Get Your Insurance License in NY

There are 3 steps you need to take to become an insurance agent in New York.

Step 1: Complete the Required Pre-Licensing Course
Before you can sit for the state licensing exam, you first must complete the required pre-licensing course(s) for the type of insurance you want to sell.  These include:
- Life Insurance Only: 20 hours
- Accident & Health Insurance Only: 20 hours
- Life, Accident & Health Insurance (Combined): 40 hours
- Property & Casualty (P&C) Insurance: 90 hours
- Personal Lines Insurance: 40 hours

Step 2: Schedule and Pass the New York State Insurance Exam.
After you complete the required education, your next step is to schedule and take the state licensing exam with PSI.
- You can schedule your exam with PSI online or by the phone.
- Be sure to schedule the correct exam, as there is a separate exam for each license type (for example, Life, Accident & Health, Property & Casualty, Personal Lines)
- Pay the exam fee to PSI ($40 per attempt)
- Pass the exam with a score of 70% or higher
- You must apply for a license within 2 years of passing the state licensing exam.


Step 3: Apply for your NY Insurance License
After you pass the state exam, you can then apply for your insurance license.
- You can apply online through the NY DFS online portal (called NY LINX).
- Include your Certificate of Completion from the pre-licensing course you completed.
- Pay the $80 application fee ($40 per year with a two-year renewal cycle)

In order to qualify to get an insurance agent license in NY, you must be at least 18 years old.
A high school diploma is not required.

The cost of the required pre-licensing Insurance course from RealEstateU is only $99!
In addition to the required coursework, you must pay the state exam fee and the New York application fee.
The state exam fee is $40 per attempt
The NYS application fee is $80
This means you can get your NY insurance agent license for just $219.

You can complete the required pre-licensing course in 1-3 weeks, depending on what insurance license type you are looking to obtain.
The remaining steps (passing the state exam and submitting an application) will most likely take 1-2 months.
This means it will most likely take you at least 2-3 months to get a NY insurance agent license.

Here is a breakdown of the number of hours of coursework you must complete for each insurance license type:

• Life Insurance Only: 20 hours
• Accident & Health Insurance Only: 20 hours
• Life, Accident & Health Insurance (Combined): 40 hours
• Property & Casualty (P&C) Insurance: 90 hours
• Personal Lines Insurance: 40 hours

Yes!  You can complete all the required insurance courses online.

An insurance license is required in New York for any individuals or business entities who engage in the activities of selling, soliciting, or negotiating insurance needs for others.

Several jobs can be done with an insurance license.

1. Work as an insurance agent to sell insurance products.
2. Work as a claims adjuster.
3. Work as an underwriter

An entry-level insurance agent in New York State might expect a starting base salary in the range of $35,000 and $48,000 per year. 
Individuals in New York City should expect a higher base salary in the range of $42,000 to $52,000 per year.