How to get an insurance license in Pennsylvania

Getting an insurance license in Pennsylvania comes down to three steps: pass the licensing exam for the lines you want to sell, apply online through Sircon or the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR), and complete fingerprinting. No pre-licensing education is required. Act 142 of 2024 removed that requirement effective April 29, 2025, so you can study on your own and register for the exam whenever you are ready. A resident producer license costs $55 to apply for, and the Pennsylvania Insurance Department issues most licenses within 7-10 business days when the application is complete.

Who must be licensed to sell insurance in Pennsylvania

Anyone who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance in Pennsylvania must hold a license before transacting business. The PSI candidate bulletin^[1] states that you may not engage in the business of insurance or viatical settlements until the Department has issued a license, and passing an exam alone does not authorize you to sell.

To qualify as a resident insurance producer, the PSI candidate bulletin^[1] lists these requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Maintain a primary residence or a business location in Pennsylvania.
• Be able to read and write English.
• Possess the requisite professional competence, general fitness, and integrity of character.
• Pass the examination required for your lines of authority.

Nothing in the state's requirements asks for prior industry experience or a degree, so the list above is the complete eligibility picture for residents.

What licensed insurance agents earn

Insurance sales agents earned a median of $62,280 per year, or $29.94 per hour, in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics^[2]. Pay varies widely: the lowest 10% earned under $37,330 and the highest 10% earned over $138,140.

The same federal data shows a moderate entry bar. The typical entry-level education is a high school diploma or equivalent, with no related work experience required and moderate on-the-job training. Employment is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations, with roughly 43,100 openings per year, most from replacement needs.

Pennsylvania no longer requires pre-licensing education

Effective April 29, 2025, no pre-licensing education is required for any producer line in Pennsylvania. Act 142 of 2024 repealed the pre-examination education requirement from the Insurance Department Act of 1921, which had required at least 24 credit hours of approved coursework. The state's Sircon portal^[3] confirms that providers may still submit approved courses, but candidates no longer need to complete one before sitting for the exam.

You will still find guides claiming that 24 hours of coursework, including 3 hours of ethics, are mandatory. That figure reflects the repealed rule, so treat it as outdated.

Because the exam is now the only gate, structured preparation is the main variable you control. RealEstateU offers an online Pennsylvania insurance exam preparation course that covers the tested content line by line, and you can move through it at your own pace.

Pennsylvania producer lines of authority

Pennsylvania licenses producers line by line, and each major line has its own exam. The PSI candidate bulletin^[1] lists the exams and fees below, which reflect the fee schedule effective March 2026.

PSI also offers combined exams that merge two single-line exams into one sitting. To earn either line through a combined exam, you must pass the overall exam.

Life insurance license in Pennsylvania

To sell life insurance products and annuities, pass the Life Insurance exam (16-01), which costs $45. The exam is multiple choice, and you must score at least 70% to pass, the same minimum that applies to every Pennsylvania insurance exam.

You can also qualify for the life and the accident and health lines together by taking the combined Life, Accident and Health exam (16-03), which costs $55. Many candidates pursue a life and health insurance license this way because one sitting covers both lines. If you plan to sell annuities, confirm the current suitability training expectations with the Department before your first annuity sale.

Accident and health license in Pennsylvania

To sell health insurance, pass the Accident and Health exam (16-02), which costs $45, or take the combined exam described in the life section above. The accident and health line covers health, sickness, and related coverage sold to individuals and groups.

A health line of authority also opens the federal Marketplace door. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services^[4] states that agents without an approved health-related line of authority cannot access Marketplace systems or assist consumers with enrollment, and Marketplace registration and training are separate from the state license.

Property insurance license in Pennsylvania

To sell property coverage, pass the Property and Allied Lines exam (16-04), which costs $45. The property line covers fire and allied lines, inland marine, and motor vehicle physical damage.

You can also earn the property and casualty license through the combined Property and Casualty exam (16-06), which costs $55. The combined exam merges the property and casualty content into a single test, and passing it qualifies you for both lines. Holding a property line also triggers a flood continuing education requirement at renewal, covered later in this guide.

Casualty insurance license in Pennsylvania

To sell casualty coverage, pass the Casualty and Allied Lines exam (16-05), which costs $45. The casualty line covers casualty and allied lines, bonds of all classes, liability other than motor vehicle, and workers' compensation.

If you want a P&C license rather than the casualty line alone, the combined Property and Casualty exam described in the property section qualifies you for both lines in one sitting.

Personal lines insurance license in Pennsylvania

To sell insurance to individuals and households, pass the Personal Lines exam (16-16), which costs $45. Personal lines covers products such as homeowners and personal auto coverage, rather than commercial risks.

The personal lines license suits agents who plan to work with consumers rather than businesses. It carries the same flood continuing education obligation at renewal as the property and casualty lines.

Variable life and variable annuity authority in Pennsylvania

The variable life and variable annuity line requires no state insurance exam. Instead, you must be registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)^[5], and the NIPR application^[6] requires your FINRA CRD number when you request this line.

