What is an insurance producer license, and how do I get one?
An insurance producer license is the state license that authorizes you to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance; the term covers both agents and brokers. To get one you must be at least 18, complete any prelicensing education your state requires, pass the state licensing exam, submit to a background check (with fingerprints in many states), and file an application, which goes through NIPR in most states. States typically take 7 to 10 days to review an application, and you must hold a license in every state where you do business.
An insurance producer license authorizes you to sell insurance in Alabama; "producer" is the state's statutory term for what the market often calls an agent. To get one, you must be at least 18, pass the state exam for each line of authority you want (70% is the passing score), complete a fingerprint background check through Fieldprint, and submit an $80 application through NIPR with proof of U.S. citizenship. No prelicensing education has been required since January 1, 2024.
Sources: Alabama Department of Insurance (ALDOI) – Adjuster Requirements.
An insurance producer license authorizes a person to sell insurance in Alaska as an agent or broker. To get one, you must be 18, be a resident of Alaska, and pass the Pearson VUE exam for your line of authority with a scaled score of 70. Alaska requires no prelicensing education; you then apply through NIPR with the $75 fee, one fingerprint card, and the $48.25 fingerprint evaluation fee.
Sources: Alaska DOI: Reinstate an expired license (form 08-307c); Alaska DOI: Individual application and instructions (form 08-240).
An insurance producer license is the state credential that permits a person to sell insurance; "producer" is the title states most often use for licensing, and it covers agents and brokers alike. In Arizona you must be 18 or older, pass the PSI exam for your line of authority, submit electronic fingerprints, and apply through NIPR with a $120 state fee. Arizona requires no pre-licensing education.
Sources: Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) Fee Schedule.
An insurance producer license authorizes an individual to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance products, and in Arkansas the Arkansas Insurance Department issues it. To get one, complete 20 hours of prelicensing education per line of authority, submit the resident application through NIPR before scheduling the exam, clear a criminal background check, and pass the PSI licensing exam with at least 70%. You can print your license from NIPR 24 hours after passing, and the companies you represent then file appointments with the state.
Sources: Arkansas AID: 23 CAR pt 18 continuing education for producers and adjusters; Arkansas AID: 23 CAR pt 14 prelicense education for producers and adjusters.
An insurance producer license authorizes a person to solicit, negotiate, or sell insurance; in California, producer lines include life, accident and health, property, casualty, and personal lines. To get one, you must be at least 18, complete the 12-hour ethics and California Insurance Code course, pass the qualifying exam for your line (60% passing score), and apply through Sircon or NIPR with a $188 two-year filing fee plus $74 for fingerprints.
Sources: Cal. Ins. Code 1749: Prelicensing education requirements by license type; California CDI: Licensing fees and schedule of fees and charges; California CDI: Resident licensing fingerprint requirements.
An insurance producer license authorizes a person to sell insurance; Colorado issues a single Producer license that lists your lines of authority. To get one, be at least 18, a Colorado resident, and complete 50 hours of prelicensing education for your line, then pass the Pearson VUE exam and apply at sircon.com/colorado or nipr.com within one year of passing. The resident fee is $44 per line of authority (effective April 1, 2026), and most applications are processed in under five business days.
Sources: Colorado Division of Insurance, Regulation 1-2-5: Insurance Producer Prelicensing Education Requirements for Residents (3 CCR 702); Pearson VUE: Colorado Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook (July 2026, #120600).
An insurance producer license is the authority to solicit, negotiate, or sell insurance in Connecticut. To get one, complete the required pre-licensing education (20 hours per single line, 40 for combined lines), pass the Pearson VUE exam with a score of at least 70%, wait 1 to 2 days for the results to upload, and apply online through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). The $140 application is usually processed in 7 to 10 business days, and Connecticut does not require fingerprinting or a background check for this license.
Sources: Connecticut CID: Exam testing and pre-licensing FAQ; Connecticut CID: Licensing application process and requirements; Connecticut CID: Producer (individual) license.
