temporary restriction that affects agents entering the federal Marketplace without active 2026 agreements.
This guide covers the federal Marketplace process, explains what to do at each stage, and provides a checklist you can print and keep with your registration records. CMS delivers the training through the Marketplace Learning Management System (MLMS), accessed from the CMS Enterprise Portal. content.govdelivery.com
2027 registration status as of October 7, 2026
Eligible returning agents can register now. CMS opened 2027 registration and training on September 15, 2026, for agents who completed 2026 registration and training and have an active 2026 Exchange agreement. content.govdelivery.com
A temporary moratorium affects agents without active 2026 Exchange agreements as of September 22, 2026. Those agents generally cannot complete 2027 federal Marketplace training and registration during the pause. The scheduled end is February 1, 2027; CMS may lift it earlier, extend it, or modify it through another Federal Register notice. govinfo.gov
Check the current CMS notice before acting on these dates. February 1 is the scheduled end of the moratorium, not a guarantee that your account will be ready that day.
1. Confirm which registration process applies to you
This guide applies to the Federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM) and State-based Marketplaces using the federal platform (SBM-FPs, also called SBE-FPs).
A state operating its own Marketplace platform has its own agent certification process. For example, California appears in CMS’s 2027 state-based Marketplace category. Check every state you intend to serve against CMS’s 2027 Marketplace map. CMS
| Your situation | Your next step |
|---|---|
| You completed 2026 Individual Marketplace registration and training and had active 2026 agreements when the moratorium began. | Use the returning-agent workflow below, provided your Marketplace participation remains in good standing. |
| You are new to the federal Marketplace, or participated previously but lacked active 2026 agreements on September 22. | Read the moratorium section before attempting registration or scheduling enrollment work. |
| You work through a state Marketplace operating its own platform. | Follow that Marketplace’s current certification and training instructions. This federal registration moratorium does not apply to its registration process. |
| You intend to participate in the federal Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP). | Check agreement eligibility first, then follow the separate SHOP requirements below. |
Check two separate facts: completing 2026 Individual Marketplace registration and training determines eligibility for the shorter returning curriculum; active 2026 agreement status on September 22 determines whether the moratorium applies. Years of insurance experience alone do not establish either fact. content.govdelivery.com
2. What new and lapsed agents should do during the moratorium
If the pause applies to you, do not plan on completing the 2027 federal registration process during it. An existing CMS account or a state insurance license does not by itself establish eligibility to register.
Use the time to prepare:
- Verify your individual National Producer Number (NPN), active licenses, and health-related lines of authority.
- Recover an existing CMS account if you have one, and organize your prior registration records.
- Ask CMS to clarify your eligibility if your 2026 agreement history is uncertain.
- Review state Marketplace opportunities under the relevant state’s requirements.
- Prepare your agency onboarding and consumer-documentation procedures.
- Check CMS’s registration page and subsequent official notices before committing to enrollment appointments.
Do not assume you can complete the required 2027 course now and simply sign agreements later. The notice describes a pause on completing training and registration, including the agreements. Its agreement restrictions include federal SHOP. govinfo.gov
Unusual agreement history: the rule provides a limited exception for agents whose lack of a current agreement resulted from a termination under 45 C.F.R. § 155.220(g) or a denial under § 155.220(k)(1)(i), if that action is subsequently reversed or the agreements are reinstated during the moratorium. Obtain CMS confirmation for your situation.
The separate exclusion for web-broker entity registration does not exempt an individual agent merely because the agent uses a web-broker’s enrollment platform. govinfo.gov
Current CMS registration information:
https://www.cms.gov/marketplace/agents-brokers/registration-training
3. Prepare your account and license information
For an eligible returning agent, collect the following before opening the training:
- Your existing CMS Enterprise Portal User ID and a working password.
- Access to your Login.gov or ID.me account, if you already use one.
- Your individual NPN and current resident-state licensing record.
- The additional state licenses needed for the consumers you will assist.
- Your legal name, business contact details, and the ZIP code used in MLMS.
- A secure folder for the 2027 certificate, registration checks, and support case records.
