How long does it take to get a Health insurance license

California License Requirements

To qualify for the California insurance license exam, you must complete a pre-licensing insurance course that is certified by the California Department of Insurance (CDI). Upon passing the pre-licensing course final exam, you will be awarded a Certificate of Course Completion.

Our California pre-licensing insurance courses cover the various insurance concepts, definitions, insurance laws and agent regulations listed on the California Pre-Licensing Educational and Examination Objectives. Courses are presented in a clear and concise format and include instructional videos, interactive illustrations, practice exams, and student support.

National Online Insurance School is certified by the California Department of Insurance to offer the following courses below. Each course includes the required 12 hours of Ethics and the California Insurance Code.

Pre-Licensing Course Course Credit Hours
Life, Accident & Health 52
Life 32
Accident & Health 32

Important
Your Certificate of Course Completion is valid for a period of 3 years from the date you pass your pre-licensing course final exam.

Upon successfully completing your pre-licensing insurance course, you must register with PSI Services to take your state insurance exam. Exam reservations can be made online at the PSI website by following the steps below and clicking the 'Register for the State Exam' button, or over the phone at (833) 518-7456.

  1. Create an account on the PSI Exams website
  2. Once you've created your account, select CA Department of Insurance from the 'Select Organization' dropdown menu
  3. After selecting the CA Department of Insurance, choose your exam from the 'Select Test' dropdown
  4. Information regarding your exam will populate on the page. Click the 'Continue' button located at the bottom of the page to complete your registration

Expected cost

$55.00 when testing at a California Department of Insurance (CDI) testing center

$88.00 when testing at a PSI testing center

About the state exam

  • You are required to provide a current form of identification with a photo (driver's license, passport, etc.) that exactly matches the name on the exam registration at the testing center. You are not required to present your Certificate of Course Completion.
  • Exam times are typically available in the morning, afternoon, and early evening on weekdays at various locations throughout the state
  • You should arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment to allow time for check-in procedures. If you arrive late you will not be allowed to take your exam and will forfeit your exam fee.
  • Applicants with disabilities should make special arrangements prior to registering for the state exam by contacting the testing administrator at (833) 518-7456
  • Passing score is 60%

License Exam Exam Time Scored Questions Pre-Test Questions Total Questions
Life, Accident & Health 3 hrs 15 mins 150 10 160
Life 1 hr 45 mins 75 5 80
Accident & Health 1 hr 45 mins 75 5 80

Review our Insurance License Exam Tips to learn more about the state exam format and the types of questions asked on the exam, as well as additional test-taking tips to help you prepare for your exam day.

Fingerprints are required by the California Department of Insurance to ensure that applicants do not have a disqualifying criminal or social services background that would prevent them from being a licensed insurance agent. You can schedule an appointment to submit electronic fingerprints on the day of your exam at a PSI testing site or CDI testing site. If you would prefer to have your fingerprint impressions taken before the day of your exam, you may schedule it at a CDI testing site.

You should bring a completed Live Scan Request, form LIC 442-39A with you on the day of your fingerprint impressions.

Resident candidates taking an insurance exam for the first time must be fingerprinted; however, if you have already submitted electronic fingerprints within the past 12 months for a previous insurance exam, you may not be required to submit a new set of fingerprints. You can contact the California Department of Insurance to determine if a new set of fingerprints is required.

Expected cost

$59.00 at a CDI testing site

$68.95 at a PSI testing site

Important
If you have any background issues regarding law enforcement records that may prevent you from obtaining your insurance license, visit the California Department of Insurance for more information.

Once you have passed your state insurance exam you can apply for your insurance license through the CDI website. Please keep in mind that you will only be able to electronically apply for your license once you have passed your state insurance exam and the testing vendor has reported your successful completion to the Department of Insurance. Click the button below and follow the steps to complete your application.

License qualifications

  • Must be at least 18 years of age
  • A resident of the state of California
  • Complete the required pre-licensing course hours for the lines of authority for which you are applying
  • Pass the state insurance exam for the lines of authority for which you are applying
  • Must not have committed any act that is a ground for denial, suspension, or revocation of license.

Expected cost

Application Fee: $188.00

Important
The Department typically requires 4 weeks to process and approve your insurance license, once they have received the required documentation. Upon approval, you will receive an email that includes a link to the Department's website that will allow you to view and print your insurance license. You are required to complete your application and fingerprints, and receive your insurance license from the Department of Insurance within 12 months of passing your state insurance exam.