An insurance producer license authorizes you to transact insurance in Delaware for the lines of authority listed on the license, and Delaware law treats "insurance agent," "insurance broker," and "insurance consultant" as the same thing. To get one, you must be at least 18, pass the Pearson VUE exam for your line, submit fingerprints for state and FBI criminal history reports, and apply online through NIPR with the $150 fee.
Sources: Delaware DOI: Domestic and Foreign Insurers Bulletin No. 152 / Producers and Adjusters Bulletin No. 37 — Licensing Fees (House Bill 18).
An insurance producer license authorizes an individual or business entity to sell insurance in the District of Columbia. To get one, you must be at least 18, pass the Pearson VUE exam for your line of authority, submit fingerprints and a background check through Fieldprint, and apply electronically at nipr.com. The individual license fee is $100, and the license renews every two years.
Sources: DC DISB: Insurance Bureau schedule of fees, taxes and deposits.
In Florida, the term for an insurance producer is insurance agent, and the state licenses agents by line of authority, such as life, health, general lines, or personal lines. To get licensed you complete the prelicensing education for your line, apply with fees through the MyProfile portal, submit fingerprints through the state's vendor, and pass the Pearson VUE state exam. Florida Statutes section 624.10 defines transacting insurance to include soliciting, negotiating, and effectuating insurance contracts.
Sources: Florida DFS: agent and adjuster license qualifications by type; Florida DFS: fees and payment methods.
"Producer" is the statutory term for an insurance agent, a person licensed to sell insurance to the public. To get the Georgia license, complete prelicensing education (8 hours per major line, 16 hours for a combined two-line course such as Property and Casualty), pass the Pearson VUE exam with a score of 70%, and apply at sircon.com/georgia with the $120 fee, electronic fingerprints, and a Citizenship Affidavit.
Sources: Georgia OCI: Get a resident insurance agent license.
An insurance producer license authorizes an individual to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance, and Idaho requires every person performing those activities to hold one. To get licensed, pass the Pearson VUE exam for each line of authority you want ($65 per exam), submit fingerprints, and apply online through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) with the $80 fee. Idaho does not require pre-licensing education.
Sources: Idaho DOI: Testing and fingerprints; Idaho Department of Insurance — Testing and Fingerprints page.
In Illinois, an insurance producer license authorizes you to sell insurance; "producer" is the state's statutory term for what most people call an agent or broker. To get one, complete 20 hours of pre-licensing education per line of authority (7.5 hours in a classroom or webinar), pass the Pearson VUE licensing exams, wait 5 days, and apply online through NIPR with the $215 resident fee. You must be at least 18 years old.
Sources: Illinois IDOI: How to become a resident producer (Illinois insurance agent); Illinois IDOI: Fee schedule; NIPR: Illinois resident individual licensing requirements.
An insurance producer license is the state-issued license that authorizes you to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance. To get one in Indiana, complete three steps: pre-licensing education, the Pearson VUE licensing exam, and an online application through Sircon or NIPR with a $40 fee. You must be at least 18, an Indiana resident, and free of any act that is a ground for license denial. Typical processing time is 7-10 business days.
Sources: NIPR: Indiana resident individual renewal requirements.
An insurance producer license authorizes a person to solicit, negotiate, or sell insurance in Iowa, and Iowa law uses the title producer for this role, which is the same role other states call an agent. To get one, you must be at least 18, pass the Pearson VUE exam for your line of authority, apply through NIPR with the $50 license fee, and complete fingerprinting. The license runs three years, ending the last day of your birth month, and renewal requires 36 CE credits, including 3 credits of ethics.
Sources: Iowa IID: Insurance producers.
An insurance producer license authorizes an individual to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance; Kansas statute calls the licensee an insurance agent. To get one you must be at least 18, obtain a Certificate of Tax Clearance from the Kansas Department of Revenue, be fingerprinted for a background check, pass the exam for your line of authority, and submit the NAIC Uniform Application through NIPR with the $30 application and $60 fingerprint fees.
