Last verified: October 2026. Requirements change; your state Department of Insurance (DOI) is the final authority.
The quick answer
To become an insurance agent in the U.S., you choose a line of authority (for example, life or life and health), complete pre-licensing education if your state requires it, pass your state's licensing exam, get fingerprinted and apply for your license through NIPR or your state, and then get appointed by the insurance carriers you plan to represent. After that, you decide where and how to work: as a captive agent for one company or as an independent agent working with several carriers.
Every state sets its own rules, fees and timelines. This guide walks through each step in plain language, links to the official sources, and points you to your own state's requirements.
Use the life insurance license checklist to keep track of each step and document.
See the itemized cost to become a life insurance agent for each fee with official sources.
The six steps at a glance
| Step | What it involves | Typical time | Typical cost | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Choose a line of authority | Decide which products you want to sell (life; life and health; property and casualty, etc.). Each is a separate license. | N/A | N/A | Your state DOI |
| 2. Pre-licensing education | A state-approved course, if your state requires one. Hours vary by state and line. | Varies from 0 hours (California, which instead requires a 12-hour ethics and code course before the license is issued (CDI)) to 20 hours (Ohio (Ohio handbook)). Florida: 30 hours for the Life (2-14) license (Fla. Stat. 626.7851); Georgia: 8-hour Life course (Pearson VUE Georgia handbook). Other states: NAIC state insurance department directory. | Set by each provider; not published by states | Your state DOI's approved-provider list |
| 3. Pass the state exam | A proctored exam run by your state's testing vendor (Pearson VUE, PSI or Prometric, depending on the state). | Book at least 24 hours ahead in Texas and North Carolina (Pearson VUE Texas handbook, Pearson VUE North Carolina handbook); seat availability varies | Examples: Texas $39 (Pearson VUE TX), Florida $44 (Pearson VUE FL), Ohio $49 (Ohio handbook). Other states: see the candidate handbook. | Your state's exam vendor candidate handbook |
| 4. Fingerprints and background check | Most states require fingerprints for a resident producer license. | Varies by state | Example: Ohio $72.25 at a PSI center (Ohio handbook); Texas uses IdentoGO; you get your service code and fee through TDI's fingerprint portal (TDI) | Your state DOI |
| 5. Apply for your license | Submit your resident license application, usually through NIPR (nipr.com) or the state's own portal. | Not published as a fixed time; in Texas, processing waits until TDI receives your DPS and FBI background reports (Pearson VUE Texas handbook) | Examples: Texas $50 (TDI), California $188 (CDI), Ohio $10 (Ohio handbook), Florida $50 application fee + $5 license identification fee (Pearson VUE FL handbook). NIPR adds a $5.60 transaction fee (NIPR). | NIPR and your state DOI |
| 6. Get appointed with carriers | Carriers appoint you so you can sell their products. Some states charge appointment fees, often paid by the carrier. | Varies by carrier | Example: Texas charges $10 per additional company appointment (Pearson VUE Texas handbook); other states: NAIC state insurance department directory | Your state DOI; each carrier |
Step 1: Decide which license to get first
Insurance licenses are issued by "line of authority." The most common starting points are:
- Life (or life and health, sometimes called "life, accident and health"): life insurance, final expense, and in many states annuities; the health line covers health-related and Medicare-related products.
- Property and casualty (P&C): auto, home, renters and commercial coverage.
Both are legitimate career paths, and each requires its own exam and license. If your interest is in helping families with life insurance, final expense, annuities or Medicare-related coverage, a life (or life and health) license is the one you need. The Price Group (TPG) works only with life-side products and does not offer property and casualty, so if P&C is your goal you would pursue that separately with a P&C agency.