How long does it take to get a Health insurance license

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How long does it take to get a Health insurance license

If you’re interested in becoming a health insurance agent, one of the first things you need to do is take the licensing exam required by your state regulator. In California, that’s the California Department of Insurance (DOI). In Nevada, it’s the Nevada Division of Insurance (a part of the Department of Business and Industry).

Below are six steps that put you well on way to your new career.

STEP 1: DECIDE WHICH INSURANCE LICENSE YOU WANT TO GET

You will need a license in every state where you do business. You can choose a business entity or individual license. In California, there are more than 30 types of license classifications issued by the Producer Licensing Bureau in the Department of Insurance. If you’ll be selling health insurance, you’ll need an Accident and Health Agent (A&H) license or a Full Life Agent license (which includes Life, Accident, and Health).

With an A&H license, you are generally allowed authority in California to sell products offering coverage for sickness, bodily injury, or accidental death (that may include disability income benefits). The licensee may also transact 24-hour care coverage and Long Term Care insurance.

Important Resource Links:

STEP 2: COMPLETE THE FINGERPRINTING PROCESS

Individuals applying for a license in many states must furnish a complete set of fingerprints, which may be shared with law enforcement authorities, including a state repository for criminal records and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. California and Nevada both require fingerprinting prior to taking the license examination – even before submitting your license application.

Here are the California guidelines on fingerprinting: • If you would like to have your fingerprint impressions taken before your license examination, you may schedule your fingerprint impressions using the California Department of Insurance (CDI) contracted fingerprint vendor by calling Accurate Biometrics at (866) 361-9944, to find a fingerprint location near you. When you go to have your fingerprint impressions made, please take with you a completed Live Scan Request, form LIC 442-39A. • At the time you take the license examination at the designated site, you may also have your fingerprint impressions made. • While it is subject to change, the current total processing fee for the fingerprint impressions taken at the exam site is $58.30, which includes the FBI processing fee of $17.00, Department of Justice (DOJ) processing fee of $32.00, and the CDI’s contractor’s rolling fee of $9.30. An applicant may pay by money order, cashier’s check, personal check, or credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover Card). Cash is not accepted. • At PSI test centers, the fingerprint vendor will also have an authorized technician available to complete the fingerprint impression requirement. At these facilities, the total processing fee for the fingerprint impressions taken is $68.95, which includes the FBI processing fee of $17.00, DOJ processing fee of $32.00, and a rolling fee of $19.95. The $68.95 fee is to be paid at the PSI test center. Payment may be made via VISA or MasterCard or money order, cashier’s check, or company check payable to PSI. Personal checks and cash are not accepted at PSI’s test centers.

• The DOJ maintains a listing of authorized Live Scan Fingerprinting Vendors available to California resident license applicants.

Applicants using a vendor on this list will need to pay a fingerprint fee that covers the following services: FBI processing fee of $17.00, DOJ processing fee of $32.00, and an additional rolling fee charged by the DOJ-authorized vendor. The rolling fee will vary depending on the vendor and is noted on DOJ’s listing of authorized Live Scan Fingerprinting Vendors. License applicants are encouraged to contact the Live Scan provider in advance to verify current operating hours, location, fees, and the acceptable method of payment.

More information on fingerprinting for California resident licensing can be found at the California Department of Insurance .

In Nevada, all individuals applying for a resident license must furnish a complete set of fingerprints and attach a completed Fingerprint Background Waiver to the application.

Applicants must pay a processing and agency fee for this service. Applicants may have their fingerprints taken by a law enforcement agency or authorized vendor.

LiveScan Digital Fingerprints, also used in California, is the preferred resource for fingerprint processing. LiveScan Digital Fingerprinting services are also conveniently available through Pearson VUE, the Nevada resource for testing. (See below.) Applicants may register to have fingerprints taken at the same time they register for the Nevada state exam. Although subject to change, the current LiveScan fingerprinting fee is $36.25 plus the vendor’s processing fee. Applicants will be provided a receipt that indicates the date the prints were submitted to the Nevada Criminal History Records Repository. An applicant must provide the receipt to the Nevada Division of Insurance upon request.

Applicants who utilize hard copy fingerprint cards may experience delays due to the time required to manually process a paper filing. They must also provide a money order or cashier’s check in the amount of $36.25 made payable to the Department of Public Safety (DPS).

