
To obtain an insurance sales certification and license, you'll need to meet the basic requirements set by your state's insurance department. Typically, this includes being at least 18 years old and having a high school diploma or equivalent.
The first step is to choose the type of insurance license you want to pursue, such as life, health, or property and casualty insurance. In most states, you'll need to complete a pre-licensing course, which covers the basics of insurance and state-specific laws.
The length and format of these courses vary, but they're usually around 20-40 hours long and can be taken online or in a classroom. Some states also require a background check or fingerprinting as part of the licensing process.
Once you've completed your pre-licensing course, you'll need to pass a licensing exam to demonstrate your knowledge of insurance concepts and state laws.
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Get Started
To get started with your insurance sales certification, you'll need to understand the state requirements. The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) requires an insurance producer license to sell insurance policies in the state. You'll need to choose which line of authority you want to be licensed in: health insurance, life insurance, property and casualty insurance, or any combination of those lines.
First, you'll need to determine which license you need. In Michigan, you can choose to be licensed in one or more of the following lines: health insurance, life insurance, or property and casualty insurance.
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Complete Prelicensing Course

To get your insurance sales certification, you'll need to complete a prelicensing course, which varies by state. In Michigan, you must complete 20 hours of prelicensing education for each line of authority before attempting the state exam.
The course should prepare you to pass the state exam on your first attempt. A.D. Banker offers prelicensing courses that include online classes, web classes, and learning tools like flashcards and study manuals.
Michigan requires a Certification Exam, which is not monitored, to demonstrate completion of the prelicensing requirement. You must pass the Certification Exam with a 70% or greater to receive a Certificate of Completion.
Some states, like Virginia, don't require prelicensing education, but Kaplan highly recommends enrolling in a study course due to the difficulty and nature of these exams.
Here are some states that don't require prelicensing education:
- CO
- DC
- IA
- IL
- KS
- MA
- MD
- MO
- ND
- NE
- NJ
- OH
- PA
- SD
- TN
- VA
- WI
In states that do require prelicensing education, like Arkansas, you must complete 20 hours of pre-licensing education in your chosen line of authority.
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Licensing Exams

To become a licensed insurance agent, you'll need to pass a state licensing exam. The exam requirements vary by state, but most states require a score of at least 70% to pass. In Michigan, for example, the passing scores for each exam are as follows:
- Life & Health Exam – 75%
- Life Exam – 72%
- Health Exam – 76%
- Variable Life and Annuities Exam – 74%
- Life, Variable Life and Annuities Exam - 73%
- Property & Casualty Exam – 74%
- Property Exam – 75%
- Casualty Exam – 74%
- Personal Lines Exam – 75%
You can reschedule an exam after 24 hours if needed, but be aware that there may be an additional exam fee if you retake the exam. It's essential to pass the first time to avoid extra costs.
In Virginia, Kaplan's exam prep courses are highly recommended to increase your chances of passing the licensing exam. The state of Virginia does not require prelicensing education, but completing a study course can make a significant difference in your exam results.
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If you're planning to become a property and casualty adjuster, you'll need to pass the relevant Arkansas insurance license exam. The exam consists of 50 scored questions, and you'll need to achieve a score of at least 70% to pass. You can retake the exam as many times as needed, but be aware that you'll need to wait four weeks before scheduling another attempt if you fail three consecutive times.
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Apply for License
After passing the exam, you're ready to submit your license application through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). This is a crucial step in becoming a certified insurance sales professional.
Once you've submitted your application, it will be reviewed and processed by the relevant authorities. The type of license you need will depend on the type of insurance policies you want to sell, such as auto, home, or business insurance.
In Arkansas, you'll need a Property & Casualty (P&C) license to sell these types of policies. You can also obtain a Life and Health license, which allows you to offer clients a wider range of insurance products.
Here's a list of the different types of insurance agent licenses available in Arkansas:
- Life
- Health
- Property/Casualty (including commercial lines)
- Personal Lines (Property/Casualty)
- Title
- Crop Hail
- Surplus Lines
Keep in mind that you may need to obtain a separate license if you want to work as an insurance adjuster.
Exam Prep Course

