How do I get an insurance license?

To get an insurance producer license, you must be at least 18 years old, complete any prelicensing education your state requires, pass the state licensing exam for your line of authority, clear a background check (fingerprinting in many states), and submit an application with the required fee. Most applicants apply online through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR), which charges a $5.60 transaction fee on top of state fees. NIPR advises waiting at least 48 hours after exam scores are released before submitting the application so results have time to process.

Alabama requires no prelicensing education as of January 1, 2024. Register for your exam through the University of Alabama at least 7 days ahead, score 70% or higher, get fingerprinted through Fieldprint, then submit the application online through NIPR with the $80 producer fee. Provide proof of U.S. citizenship within 10 days of applying, because the license is not issued until the state receives it, and an unreceived form means rejection without a refund.

To get an Alaska insurance producer license, you must be 18, be a resident of and actually residing in Alaska, pass the Pearson VUE exam for your line of authority, and file an application through nipr.com. You submit one fingerprint card with a $48.25 evaluation fee plus the $75 application fee. Exam scores are valid for one year from the test date.

To get an Arizona insurance license, choose your line of authority and pass the corresponding exam administered by PSI with a score of 70% or higher. Wait at least 48 hours after your scores post, then apply through NIPR, pay the $120 state fee plus NIPR's transaction fee, and submit fingerprints electronically through the Arizona Department of Public Safety. You must be 18 or older, and the state does not require pre-licensing education.

Arkansas uses an application-first sequence, so submit the resident application through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) before taking the exam. First, complete the 20-hour prelicensing course for each line of authority. Next, submit the NIPR application and complete the online criminal background check. PSI then issues an Authorization to Test, usually within 2 to 5 days, and after you pass the exam with 70% or higher, you can print your license from NIPR 24 hours later.

To get a California insurance license, be at least 18, complete a 12-hour course on ethics and the California Insurance Code, and pass the qualifying exam for your line, which resident applicants must do before applying. Then submit the application online through Sircon or the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR), pay the $188 filing fee for the two-year term, and submit fingerprints through the state's live scan vendor. Producer exams require a 60% score to pass.

Colorado requires you to complete 50 hours of prelicensing education for each line of authority, pass the Pearson VUE exam, and apply online through sircon.com or nipr.com. The resident license fee is $44 per line of authority, and most applications are processed in under five business days. You must be at least 18, a Colorado resident, and your passing exam score is valid for one year from the exam date.

To get a Connecticut insurance license, complete 20 hours of approved pre-licensing education for each single line of authority, or 40 hours for combined lines such as Life/Accident & Health or Property & Casualty. Schedule the Pearson VUE exam at least 24 hours in advance and pass with a score of 70% or higher. Wait 1-2 business days for your results to upload, then apply online through NIPR; the individual Producer application fee is $140, and most applications are processed within 7-10 business days.

To get a Delaware insurance license, you must be at least 18 years old, pass the Pearson VUE exam for your line of authority, and submit state and FBI criminal history reports dated within 90 days. Delaware requires no pre-licensing education. You apply electronically through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) and pay the $150 producer license fee. Exam scores are valid for 12 months, and the Department of Insurance typically processes applications within 24 to 48 hours.

To get a DC insurance license, schedule and pass the Pearson VUE exam for your line, which costs $75 per exam and requires a scaled passing score of 70. You then submit fingerprints and a background check through Fieldprint ($31.50) and apply online at nipr.com within 1 year of passing. The individual producer license fee is $100, and the license renews every 2 years.

Getting a Florida insurance license takes four steps: complete a state-approved prelicensing course for the line of authority you want, submit the online application through MyProfile, submit fingerprints through IdentoGO by Idemia, and pass the Pearson VUE state exam. You must be at least 18, a bona fide Florida resident, and a US citizen or legal alien with work authorization, and you must not hold a resident license in another state. After approval, you print the license from MyProfile, and it becomes active once an insurer appoints you.

To get a Georgia insurance license, complete an approved prelicensing course of 8 hours for each line of authority, or a 16-hour combined course for Property and Casualty. Then pass the Pearson VUE exam for your line with a 70% score within one year of your course completion and apply at sircon.com/georgia. The $120 application, a notarized Citizenship Affidavit, and electronic fingerprints complete the process.

Idaho requires no pre-licensing education. You pass the exam for each line of authority you want with Pearson VUE ($65 per exam), submit fingerprints for a background check, and apply online through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) with an $80 fee. After applying, you email your fingerprint receipt, the completed background-check release form, and your exam pass confirmations to the Idaho Department of Insurance.

