How do you qualify as an insurance broker?

A broker represents the insured and can place business with any authorized company, while an agent represents the insurers that appoint them. To qualify for a broker or producer license, you must be at least 18 years old, complete any prelicensing education your state requires, pass the state licensing exam, and complete any required background check. New York allows broker candidates to substitute one year of relevant insurance employment within the last three years for the education course, with a signed statement from the employer.

In Alabama, brokers are licensed as insurance producers, so you qualify the same way agents do: be at least 18, pass the state exam for the lines of authority you want, complete a fingerprint background check through Fieldprint, and apply through NIPR for an $80 fee with proof of U.S. citizenship. Brokers differ from captive agents in that they represent clients rather than a single insurer.

In Alaska, insurance brokers qualify under the insurance producer license. Resident eligibility under AS 21.27.020 requires that you be 18, be a resident of and actually residing in Alaska, be trustworthy and competent, and pass the exam for your lines. After passing, you file the NAIC Uniform Application electronically at nipr.com with the $75 producer fee, one fingerprint card with the $48.25 fee, and an official score report. Exam results must be less than one year old when you apply.

Arizona does not issue a separate broker license; the state licenses brokers under the insurance producer credential, the title states use for anyone who sells insurance. To qualify, you must be 18 or older, pass the PSI exam for the lines of authority you want, complete fingerprinting, and submit a $120 application through NIPR. Unlike an agent, a broker represents buyers and cannot bind coverage.

Arkansas licenses anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance as an insurance producer, a term that covers both agents and brokers. To qualify, you must be at least 18 years old, complete 20 hours of prelicensing education for each line of authority, submit the application through NIPR before the exam, clear a criminal background check, and pass the PSI exam with at least 70%. Brokers placing coverage unavailable from admitted insurers need a separate surplus lines producer license, which requires 3 years of property and casualty licensure, a $50,000 bond, and the surplus lines exam.

In California, brokers are licensed as property broker-agents or casualty broker-agents. To qualify, you must be at least 18, complete the 12-hour course on ethics and the California Insurance Code (including 1 hour on insurance fraud), pass the qualifying exam for your line, and pay the $188 two-year filing fee. You must also submit fingerprints before the license can be issued.

Colorado licenses insurance producers rather than brokers as a separate category, so the qualification path is the same. You must be at least 18, a Colorado resident, and trustworthy, complete 50 hours of prelicensing education for your line of authority, pass the Pearson VUE exam, and apply through Sircon or NIPR for $44 per line. You must apply within one year of passing the exam.

Connecticut's license types do not include a separate broker license; you qualify by holding an insurance producer license, which carries the authority to solicit, negotiate, and sell coverage. Complete 20 hours of pre-licensing education per line of authority (40 for combined lines), pass the Pearson VUE exam, and apply through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). Nonresidents qualify by reciprocity if they hold an equivalent license in their home state.

Delaware does not license brokers separately: the law uses "insurance producer" for agents, brokers, and consultants alike. To qualify, you must be at least 18, have no disqualifying acts on your record, pay the fee, and pass the Pearson VUE exam for your lines unless an exemption applies. You must also be a Delaware resident or work for a business entity licensed in Delaware with a physical location open to the public, and you must submit fingerprints for state and FBI criminal history reports.

In the District of Columbia, brokers and agents are both licensed as insurance producers. You qualify by being at least 18 with a District residence or business address, passing the Pearson VUE exam for the line of authority, submitting fingerprints and a background check, and applying electronically at nipr.com. Brokers represent clients rather than insurers.

Florida does not license "brokers" as a separate category. The state licenses insurance agents, and transacting insurance, defined in Florida Statutes section 624.10, covers soliciting, negotiating, and effectuating insurance contracts. To qualify, you complete the prelicensing education for your line, pass the state exam, apply through MyProfile, and pay the $50 application fee plus the $5 license ID fee. Agents must hold an appointment from an insurer for the license to be valid.

Georgia does not issue a separate broker license for standard insurance sales; the individual license is the agent license. Agents complete the prelicensing course for their line (for example, an 8-hour Life course), pass the Pearson VUE exam, and apply at sircon.com/georgia with a $100 license fee plus a $20 processing fee. The separately licensed broker role is the Surplus Lines Broker: you must hold a Georgia agent license with Property and Casualty, pass exam 50 (waived for CPCU designees), post a $50,000 bond (form GID-114), and pay a $600 license fee plus $20 processing.