CMS requires an approved, active health-related line of authority. Its current registration page warns that agents without the required resident-state health authority cannot access Marketplace systems or assist with enrollment. Federal registration also does not replace licensing in the states where you assist consumers. CMS
Keep the agent in control of the account. An agency can track completion and review records while each agent personally completes identity verification, training, and agreements. CMS prohibits sharing credentials or authentication details. cms.gov
4. Complete the 2027 returning-agent workflow
The steps below follow CMS’s September 2026 instructions for plan year 2027. Keep the official tip sheet available if the screen layout changes.
Step 1: Verify the existing CMS account before linking it
Go to:
Confirm that you know your existing CMS Identity Management (IDM) User ID and that its password works. Recover that account first if necessary.
CMS specifically instructs returning agents to have a working IDM password before linking a sign-in provider. Creating a Login.gov or ID.me account is a different action from creating another CMS account. Preserve your existing CMS account and its registration history. cms.gov
Step 2: Complete identity verification and link Login.gov or ID.me
CMS now requires existing agents to re-verify their identity through Login.gov or ID.me and link that provider to the CMS account. You need one of these providers; you do not have to create accounts with both. CMS
- Select your provider’s sign-in option from the CMS portal.
- Use an existing provider account, or create one and complete the required identity-verification prompts.
- Follow the account-linking prompt and authenticate with your existing CMS/IDM credentials.
- Review the proposed profile changes and confirm the link.
- Continue to the CMS portal.
If the process fails, identify which account is failing before contacting support. CMS help desks cannot unlock a Login.gov account or ID.me wallet; those providers handle their own recovery and authentication problems. identity.cms.gov
Step 3: Obtain the agent training role
In the portal’s application search, search for Fed and select Federally Facilitated Marketplace (FFM)/Request for MLMS Training Access.
Request the Agent Broker Training Access role and complete its prompts. Then open the Marketplace Training – Agent Broker tile and select MLMS Training.
CMS warns that skipping account linking blocks the role request and MLMS access. Resolve a failed link before repeating the role request. cms.gov
Step 4: Update your MLMS profile and check the NPN
Select the Agent Broker user role if you intend to assist with Marketplace enrollment. Review your contact information and public-directory preferences, enter your individual NPN in its designated field, and save the profile. The 2027 guide reserves the other role for users who do not intend to assist consumers with enrollment. cms.gov
Compare your first name, last name, and NPN with the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). A correct number paired with a different name can produce a validation issue. Review any required identity information through the secure CMS process. cms.gov
The individual, business-entity, and web-based-entity NPN fields serve different purposes. Do not copy your individual NPN into the entity fields. CMS warns that incorrect entries can affect enrollment credit or compensation. An agency should designate one individual as the authorized representative for the business or web-based entity. cms.gov
NIPR lookup:
https://nipr.com/licensing-center/look-up-a-national-producer-number
Step 5: Finish the assigned 2027 curriculum
Eligible returning agents receive the condensed curriculum automatically. Open the active curriculum in your transcript and complete all required courseware and examinations. CMS offers 2027 training in English and Spanish. content.govdelivery.com
Reserve enough time to finish the agreements and verification steps as well. If the wrong plan year or curriculum appears, resolve that discrepancy before continuing. Do not substitute a prior-year certificate.
Step 6: Execute the required Marketplace agreements
Open each required agreement, read it, and complete its acceptance process. Check that none remains outstanding. Passing the course is only one part of annual registration. content.govdelivery.com
Step 7: Save the certificate and verify completion
In Your Transcript, select Completed, open View Completion Page for the correct course, and print or save the 2027 certificate. Then complete both registration checks in the next section. cms.gov
Use a filename you can retrieve later, such as:
2027-Marketplace-Jane-Smith-NPN-1234567.pdf
Keep dated verification records alongside the certificate.