Sources: K.S.A. 40-4905: License application, fingerprinting and background check; Kansas KDOI: Producer licensing (resident and nonresident).
A producer license is the state-issued license that authorizes a person to sell insurance; Kentucky's statutes call these licensees agents, and the state uses "producer" and "agent" for the same license. To get one, you must be at least 18, complete 20 hours of prelicensing training for each line of authority, submit an application through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) with an AOC criminal background report, and pass the exam with 70% correct. Fees are $40 for the license, $40 per line of authority, and $50 per exam.
Sources: Kentucky DOI: Licensing Frequently Asked Questions; NIPR: Kentucky Resident Individual Renewal Requirements.
An insurance producer license authorizes a person to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance products in Louisiana. The state issues producer licenses for lines such as Life, Accident & Health or Sickness, Property, Casualty, and Personal Lines. To get one, pass the PSI exam for your line with a score of at least 70%, file the $75 application through NIPR, and be fingerprinted through IdentoGo after applying.
Sources: Louisiana LDI: License renewals and renewal fees.
An insurance producer license authorizes you to sell insurance in a state; Maine issues producer licenses under Title 24-A §1402. To get one, present 16 credit hours of prelicensing education or 6 months of relevant experience, pass the Pearson VUE exam for your line, wait at least 48 hours for score processing, and submit the $25 resident application.
Sources: Maine Rule 02-031 C.M.R. ch. 542, § 4 (Minimum Educational Requirements), as published by Cornell Legal Information Institute; NIPR: Maine resident individual licensing requirements; Maine BOI: Producer frequently asked questions.
An insurance producer license authorizes a person to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance in Maryland, and state law requires one before anyone acts as a producer (Md. Code, Insurance § 10-103). Maryland issues producer licenses in six major lines: Life, Health, Property, Casualty, Variable Life and Annuity Products, and Personal Lines. To get one, pass the Prometric exam for the line with a 70% or higher score, then apply online through NIPR with the $54 fee; if you act for an insurer, you must also hold that insurer's appointment.
Sources: Maryland MIA: Licensing and registration fees.
An insurance producer license authorizes you to sell insurance in Massachusetts. The state issues one producer license, and you add lines of authority such as Life, Accident and Health or Sickness, Property, or Casualty to it. To get one, you must be at least 18, pass the Pearson exam for each line you want, and apply through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) with the $225 state fee. Massachusetts requires no prelicusing education and has no fingerprint requirement for producer licensing.
Sources: NIPR: Massachusetts resident individual licensing requirements.
A producer license authorizes an individual to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance in a chosen line of authority, such as Life, Accident and Health, or Property and Casualty. To get one in Michigan, you must be at least 18, complete the required pre-licensing education, pass the PSI exam for your line, and file an application through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) with a $10.00 state fee plus a $5.00 transaction fee.
Sources: Michigan DIFS: How to become licensed as a resident producer.
An insurance producer license authorizes an individual to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance, and it is required in every state where the producer does business. In Minnesota, you must be at least 18, complete 20 hours of approved prelicensing education per line of authority, pass the state exam through PSI with at least 70% correct, submit fingerprints, and file the application online through Sircon or NIPR within 36 months of passing. Exam results remain valid for three years.
Sources: Minnesota Department of Commerce: Resident Producers; Minn. Stat. 60K.36: Examinations (incl. prelicensing education).
An insurance producer license authorizes you to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance contracts, and the Mississippi Insurance Department issues it. To get one, complete any required pre-licensing education, pass the Pearson VUE exam for each line of authority, and apply at sircon.com or nipr.com with the $100 fee. You must be at least 18, and you cannot sell until the Department issues your license and an insurance company appoints you.
Sources: Mississippi MID: Licensing forms and fees.