A broker represents the insurance customer rather than the insurer, but in Idaho anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance holds the same producer license an agent holds. To qualify, pass the Pearson VUE exam for each line of authority you plan to sell, submit fingerprints, and apply online through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) with the $80 fee. Idaho requires no pre-licensing education.

Illinois does not issue a separate broker license; brokering is done under the insurance producer license, which covers selling coverage for the insurers that appoint you. Qualify by completing 20 hours of pre-licensing education per line (7.5 hours in a classroom or webinar), passing the Pearson VUE exams, and applying online through NIPR. Producers who place insurance with an insurer they have no agent contract with must also maintain a bond of $2,500 or 5% of the premiums brokered in the previous calendar year, whichever is greater.

In Indiana, you qualify by meeting the producer licensing requirements, the license the state issues to individuals who transact insurance. You must be at least 18, maintain a principal place of residence or business in Indiana, complete the required pre-licensing education hours, and pass the Pearson VUE exam for your line of authority. You then apply online through Sircon or NIPR with a $40 fee. Applicants holding designations such as CLU, CFP, CPCU, CIC, or AAI may request a pre-licensing education waiver from the Commissioner.

Iowa does not issue a separate broker license; a person who solicits, negotiates, or sells insurance is licensed as a producer under Iowa Code Chapter 522B, and that license covers broker functions. To qualify, you must be at least 18, pass the Pearson VUE exam for your line of authority, apply through NIPR with the $50 fee, and clear the fingerprint-based criminal history check. Brokers represent clients rather than insurers, while captive agents work for one company.

Kansas does not issue a separate broker license for most insurance sales; you transact business under an insurance producer license, which the state's Uniform Insurance Agents Licensing Act calls an insurance agent license. You qualify by being at least 18, passing the exam for each line of authority, clearing the fingerprint background check, and filing the NAIC Uniform Application through NIPR. A broker who represents clients rather than a single company still needs this license.

Kentucky does not issue a separate broker license; the state licenses insurance agents (producers), and anyone placing insurance must hold that license. To qualify, you must be at least 18, be trustworthy and of good reputation, complete 20 hours of prelicensing training for each line of authority, pass the required examination, pay the fees, and maintain an errors-and-omissions policy of at least $20,000 per occurrence or a $20,000 surety bond.

Louisiana does not issue a separate general broker license; brokers transact insurance as licensed producers. The one broker-specific license is the surplus lines broker: a property & casualty or accident & health producer who maintains a Louisiana office and has at least two years of experience may qualify by application, a $250 fee, and passing the surplus lines exam.

Maine licenses insurance sales roles as producers under Title 24-A §1402, with lines such as Life, Health, Property, Casualty, and Personal Lines, rather than through a separate broker track. To qualify, present 16 credit hours of prelicensing education or 6 months of relevant full-time experience, pass the Pearson VUE exam for your line, and submit the $25 resident application.

Maryland does not issue a separate broker license; anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance is licensed as an insurance producer under Md. Code, Insurance § 10-103, whether they represent insurers or clients. To qualify, you pass the Prometric exam for the line you want, apply through NIPR with the $54 fee, and obtain written documentation of an appointment from each insurer you represent.

Massachusetts licenses insurance producers rather than issuing a separate broker license, and a licensed producer can represent either clients or insurers. To qualify, you must be at least 18, be a U.S. citizen or have proper work authorization, have committed no act that would ground denial or revocation, pass the exam for each line of authority you want, and pay the required fees. You schedule the exams through Pearson and apply through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) with a $225 state fee.

Michigan does not allow brokerage. A broker represents the consumer rather than an insurer, and a broker's acts do not bind any insurer. Michigan instead requires licensure and appointment of producers, meaning an individual may not act as an agent of an insurer without holding a producer license and an appointment from that insurer, filed electronically within 15 days of the first application submission or agency contract.

