How do I become an insurance agent without a degree?
You do not need a college degree. Licensing requires only that you be at least 18, complete any required prelicensing education, pass the state exam, and pass a background check. No state requires a degree, and federal wage data lists a high school diploma as the typical entry-level education for insurance sales agents. Employers may prefer a bachelor's degree, but it is not required to sell insurance.
Yes, you can become an insurance agent without a degree. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for insurance sales agents. Alaska also has no prelicensing education requirement, per the NAIC's state education chart, so you do not need coursework before sitting for the exam. You must pass the licensing exam for the lines you want to sell.
Sources: Alaska DOI: Individual application and instructions (form 08-240); Alaska DOI: Reinstate an expired license (form 08-307c).
Yes. Insurance agents need a license, not a degree; the typical entry-level education is a high school diploma or equivalent, though some employers prefer a bachelor's degree. Arizona requires no pre-licensing coursework, so you qualify by being 18 or older, passing the PSI exam for your lines of authority, submitting fingerprints, and applying through NIPR with the $120 state fee.
Sources: Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) Fee Schedule.
You can become an insurance agent in Colorado without a degree. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for insurance sales agents, and Colorado's licensing requirements are age 18 or older, state residency, 50 hours of prelicensing education per line, and a passing score on the Pearson VUE exam. Employers may prefer a bachelor's degree, but the state does not require one.
Sources: Colorado Division of Insurance, Regulation 1-2-5: Insurance Producer Prelicensing Education Requirements for Residents (3 CCR 702).
You do not need a college degree to become an insurance agent in Delaware. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for insurance sales agents. Delaware requires no degree and no prelicensing education; you must be at least 18, pass the Pearson VUE exam for your lines of authority, complete the state and FBI background check, and apply online through NIPR.
Sources: Delaware Code Title 18 Chapter 17: Licensing of Professional Insurance Personnel (producers and adjusters); Delaware Code Title 18 Chapter 7: Fees and Taxes (18 Del. C. §701 fee schedule).
A college degree is not required. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for insurance sales agents, and Idaho does not require any pre-licensing education. To get an Idaho resident producer license, you must pass the state licensing exam for each line of authority ($65 per exam, taken through Pearson VUE), submit fingerprints for a background check ($65 electronic), and apply online through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) with an $80 fee.
Sources: Idaho DOI: Testing and fingerprints; Idaho Department of Insurance — Testing and Fingerprints page.
No college degree is required to become an insurance agent in Illinois; the state requires only that you be at least 18 years old. Complete 20 hours of pre-licensing education per line of authority (7.5 hours in a classroom or webinar), pass the Pearson VUE exams, and apply online through NIPR with the $215 resident fee.
Sources: NIPR: Illinois resident individual licensing requirements; Illinois IDOI: How to become a resident producer (Illinois insurance agent); Illinois IDOI: Fee schedule.
No degree is required to become an insurance agent in Indiana. You must be at least 18, complete the pre-licensing education hours for your line, pass the state exam, and apply with a $40 fee. Nationally, the typical entry-level education for insurance sales agents is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A Bachelor's Degree in Insurance matters in Indiana only because it can waive pre-licensing education entirely.
Sources: NIPR: Indiana resident individual renewal requirements.
You do not need a degree; insurance sales agents typically need only a high school diploma, though some employers prefer a bachelor's degree, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Iowa's licensing rules set no education requirement beyond the exam. You must be at least 18, pass the Pearson VUE exam for your line of authority, apply through NIPR with the $50 fee, and complete fingerprinting.
Sources: Iowa IID: Insurance producers.
No degree is needed. Insurance sales agents nationally typically enter the field with a high school diploma, though some employers prefer a bachelor's degree. Kansas licensing itself requires only that you be at least 18, pass the exam for your line of authority, clear the fingerprint background check, and pay the state fees; no pre-licensing coursework or college education is required.
Sources: Kansas KDOI: Producer licensing (resident and nonresident); Kansas KDOI: Producer examinations.
