
Becoming an insurance agent from home can be a flexible and rewarding career choice. Many insurance companies offer remote work options, allowing agents to work from anywhere with a reliable internet connection.
You'll need to meet the basic requirements, such as being at least 18 years old and having a high school diploma. Some companies may require a college degree or specific coursework.
Insurance agents can work as independent contractors or full-time employees, with varying levels of autonomy and support. Many companies provide training and resources to help new agents get started.
You can expect to spend several months to a year studying for and obtaining necessary licenses and certifications.
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Get Started
Getting started on your insurance career is exciting, and Kaplan can help you earn various state insurance licenses from the comfort of your own home. You can choose from live online classes, OnDemand online courses, or self-study programs to fit your budget and learning style.
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Kaplan offers a range of licenses, including Life, Health, Property, Casualty, Adjuster, and Personal Lines. These licenses are essential for a successful insurance career.
With Kaplan's flexible learning options, you can study at your own pace and on your own schedule. This means you can balance work, family, and other responsibilities while pursuing your insurance career goals.
Kaplan's online courses and programs are designed to be engaging and effective, so you can stay motivated and focused on your goals.
Licensing and Education
To become an insurance agent from home, you'll need to focus on licensing and education. First, review your state's licensing requirements, as they vary depending on the products you'll be selling. You'll need to choose the proper type of license for your insurance agent business.
The most common license types are Property and Casualty, for agents who plan to serve clients who need auto, home, and business casualty insurance, and Life, Health, and Accident, for agents who plan to serve individuals who need insurance and annuities related to life events.
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To get licensed, you'll need to complete a pre-licensing course, which can be taken online or in-person, and pass a state licensure exam. The pre-licensing course requirements vary by state, but typically range from 20-40 hours of online training. You'll need to show proof of completed training before taking the exam.
Here's a breakdown of the typical pre-licensing education requirements:
Remember, the pre-licensing education Certificate of Completion is valid for six months, so you'll need to pass your exam and apply for your license within that timeframe.
Research Agencies
Researching the agencies you're interested in working with is a crucial step in the licensing and education process. This will help you understand any additional requirements you need to fulfill to get hired.
Some agencies will hire you before you have a license, so it's essential to check their specific hiring processes. This can give you a head start on your career, but be sure to follow their requirements carefully.
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You'll need to be aware of any additional requirements for candidates or agents to follow. This can include specific training or certifications that you'll need to complete before starting work.
Researching agencies will also help you understand their expectations and work environment. This can be especially important if you're new to the industry or unsure about which agency is the best fit for you.
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Become a Life
To become a life insurance agent, you'll need to obtain a life insurance license. This requires completing a pre-licensing education course, which typically includes 20 credit hours of study.
You can take these courses online or in a classroom setting, and they'll cover the basics of life insurance, including types of policies, underwriting, and risk management. In most states, you'll need to complete a pre-licensing course before taking the state licensure exam.
The state licensure exam for life insurance agents typically consists of around 50 to 200 items and must be completed in two to three hours. You'll only need to take the exam for the line that you plan on specializing in, but if you wish to practice in both life and health insurance, you'll need to pass both exams.
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To give you an idea of the different specializations, here's a list of the most common ones:
- Life, accident, and health (LA&H): 40 credit hours
- Life: 20 credit hours
- Health: 20 credit hours
If you pass the exam, your results will be valid for two years, so you'll need to apply for your license within that timeframe. If you fail to do so, you'll be required to retake the exam to regain your eligibility.
It's worth noting that some states have different requirements, so be sure to check with your state's department of insurance or the company you plan to represent for specific details.
State Licensing
To become an insurance agent from home, you'll need to navigate the state licensing process. You'll need to review your state's licensing requirements, which can be found on your state's department of insurance website.
Each state has its own set of regulations, so it's essential to choose the right type of license for your insurance agent business. The two most common license types are Property and Casualty (P&C) and Life, Health, and Accident (LA&H).
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Here are the typical steps to get licensed in most states:
- Choose Your Insurance Line of Authority
- Complete a Pre-Licensing Education Course
- Pass the Relevant State Insurance License Exam(s)
- Complete a Fingerprint and Background Check
- Submit Your Insurance License Application
Note that the exact steps required to get an insurance license can vary depending on your state's specific regulations. For example, applicants in Michigan must submit their application straight after choosing an insurance line, while those in Vermont aren't required to complete a background check at all.
Pick a State
Deciding which state to sell insurance in is a crucial step in the licensing process. You can choose to sell in your home state or another state, and some states even allow you to sell in multiple states.
Each state has its own regulations and rules, so it's essential to decide which state you want to operate in first. This will help you navigate the specific requirements for that state.
You can find the rules for the state you're interested in by checking with the department of insurance. Each state's insurance body has a different name, but you can usually find it by searching the state's official website.
Most state insurance web pages are helpful and offer downloadable handbooks that provide all the information you need to become an insurance agent in that state.
State Licensing Review
You'll need to review your state's licensing requirements before getting started, as they can vary depending on the products you'll be selling.
Most states require you to complete a pre-licensing course, which can be taken online or in-person, and education requirements range from a one-day class to 20-40 hours of online training.
To pass your state's insurance licensure exam, you'll need to get at least 70% of your answers correct, and the results are valid for two years.
You can submit your license application to your state's insurance regulation department after passing the test, and the department will review all license applications.
