How do I become a title insurance agent?

Title insurance agent licensing is set state by state, and title is a distinct license class rather than a standard producer line. Florida, for example, issues a resident Title agent license (class 4-10), while Georgia requires no prelicensing course or exam for title agents. Individual applicants must be at least 18 in most states, and background check and fee rules vary by state.

To become an Alabama title insurance agent, you must be older than the 18 required of most producers, hold an Alabama business address, and pass the Title Agent Insurance Exam, which costs $75 and has 150 questions over 3 hours with 105 correct answers needed. Next, complete a fingerprint background check through the state's approved vendor and apply through NIPR; the title agent license fee is $60. Title agents must also hold an appointment before transacting business.

In Arkansas, you submit the resident licensing application through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR), paying the $20 application fee, and complete the online criminal background check. Once the Arkansas Insurance Department approves you, PSI sends an email confirmation and you may schedule the Title exam, which allows 2.5 hours and costs $50; you need 70% correct to pass. You can print your license from NIPR 24 hours after passing.

To become a title insurance agent in Colorado, pass the Pearson Title licensing exam and apply for a producer license online at sircon.com/colorado or nipr.com; the resident fee is $44. Title applicants must electronically report all affiliated business arrangements at the time of application. Licensed Colorado attorneys are exempt from the Title exam and must submit a copy of their Colorado Attorney Bar Card with the application.

Connecticut does not offer a Title Agent license. The Connecticut Insurance Department's license-types list shows that credential as not available in the state. Anyone conducting insurance business in Connecticut must instead hold one of the license types the department does issue, such as the Insurance Producer license.

Resident title insurance producers in DC (except DC barred attorneys) must pass the Pearson VUE Title exam, which has 80 scored questions, runs 1.5 hours, requires a scaled score of 70, and costs $75; candidates present a DISB pre-licensing self-study statement at the test site. Each title applicant must submit a Title Financial Responsibility Certificate showing $500,000 in errors and omissions coverage, a $200,000 fidelity bond, and a $200,000 surety bond, then apply online at nipr.com ($100 fee). Nonresident title producers are licensed through reciprocity.

To become a Florida title insurance agent, complete a 40-hour state-approved title insurance course, including 3 hours on ethics, within 4 years of applying, or document at least 1 year of responsible title insurance duties. Then pass the Florida Title exam at a Pearson VUE test center, apply through MyProfile ($10 application fee plus $5 license ID fee), and submit fingerprints ($52.50). The license is valid only with a title insurer appointment.

In Georgia, Title is a line of authority that requires no prelicensing course and no exam. You obtain it by submitting an online application through the state's Sircon portal, paying the $120 fee, filing a completed notarized Citizenship Affidavit (form GID-276-EN) with a copy of your ID, and submitting electronic fingerprints for the background check.

In Indiana, title insurance is a limited line that requires no state examination. You must be at least 18, be an Indiana resident, and complete 10 hours of state-approved title pre-licensing education. You then submit a $40 nonrefundable application fee online through Sircon or NIPR, or by NAIC uniform paper application. Your certificate of completion is valid for six months, so apply during that window.

To become a title insurance producer in Kansas, you must pass the Kansas title examination, which costs $57, and meet the resident licensing requirements: be at least 18, obtain a Certificate of Tax Clearance, complete fingerprinting, and submit the NAIC Uniform Application through NIPR. An agency that handles escrow, settlement, or closing must post a surety bond or letter of credit of $25,000 to $100,000, depending on county population. Business entities must also designate a responsible licensed producer.

To become a title insurance agent in Louisiana, you pass the title producer exam with PSI (Series 111, $19 fee), submit a license application through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR), and complete fingerprinting through IdentoGo. No prelicensing education is required for the title exam.

In Maine, title insurance falls under the Title producer license, listed among the state's limited-lines exams. You must pass the Pearson VUE Title Producer exam (12-ME-83), which has 30 scoreable questions, runs 45 minutes, and costs $55. After passing, submit a license application and fee to the Maine Bureau of Insurance.