Step 2: Complete pre-licensing education (if your state requires it)
Some states require a set number of hours of approved pre-licensing education before you can sit for the exam; others don't require a course but strongly recommend one. Requirements can change. For example, California's Assembly Bill 943 removed the 20-hour pre-licensing course requirement effective January 1, 2026. California still requires a 12-hour course on ethics and the California Insurance Code, which must be completed before your license is issued, not before you take the exam (California Department of Insurance). At the other end, Ohio requires 20 hours of pre-licensing education for the life line (Ohio candidate handbook).
Courses are offered in person and online by state-approved providers. Check your DOI's list of approved providers before you pay for any course.
If you're working toward a life license with TPG, one option is the JustInsurance pre-licensing course, which costs $39. You are free to choose any state-approved provider. Before you buy any course, confirm it appears on your state DOI's approved-provider list (NAIC state insurance department directory).
Step 3: Pass the state licensing exam
State exams are administered by a testing vendor, usually Pearson VUE, PSI or Prometric, depending on the state. The exam covers general insurance concepts, policy types, provisions and riders, and your state's insurance laws. Question counts, time limits, passing scores, fees and retake rules are all published in your state's candidate handbook, which is the only reliable source for them.
Study at a pace that fits you, use practice questions from your course provider, and read the content outline for your state's exam before you schedule.
Step 4: Fingerprints and background check
Most states require fingerprinting for new resident producer applicants, and the application asks about criminal history and administrative actions. Some offenses can affect eligibility; the federal Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act (18 U.S.C. § 1033) also restricts people with certain felony convictions from working in insurance without written consent. If you have a past issue, read your DOI's guidance before you start. Examples as of October 2026: Texas uses IdentoGO by IDEMIA (TDI); Ohio fingerprints at PSI centers for $72.25 (Ohio handbook). Other states: NAIC state insurance department directory.
Step 5: Apply for your license through NIPR or your state
Most states accept resident license applications through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) at nipr.com. Once licensed, you'll have a National Producer Number (NPN), which you can look up on NIPR. NIPR also handles non-resident licenses, which you'll need if you want to sell to clients in other states. Licensing standards across states are coordinated through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which is why most states offer reciprocity for non-resident licenses.
Related: insurance license reciprocity by state.
Step 6: Get appointed and set up
A license lets you sell insurance in your state; an appointment lets you sell a specific carrier's products. Carriers run their own contracting, background and compliance checks, and appointment is not automatic. Most carriers also require you to carry errors and omissions (E&O) insurance. That requirement comes from the carriers; TPG itself does not require E&O.
Read more: how to get appointed with insurance carriers, E&O insurance for agents, and your first 30 days as a new agent.
How long does it take?
The total time depends on your state's pre-licensing requirement, how quickly you study, exam availability, and how long your DOI takes to process the application and background check. Some people move through the steps in a few weeks; others take a few months while working another job. One hard deadline to know: in Texas you must apply within 12 months of passing the exam or retake it (Pearson VUE Texas handbook).
What does it cost?
Your licensing costs typically include some combination of:
- Pre-licensing course (if required or chosen) (price set by each provider)
- Exam fee, set by your state's vendor (for example $39 in Texas, $44 in Florida, $49 in Ohio; sources in the table above)
- Fingerprinting (for example $72.25 in Ohio; Texas fee shown in TDI's fingerprint portal)
- State license fee (for example $50 in Texas, $188 in California, $10 in Ohio) and the NIPR transaction fee ($5.60)
- E&O insurance, required by most carriers (premiums vary by provider and coverage; no official price list exists)
State-specific breakdowns: Texas, Florida, California.
If you join TPG: joining TPG is free. After an agent's first three sales, TPG reimburses three specific costs: the $39 JustInsurance pre-licensing course, the state exam fee and the state license fee. Fingerprinting, NIPR and appointment fees are not reimbursed. The reimbursement applies only if and when those three sales happen; sales are never guaranteed.
Can you do it online?