An insurance producer license authorizes a person to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance in Missouri. To get one, you must be at least 18, pass the Pearson VUE exam for your line of authority (Life, Accident and Health, Property, Casualty, Personal Lines, Crop, or Title), and apply through NIPR with the $100 fee within 1 year of passing. Missouri requires no prelicensing education, and the license is valid for 2 years.
Sources: Missouri DCI: Resident producer licensing requirements; Missouri DCI: Producer licensing FAQs.
A producer license authorizes an individual to sell insurance in Montana. To get one, pass the Pearson VUE licensing exam with a score of 75% or better, submit a fingerprint card and the $30 fee to Montana Criminal Records, and apply through NIPR; the resident producer application carries no state fee. You must be at least 18 years old, and exam scores stay valid for 1 year.
Sources: Montana CSI: Fingerprints for insurance licensing purposes; Pearson VUE: Montana insurance candidate handbook (June 2025); Montana CSI: Steps to obtaining a nonresident insurance license.
An insurance producer license authorizes you to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance in Nebraska. To get one, you must be at least 18 with your principal residence in Nebraska, pass the PSI exam for your line of authority, allow 2-3 business days for results to post, and then apply at the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) website. Processing takes 3-5 business days for clean applications, after which you download and print your license at NIPR.com.
Sources: Nebraska DOI — Producer Licensing; Nebraska DOI: Producer licensing (licensing division hub with public adjuster and consultant requirements).
An insurance producer license is the state authority to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance; in Nevada, "producer" is the statutory term covering what many call an agent or broker. You must be at least 18, pass the Pearson VUE licensing exam for your line of authority, submit fingerprints within 90 days of applying, and apply online through Sircon or NIPR for the $185 state fee. Nevada no longer requires prelicensing education for producer applicants.
Sources: Pearson VUE: Nevada Insurance Candidate Handbook (October 2024); Nevada Division of Insurance – Producer Licensing (Individuals) page and DOI Licensing FAQs for Applicants and Licensees.
An insurance producer license authorizes a person to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance for compensation. New Hampshire uses a single producer licensing system, so producers may act as agents, brokers, or consultants under one license. To get one, you must be at least 18, pass the PSI exam for each line of authority you want, and submit the NAIC Uniform Application online through NIPR with the $210 fee. No prelicensing course is required, and exam scores remain valid for 2 years.
Sources: New Hampshire NHID: Licensing fees; New Hampshire NHID: Producer licenses.
An insurance producer license is New Jersey's credential for selling, soliciting, or negotiating insurance; "producer" means the same thing as agent. To get one, complete 20 hours of approved prelicensing education per line, pass the PSI exam with at least 70%, complete Live Scan fingerprinting, and apply online through NIPR for $170 in state fees. The license lasts two years and renews on the last day of your birth month.
Sources: New Jersey DOBI: Producer licensing FAQs; New Jersey DOBI: Insurance licensing and education hub.
A producer license authorizes a person to sell insurance in New Mexico. To get one, you must be at least 18, pass the exam for each line of authority with a score of at least 70%, submit fingerprints for a state and federal background check, and apply online through NIPR with a $30 fee. The license itself does not authorize you to represent an insurer; an insurer must also file an appointment for you within 15 days of the agency agreement or your first application on its behalf.
Sources: New Mexico OSI: License Fees 2026; New Mexico Administrative Code 13.4.2.29, New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance (via SRCA/NM Register).
A producer is a licensed insurance agent or broker; in New York, an agent represents insurers and needs a company appointment to sell, while a broker represents the public and places business with any authorized company. To get a producer license, you must be at least 18, complete a Department-approved prelicensing course of 20 to 90 hours depending on the line, pass the PSI exam, and apply online through the state licensing portal. You must apply within 2 years of passing the exam.
Sources: New York DFS: Agent and broker prelicensing education; New York DFS: Property and casualty / personal lines agent or broker licensing.
