Who needs an insurance license?

Anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance must hold a producer license for that line of authority in every state where they do business. This includes insurance agents and brokers, and separate licenses are generally required to sell life and health insurance versus property and casualty insurance. Producers who sell variable products also need securities registration through FINRA, such as the Series 6 or Series 7 exam. Adjusters, who investigate and settle claims, are licensed under a separate license type.

Anyone who sells or negotiates insurance must hold a license in each state where they work, including Alabama. Separate lines of authority govern life and health business versus property and casualty business, and Alabama requires an exam for major lines such as Life, Accident and Health, Property, Casualty, Personal Lines, and Bail Bonds. Adjusters, surplus lines brokers, and title insurance agents hold separate license types with their own requirements.

Anyone who sells insurance must be licensed in the state where they work. Alaska licenses insurance producers, independent and trainee adjusters, managing general agents, surplus lines brokers, and limited lines producers such as bail bond, travel, and title. A salaried employee of an insurer does not need an independent adjuster license, and agents selling variable products must also pass FINRA securities exams.

Anyone who sells insurance to the public must hold a producer license in the state where they work, and separate licenses are required for life and health insurance versus property and casualty insurance. Adjusters who handle claims need a separate adjuster license. Agents who also sell securities, such as mutual funds or variable annuities, must additionally be licensed by FINRA. Arizona also licenses bail bond agents, life settlement brokers, and surplus lines brokers as distinct license classes.

Anyone who operates as an insurance producer, adjuster, or other insurance professional, as defined in Arkansas Insurance Laws, needs an Arkansas license. Producers take line-specific exams, such as Life, Health, Property/Casualty, Personal Lines, Title, Crop Hail, and Surplus Lines. Adjusters take exams for the General, Property, Casualty, and Workers' Compensation lines.

Anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance in California must be licensed by the state.

Anyone who sells insurance must be licensed in each state where they work, and separate licenses are required for life and health insurance and for property and casualty insurance. In Colorado, a producer license is required for lines such as Life, Accident & Health, Property, Casualty, Personal Lines, and Title. Agents who sell securities products, such as variable life and variable annuities, must also be registered with FINRA.

Anyone who solicits, negotiates, or sells insurance in Connecticut needs a Connecticut license. That includes non-residents: even if you are licensed in another state, you must hold a Connecticut non-resident license to conduct insurance business in the state. The Insurance Producer license covers Life, Accident & Health or Sickness, Property, Casualty, Personal Lines, Variable Life/Variable Annuity, Credit, and Limited Lines Travel coverage.

Delaware law states that a person may not transact insurance in the state unless licensed as an insurance producer, adjuster, or appraiser for that line of authority. License-exempt activities include executive, administrative, and clerical employees who receive no commissions, group-plan information gatherers, and salaried risk managers counseling their employer. A producer acting as an agent of an insurer, meaning one compensated directly or indirectly by the insurer for selling its products, must also be appointed by that insurer.

Anyone acting as an insurance producer in DC must hold a license issued by the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking, whether as a resident or nonresident and as an individual or a business entity. Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, insurance sales agents must be licensed in the states where they work. An appointment is required only if the producer acts as an agent of an insurer.

Anyone who transacts insurance in Florida needs an agent license. Section 624.10, Florida Statutes, defines transacting insurance as soliciting or inducing, preliminary negotiations, effectuating a contract of insurance, and handling matters arising from the contract afterward. Exceptions exist, such as attorneys in good standing with The Florida Bar for title insurance work and designated officers of title insurers.

Anyone who sells insurance must be licensed in the states where they work, and separate licenses are needed to sell life and health versus property and casualty, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Agents who sell securities or variable products must also register with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). In Georgia, even temporary agents need a sponsoring insurer before they may sell.

Anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance in Idaho must be licensed as a producer under Idaho Code sections 41-1003 through 41-1005. That includes talking to customers about insurance, selling policies, advising customers on the benefits or disadvantages of Idaho policies, and negotiating with customers. Salaried staff adjusters who work directly for an insurer are exempt, but residents and nonresidents operating as independent adjusters in Idaho must be licensed.

Anyone who sells or solicits insurance in Illinois must hold a producer license from the Illinois Department of Insurance before doing business, with the line of authority matching what they sell, such as Life, Accident & Health, Property, or Casualty. Certain products add requirements: long-term care requires the Health line plus a one-time 8-hour Partnership course, flood insurance requires a specific FEMA course, and annuities require the Life line plus 4 hours of suitability training.

Anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance products in Indiana must hold a producer license from the Indiana Department of Insurance. Separate lines of authority cover life and health insurance versus property and casualty insurance, and exams are required for Life, Health, Property and Casualty, and Personal Lines. Staff adjusters do not need a license, but independent adjusters and public adjusters are licensed separately under Indiana Code.

Anyone who solicits, negotiates, or sells insurance in Iowa is a "producer" under Iowa Code 522B and needs a license for each line of authority sold, such as Life, Accident and Health, Property, or Casualty. Separate licenses are required to sell life and health insurance versus property and casualty insurance, and producers must be licensed in the states where they work. Iowa also licenses public, independent, and staff adjusters separately.