Complete 20 hours of pre-licensing education per line of authority, with 7.5 of those hours in a classroom, then pass the Pearson VUE exam with a score of 70 or higher. Wait 5 days after passing, then apply online at www.nipr.com, where the resident producer license fee is $215; answer the background questions and upload supporting documents for any "yes" answers to NIPR's Attachment Warehouse. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, and exam scores are valid for 12 months.

Indiana licensing runs in three steps: complete pre-licensing education, pass the Pearson VUE exam, then apply online through Sircon or NIPR. The resident application fee is $40 plus an online processing fee, and typical processing time is 7 to 10 business days. You must be at least 18, maintain your principal residence or business in Indiana, be a U.S. citizen or legal alien with work authorization, and have no disqualifying acts.

Pass the licensing exam for your line of authority through Pearson VUE (registration at pearsonvue.com or 877-540-5825; each exam is $44), then apply through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) online system with the $50 license fee. Resident applicants must also complete fingerprinting, scheduled after submitting the application. Allow up to 22 business days for review after fingerprints are collected, and apply within 90 days of passing the exam.

To get a Kansas resident producer license, you must be at least 18 and pass the licensing exam for each line of authority you want; Kansas requires no pre-licensing education. You also need a Certificate of Tax Clearance from the Kansas Department of Revenue uploaded to the NIPR Attachment Warehouse, fingerprinting for a state and national background check, the electronic waiver form, and a color copy of your Kansas ID. You then submit the NAIC Uniform Application online through NIPR, paying a $30 application fee and a $60 fingerprint fee.

Submit an electronic application through NIPR, complete the required prelicensing education, request a criminal background report through the Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts, and pass the exam for your line of authority with a 70% score. Online applications are processed within 3 business days provided all other requirements are complete. Fees vary by license type: $40 plus $40 per line of authority for a resident agent, or $50 per line for an adjuster.

You must be at least 18 years old, competent and trustworthy, and reside in or maintain a principal place of business in Louisiana. You pass the exam for each line you want, such as Life, Property, Casualty, or Personal Lines, with a score of at least 70%. No prelicensing education is required except for bail bond applicants, who complete a three-month apprenticeship, and public adjuster applicants, who need pre-approval from the department. After passing, you submit the $75 application through NIPR and are fingerprinted through IdentoGo.

A Maine resident first completes 16 credit hours of prelicensing education, or documents 6 months of relevant full-time experience as an employee of an insurer or producer. Next, you pass the Pearson VUE exam for your line of authority with a scaled score of 70, wait at least 48 hours after the scores release, and submit the application through NIPR. The resident producer fee is $25 plus NIPR's $5.60 transaction fee, and the license arrives by email, generally 24 to 72 hours after approval.

Pass the Maryland licensing exam for your line, then apply for the producer license. Maryland has not required prelicensing education or experience since October 1, 2024. Take the exam with Prometric, pass with a score of 70% or higher, then submit the NAIC Uniform Individual Application online through NIPR with the $54 fee. If you failed the exam, wait at least 4 days before retaking it.

Pass the Pearson exam for each line of authority you want, then apply through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR); the Massachusetts Division of Insurance reviews each application and issues the license upon approval. Exams are taken in person at Pearson test centers, scheduled online or by phone at least 48 hours ahead, at $37 per producer line exam. Passing the exam does not guarantee a license will be issued.

In Michigan, you get an insurance producer license by completing pre-licensing education from a state-approved provider, passing the PSI licensing exam, and filing an application through the NIPR website. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, the exam fee is $41, and the application costs $10.00 plus a $5.00 transaction fee. Michigan allows 14-21 business days to review an initial application.

To get a Minnesota insurance producer license, complete 20 hours of Department of Commerce approved prelicensing education for each line of authority, then pass the corresponding exam through PSI, which requires 70% correct. Next, submit fingerprints for a criminal history record check and file the license application online on Sircon or through NIPR's LicenseHub. The individual license fee is $50 per line of authority.

Mississippi residents follow four steps: complete a state-approved prelicensing course for each line of authority, pass the licensing exam through Pearson VUE, apply online at www.sircon.com/mississippi or www.nipr.com, and pay the $100 producer license fee. Online applications reach the department within 24 hours; paper applications can take up to 10 business days. Most licensees also need an appointment from an insurance company before selling.