No degree is required. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education for insurance sales agents. Maine's licensing requirements focus on preparation, not college: 16 credit hours of prelicensing education or 6 months of relevant experience, a passing Pearson VUE exam score, and the $25 application.
Sources: Maine Rule 02-031 C.M.R. ch. 542, § 4 (Minimum Educational Requirements), as published by Cornell Legal Information Institute; Maine BOI: Producer frequently asked questions.
You do not need a degree; the typical entry-level education for insurance sales agents is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Maryland requires no formal coursework either, having repealed its prelicensing education and experience requirements effective October 1, 2024. You qualify by passing the Prometric exam for your line of authority and applying through NIPR with the $54 fee.
Sources: Maryland MIA: Licensing and registration fees.
No degree is required; the typical entry-level education for insurance sales agents is a high school diploma or equivalent. Mississippi requires you to be at least 18, complete any required pre-licensing education, pass the Pearson VUE exam for your lines, and submit the $100 license application at sircon.com or nipr.com.
Sources: Mississippi MID: Licensing forms and fees.
No degree is required to become an insurance agent in Montana. You must be at least 18 years old, pass the Pearson VUE licensing exam for your line with a score of 75% or better, submit fingerprints for a background check, and apply through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). Montana requires no prelicensing coursework, so your study time is the main variable before you can apply.
Sources: Pearson VUE: Montana insurance candidate handbook (June 2025).
A college degree is not required to become an insurance agent in Nebraska. The state requires only that you be at least 18, maintain Nebraska residency, pass the licensing exam for your line of authority, and pay the $50 application fee. Nationally, the typical entry-level education for insurance sales agents is a high school diploma, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Sources: Nebraska DOI: Licensing Fee Schedule (7/17/2026).
You do not need a college degree to become an insurance agent in Nevada. The requirements are being at least 18 years old, passing the Pearson VUE licensing exam for your line of authority, submitting fingerprints, and paying the $185 state application fee. The application does ask for a five-year employment history listed with no gaps.
Sources: NIPR: Nevada Resident Individual Licensing Requirements; Nevada Division of Insurance – Producer Licensing (Individuals) page and DOI Licensing FAQs for Applicants and Licensees.
You do not need a college degree. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for insurance sales agents, and New Hampshire sets no education prerequisite for licensing. To become an agent, you must be at least 18, pass the PSI exam for your line of authority, and apply online through NIPR with the $210 fee.
Sources: New Hampshire NHID: Licensing fees.
No degree is required. Most insurance agents enter the field with a high school diploma, though some employers prefer a bachelor's degree, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. New Mexico requires no prelicensing education, so the path is passing the licensing exam for your lines of authority with a score of at least 70%, completing the fingerprint background check, and applying through NIPR.
Sources: NM Register Vol. XXXV No. 23: 13.4.2 NMAC Resident Producers and Other Resident Licenses (replacement rule eff. 4/1/2025); NM Register Vol. XXXV No. 23: 13.4.3 NMAC Nonresident Producers (replacement rule eff. 4/1/2025).
You do not need a college degree to become an insurance agent in New York. State law requires only that you be at least 18 years old, complete a Department-approved prelicensing course, pass the licensing exam, and apply for the license. Nationally, the typical entry-level education for insurance sales agents is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Sources: New York DFS: Industry licensing FAQ.
No degree is required for a North Carolina insurance license. The state's requirements are being at least 18, applying online through NIPR, passing the exam for your lines of authority, and submitting fingerprints for an initial license. Prelicensing education became optional for applications submitted on or after October 1, 2025.
Sources: North Carolina NCDOI: Become an insurance producer or adjuster; North Carolina NCDOI: Resident licensing requirements chart.
You do not need a college degree to become an insurance agent in North Dakota; the typical entry-level education is a high school diploma or equivalent, and the state requires no degree or prelicensing course. You must be at least 18, pass the PSI licensing exam for your lines, complete fingerprinting, and pay the $100 application fee through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). Some employers prefer a bachelor's degree, but it is not required for licensure.
Sources: North Dakota NDID: Apply for a resident producer license.