The typical path is the Series 6 exam, which FINRA lists at $100, along with the Series 63 state-law exam at $147. Variable products combine insurance with securities, which is why the registration, not a state exam, controls eligibility.

Limited lines and specialty licenses in Pennsylvania

Beyond the major producer lines, Pennsylvania issues several limited and specialty licenses. Limited lines include credit, crop, portable electronics, restricted property, restricted fraternal, and self-service storage coverage, and a limited lines travel insurance producer license carries a $400 initial fee.

Title insurance agent

Resident and non-resident title insurance agents must pass the Title Insurance Agent exam (16-10), which costs $45, and pay a $55 resident or $110 non-resident application fee, per the PSI candidate bulletin^[1]. A title agent must be appointed by a title insurer before transacting business, and a resident title agency must obtain a fidelity bond of no less than $150,000, per NIPR's business entity requirements^[7].

Surplus lines producer

A surplus lines producer license requires an active Pennsylvania property and casualty producer license first. Resident applicants must pass the Surplus Lines exam (16-09), which costs $45, with no exemptions, and the license fee is $200, per the Department's surplus lines requirements^[8]. An affiliated agency must also hold both licenses.

Public adjuster

A public adjuster, who represents policyholders rather than insurers, must pass the Public Adjuster exam (16-19) and pay a $200 initial license fee. The NIPR resident requirements^[6] also require a Department-approved contract and a surety bond of no less than $20,000.

Motor vehicle physical damage appraiser and viatical settlement broker

The motor vehicle physical damage appraiser license costs $55, renews annually by June 30, and requires the MVPDA exam plus six months of continuous estimating experience or completion of an appraisal training program within the last 3 years. A viatical settlement broker license costs $100, runs on a 1-year term, and requires exam 16-17, per the PSI candidate bulletin^[1].

How to schedule and take the Pennsylvania insurance exam

PSI administers Pennsylvania's insurance exams under contract with the Insurance Department. You register through PSI's Pennsylvania insurance portal^[9] or by calling 888-818-5822.

Test centers operate across the state, including Allentown, Erie, Harrisburg, King of Prussia, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Scranton, and remote online proctoring is available if you prefer to test from home. Bring a government-issued photo ID with a signature that matches your registration. The exams are multiple choice with four options, include 5-10 unscored experimental questions, and run about 2-3 hours depending on the license type. A tutorial of up to 15 minutes does not count against your exam time.

You must score at least 70% to pass. If you fail, there is no limit on retakes: the PSI portal^[9] allows unlimited attempts with a 24-hour wait before rescheduling and the full exam fee due each time. To reschedule or cancel without forfeiting the fee, PSI must receive notice at least 2 days before your exam date. Once you pass, you must submit your license application within one year, after which the score expires.

Exam waivers and exemptions

Some applicants can skip the exam entirely. Under 40 P.S. § 310.4, a resident applicant who holds the CLU designation is exempt from the exam for the life and accident and health lines, a CPCU holder is exempt for the property, casualty, and accident and health lines, and a CIC holder is exempt for life, accident and health, and property and casualty. The commissioner may waive the exam for other professional designations, and business entities and reciprocal non-resident producers are also exempt.

The Insurance Department's licensing pages and the PSI bulletin do not publicize the designation waivers, so confirm with the Department at (717) 787-3840 before skipping an exam based on a designation.

How to apply for your Pennsylvania insurance license

After passing, wait at least 48 hours before submitting your application so your scores have time to process, per NIPR's guidance^[10]. Then apply online at sircon.com/pennsylvania or through the NIPR licensing center^[6]. A resident individual producer pays a $55 state fee, and NIPR adds a $5.60 transaction fee when you apply through its system.

Resident applicants can apply for only one license class at a time, so multiple classes require multiple applications. The Department encourages applicants to bring a credit card to the test center and apply at the kiosk immediately after passing. Paper applications are accepted only if you cannot apply online and take considerably longer.

Business entity licenses

A resident business entity producer license also costs $55. The entity must be a corporation, partnership, LLC, or LLP; a sole proprietorship is not accepted, and the owner needs an individual license instead, per NIPR's business entity requirements^[7]. The application must name at least one designated responsible licensed producer (DRLP) who cumulatively holds every line the entity is requesting. Resident entities must also obtain name approval from the Insurance Department and register with the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Fingerprints and the background check

Every applicant for a new resident producer or limited line producer license, and every resident title agent and public adjuster, must be fingerprinted at an IdentoGO enrollment center. You register online or at 844-321-2101 using the Insurance Department service code 1KGBGJ, per the Department's licensing process page^[11].

The criminal history record fee is $26.20, per the Department's licensing fee schedule^[12], paid at the IdentoGO center by credit card, debit card, certified check, or money order.

Timing matters. Do not submit fingerprints until after you have passed the exam and applied for licensure. The Department's page^[11] warns that fingerprint results received without a corresponding application will not be accepted, and you would have to resubmit prints and repay the fee.