The processing time for your application can range from a couple of weeks to a few months, and you'll receive an email with your license number and National Producer Number (NPN) once the review is completed.
To sell insurance in multiple states, you'll need to abide by the rules for each state, and you can find out the specific requirements by checking with the department of insurance in each state.
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Here are the two most common license types:
- Property and casualty license, for agents who plan to serve clients who need auto, home, and business casualty insurance.
- Life, health, and accident license, for agents who plan to serve individuals who need insurance and annuities related to life events, such as life insurance, accidents, or health insurance.
Pre-Licensing Requirements
To become an insurance agent from home, you'll need to meet the pre-licensing requirements set by your state. These requirements vary, but they typically involve completing a pre-licensing education course.
You can take these courses online or in a classroom setting, and they usually cover the products and services that insurance producers offer to the public. The course hours required depend on the line of insurance you want to specialize in, with 20 hours needed for Life and Health, 40 hours for Life and Health combined, and 10 hours for Title.
Here's a breakdown of the course hours required for different lines of insurance:
Once you've completed your pre-licensing course, you'll need to pass an exam and apply for your license within six months of receiving your Certificate of Completion. This certificate is issued by your pre-licensing school and is valid for six months.
Application Review and Licensure

After you've submitted your application, all that's left to do is wait. Processing times are highly specific to each state, ranging from a couple of weeks to a few months.
You'll receive an email from the state with your license number and National Producer Number (NPN) once the review is completed. Keep an eye out for this email, as you'll need it to show your employer when applying for a new job within the insurance industry.
The state will review your application, and if everything checks out, you'll be issued a license. If there are any issues with your background check or the state is experiencing a busy period, this may take longer.
You can check the status of your application on the department's website. If approved, you can request a PDF copy of your license. Some states don't mail printed licenses, so you may need to download and print the insurance license yourself.
Here's a rough estimate of the processing time for each state:
Note that these are just estimates, and the actual processing time may vary depending on the state and their workload.
Insurance Agent Types
As you consider becoming an insurance agent from home, you'll need to understand the different types of insurance agents. An Independent Agent represents multiple insurance companies, while a Captive Agent works exclusively for one insurance company.
There are various lines of authority, which determine the types of insurance you'll be able to sell. You can specialize in one or multiple lines, such as Life insurance, Health insurance, Property insurance, Casualty insurance, Surplus line insurance, Variable products insurance, or Personal lines insurance.
To get started, you'll need to decide which line of authority you want to pursue. This will determine the type of license you'll need to obtain. In most states, the two most common insurance agent license types are Property and Casualty, and Health and Life.
Here's a quick rundown of the common lines of authority:
Remember, you don't have to pick just one line of authority. Many insurance agents choose to combine certain lines, such as Property and Casualty insurance.
Commission and Salary

As an insurance agent working from home, your income will be largely dependent on commissions. You can earn between 5% to 10% of the entire premiums paid for the first year for every new auto and home policy you sell as a captive insurance agent.
Commissions for independent agents are higher, ranging from 15% for new policies. Renewals, however, have commission rates that range between 2% and 15%, averaging around 2% to 5%.
Life insurance agents get front-loaded commissions of 40% to up to 120% of a policy's first-year premiums, the highest in the industry. This is a significant amount, but the rates for renewals drop to just 1% to 2%.
As a health insurance agent, commission rates will vary depending on your partner insurer, but the average is between 5% and 10% of the policy's total premiums in the first year. Group policies, however, may earn slightly lower commissions of around 3% to 6%.
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Some insurance agents work as full-time salaried employees, but may still receive commissions apart from their fixed wages. Salaried insurance agents only make the amount they have agreed to with the insurer or agency for that given year.
Here's a breakdown of commission rates for different types of policies:
Remember, your income will mostly be commission-based, so there's no limit to how much you can earn if you have a great work ethic and establish good relationships with clients.
Benefits and Pros
Being an insurance agent from home offers a flexible schedule, allowing you to balance work and personal life.
You can work as an insurance agent from home, which is a great perk for those who value flexibility.
Insurance agents can earn a good income, with some agents earning upwards of $60,000 per year.
The ability to work from home also reduces commuting time and expenses.
As an insurance agent, you'll have the opportunity to work independently and set your own goals.
You'll have the chance to help people protect themselves and their loved ones, which can be a very rewarding experience.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How to work from home as an insurance agent?
To work from home as an insurance agent, you'll need to obtain the necessary licenses, contract with an insurer, and establish a home office to manage your business. This allows you to generate leads, contact prospects, and close sales remotely.
How long does it take to become an insurance agent in CA?
To become an insurance agent in California, you'll need to complete 20 hours of prelicensing education and 12 hours of ethics and anti-fraud training before taking the state exam. This typically requires a significant time investment, but it's a crucial step towards a successful career in insurance.
Is it hard to make money as an insurance agent?
Making money as an insurance agent requires dedication and effort, but it can be a lucrative career option with the right skills and knowledge. With the right approach, individuals can earn substantial income through commissions and bonuses.
Sources
- https://www.insureon.com/blog/how-to-become-an-insurance-agent
- https://www.in.gov/idoi/licensing/resident-licensing/resident-licensing-guidelinesrequirements/
- https://www.kaplanfinancial.com/resources/getting-started/how-to-become-an-insurance-agent
- https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/guides/how-to-become-an-insurance-agent-a-stepbystep-guide-468087.aspx
- https://staterequirement.com/insurance-licensing/
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