To pass your insurance sales certification exam, you'll need to complete an exam prep course. This is especially important in states like Virginia, where prelicensing education is not required but highly recommended due to the difficulty of the exams.
In Virginia, Kaplan's exam prep courses are highly recommended to give yourself the best chance to pass. You'll want to enroll in a study course to prepare for the state exam.
Some states, such as Michigan, have specific passing scores for each exam. For example, in Michigan, you'll need to score at least 75% on the Life & Health Exam and 75% on the Property Exam.
Here are the passing scores for each exam in Michigan:
- Life & Health Exam – 75%
- Life Exam – 72%
- Health Exam – 76%
- Variable Life and Annuities Exam – 74%
- Life, Variable Life and Annuities Exam - 73%
- Property & Casualty Exam – 74%
- Property Exam – 75%
- Casualty Exam – 74%
- Personal Lines Exam – 75%
If you don't pass the exam on your first try, you'll have to pay an additional exam fee to retake it.
License Types
If you're planning to become an insurance agent, you'll need to decide which type of insurance policies you want to sell, which will dictate the type of license you'll need. For example, to sell auto, home, or business insurance, you'll need a Property & Casualty (P&C) license.
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The type of license you'll need will depend on the type of insurance policies you want to sell. In the state of Arkansas, there are several types of insurance agent licenses available, including Life, Health, Property/Casualty, Personal Lines, Title, Crop Hail, and Surplus Lines.
Most insurance agents will obtain a Property and Casualty (P&C) or a Life and Health license, and many opt for both to offer clients a wider range of insurance products. If you want to specialize in a particular type of policy, you'll only need to focus on the specific license relevant to that insurance type.
To give you a better idea of the different license types, here is a list of the licenses available in Arkansas:
- Life
- Health
- Property/Casualty (including commercial lines)
- Personal Lines (Property/Casualty)
- Title
- Crop Hail
- Surplus Lines
Remember, if you're planning to work as an insurance adjuster, you'll need to obtain a separate license, which you can learn more about in our Arkansas Adjuster License overview.
State-Specific Licenses
If you're planning to sell insurance in Arkansas, you'll need to obtain a state-specific license. There are six types of insurance agent licenses available in the state, including Life, Health, Property/Casualty, Personal Lines, Title, Crop Hail, and Surplus Lines.
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The most common licenses held by insurance agents in Arkansas are Property and Casualty (P&C) and Life and Health. Many agents choose to obtain both licenses, as it allows them to offer clients a wider range of insurance products.
To determine which license you need, you'll need to decide which type of insurance policies you want to sell. You can find a list of all the different types of insurance agent licenses available in Arkansas below.
Arkansas License
To get your Arkansas insurance license, you'll need to complete a series of steps. First, you'll need to figure out which insurance license you'll need. This will depend on the line of insurance you want to specialize in.
The process starts with a pre-licensing education course, which is a mandatory step. You'll need to complete this course before you can submit your license application.
After submitting your application, you'll need to complete a background check. This is a standard requirement for all insurance licenses in Arkansas.
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Next, you'll need to pass the relevant Arkansas insurance license exam. This exam will test your knowledge in the specific area of insurance you're applying for. The exam fee is $50, and you'll need to achieve a score of at least 70% to pass.
If you fail the exam, don't worry - you can retake it as many times as you need to. However, if you fail the same exam three consecutive times, you'll need to wait four weeks before you can schedule another attempt.
Here are the steps to get your Arkansas insurance license in more detail:
- Figure Out Which Insurance License You’ll Need
- Complete a Pre-Licensing Education Course
- Submit Your Insurance License Application
- Complete a Background Check
- Pass the Relevant Arkansas Insurance Exam(s)
Note that all insurance producer licensing examinations in Arkansas are administered by PSI.
Virginia License
To get your Virginia insurance license, you'll need to pass the state licensing exam. This exam is administered by Prometric, and you can find more information and schedule your exam on their website at https://www.prometric.com/virginia/insurance or by calling 866-891-6396.

After passing the exam, you'll be ready to submit your license application through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). This is a crucial step in becoming a licensed insurance agent in Virginia.
The type of insurance license you'll need in Virginia depends on the type of policies you want to sell. For example, if you want to sell auto, home, or business insurance, you'll need a Property & Casualty (P&C) license. Here are some of the different types of insurance agent licenses available in Virginia:
- Life
- Health
- Property/Casualty (including commercial lines)
- Personal Lines (Property/Casualty)
- Title
- Crop Hail
- Surplus Lines
After Getting Your AR License
Congratulations on getting your Arkansas insurance license! Now that you've passed the exam and had your application approved, you're a qualified insurance agent in the state. You'll need to obtain any relevant securities licenses if you plan to sell advanced life insurance products. This includes passing the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam and obtaining licenses like the Series 6, 7, and 63.

You'll also need to decide how you want to sell insurance - as a captive agent employed by one company or as an independent agent running your own business. This decision will have a big impact on your future success as an insurance agent.
To succeed, you'll need to develop a marketing approach that works for you. This might involve finding a niche to specialize in, such as working with small businesses or families. You might also want to consider organizing your client appointments for the start of your week to stay on top of things.
Finally, don't forget to keep your license valid by completing at least 24 hours of continuing education every two years. These courses must be approved by the Arkansas Insurance Commissioner and include a minimum of 3 hours dedicated to ethics training in each two-year licensing cycle.
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Producer Types
There are several types of insurance producers, including captive agents who work exclusively for one insurance company, independent agents who represent multiple companies, and brokers who act as intermediaries between clients and insurance companies.

A captive agent typically represents only one insurance company and is often employed directly by that company. They usually have a strong knowledge of the company's products and services.
Independent agents, on the other hand, represent multiple insurance companies and often work on a commission-only basis. This allows them to offer a wider range of products to their clients.
Brokers, like independent agents, work with multiple insurance companies, but they often don't have a direct relationship with the companies. Instead, they use their expertise to find the best policy for their clients.
Each type of producer has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the right choice for a client depends on their individual needs and circumstances.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which insurance license makes the most money?
The life insurance license is often considered the most lucrative in the insurance field, offering high earning potential for those who sell it effectively. If you're interested in maximizing your insurance career earnings, consider specializing in life insurance sales.
How much does it cost to get an insurance license in Texas?
The Texas insurance license fee is $50 for a standard license or $150 for a temporary license. Get licensed and start your insurance career in Texas today!
Is it hard to get an insurance agent license?
Becoming an insurance agent is relatively quick and easy, with most people able to obtain a license in just a few weeks. No bachelor's degree is required, making it a more accessible career path.
Do insurance salesmen make good money?
Insurance sales professionals have the potential to earn a high income with strong growth opportunities, as their earnings are largely based on commissions. With no limit to how much they can earn, a career in insurance sales can be a lucrative option for those who excel in sales.
Sources
- https://www.adbanker.com/licensing-requirements/insurance/michigan/pre-licensing/
- https://www.kaplanfinancial.com/insurance/virginia/state-requirements
- https://staterequirement.com/insurance-licensing/arkansas-insurance-license/
- https://www.oid.ok.gov/licensing-and-education/insurance-license-types/
- https://idoi.illinois.gov/producers/licensescertificationsfaqs/become-resident-producer.html
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