What are the education requirements to become a licensed insurance agent in California?

How long is the license term?
Licenses are issued for two-year terms. Specifically, the term of the first license begins the date the license was issued and ends the last day of the calendar month two years later.

Can I complete the program at home?
Yes. California regulations allow you to complete the mandated hours of education at home. You will log in and log out of each session, and keep track of your total hours accumulated.

How do I know in which lines of insurance I need to be licensed?
The manager who has expressed interest in hiring you as an insurance agent knows which lines of insurance you’ll be selling. Contact him/her to find out which coursework you’ll need.

How do I apply for an California insurance license?
You may apply online at the Fast Licensing Application Service is Here.

How do I have my fingerprint impressions taken?
The DOJ maintains a list of authorized Live Scan Fingerprinting vendors. You may also have your fingerprint impressions taken at the designated examination site the day of your examination.

How do I schedule my examination?
This link will provide you with the information on how to schedule your examination: Insurance License Examination Information.

When can I begin selling insurance?
You will be mailed your license upon application approval and passing the license examination. However, you may not transact, solicit or negotiate the sale of insurance until one of the following documents is completed and submitted to the California Department of Insurance:

• The sponsoring insurance company admitted to California completes an Action Notice of Appointment and submitted electronically. To submit appointments electronically contact the the National Insurance Producer Registry and its authorized business partners for a list of approved partners.
• The sponsoring business entity licensed in California completes an Organization Endorsement, submitted through the Business Entity Endorsement Online Service or by submitting the paper form.
• Fees are $24 per action notice of appointment or organization endorsements.
• A $10,000 Bond of Insurance Broker- Fire and Casualty or Personal Lines Broker-Agent Only
• An Action Notice of Appointment- Fire and Casualty or Personal Lines Broker-Agent Only
• An Action Notice of Solicitor- Fire and Casualty or Personal Lines Broker-Agent Only

Can an insurance solicitor be appointed by more than one employing broker-agent?
A person authorized to act as an insurance solicitor can not be appointed by more than one employing broker-agent and is not eligible at the same time to act as an insurance agent or broker.

Can an insurance agent or broker act as an insurance solicitor?
A person authorized to act as an insurance agent or broker is not eligible at the same time to act as an insurance solicitor.

Are their exemptions from taking the general prelicense courses?
Yes. The following are exemptions from taking general insurance prelicense courses:

1. A new California resident applicant who had a current license in another state and completed 40 or 20 hours of prelicensing education for each license held in that state, or;
2. An applicant for a license holding one or more of the following designations:

If any of the above exemptions are met, the applicant must still complete the 12-hour Ethics and California Insurance Code course.