Having an insurance license can pave the way for a lot of career opportunities. This is especially true for the Empire State. If you’re considering getting into the insurance business here, knowing how to get an insurance license in New York is a critical first step.
Without the appropriate license, it is simply impossible to do any business in the state. This has long been mandated by state regulatory authorities. By requiring an insurance license, insurance laws are upheld, and the state can more easily maintain a fair and regulated market. Or, simply put, an insurance license requirement protects both insurance producers and consumers.
So, what’s involved in getting a New York insurance license? You’ll likely have this and other questions like:
In this guide on how to get your insurance license in New York, we’ll shed light on these and more relevant topics.
Getting an insurance license in New York is of particular importance, since the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) mandates that it’s illegal for anyone to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance policies. This requirement helps ensure that insurance professionals adhere to insurance laws. A license that has stringent educational and ethical prerequisites also means that the insurance market in New York remains regulated, safe for consumers, and balanced.
There are several important prerequisites for how to get an insurance license in New York. Firstly, the state requires these minimum criteria for applicants:
must be at least 18 years old, which is also the minimum age for applying for many professional licenses in most US states
must have a clean record; no past felonies, fraud, or any other offenses
must not have any outstanding taxes, whether federal or state income tax
must be able to successfully complete an extensive background check
The state has many types of licenses available, affording those wanting to enter the insurance industry with a lot of career choices. These are some of the available licenses and possible insurance roles to choose from in New York:
You can check the DFS website for a complete list of the insurance licenses you can obtain in NY.
Whether you plan to work as an insurance broker, insurance agent, claims adjuster, or even put up your own insurance business in the state, any of these aspirations begins with getting your insurance license. Here’s the step-by-step process of how to get your insurance license in New York:
Before taking the licensing exam, New York’s DFS requires candidates to complete the appropriate pre-licensing education courses. Applicants can find courses for the role and insurance line they want to specialize in, like health, P&C, or automotive insurance.
These courses are typically mandatory, so choose a pre-licensing course that can prepare you for the state exam. There are many options for pre-licensing courses, some of which can be taken online or in-person. Choose the one that’s available in your area and best suits your needs, budget, location, and time constraints. To pass, you must score at least 70% on the insurance licensure exam.
Those applying to become insurance brokers and are already employed may submit a Statement of Employer Form to the DFS instead of taking a prelicensing course.
Keep in mind that the state of New York also requires licensing aspirants to complete a minimum number of hours of pre-licensing education for each line of authority before taking the state insurance exam. These specific requirements are as follows:
Life: 20 Hours (for live classes, at least 10 classroom hours required)
Life, Accident & Health: 40 Hours (for live classes, at least 20 classroom hours required)
Accident & Health: 20 Hours (for live classes, at least 10 classroom hours required)
Property & Casualty: 96 Hours (for live classes, at least 90 classroom hours required)
Personal Lines: 43 Hours (for live classes, at least 40 classroom hours required)
Candidates can take these classes in person, online, or in a classroom with online instruction.
Once you’ve completed the course content, you will need to pass the Certification Exam. This exam serves as proof that you successfully completed the prelicensing requirement. Note that the Certification Exam has a 90-minute time limit.
After passing the Certification Exam with a grade of 70% or greater, you will receive a Certificate of Completion. Keep this certificate safe, as this must be submitted to the New York DFS along with your license application. The certificate remains valid for your lifetime.
Yes. Candidates who already possess the following designations or certifications are exempt from the pre-licensing education requirement and Part 1 of the exam:
Once you’ve finished the appropriate pre-licensing course and earned the Certificate of Completion, you can take the state insurance licensure exam. You must earn a grade of at least 70% to pass. It’s best to pass the exam on your first attempt, since retaking it will incur additional fees.
Apart from completing the previous requirements, candidates must get fingerprinted before they can apply for the insurance license in New York. This process involves having a background check as confirmation that you meet the state’s insurance license requirements.
For fingerprinting, you may be requested to use IdentoGO, which initiates the background check. To start a fingerprinting appointment, sign up on the IdentoGO website or call (877) 472-6915. Note that not all IdentoGO sites can be used for fingerprinting, only those authorized by the state can be used. As you book your fingerprinting appointment, these are the Service Codes to choose from:
When booking your appointment, be sure to use the appropriate code. Using the wrong Service Code invalidates your application and you will have to restart the entire process, including making another payment. To be sure, you can contact the DFS at (800) 342-3736 and ask which Service Code is appropriate.
You will get two receipts after completing the fingerprint check. Attach one to your license application and send it to the DFS and keep the other for your personal records. As soon as you get the receipts, it’s important that you send in your application to the DFS. The DFS will discard any scanned fingerprints without a related application after 10 days of receiving them.
After successfully completing the state exam and your background check, you may now apply for the insurance license. Keep in mind that you must apply for the license within two years of passing the exam. You can check the status of your license application by:
To maintain your New York insurance license, you must accumulate Continuing Education (CE) credits every licensing period. The number of equivalent CE hours will depend on how many lines of authority the licensed individual has.
For instance, an insurance agent or adjuster with a single line of insurance must complete 15 hours of CE every two years. This is apart from the three hours of ethics training. Those who have combined licenses, like Property & Casualty or Life and Health, must render 30 hours every two years. Insurance professionals selling long-term care insurance or annuities have additional requirements. To know your exact CE requirements, you can refer to the DFS website’s section on CE.
Related: Check out the CE requirements for insurance professionals in every state; also, you can refer to our guide on the top CE course providers.
There can be cases where you don’t need to take the licensure exam and can proceed to apply for the appropriate insurance license. But bear in mind that getting exempted from taking the exam does not always mean you are also exempted from taking the pre-licensing courses. Here are some instances where you can skip taking the exam:
You are currently a licensed insurance agent in NY and are applying for a broker license
You are currently a licensed agent applying for a consultant license for the same line of authority
You are applying to be a travel accident insurance agent or baggage agent
You are applying for the consultant license and have already passed an exam from the following:
You have been working for at least 1 year as a licensed agent or broker and are applying for a life settlement broker license
Some candidates can get exemptions from the pre-licensing courses. If these apply to you, you can be exempted:
You have the CLU or CLUA designation and are applying for a life agent or life settlement broker license.
You have the CPCU designation are applying for a personal lines or property and casualty agent/broker license.
You are an insurance professional with the ChFC, CLU, or MSFS title and are applying for a life broker license.
You are applying for an insurance broker license and have worked as a full-time employee at a New York-licensed insurance company for at least one year. Your employment must be within three years prior to your application. Also, your duties are reasonably related to underwriting or adjusting losses for the type of license for which you are applying. This requires you to submit a Statement of Employer form to the DFS.
You are an employee at a life settlement provider, life insurance company, or are an insurance producer applying for a life settlement broker license and have been working for at least one year in the three years before your application. Your duties must be related to:
This requires submitting a Statement of Employer form to the Department.
You hold a CLU, FAS, or ASA designation and are applying for a life consultant license.
You have been in the insurance business for at least one year in sales, underwriting, or have other relevant experience and are applying for a public adjuster license.
You are a licensed attorney in NY and are applying for a title agent license.
You have the option of taking the exam online or taking the exam in person at one of the authorized testing centers or a PSI testing site.
If you choose to take the exam online, your laptop or computer must be able to download and run the PSI Bridge remote testing software. Should you choose to take the exams in person, you can check their page for available test dates and locations for the NY insurance license, then schedule your exam.
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