Insurance producer (agent) license
Granted by state insurance departments, not by a national exam alone. A high school diploma; some states also require prelicensing courses before the exam.
Granted byState insurance departments
National exams1State insurance licensing exam
ExperienceNone required; new agents learn by shadowing an experienced agent (BLS)
Other statesApply state by stateno compact list on this page
How to get licensed
A high school diploma; some states also require prelicensing courses before the exam.
- High school diploma (some employers prefer a bachelor's)
- The state's prelicensing courses, where required
- State exam for each line: life and health, property and casualtyExam
- Fingerprints and the license applicationLicense
- A license in every state where you sell, plus continuing educationLicense
- Optional: FINRA exams to sell securities such as variable annuitiesOptional
The exams
National bodies write the exams; the state board decides who is licensed.
- State insurance licensing examSeparate licenses, and exams, for life and health and for property and casualty insurance. In most states licenses are issued only after specified courses and state exams on insurance fundamentals and state insurance law (BLS).
BLS
Insurance Sales Agents — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
State rules and other states
Agents must be licensed in each state where they work, and most states require continuing education. Course hours, exams and fees are set by each state's insurance department (BLS).
What 3 state boards publish
| State | What the board asks for | Exam | Fee | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) | No prelicensing course: pass the state exam first (InsTX-LAH05 for life, accident and health; InsTX-PC06 for property and casualty), get fingerprints through IdentoGO, then apply on Sircon or NIPR within one year. Agent application fee $50. A temporary license needs a sponsor who already has an insurance license; it lasts 180 days and cannot be renewed. TDIGeneral lines – life, accident, health and HMO: apply for a licenseTexas Department of Insurance (TDI)
TDICareers in insurance: How to become an insurance agent or adjusterTexas Department of Insurance (TDI)
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| California California Department of Insurance (CDI) | From 1 January 2026 the 20-hour prelicensing course is no longer required for property, casualty, personal and commercial lines, limited line automobile, life, and accident and health licenses. The 12 hours of ethics and California Insurance Code is still required before the license is issued (not before the exam). Fingerprints come after the exam, before the application. California CDI12 Hours of Ethics and California Insurance Code — Frequently Asked Questions (AB 943)California Department of Insurance (CDI)
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| New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) | A DFS-approved prelicensing course: 40 hours for life, accident and health (20 for life only or accident and health only), 40 for personal lines, 90 for property/casualty. Holders of CPCU, CLU, ChFC and some other designations are exempt. Exams are given by PSI. NY DFSAgent and Broker Prelicensing EducationNew York State Department of Financial Services (DFS)
dfs.ny.gov answers automated reads with 403; read from the Internet Archive capture of 10 Mar 2026. View source | |||
Each row is copied from that board's own page and cites it. A dash means the board page we read did not state it. Other states have their own rules: check the board where you will work, or open the state pages.
Good to know
Not always required
- Insurance specialty certifications from industry organizations are voluntary (BLS).
Changes to watch
- California repealed its 20-hour prelicensing course for most producer licenses from 1 January 2026 (AB 943); the 12-hour ethics and Insurance Code course is still required.