What is a life and health insurance license, and how do I get one?

A life and health license is a state producer license that lets you sell life insurance, annuities, and accident and health coverage. To get one, you must be at least 18, complete any prelicensing education your state requires (where required, the uniform standard is 20 hours per line of authority), pass the state exam, clear a fingerprint background check where applicable, and apply, usually through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). Continuing education keeps the license active at renewal.