You do not need a degree to become an insurance agent in Ohio. A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education for the field, and the state has no degree requirement for licensure. You must be at least 18, complete 20 hours of pre-licensing education per line of authority, pass the PSI exam, pass fingerprint background checks, and apply through NIPR.
Sources: Ohio ODI: Pre-licensing education.
Oklahoma does not require a college degree to become an insurance agent, and it has no prelicensing education requirement either. The exam eligibility rules are age and citizenship: candidates must be at least 18 and be US citizens or hold a valid visa or I-94 card. From there, pass the PSI exam, apply online through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR), and the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) processes producer applications in 5-7 business days.
Sources: Oklahoma OID: Applying for a license; Oklahoma OID: Licensing exam.
You do not need a college degree; a high school diploma or GED is the education baseline for insurance agents. In Oregon, you must be at least 18 years old, complete 20 hours of prelicensing education per line of authority, pass the PSI exam, and apply online through NIPR. Three years of verifiable insurance experience, an out-of-state license, or an insurance degree can substitute for the prelicensing education requirement.
Sources: Oregon PSI: Insurance candidate information bulletin; Oregon DFR: Producer licensing.
South Carolina requires no college degree and no prelicensing education to become an insurance agent. You must be at least 18, pass the Pearson VUE exam for your line of authority, apply for the resident producer license through NIPR, and submit fingerprints. Many candidates take an optional prep course, but the state does not require one.
Sources: South Carolina SCDOI: Producer licensing; South Carolina SCDOI: Licensing and CE hub.
No degree is required to become an insurance agent in Tennessee. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for insurance sales agents, and Tennessee's licensing requirements involve no college coursework. You must be at least 18, complete 20 hours of pre-licensing education per line, pass the Pearson VUE exam with a 70% minimum score, and file a $50 application at NIPR.
Sources: Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-01-56: Licensing Requirements for Insurance Producers; Pearson VUE — Tennessee Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook (October 2026 edition, #124300).
Texas does not require a college degree to get an insurance agent license. The state's requirements are that you be at least 18 years old, pass the Pearson VUE exam for your license type, submit fingerprints through IdentoGO, and apply within one year of passing with the $50 fee. After licensing, you must complete 24 hours of continuing education every two years, including 3 hours of ethics.
Sources: Pearson VUE: Texas insurance licensing candidate handbook (October 2024); Texas TDI: life agent license management (renewal); Texas TDI: continuing education for agents and adjusters.
You do not need a college degree to become an insurance agent in Utah. The typical entry-level education for insurance sales agents is a high school diploma or equivalent, and Utah requires no prelicensing education course at all. You must be at least 18, pass the applicable Prometric exam, apply online, and be fingerprinted. Agents selling variable products such as variable annuities need additional securities registration through FINRA.
Sources: Utah UID: Exam and Licensing Procedures; Utah Insurance Department FY2027 Fee Schedule (H.B. 8).
You do not need a college degree to become an insurance agent in Vermont. The typical entry-level education is a high school diploma or equivalent, and Vermont requires no prelicensing education hours. You need to be at least 18, pass the written licensing exam, and submit an application and fees.
Sources: Vermont DFR: Producer license; Prometric: Vermont insurance licensing information bulletin.
No degree is required. A West Virginia producer applicant must be 18 or older, be a state resident, and satisfy the Insurance Commissioner of trustworthiness and competency, then complete 20 hours of pre-licensing education per line, pass the Pearson VUE exam, and apply through NIPR for $50. A college degree in insurance actually waives the exam for all lines except Crop.
Sources: West Virginia OIC: How to Apply for a Resident Producer License; West Virginia OIC: Licensing and Education Fees (fee schedule, updated 8/19/2026).
You do not need a college degree to become an insurance agent in Wyoming. The licensing statute, W.S. 26-9-206, requires only that you are at least 18 years old, have no disqualifying act, pay the fees, pass the exam, and submit fingerprints. Wyoming also imposes no prelicensing education requirement, though the Department of Insurance lists providers with study materials you may use to prepare.
Sources: Wyoming DOI: producer licensing requirements, fees and FAQs.