Minnesota does not license brokers as a separate class; it licenses insurance producers, and anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance in the state must hold a producer license. To qualify, be at least 18, complete 20 hours of approved prelicensing education per line of authority, pass the PSI exam with at least 70% correct, and submit fingerprints and an application with the fees. Producers who represent multiple companies are commonly called brokers or independent agents.

Mississippi licenses brokers under the insurance producer license, so qualification is the same as for any producer: be at least 18, complete 20 hours of pre-licensing education for each line of authority requested, pass the Pearson VUE exam, and apply with the $100 fee at sircon.com or nipr.com. Brokers differ from captive agents by representing clients rather than one insurer.

Missouri licenses individuals who sell or place insurance as insurance producers, the category that covers agents and brokers. You qualify by being at least 18, passing the Pearson VUE exam for your line of authority, and submitting an application through NIPR with the $100 fee. No prelicensing education is required, and the license renews on your birthday every 2 years.

Montana does not issue a separate broker license; the state licenses insurance producers, and that license covers the same selling authority. To qualify, you must be at least 18 years old, pass the licensing exam for the line you want with a score of 75% or better, pass a fingerprint-based background check, and apply through NIPR. Nonresident applicants must hold an active license in their home state that extends the same privilege to Montana residents.

Nebraska licenses insurance sales professionals as producers under its Producer Licensing Act, and that license covers broker activities. To qualify, you must be at least 18, maintain your principal residence in Nebraska, pass the written exam for your lines, and apply online at the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) website with a $50 fee. Non-residents who hold a valid producer license in their home state may apply without taking the Nebraska exam.

In Nevada, brokers operate under the producer license. You must be at least 18, pass the Pearson VUE exam for your line of authority, submit fingerprints, pay the $185 state application fee, and show a five-year employment history with no gaps. To act as a surplus lines broker, you must first hold an active producer license with both Property and Casualty lines of authority, and that application is deferred for state review.

New Hampshire does not issue a separate broker license. The state uses a single producer licensing system in which licensed producers may act as agents, brokers, or consultants. To qualify, you must be at least 18, pass the PSI licensing exam for your line of authority, and apply online through NIPR with the $210 fee. New Hampshire has required no prelicensing course since 2008.

A broker in New Mexico is a producer who represents clients rather than insurers. Qualifying follows the same path as any producer: be at least 18, pass the exam for each line of authority with a score of at least 70%, submit fingerprints for a background check, and apply through NIPR. The state also issues nonresident broker licenses to residents of other states with a home-state license. Surplus lines broker applicants must hold active property and casualty producer licenses and pay a $100 fee.

To qualify as an insurance broker in New York, you must be at least 18, complete a Department-approved prelicensing course (90 hours for property/casualty, 40 hours for life, accident and health), pass the PSI exam, and apply online. The education requirement is waived for broker candidates with one year of responsible insurance duties during the last 3 years (documented on a Statement of Employer), or for holders of designations such as CPCU, CLU, ChFC, or MSFS. Unlike agents, brokers represent the insured and cannot be appointed to insurance companies.

North Carolina no longer issues Broker licenses, effective July 7, 2022, under Senate Bill 496. The insurance producer license now serves that role. To qualify, you must be at least 18, apply online through NIPR at nipr.com, pay the required fees, and pass the exam for each line of authority you want, such as Property or Casualty.

North Dakota licenses brokers under the same insurance producer license it issues to agents, so a broker who represents clients rather than insurers qualifies through that credential. You must be at least 18, reside in the state or maintain a principal place of business there, be trustworthy and financially responsible, pass the PSI exam for each line you want, complete a fingerprint background check, and apply through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) with the $100 fee.

To qualify to sell insurance in Ohio, you must be at least 18, be a US citizen or provide proof of legal authorization to work in the United States, complete 20 hours of pre-licensing education for each line of authority, pass the PSI licensing exam, pass BCI and FBI fingerprint checks, and submit an application through NIPR. The application fee is $10 per line of authority.

Oklahoma does not issue a separate "broker" license for standard insurance sales; agents hold producer licenses, which allow them to sell, solicit, or negotiate coverage. The distinct broker license is the surplus lines broker, who places risks that standard admitted carriers decline. To qualify, you must already hold an active Oklahoma producer license with property and casualty lines; no separate exam is required, and the license fee is $100.