5. Verify that CMS recorded your registration
Use the two tools below for different checks. A training certificate alone does not show whether every registration step has been credited.
| Check | What to do | 2027 posting guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Marketplace Registration Tracker | Look up your record using the NPN and ZIP code saved in MLMS. Confirm all required steps are complete. | May take 1–2 business days. |
| Registration Completion List (RCL) | Check the correct individual NPN and plan year; review any validation issue. | May take 1–2 business days. |
| Find Local Help, if listed | Confirm your public contact details after the listing updates. | May take up to 3 business days. |
These are CMS’s published 2027 posting estimates, not guaranteed resolution times for account, licensing, or NPN errors. Save a dated result. If the normal posting period passes without the expected status, use the help-desk contacts below. cms.gov
Registration Tracker:
https://data.healthcare.gov/ab-registration-tracker/
Registration Completion List:
https://data.healthcare.gov/ffm_ab_registration_lists
Agency readiness check: verify current registration, licensing and health authority, applicable carrier appointments or contracting, and access to the enrollment platform you will use. Resolve any known suspension or termination before assigning enrollment work. Treat the RCL as one verification source within that review. CMS
6. Use CMS training for 2027
The 2027 final rule discontinued the HHS-approved training vendor program. Required annual federal Marketplace training remains available free through CMS’s MLMS. A third-party education course should not be treated as an alternative route for satisfying the federal training requirement. CMS
This change concerns the training program. CMS expressly distinguished it from enrollment through Enhanced Direct Enrollment (EDE) platforms. If you use an approved enrollment platform, follow its current enrollment instructions and complete the federal training through CMS. govinfo.gov
7. Keep SHOP and optional referral services separate
Federal SHOP
CMS requires a completed MLMS profile and the SHOP Privacy and Security Agreement. SHOP training is encouraged but is not required.
Completing SHOP requirements does not establish completion of Individual Marketplace requirements. Agents affected by the registration moratorium must also account for its restriction on new SHOP agreements. CMS
Find Local Help
Review your display preferences and business contact details in MLMS. If you choose to be listed, check the published listing at:
https://localhelp.healthcare.gov/
Directory visibility is separate from completing training and agreements. cms.gov
Help On Demand
This optional referral service connects consumers with eligible, registered, state-licensed agents. Participation has its own training and setup instructions. Choosing a profile preference does not complete that process. Existing participants should review their account and contact information. cms.gov
8. Troubleshoot the step that actually failed
| What you see | What to check next |
|---|---|
| You cannot enter the 2027 process. | Check agreement eligibility and the moratorium before treating the problem as a technical failure. |
| The CMS password does not work during linking. | Recover the existing CMS/IDM account; confirm its password before retrying the link. |
| Login.gov or ID.me authentication fails. | Use that provider’s recovery process. CMS cannot unlock its account. |
| The training role or MLMS is blocked. | Verify account linking, then the agent training role. |
| NPN validation fails. | Compare name and NPN, confirm active licensing and health authority, and correct the underlying record. |
| Training is complete, but registration is not. | Check the plan year, profile, agreements, and Tracker. Allow the published posting time. |
When the state licensing record is wrong, work with the appropriate state insurance department. If that record is correct but CMS still cannot validate it, contact the Agent/Broker Email Help Desk. Changing an MLMS entry does not correct an inaccurate state licensing record. identity.cms.gov
CMS and sign-in support contacts
| Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
| CMS portal account or access problems | Marketplace Service Desk: 1-855-267-1515 |
| MLMS training, examinations, or transcript problems | [email protected] |
| RCL, NPN validation, escalated registration, or referral-service questions | [email protected] |
| Consumer-specific Marketplace eligibility or enrollment | Agent/Broker Line: 1-855-788-6275; enter your NPN |
| Login.gov or ID.me account recovery | The provider’s support options linked in the CMS identity FAQ: https://identity.cms.gov/store/faq |
CMS’s published help-desk directory lists these contact routes; consult it for current hours. cms.gov
Prepare a concise support request: your name, NPN, plan year, the failed step, exact error text, date and time, and what you already tried. Keep the case number and a screenshot that excludes sensitive information.
Do not send passwords, authentication codes, Social Security numbers, or unnecessary consumer information by ordinary email.