A producer license authorizes you to sell insurance, and each line of authority, such as Life, Property, or Casualty, defines the products you may sell. North Carolina stopped issuing Broker licenses as of July 7, 2022, so the producer license covers that role. To get one, you must be at least 18, apply online at nipr.com, pass the exam for each line of authority, and submit fingerprints for an initial license.
Sources: North Carolina NCDOI: Become an insurance producer or adjuster; North Carolina NCDOI: Resident licensing requirements chart.
An insurance producer license is the state credential required to sell insurance; North Dakota law bars anyone from acting as a producer without one, and willful violation is a class C felony. To get one, 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 of authority, complete a fingerprint background check, and apply through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) with a $100 fee. The license renews every two years by the last day of your birth month.
Sources: North Dakota NDID: Apply for a resident producer license.
An insurance producer license is the state credential that authorizes you to sell insurance, and in Ohio "producer" and "agent" refer to the same licensee. To get one, you must be at least 18, complete 20 hours of pre-licensing education for each major line, pass the PSI exam, submit fingerprints for BCI and FBI checks, and apply through NIPR. The application fee is $10 per line of authority.
Sources: Ohio ODI: Pre-licensing education; Ohio ODI: License fees and application fee chart.
An insurance producer is a person licensed to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance; in Oklahoma, "producer" and "agent" refer to the same license. To get one, pass the relevant PSI exam, wait 3 business days for results to post, then apply online through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). The resident fee is $60, and the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) processes producer applications in 5-7 business days. Exam scores stay valid for 2 years from the date taken.
Sources: Oklahoma OID: License Fee Schedule (revised 09/07/2023); NIPR: Oklahoma Resident Individual Licensing Requirements.
An insurance producer license authorizes you to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance for the classes of insurance listed on the license. To earn an Oregon resident producer license, be at least 18 years old, complete 20 hours of prelicensing education per line of authority, pass the required PSI exam, submit fingerprints for a background check, and apply online through NIPR. In Oregon, all lines of authority sit on one license.
Sources: Oregon PSI: Insurance candidate information bulletin; Oregon DFR: Producer licensing.
An insurance producer license is the state credential that permits a person to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance, and Pennsylvania issues it through the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. To qualify as a resident, you must be at least 18, maintain a primary residence or business location in the state, pass the licensing exam through PSI with a minimum score of 70%, apply online through Sircon or NIPR, and submit fingerprints. Pennsylvania has not required pre-licensing education since April 29, 2025.
Sources: Pennsylvania PID: Initial insurance producer licensing process; Pennsylvania PID: Apply for or renew your producer/agent license.
An insurance producer license authorizes you to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance, and it is the license Rhode Island issues to insurance agents. To get one, you must 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 fee is $120 for a two-year term, and all producers selling, soliciting, or negotiating insurance must carry errors and omissions (E&O) insurance.
Sources: Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation — Insurance Regulation 103 / 230-RICR-20-50-5 (Licensing and Renewal Fees).
An insurance producer license authorizes a person to sell, solicit, and negotiate insurance in South Carolina for a specific line of authority, such as life, accident and health, property, or casualty. To get one, you must be at least 18, pass the Pearson VUE exam for your line, apply through NIPR with a $25 fee, and submit fingerprints for a background check.
Sources: South Carolina Department of Insurance — License Renewal page, corroborated by NIPR SC Resident Renewal fee schedule and S.C. Code § 38-43-80.
An insurance producer license authorizes you to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance as an agent of an insurer. To get one in South Dakota, you must be at least 18 years old, pass the written exam for each line of authority you want through Pearson VUE, and apply online through NIPR with a $25 fee plus a service fee. No pre-licensing education is required.
Sources: SDCL 58-30-148: Resident producer license application requirements; SDCL 58-2-29: Division of Insurance fee schedule.