Kansas law makes it unlawful to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance in the state without a producer license, so anyone transacting insurance business on behalf of a company needs one. Separate licenses apply to life and health versus property and casualty. Some exemptions exist, such as individuals offering credit insurance in connection with consumer credit transactions and certain car rental and portable electronics entities.

Anyone who sells insurance must be licensed in the states where they work, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, with separate licenses required to sell life and health insurance and property and casualty insurance. In Kentucky, no person may act as or hold themselves out to be an independent, staff, or public adjuster without a license from the department, and an agent may not claim to represent an insurer or place applications without an approved appointment.

Anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance must hold a producer license in each state where they do business. Louisiana also licenses claims adjusters, who act for insurers, and public adjusters, who act for policyholders. Producer lines of authority include Life, Accident and Health or Sickness, Property, Casualty, Personal Lines, Title, Bail Bonds, and others.

Anyone who transacts insurance business — selling life, health, property, casualty, automotive, or other insurance — must hold a producer license in the states where they work, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Maine also licenses adjusters and consultants. A license alone does not authorize binding coverage: a producer must be appointed by an insurer to act as that insurer's agent.

Under Md. Code, Insurance § 10-103, anyone who acts as an insurance producer in Maryland must hold a license in the kind of insurance involved, and an appointment from the insurer if acting for one. A person may not sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance on behalf of an insurer without both. The law exempts certain groups, including insurers, employees whose work is only indirectly related to sales, and employers administering their own employee benefit programs.

Anyone who sells insurance in Massachusetts needs a producer license issued by the state's Division of Insurance. Producers add lines of authority, such as Life, Accident and Health, Property, Casualty, or Personal Lines, and must pass the required exam for each line they sell. Agents who sell securities products such as variable annuities must also be registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

In Michigan, anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance as an agent of an insurer must hold a producer license and be appointed by that insurer. Adjusters who handle claims for payment must also be licensed, though a salaried staff adjuster employed directly by an insurer does not need a license. Attorneys admitted to the Michigan bar may adjust claims without a license but cannot represent themselves as state-licensed adjusters.

Anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance products needs a producer license, and agents must hold a valid license in every state where they do business. Minnesota also licenses adjusters, including independent, public, crop hail, and catastrophe adjusters. A license may be held before appointment, but an appointment by an insurance company is required to transact business.

Anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance in Mississippi must hold a producer license, and an insurance company must appoint you before you can transact business or accept commissions. Separate licenses are required to sell life and health insurance versus property and casualty insurance, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Salaried employees of an insurance company are not required to obtain an adjuster's license in Mississippi.

In Missouri, anyone who sells or even discusses insurance policies with customers must hold a producer license, including customer service representatives who assist customers with policies. Agents must be licensed in the state where they work, and separate licenses are required to sell life and health products versus property and casualty products.

Anyone who transacts insurance business in Montana as a producer must pass the required exam and be granted a license by the state insurance department. This covers resident and nonresident producers, adjusters, and consultants. Public adjusters, crop adjusters, and consultants each need their own license, and public adjusters must also post a $5,000 surety bond.

Anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance in Nebraska must hold an active license before doing so, whether as an individual producer or a business entity. Separate licenses are required for life and health versus property and casualty business. Non-citizens can obtain a producer license by providing proof of work authorization at the initial application.

Anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance in Nevada must hold a license, and may not accept commissions until licensed and appointed by an insurer at the time of the transaction. This covers producers selling life, health, property, casualty, personal lines, and bail products, as well as adjusters who investigate and settle claims. Limited lines such as credit, portable electronics, and rental car coverage also require a license, though some of those lines are exempt from the exam.

New Hampshire statutes require a license for anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance, provides insurance advice for a fee, or otherwise receives compensation for representing insurance to the public. Licensed acts include explaining or interpreting coverage, giving coverage recommendations, indicating that coverage will be bound, and issuing policies or binders. Limited acts such as dispensing brochures, scheduling appointments with producers, and physically delivering policies do not require a license.

Anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance in New Jersey must hold a producer license. Separate licenses are generally required to sell life and health products versus property and casualty products. Business entities must be separately licensed and must have at least one New Jersey-licensed individual producer. Certain products carry extra training rules, such as the long-term care and annuity training requirements.

Anyone who transacts insurance business in New Mexico needs a license from the state Office of Superintendent of Insurance (OSI). Insurance producers, public, staff, and independent adjusters, consultants, surplus lines brokers, title insurance producers, and bail bond professionals must all hold the license matching their activity. A license by itself does not authorize representing an insurer; the insurer must also file an appointment for the producer.

An insurance license is required in New York for any individuals or business entities who engage in the activities of selling, soliciting, or negotiating insurance needs for others.

In North Carolina, a person needs a producer license for the lines of insurance they sell or negotiate, such as Life, Accident and Health, Property, or Casualty. Adjusters who investigate or report claims for salary, fee, or commission need an adjuster license, and public adjusters who represent insureds on first-party property claims need a public adjuster license. A licensed agent may not sell insurance until appointed by one or more insurance companies.

Anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance in North Dakota must hold a producer license, and a producer may not act as an insurer's agent unless the company files an appointment. Insurance consultants and surplus lines producers also need licenses. Staff and independent adjusters who represent insurance companies do not need a license, but public adjusters do.

Anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance in Ohio must hold a license from the Ohio Department of Insurance. This includes agents selling life, accident and health, property, casualty, personal lines, and variable products, each under its own line of authority. Limited lines such as crop, credit, funeral expense, rental car, and travel insurance also require a license, though limited lines applicants do not need pre-licensing education or an exam.

Anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance, or adjusts claims, needs an active Oklahoma insurance license before working in the industry. Passing the exam is only the first step: you may not work until you have submitted an online application and the Oklahoma Insurance Department has issued the license.

Oregon law (ORS 744.053) requires anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance for any class of insurance to hold an insurance producer license for that class. Adjusters and insurance consultants also need their own licenses, and a producer must be appointed by an insurer before acting as its agent. Nonresidents who transact insurance in Oregon likewise need an Oregon nonresident license.

Anyone engaging in the business of insurance or viatical settlements in Pennsylvania needs a license from the state Insurance Department before transacting business; passing an exam alone does not authorize you to sell. Separate licenses cover life and health lines versus property and casualty lines, and producers selling variable products also need registration with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Agents must be licensed in each state where they work.

Anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance in Rhode Island needs a producer license. Anyone who investigates, negotiates, or settles property and casualty or workers compensation claims for compensation needs an adjuster license, and unlicensed persons may not adjust or solicit adjustment of insurance claims. Some people are exempt, including attorneys acting professionally and producers adjusting only claims under policies they negotiated.

Under S.C. Code Section 38-43-20, no person may sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance in South Carolina for any line of authority without a license for that line. The requirement also covers agencies transacting producer business under a corporate or trade name, except single-owner sole proprietorships. Certain people are exempt, including some insurer employees, group-plan enrollers, employers administering their own benefit plans, and salaried employees advising their employer.

Anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance in South Dakota for compensation needs an insurance producer license. Some roles are exempt, including salaried risk managers who counsel only their employer and insurer or agency employees who receive no commission and perform only activities indirectly related to sales. Advertising alone, without intent to solicit insurance in the state, is also exempt.

Under Tennessee law, anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance in the state must hold an insurance producer license, governed by Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 56-6-101 et seq. Separate authority is required for lines such as life, accident and health, property, casualty, and title. Public adjusters, crop adjusters, and surplus lines agents need their own licenses, and agents who sell securities products must also be FINRA-licensed. About 300,000 insurance producers are licensed to do business in Tennessee.

Anyone who sells or transacts insurance for an insurer in Texas needs a license from the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI). An agent may not perform any agent transactions until the insurer files an appointment with TDI. Separate licenses cover different lines, such as General Lines Property and Casualty, Life Agent, and Limited Lines.

Anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance in Utah must hold an active producer license for the line being sold. Independent adjusters, who represent insurers, and public adjusters, who represent insureds, must also be licensed, though Utah does not license company staff adjusters under Utah Code 31A-26-201. A licensee must also hold an insurer appointment or an agency designation to transact insurance.

In Vermont, anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance must hold a producer license under 8 V.S.A. 4791. Adjusters, appraisers, consultants, and several other insurance roles also require their own licenses. Exceptions include adjusters sent into Vermont by an admitted insurer for catastrophe losses and officials or employees of Vermont domestic insurance companies.

Anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance contracts in Virginia must hold a license from the Bureau of Insurance before transacting business. You may not receive commissions unless you are licensed at the time of the transaction and appointed by an insurer. Agents who sell securities products, such as variable annuities or mutual funds, must also be licensed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), typically with the Series 6 or Series 7 exam.

Anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance in Washington needs a producer license, and anyone who investigates or negotiates settlement offers for insurance claims needs an adjuster license (crop, independent, or public). Selling insurance without the required license can bring fines and enforcement actions from the state.

A license is required whenever a person sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance on behalf of an insurance company, including advising a client to buy a specific policy. In West Virginia, the major lines requiring an exam are Life, Accident & Sickness, Property, Casualty, and Personal Lines. Limited lines such as Title, Travel, Credit, Car Rental, and Self Storage do not require an exam but still require a license.

Wisconsin law defines an intermediary as anyone who solicits, recommends, negotiates, or places insurance or annuities, or advises about insurance needs and coverages, and that person must be licensed. The state uses "intermediary" to mean an agent, broker, or producer. Some roles are exempt, including town mutual agents, certain insurer officers and employees, and people selling rental car insurance for 90 consecutive days or less.

Under Wyoming statute W.S. 26-9-203, no person may sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance in Wyoming without a license for that line of authority. The law exempts a narrow group, such as insurer officers and employees not paid commission, employer benefit-plan administrators, and salaried employees who advise only their own employer. Anyone paid a fee to advise on insurance must hold a consultant license under W.S. 26-9-220.