To get a Missouri insurance producer license, be at least 18 and pass the exam for the lines you want to sell, such as Life, Accident and Health, Property, Casualty, Personal Lines, Crop, or Title. Exams cost $32 for a single line and $40 for the combined Life, Accident and Health or Property and Casualty exams, with a scaled passing score of 70. Wait 24 to 48 hours after passing, then apply through NIPR and pay the $100 fee. Missouri requires no pre-licensing education.

Resident licensing in Montana takes four steps. Pass the licensing exam through Pearson VUE with a score of 75% or better; apply for the license online through NIPR; submit the signed Applicant Rights and Consent to Fingerprint Form; and send your fingerprint card with a $30 fee to the Montana Criminal Records Division. The resident producer application fee is $0.

Register for and pass the PSI exam for your line of authority, then allow 2-3 days for PSI to upload your results to the Nebraska Department of Insurance. Next, apply for the license at NIPR.com and allow 3-5 days for processing. Once approved, download and print the license at NIPR.com, because the department does not mail license copies.

To get a New Hampshire insurance producer license, be at least 18 years old and pass the PSI exam for your desired lines of authority; the state has not required a prelicensing course since July 11, 2008. Then apply online through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) using the uniform application and pay the $210 producer license fee. Passing exam scores remain valid for 2 years.

New Jersey residents follow four steps: complete prelicensing education, pass the licensing exam, complete Live Scan fingerprinting, and submit an application. Prelicensing education is 20 hours per major line (Life, Accident and Health, Property, Casualty, Title, or Personal Lines). PSI administers the exam, which requires a 70% passing score. Fingerprints cost $66.05 through IDEMIA, and the online application through NIPR totals $170 in state fees.

To get an insurance producer license in New Mexico, you must be at least 18 years old, pass the exam for your line of authority with a minimum score of 70%, and submit fingerprints for a state and federal background check. The exam is administered by PSI and costs $75; New Mexico does not require a prelicensing course. After passing, wait at least 48 hours for results to post, then apply online at www.nipr.com with the $30 fee, submitting all materials within one year of passing. The license itself does not authorize you to represent an insurer until an insurer appoints you.

To get a New York insurance license, complete the Department-approved prelicensing education for your line of authority first: 40 hours for life, accident and health, or 90 hours for property and casualty. Next, pass the PSI licensing exam with at least 70% correct, and apply for the license within 2 years of passing, online through the DFS portal for residents. You must be at least 18 years old, and the license fee is $80 for New York residents when issued for more than one year.

Submit your application online at www.nipr.com first, pay the fees (for a producer line, a $50 registration fee plus a $44 processing fee), and wait for the email authorization from Pearson VUE. Then schedule and pass the exam for each line of authority you requested, and complete electronic fingerprints if your license type requires them. No license issues until every exam on the application is passed, and all requirements must be completed within six months of the application date.

To get a North Dakota producer license, pass the exam for each line you want, complete fingerprinting, and apply electronically through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) with the $100 fee. North Dakota does not require prelicensing education, so you may prepare by classroom study or self-study with no verification required. All initial resident applicants must submit hard-copy fingerprint cards with a $43 fee payable to the state Attorney General plus a $29 PSI processing fee.

To get an Ohio insurance license, complete 20 hours of state-approved pre-licensing education for each line of authority, pass the licensing exam through PSI with a score of 70% or higher, submit fingerprints for a criminal background check, and apply through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). The exam fee is $49, the background check costs no more than $72.25 through a contracted National WebCheck vendor, and the application fee is $10 per major line of authority.

Oklahoma issues resident licenses through a four-step process: pass the licensing exam, wait 3 business days for the exam vendor to transmit your results, apply online through the NIPR system, and let the Oklahoma Insurance Department review the application. Paper applications are not accepted. The exam costs $38 per producer line, the resident producer fee is $60, and processing usually takes 5-7 business days. You then print the license from the state's licensing site.

Complete 20 hours of prelicense training for each line of authority you want, then pass the corresponding PSI exam (70% passing score, offered at Oregon test centers or by remote proctoring). Next, submit fingerprints for a criminal records check ($61.25), then apply online through NIPR, where the state fee is $100 plus a transaction fee. Wait at least 48 hours after your exam scores are released before submitting the application.

Schedule your Pennsylvania insurance exam through PSI (888-818-5822), pass with a minimum score of 70%, then apply online through Sircon or the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). Resident individual applicants pay a $55 state fee and must be fingerprinted at an IdentoGO enrollment center after passing and applying. You then print your license online; the Department no longer mails paper licenses.