An insurance producer is a person required to be licensed under Tennessee law to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance, under Tennessee Code §§ 56-6-101 et seq. To get the license, you must be at least 18, complete 20 hours of pre-licensing education per line of authority, and pass the Pearson VUE exam with a minimum score of 70%. You must wait 48 hours after the exam, then submit fingerprints and file a $50 application at www.nipr.com.
Sources: Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-01-56: Licensing Requirements for Insurance Producers; TN TDCI — Insurance Producer Licensing Procedure with Exams; Pearson VUE — Tennessee Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook (October 2026 edition, #124300).
An insurance producer license is the state credential that authorizes someone to sell insurance; in Texas it is called an agent license. To get one, be at least 18 years old, pass the Pearson VUE exam for your license type, get fingerprinted, and apply within one year of passing through Sircon or NIPR with the $50 fee. Plan on 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.
An insurance producer license authorizes a person to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance, and Utah licenses agents and brokers alike as producers under Title 31A, Chapter 23a. To get one, you must be at least 18, hold a Social Security Number, meet the character requirements of Utah Code 31A-23a-107, pass the applicable Prometric exam, apply online through SIRCON or the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR), and be fingerprinted at a Prometric test center. Utah requires no prelicensing education course.
Sources: Utah UID: Exam and Licensing Procedures; Utah Insurance Department FY2027 Fee Schedule (H.B. 8).
An insurance producer license is Vermont's license for a person who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance; under Title 8, section 4791, it replaced the former agent and broker license types. To get one, you must be at least 18, be deemed competent, trustworthy, and financially responsible by the commissioner, pass a written exam, and submit an application and fees. Resident applicants wait 48 hours after passing the exam, and routine applications are generally issued within 48 hours.
Sources: Vermont DFR: Producer license.
An insurance producer license is what authorizes you to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance in Virginia, covering lines such as Life and Annuities, Health, Property and Casualty, Personal Lines, and Title. To get one, you must be at least 18, pass the Prometric exam for each exam-required line (Title also requires 16 hours of prelicensing instruction), and submit fingerprints at a Fieldprint site. You then apply through NIPR or Sircon for $15 per line of authority.
Sources: Va. Code § 38.2-1866: Continuing education requirements; NIPR: Virginia resident individual licensing requirements.
An insurance producer license authorizes a person to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance. Washington's full lines are life, disability (health), property, casualty, and personal lines; its limited lines are surety, credit, and travel. To get one, pass the exam for each line you want (70% to pass), apply for your license online, then get fingerprinted. You must submit the application before you can schedule the fingerprint appointment.
Sources: Washington OIC: Producer license (full and limited lines); Washington OIC: Producer and adjuster licensing fees.
An insurance producer license is the state credential that authorizes a person to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance. In West Virginia, the Offices of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) issues it after you complete 20 hours of pre-licensing education per line of authority, pass the Pearson VUE exam, submit fingerprints through Identogo (service code 228NS5), and apply through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) with a $50 fee. The course completion certificate must be presented in paper form at the test center and is valid for 6 months.
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).
In Wisconsin, a producer license is the intermediary individual license: the state treats an insurance broker, agent, and producer as the same "intermediary" license type. To get one, complete 20 hours of prelicensing education per line of authority with an approved provider, submit fingerprints through Fieldprint, pass the PSI exam ($75), and apply online through NIPR. The license fee is $75 per line of authority plus a $10 application fee, and an insurer must appoint you before you transact insurance.
Sources: Wisconsin OCI: Prelicensing Requirements; Wisconsin OCI: Insurance License Types and Fees.
An insurance producer license authorizes you to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance in the lines of authority listed on it. In Wyoming the producer license covers both agents and brokers. To get one, you must be 18 or older, pass the Wyoming Insurance Licensing Exam for your lines through Pearson VUE, apply online through Sircon, pay the $100 resident fee, and submit fingerprints for a background check after your application is received.
Sources: Wyoming DOI: producer licensing requirements, fees and FAQs.