In many states you can complete pre-licensing online, and some states allow remotely proctored exams. Pearson VUE's OnVUE online proctoring lists insurance exams for states including Mississippi, Montana, Nevada and Tennessee (Pearson VUE), and California offers remote proctored exams through PSI (PSI California bulletin). Ohio ended remote proctored exams on March 13, 2026 (Ohio candidate handbook). As of October 2026, Texas and Florida insurance exams are not on Pearson VUE's online-proctoring list, so plan on a test center (Pearson VUE OnVUE list). Your application and NIPR steps are online as well. Fingerprinting usually requires an in-person visit.
No experience, or starting later in life?
No prior insurance experience and no college degree are required to get a life license in most states (Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Ohio require you to be at least 18: Pearson VUE Texas handbook, Pearson VUE Florida handbook, Pearson VUE Georgia handbook, Pearson VUE North Carolina handbook, Ohio handbook). What matters is meeting your state's requirements, passing the exam and clearing the background check. Many people come to insurance from teaching, sales, the military, nursing and other careers, and some start in their 40s, 50s or after retirement.
Captive vs independent: what "1099" means
A captive agent represents one insurance company. An independent agent can be appointed with several carriers and compare options for clients. Many independent agents work through an IMO (independent marketing organization) such as TPG, which provides carrier access, training and support.
Agents who join TPG are independent contractors paid on a 1099 basis, not employees. That means you run your own business: you set your schedule, handle your own taxes and expenses, and your results depend on your own work. Building a team is optional, not required. For details on compensation, see our earnings disclaimer; this guide makes no income claims.
Find your state's requirements
Each state's steps, fees and exam vendor are different. Pick your state for a step-by-step page with links to the official sources: life insurance license requirements by state.
For the licensing steps alone, see how to get an insurance license and get licensed.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a degree to become an insurance agent?
No. States generally don't require a college degree for a producer license. You need to meet the age requirement, complete any required pre-licensing education, pass the exam and clear the background check. For example, Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Ohio set the minimum age at 18 (Pearson VUE Texas handbook, Pearson VUE Florida handbook, Pearson VUE Georgia handbook, Pearson VUE North Carolina handbook, Ohio handbook).
How long does it take to become an insurance agent?
It depends on your state's education requirement, your study pace, exam scheduling and application processing. Check your state DOI and exam vendor for current timelines; no one can promise a specific timeframe.
How much does it cost to become an insurance agent?
Costs usually include a course (if required), the exam fee, fingerprints, and state and NIPR application fees, plus E&O insurance that most carriers require. Exact fees are set by your state and vendor; see the examples in the cost section above.
Can I become an insurance agent online?
Much of the process can be done online, including pre-licensing and the NIPR application. Whether you can take the exam online depends on your state and vendor (for example, California allows remote PSI exams, while Ohio ended remote proctoring on March 13, 2026). Fingerprinting is usually in person.
Do I need a separate license for each state?
You hold one resident license in your home state. To sell to clients in other states, you apply for non-resident licenses, usually through NIPR. Most states grant non-resident licenses by reciprocity.
Is an insurance agent an employee or a contractor?
It depends on where you work. Captive agents may be employees or contractors. Independent agents, including everyone who contracts with TPG, are independent 1099 contractors, not employees.
Next step
Getting ready for the exam? See how to pass the insurance exam.
Talk to TPG about getting licensed and contracted. Joining is free, and a license does not guarantee acceptance by TPG, carrier appointment or sales.
Sources
- NIPR: https://nipr.com (license applications, NPN lookup, fees)
- NAIC: https://content.naic.org (producer licensing, model law)
- State DOIs, for example Texas Department of Insurance (https://www.tdi.texas.gov/agent/), Florida Department of Financial Services (https://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/agents), California Department of Insurance (https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0200-industry/)
- Exam vendors: Pearson VUE (https://home.pearsonvue.com), PSI (https://www.psiexams.com), Prometric (https://www.prometric.com), using each state's candidate handbook
- 18 U.S.C. § 1033 (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1033)