Pass the Pearson VUE exam for your line of authority (passing score 70, $80 fee), wait 3-5 days for results to post to NIPR, then apply through NIPR. You must be at least 18, provide a certified background check, and use a valid business email address; non-citizens must email proof of eligibility to work in the U.S. The resident producer fee is $120 for a 2-year license, and the state typically reviews applications in 7 to 10 days. Exam scores remain valid for 12 months.

South Carolina licenses resident insurance producers through a three-step sequence: pass the licensing exam for your line of authority with Pearson VUE ($59 per exam), apply for the $25 license online through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR), and then submit fingerprints after the department emails you scheduling directions. You must be at least 18 years old, and the state requires no prelicensing education.

To get a South Dakota insurance producer license, you must be at least 18 years old, pass the written exam for each line of authority you want to sell, and file the resident producer application online through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR), paying the $25 application fee plus a service fee. South Dakota requires no pre-licensing education, and the exam covers the lines you apply for, producer duties, and state insurance law.

To get a Tennessee insurance producer license, choose your line of authority, complete 20 hours of pre-licensing education per line through a commissioner-approved provider (unless you hold an exempting designation such as CLU or CPCU), and pass the Pearson VUE exam with a score of 70% or higher. Then complete fingerprinting through the state's IdentoGO process, wait 48 hours after the exam, and apply online at NIPR with the $50 filing fee.

To get a Texas insurance license, first reserve and pay for the Pearson VUE exam, then begin the application on TDI's online fingerprint portal and schedule your IdentoGO appointment using the service code TDI emails you. Next, pass the exam and apply for the license through Sircon or the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) within one year of passing. The application fee is $50 per license type.

Register and pay Prometric for the exam covering the line you want, pass it, then apply online through SIRCON or NIPR at the Prometric test-center kiosk and be fingerprinted at a Prometric test center in Utah. You must be at least 18, a Utah resident with a Social Security Number, and meet the character requirements under Utah Code 31A-23a-107. Utah requires no pre-licensing education course, and processing takes 5 to 10 business days once the application, fees, and fingerprints are complete.

In Vermont, you must be at least 18 years old, be a resident or maintain a principal place of business in the state, and pass the written exam for your lines of authority, given by Prometric. Residents must wait 48 hours after passing before submitting an electronic application through NIPR; the state fees total $60 ($30 application plus $30 license fee). Vermont requires no prelicensing education hours and no fingerprints, though the commissioner may request fingerprints for a background check. Exams cost $52 or $67.60 depending on the series.

First register for your exam with Prometric and review the content outline for your line. Before test day, get fingerprinted at a Fieldprint site, where live scan results go to the Virginia State Police and the FBI. Then pass the exam with two forms of ID and apply for the license through NIPR or Sircon. The application fee is $15 per line of authority, and you must be at least 18.

To get a Washington resident producer license, schedule and pass your exam, apply for your license online, then get your fingerprints taken. The full-lines license fee is $55, limited lines are $20, the exam is $38 for a single line, and fingerprinting costs $52 as of October 1, 2026. You cannot schedule a fingerprint appointment until your application has been submitted.

West Virginia residents get a producer license in steps: complete 20 hours of approved pre-licensing education per line of authority, pass the Pearson VUE licensing exam (scaled score of 70), submit fingerprints through Identogo using WVOIC service code 228NS5, and apply through NIPR with a $50 fee. You must bring a paper copy of your course completion certificate to the test center, and that certificate stays valid for 6 months from the course completion date.

To get a Wisconsin insurance license, complete 20 hours of prelicensing education per line of authority with a state-approved provider, get fingerprinted through Fieldprint using code FPWIOCIInsurance, pass the PSI exam for your line, and apply online through NIPR. Wait 48-72 hours after passing the exam before submitting the application. Applications are typically processed within 24 to 48 hours, and residents pay a $75 license fee per line of authority plus a $10 application fee.

Anyone 18 or older can apply for a Wyoming insurance producer license in three steps. Pass the Wyoming Insurance Licensing Exam for your lines of authority (scheduled through Pearson VUE), apply online through Sircon and pay the fee ($100 for residents, $150 for nonresidents), and submit fingerprints for the background check ($39 for residents). The fingerprinting packet is mailed after the application is received, so do not send fingerprints before applying.