To become a Maryland title insurance producer, you must pass the Maryland Title Producer exam (Prometric code 2025), pay the $54 application fee, and submit the NAIC Uniform Individual Application. Individual applicants must also file a $150,000 surety bond or letter of credit; independent contractors may submit the TIPIC waiver form instead. The license is biennial and expires on the last day of your birth month.

Michigan licenses title producers through the Title Insurance Producer/Solicitor license. No pre-licensing education is required for the Title line; you must pass the title exam (1 hour, 60 scored items, 74% cut score) at a PSI testing center, then apply through the NIPR website for a $10.00 state fee plus a $5.00 transaction fee. Title licensees are also exempt from Michigan's continuing education requirement.

In Minnesota, title insurance is a limited line that requires an application but no written examination and no prelicensing education. You submit the producer license application online through Sircon or NIPR, pay the $50 fee plus $50 for the title line of authority, and complete the fingerprint-based criminal history record check. As with other producer lines, an insurer appointment is required before you can transact business.

In Mississippi, title insurance is a limited line of authority, not a separate license. Apply for a Limited Lines Insurance Producer license with the Title line at sircon.com or nipr.com and pay the $100 fee. Limited lines producers are exempt from pre-licensing education and continuing education requirements, and no exam is required for the Title line.

Missouri requires no prelicensing education for title producers. You must pass the Title Insurance exam (code 58), a 1-hour Pearson VUE exam with 50 scored questions that costs $25, then apply with a $100 fee within one year of passing. Missouri also offers a Temporary Title License valid for 6 months: submit a resident application, a letter requesting the temporary license, a signed statement from a licensed title agent attesting to direct supervision, and the $100 fee, then pass the title exam during those 6 months.

To become a title insurance agent in Montana, pass the Pearson VUE Title exam, which has 35 scoreable questions, costs $65, and requires a score of 75 or better. Then apply for the Title line of authority through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) and submit fingerprints with the $30 background check fee to Montana Criminal Records. Montana requires no prelicensing education for title insurance.

You must be at least 18, pass the $43 title insurance exam with a 70% passing score, and apply for the license. If you handle escrow or security deposits, you must also file a $100,000 surety bond. Individual title licenses renew every 2 years on your birth month, and each cycle requires 9 total hours of continuing education, including 3 hours of ethics.

To sell title insurance in New Hampshire, pass the PSI title producer exam (series 12-72, $59) and apply online through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) with a $210 application fee. Attorneys are exempt from the title exam requirement.

Title insurance is a line of authority on the New Jersey producer license, so you follow the standard producer process. Complete 20 hours of state-approved title prelicensing education, pass the PSI exam with a score of at least 70% ($38 exam fee), complete Live Scan fingerprinting ($66.05), and apply through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) for $170 in state fees.

To become a title insurance producer in New Mexico, pass the PSI Title exam (series 18-33) with at least 70%, complete the $67 IdentoGO background check, and apply online at NIPR for the $30 fee. Current title holders automatically receive the Escrow line too. Note that title producers may not use a residence as their in-state place of business, and their CE requirement is 10 hours per period including 3 hours on escrow-fund handling.

To become a title insurance agent in New York, you must pass the title insurance agent exam administered by PSI Services and submit an application to the Department of Financial Services, which charges $40 per year or fraction of a year for the individual license. Exam exemptions include a New York-licensed attorney in good standing, someone licensed as a title insurance agent within the last 2 years, and nonresidents licensed as title producers in their home state.

To become a title insurance agent in North Carolina, apply online through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) and pay a $50 registration fee plus a $44 application processing fee. You must then pass the Pearson VUE Title Agent exam, which costs $45 per attempt and requires a scaled score of 70. Electronic fingerprints for a criminal history check are required, with a $38 fee paid with the initial application, and a company appointment is required to use the license.

North Dakota title insurance applicants are exempt from the licensing exam, but they must qualify one of two ways: hold a license as an abstracter or an attorney, or complete 80 hours of training provided by a title insurer. After the training, apply through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) for the $100 fee and send the insurer's training certification to the department. Title producers are not required to complete continuing education, though the license must still be renewed every two years.

