Meet Washington Insurance License Requirements & Pass The State Exam with ProSchools

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

1. Complete the education requirements. You must complete your education at a state-approved school, like ProSchools. A 4-hour course in Washington insurance laws and regulations is required, plus additional hours in the lines of insurance for which you wish to become licensed.*
   
   

   Required hours of education:

   4	hours Washington Insurance Laws & Regulations
   16	hours Washington Life insurance
   16	hours Washington Disability (Health) insurance
   16	hours Washington Property insurance
   16	hours Washington Casualty insurance

   
   Most commonly, students enroll in 36 course hours for a Life & Disability (L&D) license or 36 hours for a Property & Casualty (P&C) license.

Upon finishing the coursework, you’ll receive a course completion certificate which is valid for one year.
*Any person who believes that a prelicense education course is unavailable to him or her may file a written petition with the commissioner for permission to undertake self-study. Permission will be granted based on the course availability by an independent prelicense provider located within the State of Washington.

2. Pass the Washington insurance license exam with a score of 75% or better. Your passing score report is valid for two years.
3. Submit insurance license application to the Washington state insurance commissioner. Include a completed fingerprint card, at least one Appointment/Affiliation Notice, fingerprint processing fee payable to the Washington State Patrol, original exam score reports, signed education certificates of completion, and appropriate filing and license fees.
4. Reside in the state of Washington.
5. Be at least 18 years of age.

If you are relocating to Washington and are currently licensed in another state, you need to:

1. Request an original letter of clearance from the regulatory agency of the state in which you are actively licensed.
2. Find out if you are eligible for a waiver of the prelicensing education. Washington permits a waiver of the general prelicense education for those lines in which a candidate holds a valid license in another state, if the candidate has been licensed continuously for a minimum of two years and within 90 days prior to the waiver application.
3. Complete the education requirements. You must complete your education hours at a state-approved school, like ProSchools. At the very least, a 4-hour course in Washington insurance laws and regulations is required.
4. Pass the Washington insurance license exam with a score of 75% or better. Your passing score report is valid for two years.
5. Submit insurance license application to the Washington Department of Insurance (also known as Washington OIC). Include a completed fingerprint card, at least one Appointment/Affiliation Notice, fingerprint processing fee payable to the Washington State Patrol, original exam score reports, signed education certificates of completion, and appropriate filing and license fees.

Washington Insurance License Exam Information
Washington state insurance license applicants must pass a computerized license exam administered by Pearson Vue, a national testing firm. To schedule an exam date and time, you can call them toll-free at (800) 274-8949 or visit www.pearsonvue.com. You are encouraged to reserve your exam date at least three or four business days prior.

To schedule an exam, Pearson Vue will require the following:

1. Personal information – legal name, address, phone, SSN, date of birth
2. Exam specifics – exam type, preferred date and test center location
3. School and instructor codes – a 6-digit school code on your certificate of completion and your particular instructor’s code
4. Failing score report (if retaking an exam)
5. Exam fees paid in full (exam fees are $70 for two or $55 for one)

For more information, read Pearson Vue ’s complete State of Washington Insurance Candidate Handbook, which includes details of all licensing requirements, exam reservation guidelines, and a list of all Pearson Vue test center locations and hours of operations. Test centers are located in Weathered, Lacey, Kennewick, Tukwila, Spokane, Vancouver, Yakima, and Everett. Scheduled test dates vary widely by location. 

Upon arriving at the test center, you’ll need to show two pieces of ID (one photo-bearing) and the course completion certificates to the test administrator. Then a brief online tutorial will familiarize you with the computerized testing system before you answer a series of multiple-choice questions. 

Be sure to attempt answering every question. A minimum score of 75% is required to pass. Your score will be available immediately. A passing score is valid for two years.