How can I learn more about what an insurance career really offers?
Visit the career information section of our Web site for a helpful overview of the exciting world of insurance. Talking to successful professionals is another great way to learn more about being an insurance agent on a daily basis. Check out our free articles to help you decide if an insurance career is right for you!

What kind of financial investment does it take to start a new career
in insurance?
Investment in your new insurance career is surprisingly low. For under $500, you can be trained, tested, licensed and ready to go to work in just a couple of weeks.

What content is covered in each insurance class?
Illinois insurance classes must meet the state’s education requirement for insurance producer licensing. Here are a few highlights of what’s covered in each Illinois insurance class:

Illinois Life Insurance (15 Hours) Types of Policies Policy Riders, Provisions, Options and Exclusions Completing the Application, Underwriting and Delivering the Policy Taxes, Retirement, and other Insurance Concepts Illinois Statutes and Requirements Pertinent to Life Insurance   Illinois Accident & Health Insurance (15 Hours) Types of Policies Policy Provisions, Clauses and Riders Social Insurance Insurance Concepts Field Underwriting Procedures Illinois Statutes and Requirements Pertinent to Accident & Health Insurance and Managed Care   Illinois Property Insurance (15 Hours) Types of Policies Insurance Terms and Related Concepts Policy Provisions and Contract Law Illinois Statutes and Requirements Pertinent to Property Insurance   Illinois Casualty Insurance (15 Hours) Types of Policies, Bonds, and Related Terms Insurance Terms and Related Concepts Policy Provisions Taxes, Retirement, and other Insurance Concepts Illinois Statutes and Requirements Pertinent to Casualty Insurance

Can I complete the program at home?
Yes. Illinois 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 Producer knows which lines of insurance you’ll be selling. Contact him/her to find out which coursework you’ll need.

Do I need to find a company to work for before completing the education?
Generally, students complete the education as a result of having already selected an employer for whom they’d like to work. However, it is not required that you already know for whom you’d like to work before completing the education requirement and applying for the license. But you will not be able to activate your license until you are “sponsored” by an experienced insurance manager who will serve as your mentor while you “learn the ropes.”

How do I apply for an Illinois insurance license?
Candidates will complete the license application electronically on the examination system just before they begin the examination. Candidates who pass the examination will receive a printed license application reflecting the responses given, as well as instructions on submitting

When can I take my insurance exam?
To sit for the examination, you must complete the required courses and obtain a certificate of completion issued by ProSchools for those courses.

Where are the exam testing centers?
There are multiple testing centers. Specific directions are available in the Pearson Vue booklet and online at www.pearsonvue.com. Scheduled test dates vary widely by location.

What can I take with me to the exam testing site?
You may not bring any materials to the exam site. You will not be allowed any type of Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), such as a Palm Pilot or any other electronic device with storage capacity. If needed, you will be given a piece of paper to use for math questions.

What is the exam like?
The exam is administered on a computer. However, you really don’t need to know how to use a computer. An exam proctor will explain all of the procedures, answer any questions about the testing process, and monitor the exams. During the exam, you may change answers, and/or go back and review previous questions.

What’s covered on the state exam?
The state itemizes exam content in a document entitled “Exam Content Outline.”

How do I know if I passed the exam?
You’ll be given your exam results immediately upon completion. You will receive a pass or fail score report. Candidates who pass the exam will receive a score report that includes information on how to apply for a license.

What about retesting if I fail?
Candidates who fail the examination will receive a score report that includes a numeric score and diagnostic information relating to the general portion of the examination, as well as information about reexamination. Each examination is divided into two parts: the general section and the state section. Candidates who pass one section of the examination and fail the other need retake only the failed section within 90 days. If after 90 days both sections have not been passed, it will be necessary to retake the entire examination. Illinois requires that candidates pass both parts of a major line examination within 90 days to be eligible for licensure.It is highly recommended that you study more before taking the test a second time.

Who is Pearson Vue?
Pearson Vue is the testing company hired by the Illinois Division of Insurance to administer Illinois’s insurance license exams. You may contact Pearson Vue directly at 800-274-0402 or online at www.pearsonvue.com.

Once I pass, when can I begin selling insurance?
Passing the test does not guarantee issuance of the license. You will be able to start selling insurance policies only after actually receiving your license, which usually takes approximately 10-15 business days after passing the exam.