Insurance Agent License Requirements by State
Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed July 21, 2017
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Insurance agents have the important role of providing the public with insurance coverage for our families, homes, and property. Many of us rely on the protections offered through insurance, and trust our insurance agents to recommend appropriate and comprehensive coverage. It's therefore not surprising that all states require insurance agents to become licensed before selling insurance to the public. The specific requirements for an agent to become licensed varies considerably from state to state.
State Insurance Agent Requirements
Insurance "producers," commonly known as insurance agents or brokers, are individuals who are licensed by a state's insurance department to sell insurance within that state. Each state has its own set of procedures for applying for a producer's license. The process will vary depending on the type of insurance—known as a "line of authority"—that you intend to sell. While the exact procedures vary, many states require applicants to complete pre-licensing training courses, pass an exam, and submit to fingerprinting.
In most states, requirements for becoming a producer will also differ depending on if you're a resident of the state in which you are applying, if you're a resident of a different state, or if you're already licensed but planning on relocating to a new state. You'll want to be sure to review the resident and non-resident requirements for your state carefully.
Lines of Authority
Insurance producers must be licensed for each line of authority that they sell. You can be licensed for more than one line of authority, but in many states you must take separate pre-licensing training courses and exams for each line. Some common lines of authority include:
- All types of life insurance, including whole and term life insurance
- Accident and health insurance
- Property insurance, including homeowners insurance and renters insurance
- Casualty insurance, which primarily covers losses caused due to liability for the injuries of others
Some states provide licensing options to bundle certain lines of authority together. For example, in some states you can choose to apply for a license to sell only life insurance, or you can apply for a more comprehensive license that covers health, accident, and life insurance.
Insurance Agent Licensing Requirements by State
The table below lays out insurance agent license requirements by state, including training, exam, and fingerprinting requirements.
Fingerprinting Required? |
Number of Hours of Pre-Exam Training Required |
Exam Passage Required Before Applying for License? |
State Statute or Resource |
|
Alabama |
Yes |
20 hours for life; health; property; casualty; personal lines |
Yes |
Alabama Insurance Code and Department of Insurance
|
Alaska |
Yes |
No pre-exam training hours required |
Yes, for: title, bail bond, crop, portable electronics adjuster, and limited lines credit licenses |
Alaska Insurance Code and Division of Insurance
|
Arizona |
Yes, first-time insurance exam takers must be fingerprinted |
No pre-exam training hours required |
Yes, if primary residence/place of business is Arizona or applicant has relocated from another state and wants a license not previously held |
Arizona Revised Statutes and Arizona Department of Insurance
|
Arkansas |
No fingerprinting or background check required, but applicant must provide two forms of identification at exam |
20 hours for life; accident, health and sickness; property; casualty; and personal lines |
Yes
|
Arkansas Insurance Department
|
California |
Yes, and fingerprinting services are provided at the exam site |
12 hours of ethics training plus: |
Yes |
California Insurance Code and Department of Insurance |
Colorado |
No |
50 hours for life, accident and health, property, casualty, property and casualty, and personal lines |
Yes |
Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies |
Connecticut |
No |
40 hours for life; accident and health; property; casualty; personal; public adjuster |
Yes |
Connecticut Insurance Code and Insurance Department
|
Delaware |
No, but applicant must obtain and submit State and FBI criminal history report |
No pre-exam training hours required |
Yes, for some types of insurance licenses |
Delaware Insurance Code and Licensing Procedure |
District of Columbia |
No, but applicant must provide two forms of identification at exam |
No pre-exam training hours required |
Yes, for residents |
District of Columbia Insurance Statutes and Department of Insurance
|
Florida |
Yes for most types of licenses |
40 hours for: life and variable annuity; health only |
Yes |
Florida Insurance Code and related resources |
Georgia |
Yes |
8 hours for variable products |
Yes |
Georgia Insurance Code and Office of Insurance |
Hawaii |
Yes |
No pre-exam training hours required |
Yes |
Hawaii Insurance Code and Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs |
Idaho |
Yes, and fingerprinting services is available at the test site |
No pre-exam training hours required |
Yes |
Idaho Insurance Code and Department of Insurance |
Illinois |
No, but applicant must provide two forms of identification on exam day |
12.5 hours for motor vehicle (5 hours of which must be in classroom setting) |
Yes |
Illinois Insurance Code and Department of Insurance |
Indiana |
No |
10 hours for title |
Yes, for: life; health; life and health; property and casualty; personal lines; surplus lines producer; bail agent; recovery agent; public adjuster |
Indiana Insurance Code and Department of Insurance |
Iowa |
No, but applicants must bring two forms of identification to exam |
No pre-exam training hours required |
Yes, and must apply for license within 90 days of passing exam |
Iowa Insurance Code and Insurance Division |
Kansas |
No |
No pre-exam training hours required |
Yes |
Kansas Insurance Code and Insurance Department |
Kentucky |
No, but applicants must apply for a criminal background report through the Administrative Offices of Courts |
20 hours each for life, health, property, casualty, and personal lines |
Yes |
Kentucky Insurance Code and Department of Insurance |
Louisiana |
Yes, and fingerprinting services is available at the exam site |