9. Keep an agency registration record
Use one row per individual agent in your agency roster. Record the eligibility decision, license and health-authority checks, training completion, agreement completion, certificate location, Tracker/RCL verification dates, and any unresolved issue.
A simple internal status can be eligible, in progress, verified, or blocked. Assign a reviewer and a follow-up date to blocked records. An agency principal’s registration does not complete the annual registration process for other agents.
Have the agent provide the certificate and permitted verification records; the reviewer should not need the agent’s password. This roster is a suggested internal control, not a CMS-prescribed form.
10. Prepare for the first consumer appointment
After registration is verified, confirm that your consumer-assistance workflow is ready.
Under 45 C.F.R. § 155.220(j)(2), covered agents must document consumer consent before assistance and document the consumer’s review and confirmation of application accuracy before submission. Both documentation categories have a minimum ten-year retention requirement. ecfr.gov
Keep evidence of both permission to help and the consumer’s review and confirmation of the completed application.
EDE authorization status as of October 8, 2026
CMS requires EDE partners to implement CR 109 no later than October 12, 2026. Every application or enrollment through the EDE agent/broker pathway requires consumer authorization, regardless of risk. In high-risk cases, the household contact/application filer must complete identity proofing first. This consumer workflow is separate from the agent’s Login.gov or ID.me registration verification. CMS CR 109 FAQ, Q1–Q2
High-risk criteria include new consumer applications (including a different coverage state), an active enrollment other than stand-alone dental with a net monthly premium of $30 or less after APTC, or a different/new agent. CMS CR 109 FAQ, Q2
HealthSherpa already allows agents to request plan year 2027 authorization before Open Enrollment through the 2027 Authorizations tab on the Clients page. Its grandfathering applies only to eligible plan year 2026 applications; 2026 authorization does not carry over to 2027. Authorization is specific to the plan year, agent, and EDE platform. HealthSherpa agent authorization
The upload and consent requirements are separate checks in CMS’s FAQ. Continue documenting the consumer’s application review and retaining both documentation categories as described above. CMS CR 109 FAQ, Q4 and Q9
Informed + Choice provides tools to organize ACA consent, application-review records, and supporting files. Explore the ACA workspace at:
https://informedpluschoice.com/insurance-agents/aca/
Printable 2027 Marketplace registration checklist
For an eligible returning Individual Marketplace agent | Updated October 7, 2026
Eligibility gate: the federal moratorium generally applies if you lacked active 2026 Exchange agreements on September 22, 2026. Scheduled end: February 1, 2027, subject to change. Resolve uncertainty with CMS before proceeding. govinfo.gov
Agent: ____________________________
NPN: ____________________________
States served: ____________________
Reviewer/date: ____________________
Eligibility and access
- Confirm federal-platform scope, returning-training eligibility, and agreement status.
- Verify active licenses and required health authority for the states served.
- Confirm the existing CMS/IDM password works.
- Complete Login.gov or ID.me identity verification and CMS account linking.
- Confirm the agent training role and MLMS access.
Training and agreements
- Update the MLMS profile; check the individual NPN, legal name, and contact details.
- Complete all assigned 2027 courseware and examinations.
- Accept every required Marketplace agreement.
- Save the certificate identifying the correct agent and plan year.
Verification and readiness
- Verify all required Tracker steps and the correct 2027 RCL entry; save dated results.
- Resolve validation issues and confirm applicable carrier/platform requirements.
- Check Find Local Help and Help On Demand, if participating.
- Confirm consent, application-review, and record-retention procedures.
- Record unresolved items, the responsible person, and the next follow-up date.
Posting estimates: Tracker and RCL: 1–2 business days; Find Local Help: up to 3 business days. cms.gov
Status / remaining action:
This is an agency-use worksheet, not an official CMS form.
Frequently asked questions
Can a brand-new agent complete 2027 federal Marketplace registration now?
Generally, no. As of this update, the moratorium applies to agents without active 2026 agreements on September 22. Check the current notice, any applicable exception, and the Marketplace platform involved. govinfo.gov
I first joined in 2026. Am I eligible for returning training?