To become a title insurance agent in Ohio, you must pass the Title exam (Series 11-37, 100 questions, 2 hours, minimum passing score of 70%), complete BCI and FBI fingerprint background checks, and pay a $10 application fee through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). No pre-licensing education is required for title applicants. Once licensed, title-only licensees complete 12 continuing-education hours (10 title-specific and 2 ethics) every two years.

Pass the Oklahoma Title insurance exam with PSI (fee $38, passing score 70%), wait 3 business days for results to transmit, then apply online through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR); the resident title producer fee is $60 and processing takes 5-7 business days. Title producers renew biennially and must complete 16 hours of continuing education: 2 hours of ethics, 2 hours of legislative updates, and 12 hours of producer general.

In Oregon, a title insurance line of authority requires no prelicensing education and no exam. You apply for the title line on the resident producer application through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) at www.nipr.com, pay the state fee, and provide fingerprints for the state and federal criminal records check.

First, pass the Title Insurance Agent exam (16-10) through PSI; the exam fee is $45. Then apply online through Sircon or NIPR (the application fee is $55 for residents and $110 for non-residents) and submit fingerprints at an IdentoGO center. A title insurer must appoint you before you transact business, and non-resident title agents must also carry a surety bond of at least $100,000.

Rhode Island licenses title insurance producers through the Department of Business Regulation (DBR) Insurance Division. The two-year title license fee is $120 for residents and $130 for nonresidents, and applications are submitted electronically through NIPR. Resident producers whose licenses are limited to title insurance are exempt from the continuing education requirement that applies to other producer lines.

Pass the Title Insurance Producer exam with Pearson VUE, then apply for the license online through NIPR with the $25 fee. As a resident applicant, you must also submit fingerprints after applying. Title producers must file a Financial Interest Disclosure Form under SC Code Section 38-75-960(B).

To become a title insurance producer in Tennessee, complete 30 hours of title pre-licensing education through an approved provider, pass the title examination, complete fingerprinting, and apply online at www.nipr.com with the $50 filing fee. Practicing attorneys can obtain a title license without the exam, but must provide certification of business method and file a $25,000 surety bond within 30 days after the license issues.

Utah offers three title lines: Title Examination, Title Escrow, and Title Marketing Representative. You pass the matching Prometric exam, apply online through SIRCON, and be fingerprinted; the marketing representative exam is the shortest of the three. An individual title producer cannot do title business until affiliated with a title agency or title insurer, and insurer-appointed title producers must carry a fidelity bond or crime policy of at least $500,000 plus professional liability insurance.

Pass Prometric's Series 14-38 Agent's Title exam ($52), then apply for the Title Agent license, which carries a $60 state fee through NIPR for residents. Applicants who have passed a state bar examination are exempt from the Title exam. The license runs April 1 to March 31 of odd-numbered years and renews through NIPR. Nonresidents must hold a Title Agent license in their home state, pass the Vermont Title exam, or be admitted to the Vermont Bar.

Complete 16 classroom hours (or the equivalent in distance learning) of approved title insurance instruction, and pass the Virginia Title exam (Series 11-04) within one year of finishing the course. You must bring the original instructor's certification and notarized affidavit of course completion to the exam. After passing, get fingerprinted at a Fieldprint location and apply for the license through NIPR or Sircon; the application fee is $15.

In West Virginia, Title is a limited line, so no exam or pre-licensing education is required, and title producers are exempt from continuing education. You apply for a producer license with the Title line through NIPR; the application fee is $50. The license must still be renewed every two years, which is also handled through NIPR.

In Wisconsin, a title insurance agent is licensed by the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) as an intermediary with a title line of authority. Title is exempt from prelicensing education, but candidates must pass the Wisconsin title exam (series 22-11) through PSI, pay the $75 exam fee, submit fingerprints through Fieldprint, and apply online via NIPR. Wisconsin attorneys can instead request the attorney title license, which requires 6 hours of title-specific continuing legal education within one year of application and no exam.

Only Wyoming residents 18 or older can become title agents. Pass the Wyoming Title Agent Licensing Exam through Pearson VUE, apply through Sircon, and pay the $100 application fee. You must also submit fingerprints ($39) and hold an insurer appointment before the license issues, sending an Appointment/Termination Form with a $15 appointment fee. Renewal requires 24 hours of continuing education, including 3 hours of ethics.