California Insurance License Requirements
To obtain an insurance license in California, you must satisfy these requirements:

1. Complete the education requirements.

   License Type Required Hours of General Insurance Required Hours of Ethics and California Insurance Code Fire and Casualty 40 12 Life Only 20 12 Accident and Health 20 12 Personal Lines 20 12 Limited Lines Auto 20 12

   The course on Ethics and the California Insurance Code must only be taken once; therefore, applicants applying for more than one license type do not need to repeat the Ethics and Code course.

2. Submit fingerprints. Fingerprint impressions are required for unlicensed applicants and can be submitted at anytime prior to taking the license examination or submitting the license application.
3. Apply for an insurance license. You may apply online at the Fast Licensing Application Service is Here site or file a paper Application for Insurance License. The license filling fee is $144.
4. Schedule and pass the insurance examination. The examination fee is $41 per scheduled examination date. This link will provide you with the information on how to schedule your examination: Insurance License Examination Information.

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 Enity 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

Exemptions from 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.

California Insurance License Exam Information
The California Department of Insurance (CDI) offers an online examination scheduling service on the CDI website for insurance license applicants. You may apply using the FLASH online application or a mail-in application.

Applicants using the FLASH online application service may use the Online Examination Scheduling service once the online application is completed. You will receive an email from the CDI confirming receipt of the application. The email will provide a link to the Online Examination Scheduling service to schedule your examination. You will be allowed to select an examination date, time and location that is convenient for you.

To apply using a mail-in application you must:

1. Mail in the current Individual Application.
2. Indicate on the application you want to schedule your examination online

Prior to using the Online Examination Scheduling service, you must check the CDI's Producer Licensing Bureau (PLB) Weekly Processing Report. The Weekly Processing Status Report web page provides you with the cashier dates that the PLB is processing applicants. This page is updated every Monday except holidays. The CDI will contact you, via e-mail, when you may schedule your examination.