Yes, if you completed 2026 Individual Marketplace registration and training and meet the agreement and participation requirements. CMS does not require several years of Marketplace experience for the shorter course. content.govdelivery.com
Does my certificate prove I can begin enrolling?
It documents completion of the course. Verify agreements, current registration status, state licensing, and applicable carrier/platform requirements before assisting consumers. CMS
Do I need both Login.gov and ID.me?
No. CMS requires linking through at least one of them. Use the official portal and the provider account you control. cms.gov
Official sources and reference links
Source documents checked October 7, 2026. Recheck the registration notice before relying on the moratorium’s scheduled end date.
- CMS, September 15, 2026 launch bulletin. Returning-agent eligibility and registration opening.
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USCMSHIM/bulletins/429bfbb - Temporary registration moratorium. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Temporary Moratoria on Certain Agent and Broker Registration To Participate in the Exchanges, 91 Fed.Reg. 60317, 60320–60322 (Sept. 23, 2026); 45 C.F.R. § 155.220(o).
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-09-23/html/2026-19493.htm - CMS, Federal Marketplace Anti-Fraud Actions, September 22, 2026. Agreement status, identity proofing, and announced authorization changes.
https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/federal-marketplace-ffe-sbe-fp-anti-fraud-actions - CMS, 2027 Marketplace map. Federal, federal-platform state, and state-operated Marketplaces.
https://www.cms.gov/marketplace/in-person-assisters/training-webinars/training/marketplaces-map - CMS, Marketplace registration and training. Current operational information, RCL links, health authority, and SHOP.
https://www.cms.gov/marketplace/agents-brokers/registration-training - 45 C.F.R. § 155.220. Relevant registration, platform, conduct, documentation, and moratorium requirements.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-B/part-155/subpart-C/section-155.220 - CMS, account-linking guide, September 2026. Connect the existing CMS account to Login.gov or ID.me.
https://www.cms.gov/files/document/how-link-your-enterprise-account-csp-account.pdf - CMS, Returning Agents’ and Brokers’ Guide to Plan Year 2027 Registration and Training. Current workflow and posting estimates.
https://www.cms.gov/files/document/returning-agents-brokers-registration-training-tipsheet.pdf - CMS Identity Management FAQ. Account linking, provider-specific recovery, and authentication.
https://identity.cms.gov/store/faq - CMS, NPN Validation FAQ. Name/NPN matching and license-record troubleshooting; read with the current 2027 instructions.
https://www.cms.gov/marketplace/agents-brokers/files/national-producer-number-validation-frequently-asked-questions.pdf - CMS, Agent and Broker Marketplace Help Desks and Call Centers. Contact routes and registration-tool descriptions.
https://www.cms.gov/marketplace/agents-brokers/files/agent-broker-help-desks.pdf - CMS, 2027 Payment Notice final-rule summary. Discontinuation of the approved training vendor program.
https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/hhs-notice-benefit-payment-parameters-2027-final-rule - 2027 Payment Notice final rule, section III.B.7. Free MLMS training and the distinction from EDE enrollment.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-05-20/html/2026-10050.htm - CMS, Help On Demand. Participation resources and training/setup instructions.
https://www.cms.gov/marketplace/agents-brokers/help-on-demand
https://www.cms.gov/marketplace/agents-brokers/files/help-demand-training-registration-guide.pdf - CMS, EDE CR 109 identity proofing and agent/broker authorization FAQ, August 3, 2026. EDE implementation deadline, risk criteria, separate consent, and DMI/SEP-verification uploads. Checked October 8, 2026.
https://www.cms.gov/marketplace/agents-brokers/files/ede-identity-proofing-agent-broker-authorization-faqs.pdf - HealthSherpa, Agent authorization. Current platform workflow, pre-OEP 2027 requests, and plan-year authorization. Checked October 8, 2026.
https://faq.healthsherpa.com/en/articles/15693277-agent-authorization
Medicare and ACA Compliance Expert
Christian Rodgers is a Medicare and ACA compliance expert with over 30 years in the healthcare industry, having worked for some of the largest health plans in the United States. He has provided Medicare sales training to hundreds of agents in California and Florida.
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