50 states and D.C.
Insurance license requirements by state
Insurance producer licensing is handled by each state and the District of Columbia. Choose a location to open a page with that regulator’s official link and typical nationwide steps. California includes a fully sourced fee breakdown.
Last reviewed November 2026. Fees and rules change. Open the live regulator page before you pay a fee or enroll in a course.
You can also use the interactive roadmap and planning calculator, browse the NAIC department directory, or start an application through NIPR when your state uses it.
Typical nationwide steps
Your state may add, skip, or reorder items. Hours-to-completion figures on this site are only planning arithmetic you enter yourself — they are not official forecasts.
- Confirm pre-licensing education rules Some states still require product coursework before an exam; others have changed those rules. Confirm hours, exemptions, and approved providers with the state insurance department.
- Pass the state examination Most resident producer applicants must pass an examination through the testing vendor named by that state. Vendors and outlines differ.
- Complete fingerprinting or another background check when required Many states require fingerprints or another background review. Use only the process the regulator describes.
- File the license application In most states a resident or nonresident application can be filed through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) or a state portal the regulator names.
- Obtain a company appointment if you will offer that company’s products Being licensed is not the same as being appointed. An insurer must appoint you before you offer that company’s products, when appointment is required.
- Complete continuing education to keep a license active Hours, topics, and reporting methods vary by state. Product-specific training (for example, annuities or long-term care) may also apply before you solicit those products.
All states and D.C.
- Alabama Alabama Department of Insurance
- Alaska Alaska Division of Insurance
- Arizona Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions
- Arkansas Arkansas Insurance Department
- California California Department of Insurance
- Colorado Colorado Division of Insurance
- Connecticut Connecticut Insurance Department
- Delaware Delaware Department of Insurance
- District of Columbia D.C. Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking
- Florida Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Insurance Agent and Agency Services
- Georgia Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
- Hawaii Hawaii Insurance Division
- Idaho Idaho Department of Insurance
- Illinois Illinois Department of Insurance
- Indiana Indiana Department of Insurance
- Iowa Iowa Insurance Division
- Kansas Kansas Insurance Department
- Kentucky Kentucky Department of Insurance
- Louisiana Louisiana Department of Insurance
- Maine Maine Bureau of Insurance
- Maryland Maryland Insurance Administration
- Massachusetts Massachusetts Division of Insurance
- Michigan Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services
- Minnesota Minnesota Department of Commerce
- Mississippi Mississippi Insurance Department
- Missouri Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance
- Montana Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance
- Nebraska Nebraska Department of Insurance
- Nevada Nevada Division of Insurance
- New Hampshire New Hampshire Insurance Department
- New Jersey New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance
- New Mexico New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance
- New York New York Department of Financial Services
- North Carolina North Carolina Department of Insurance
- North Dakota North Dakota Insurance Department
- Ohio Ohio Department of Insurance
- Oklahoma Oklahoma Insurance Department
- Oregon Oregon Division of Financial Regulation
- Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Insurance Department
- Rhode Island Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Insurance Division
- South Carolina South Carolina Department of Insurance
- South Dakota South Dakota Division of Insurance
- Tennessee Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
- Texas Texas Department of Insurance
- Utah Utah Insurance Department
- Vermont Vermont Department of Financial Regulation
- Virginia Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance
- Washington Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner
- West Virginia West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner
- Wisconsin Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
- Wyoming Wyoming Department of Insurance
Questions about becoming a licensed life insurance agent part time, California costs, or how to evaluate a firm are answered in the FAQ.