Hard copy prints must include the printed name, signature, address, Social Security Number, date of birth, place of birth, weight, height, sex, hair color, citizenship, and home and business addresses of the person being fingerprinted as well as the date fingerprinted and signature of official taking fingerprints.

Nevada fingerprint reservations may be made by calling 1-866-761-8069. More information and a list of  fingerprinting vendors for Nevada resident licensing can be found at the Nevada Division of Insurance

STEP 3: PREPARE FOR YOUR INSURANCE LICENSING TEST

California requires a minimum of 20 hours of approved pre-licensing study. A new resident applicant who had a current Accident and Health license in another state within the last 90 days and has a current non-resident license in California – or an applicant holding a Life Underwriter Training Council Fellowship (LUTCF), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS), Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI), Health Insurance Associate (HIA), Registered Employee Benefits Consultant (REBC) or Registered Health Underwriter (RHU) designation – is exempt from the 20 hours of pre-licensing education.

California also requires 12 hours of approved pre-licensing on code and ethics.

Nevada has a similar requirement. Candidates must satisfactorily complete an approved course of education (of 20 hours) in each field of insurance for which they plan to be licensed.

STEP 4: TAKE YOUR INSURANCE LICENSING TEST

You must be at least 18 years of age and you must pass your state’s resident or non-resident licensing exam to earn a license. The exam is multiple choice, closed book.

In California, PSI Services, LLC, a California-based company providing state-based regulatory licensure services, handles the scheduling of examinations for individuals. Individuals may schedule their examinations with PSI either online or by telephone. PSI offers more than 20 sites statewide where individuals may take their qualifying license examination and provide the required fingerprints. Visit the California Department of Insurance for more information on PSI.   Here are some  frequently asked questions about the California application process that you may also have when getting started.

In Nevada, Pearson VUE is the Insurance Division’s only authorized testing vendor. Appointments may be made up to one calendar day prior to the day you wish to test, subject to availability. You can review the Pearson VUE scheduling options for Nevada here. Testing times vary from about two hours to about three and one-half hours, depending on the license for which you’re applying.

On the day of the exam, you’ll want to arrive 20 to 30 minutes early and bring two forms of identification (ID) that include a signature. Your name on the ID must exactly match the name on your registration. The primary identification must be government-issued and photo-bearing ID with a signature, and the secondary identification must also contain a valid signature. (Identification must be in English.)

Generally, acceptable, non-expired primary IDs (with photograph and signature) include: • Government-issued Driver’s License • U.S. Dept. of State Driver’s License • U.S. Learner’s Permit (plastic card only with photo and signature) • National/State/Country ID card • Passport • Passport Card • Military ID

• Military ID for spouses and dependents

Acceptable, non-expired secondary IDs (with a signature) include: • U.S. Social Security card • Debit (ATM) or credit card

• Any form of ID on the primary ID list above

STEP 5: GET BONDED/E&O COVERAGE

After you’ve earned your license, you will need to secure professional liability insurance, also known as Errors & Omissions (E&O) coverage. This insurance protects you in your role as an advisor to your customers – in the event a negligence claim is made in connection with your client service. CalSurance® offers affordable E&O to Word & Brown brokers, and it takes just minutes to apply. Ask us for details, or go here for more information.

STEP 6: CONTINUING EDUCATION

After you’ve earned your license, you usually need to earn Continuing Education Credits to maintain it. In California, you’re required to satisfactorily complete approved courses or programs of instruction or attend seminars equivalent to 24 hours of instruction during each two-year license period, including at least three hours of ethics training, before your license can be renewed.

Nevada requires 30 hours of Continuing Education Credits every three years, including three hours of ethics courses.

Word & Brown, our carrier partners, and the state and regional health underwriter associations offer a variety of CE courses throughout the year to help you meet your mandated licensing renewal requirements. To get information on courses, recorded webinars, and events, visit the Word & Brown Newsroom.

HELP IS AVAILABLE

Word & Brown is committed to helping individuals who want to enter the exciting – and evolving – world of health insurance sales. To learn more about how you can get started, visit our Future Brokers webpage or contact any of our six regional offices in California and Nevada.

If you are interested in using an online course to prepare for your license exam, Word & Brown offers a 20% discount through the Mike Russ Financial Training Centers; ask us for details.

For a sneak peek at what you can expect to earn as an insurance agent, get a copy of our “Insurance Broker Salary Guide.”

How long does it take to get a Health insurance license