Fingerprinting is not required for non-resident producers applying under reciprocity, non-resident public adjusters, motor vehicle physical damage appraisers, surplus lines applicants, viatical settlement brokers, or producers adding a line to an existing license. Non-resident title agents still must be fingerprinted.

If you answer "yes" to any background question on the application, you must upload a written statement, the initiating court documents, and the resolution documents through NIPR's Attachments Warehouse. Applicants with criminal records can request the Department's Preliminary Insurance License Eligibility Review before paying for an exam, which tells you upfront whether your history is likely to block licensure.

License processing time and printing your copy

If all required information is provided, most licenses are issued in 7-10 business days from the date the Department receives the application, per its application status page. A fingerprint-based background check that turns up records can extend that timeline. You can track a pending application through the Department's online status lookup.

Once licensed, your National Producer Number (NPN) is assigned within 48-72 hours of licensure, per the Sircon portal^[3].

Printing your license

The Department no longer mails licenses. Instead, you download a PDF copy yourself from the state's license printing page^[13]. Individuals sign in with a license number and a password consisting of the final four digits of the Social Security number; business entities use their EIN, including the dash. Individual address changes go through sircon.com/pennsylvania, and a renewed license becomes available within 24 hours after renewal.

Getting appointed with insurance companies

A license lets you sell insurance, but you transact for a company only after it appoints you. Under the PSI candidate bulletin^[1], the insurer reports each appointment to the Department, and adding a company later works the same way: you enter an agreement with the new insurer, and the insurer reports the appointment. The appointment fee is billed annually to the insurance company, not to you as the producer. Title agents face a stricter rule: a title insurer must appoint you before you may transact any title business.

Renewing your Pennsylvania insurance license

Producer licenses run on a 2-year term that ends on the last day of your birth month. You renew online through Sircon or NIPR during the 90-day window before expiration, and the timely renewal fee is $55, per the Department's renewal page^[14].

The deadlines are unforgiving. You cannot renew on days 1 through 3 after expiration; late renewal runs from day 4 through day 60, and your license stays active during that window, per NIPR's renewal requirements^[15]. After 60 days the license becomes inactive, days 61 through 63 are locked, and reinstatement runs from day 64 through one year after expiration at a $165 fee. After one year, you must apply as a new applicant, including a new exam.

Continuing education requirements

Each 2-year cycle requires 24 hours of continuing education (CE), per the Department's CE page^[16]. Failure to complete the minimum results in termination of the license. Since April 29, 2025, Act 142 of 2024 requires resident producers and title agents to include 3 hours of ethics within the 24, per the Sircon portal^[3].

Do not take CE courses before your license issue date, because you will receive no credit for them. Free transcripts and approved course listings are available at sircon.com/pennsylvania. The Department can waive CE for military service or well-documented hardship on an individual basis.

Special training requirements

Long-term care insurance carries its own training under 31 Pa. Code § 39a.9^[17]: an 8-hour initial course before selling, plus a 1-hour Medical Assistance course for partnership policies, then at least 4 hours in every subsequent 24-month cycle. Producers holding property, casualty, or personal lines authorities must complete 2 hours of flood CE within each 24-hour cycle, a recurring obligation added by Act 142 of 2024, per the Sircon portal^[3].

Licensees must report name or address changes and any criminal charges or convictions to the Department within 30 days.

Non-resident Pennsylvania insurance licenses

Non-resident individual producers apply online through Sircon or NIPR and pay a $110 initial fee, per the NIPR non-resident requirements^[18]. The exam is waived when you already hold the same line of authority in your home state and your home state grants Pennsylvania residents a reciprocal waiver, under 40 P.S. § 310.10 as described in the PSI candidate bulletin^[1].

Title insurance is the exception: non-resident title agents must pass the Pennsylvania title exam, submit fingerprints, and obtain a surety bond of no less than $100,000 before transacting business. Your NPN must match the current producer database record, and a FINRA CRD number is required for the variable lines. If you move into or out of Pennsylvania, you must reapply for the appropriate license rather than transfer it, per NIPR's state information^[19].

What to do next

Start with your line of authority, because every later step keys off it. If you want to sell both life and health coverage, the combined exam 16-03 covers both lines in one sitting; if you want a property and casualty license, exam 16-06 does the same. Then:

1. Prepare for the exam. A course is optional by law but useful in practice, and RealEstateU's online Pennsylvania exam prep covers the tested content.
2. Register with PSI online or at 888-818-5822 and schedule your exam.
3. Pass with a score of at least 70%.
4. Wait 48 hours, then apply online at sircon.com/pennsylvania or through NIPR, paying the $55 resident fee.
5. Submit fingerprints at an IdentoGO center with service code 1KGBGJ, only after applying.
6. Print your license once the Department issues it, usually within 7-10 business days.
7. Plan your first 24-hour CE cycle, including the 3-hour ethics component, so renewal never catches you inactive.