Oregon does not issue a separate broker license, and brokering is not permitted in the state. To transact insurance, you qualify as an insurance producer: complete 20 hours of prelicensing education per line of authority, pass the PSI exam, submit fingerprints, and apply online through NIPR. Nonresidents already licensed in their home state are exempt from Oregon's education and exam requirements and also apply through NIPR.

In Pennsylvania, people who sell or broker insurance are licensed as insurance producers, so you qualify the same way: be at least 18, maintain a primary residence or business location in the state, be able to read and write English, and pass the licensing exam for the line you want with a minimum score of 70%. You then apply online through Sircon or NIPR, and as a resident you submit fingerprints at an IdentoGO center. No pre-licensing education is required.

In Rhode Island, you qualify to sell insurance as a broker by obtaining an insurance producer license: be at least 18, pass the Pearson VUE exam for your lines of authority, provide a certified background check (BCI) from the Attorney General, and apply through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). The resident producer fee is $120 for a two-year term. Brokers who place business outside admitted markets need a Surplus Lines Broker license, which requires an active producer license with Property and Casualty lines plus a $100 fee.

South Carolina does not issue a separate broker license; individuals who transact insurance hold an insurance producer license, and no person may sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance without one. To qualify, you must be at least 18, be of good moral character, pass the Pearson VUE exam for your line of authority, pay the $25 fee, and submit fingerprints.

South Dakota regulates this work through the insurance producer license. You must be at least 18 years old, pass the written exam for each line of authority you wish to sell, pay the fees set in SDCL 58-2-29, and have no disqualifying conduct under SDCL 58-30-167. You then apply online through NIPR; no pre-licensing education is required.

Tennessee licenses this role as an insurance producer, which authorizes a person to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance under Tennessee Code §§ 56-6-101 et seq. To qualify, you must be at least 18, complete 20 hours of pre-licensing education per line of authority, pass the Pearson VUE exam with a minimum score of 70%, and file a $50 application at NIPR after fingerprinting. Once licensed, you contract with insurers, which file appointment notices within 15 days.

Utah licenses brokers as insurance producers under Title 31A, Chapter 23a, which governs agents, brokers, and consultants. You qualify by being at least 18, holding a Social Security Number, being a Utah resident of good character, and passing the applicable Prometric exam for your lines. You then apply online through SIRCON or the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) and complete fingerprinting. Nonresidents qualify by reciprocity if their home-state license is in good standing.

In Vermont, you qualify as a broker by obtaining a Producer license, which replaced the separate agent and broker license types. You must be at least 18, be deemed competent, trustworthy, and financially responsible by the commissioner, pass the written exam for your lines of authority, and submit an application and fees. Resident applicants must wait 48 hours after passing the exam before applying through NIPR.

Virginia's licensing law does not include a general insurance broker license; the broker titles the state issues are surplus lines broker and viatical settlement broker. To qualify as a surplus lines broker, you must actively hold a Property and Casualty producer license, certify a $25,000 bond in favor of the Commonwealth, and pay the $15 application fee, with a minimum $300 annual assessment at renewal. The viatical settlement broker license carries a $15 application fee.

West Virginia does not issue a separate broker license; anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance must hold an insurance producer license from the state. To qualify, you must be 18 or older, complete 20 hours of pre-licensing education per line of authority, pass the Pearson VUE exam, submit fingerprints through Identogo, and apply through NIPR with a $50 fee. Producers who work with multiple insurers hold the same license and operate under company appointments.

Wisconsin does not issue a separate broker license. State law treats a broker, agent, and producer as the same "intermediary" license. To qualify, you must be competent and trustworthy, complete 20 hours of prelicensing education per line of authority, pass the PSI exam ($75), submit fingerprints through Fieldprint, and apply online through NIPR. An insurer must then appoint you within 15 days of your contract being executed or your first application being submitted.

Wyoming does not issue a separate broker license. Brokers are licensed as insurance producers, and a producer acting as a broker represents the buyer rather than the insurer. You qualify the same way as any producer: be 18 or older, pass the Wyoming Insurance Licensing Exam for your lines of authority, apply online through Sircon, pay the $100 resident fee, and submit fingerprints. An insurer must appoint you before you act as its agent.