8 hours for bail bonds |
Yes |
Louisiana Department of Insurance |
Maine |
No, but applicants must provide two forms of identification at exam |
No pre-exam training hours required |
Yes, for resident applicants |
Maine Insurance Code and Bureau of Insurance
|
Maryland |
No, but applicants must provide two forms of identification at exam |
20 hours each for life; accident and health; property; casualty; personal lines; personal and commercial automobile |
Yes |
Maryland Insurance Code and Insurance Administration |
Massachusetts |
No, but applicants must answer background questions in license application |
No pre-exam training hours required |
Yes |
Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation |
Michigan |
No, but applicants must provide two forms of identification at exam |
20 hours each for life; accident and health; property; casualty; personal lines |
Yes |
Michigan General Insurance Laws and Department of Insurance and Financial Services |
Minnesota |
Yes, and fingerprinting service is provided at the test site |
20 hours each for life; accident and health; property; casualty; personal lines |
Yes |
Minnesota Insurance Code and Department of Commerce |
Mississippi |
No, but applicants must provide two forms of identification at exam |
20 hours for life; accident and health; property; casualty; personal lines |
Yes |
Mississippi Insurance Code and Insurance Department |
Missouri |
No, but applicants must provide two forms of identification at exam |
No pre-exam training hours required |
Yes |
Missouri Department of Insurance |
Montana |
Yes |
No pre-exam training hours required |
Yes, for: casualty; health; life; property; limited lines of credit |
Montana Insurance Code and Insurance Office |
Nebraska |
No |
6 hours for crop |
Yes |
Nebraska Insurance Code and Department of Insurance |
Nevada |
Yes, and fingerprinting services are provided at the test Las Vegas and Reno testing sites |
20 hours each for life; health; property; casualty; personal lines |
Yes |
Nevada Insurance Code and Division of Insurance |
New Hampshire |
No |
No pre-exam training hours required |
Yes |
New Hampshire Department of Insurance |
New Jersey |
Yes |
20 hours each for life; accident and health; property; casualty; personal lines |
Yes |
New Jersey Insurance Code and Department of Banking and Insurance |
New Mexico |
No, but applicants must provide two forms of identification at exam |
No pre-exam training hours required |
Yes |
New Mexico Insurance Code and Office of Superintendent of Insurance |
New York |
Yes, for most types of licenses |
20 hours for life; accident and health |
Yes, but applicants who can complete a Statement of Employer form based on work experience are exempt from exam |
New York Insurance Law and Department of Financial Services |
North Carolina |
Yes |
10 hours for Medicare supplement/Long-Term Care |
Yes |
North Carolina Insurance Code and Department of Insurance |
North Dakota |
No, but applicants must provide two forms of identification at exam |
No pre-exam training hours required |
Yes |
North Dakota Insurance Code |
Ohio |
Yes |
20 hours each for life; accident and health; property; casualty; personal lines |
Yes |
Ohio Insurance Code and Department of Insurance |
Oklahoma |
No |
No pre-exam training hours required |
Yes |
Oklahoma Department of Insurance |
Oregon |
Yes |
20 hours for each line of authority |
Yes |
Oregon Insurance Code and Division of Financial Regulation |
Pennsylvania |
Yes |
24 hours each for life; accident and health; life, accident and health; property; casualty; property and casualty; personal lines |
Yes, and applicant can for apply for license by kiosk at the exam site immediately after exam passage |
Pennsylvania Insurance Code and Insurance Department |
Rhode Island |
No, but applicants must provide two forms of identification at exam |
No pre-exam training hours required |
Yes |
Rhode Island Insurance Code and Department of Business Regulation |
South Carolina |
No, but applicants must provide two forms of identification at exam |
No pre-exam training hours required |
Yes |
South Carolina Department of Insurance |
South Dakota |
No, but applicants must provide two forms of identification at exam |
No pre-exam training hours required |
Yes |
South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation |
Tennessee |
Yes |
20 hours for life; accident and health; property; casualty |
Yes |
Tennessee Insurance Code and Department of Commerce and Insurance |
Texas |
Yes |
Varies depending on the line of authority |
Yes, for some lines of authority |
Texas Insurance Code and Department of Insurance |
Utah |
Yes |
No pre-exam training hours required |
Yes |
Utah Insurance Code and Insurance Department |
Vermont |
No |
No pre-exam training hours required |
Yes, license application can be submitted electronically 48 hours after exam passage |
Vermont Insurance Code and Department of Financial Regulation |
Virginia |
No, but applicants must provide two forms of identification at exam |
No pre-exam training hours required |
Yes, for some types of lines of authority |
Virginia Insurance Code and State Corporation Commission |
Washington |
Yes |
20 hours for each major line of authority |
Yes |
Washington Insurance Code and Office of the Insurance Commissioner |
West Virginia |
Yes, applicants must schedule fingerprinting after passing exam |
20 hours each for life; accident and sickness; property; casualty; and personal lines |
Yes |
West Virginia Insurance Code and Offices of the Insurance Commissioner |
Wisconsin |
Yes |
16 hours for navigators |
Yes |
Wisconsin Insurance Code and Commissioner of Insurance |
Wyoming |
Yes, for initial license |
No pre-exam training hours required |
Yes |
Wyoming Insurance Code and Department of Insurance |
Legal Help with Insurance Agent Licensing
The decision to become a licensed insurance agent is the beginning of an exciting journey. Before starting out, be sure you completely understand the licensing process in your state, especially if you are relocating from one state to another. Along the way, you may encounter legal obstacles. If so, you may want to speak with an experienced attorney who practices insurance law.
Next Steps
Contact a qualified attorney to assist with any issues related to insurance.
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