Alyssa Lane
To become an insurance agent in Georgia, one must obtain a Georgia insurance license. The requirements to obtain this license vary depending on the category of insurance one wishes to sell. For example, one would need a Property & Casualty (P&C) license to sell auto, home, or business insurance. To get licensed, one must complete a pre-licensing course, register for and pass the Georgia insurance exam, and submit a license application. While it is possible to get a license without experience, it may be difficult to get appointed by an insurance company without it.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| License requirement | Yes, a license is required to provide insurance information and sell policies to Georgians. |
| License types | Life, Accident and Sickness, Property, Casualty, Personal Lines, Accident and Health, Life, Variable Products, Travel, and Credit. |
| License duration | Temporary licenses are issued for 6 months and can be extended in 3-month intervals up to a maximum of 15 months. Regular licenses need to be renewed annually or biennially. |
| License renewal | Renewal periods are every two years on the last day of the agent's birth month. |
| Requirements | Age (minimum 18 years), education (pre-licensing course), and legal eligibility (citizenship affidavit and proof of lawful presence in the US). |
| Examination | Yes, a state licensing exam is required. |
| Fees | License application fee ($50) and license fee (totaling around $115). |
| Mentorship | Recommended to gain practical insights and guidance on the insurance market in Georgia. |
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What You'll Learn
Pre-licensing education and exam requirements
To become a licensed insurance agent in Georgia, you must meet specific pre-licensing education and exam requirements. These requirements vary depending on the category or class of insurance you wish to sell.
Firstly, you must complete a pre-licensing education course. The number of hours required for this course depends on the line of authority you wish to pursue. For example, resident applicants for agent or adjuster licenses must complete 20 hours of pre-licensing education for each line of authority before attempting the state exam. On the other hand, those pursuing a credit insurance license must complete 5 hours of self-study.
After completing your pre-licensing course, you will need to pass a Certification Exam. This exam is not monitored, and a score of 70% or greater is required to pass. Once you pass the Certification Exam, you will receive a Certificate of Completion, which is valid for 1 year.
Next, you will need to take and pass the state exam within the validity period of your Certificate of Completion. The state exam fee is $63, and you must bring two forms of current signature identification and a copy of your pre-licensing education Certificate of Completion on the exam day. The exam will typically be 2 to 2.5 hours long and can have anywhere from 80 to 135 questions, depending on the line of insurance you are testing for.
It is important to note that individuals with a Bachelor's degree in insurance are exempt from the pre-licensing education requirements but are still required to pass the state exam. Those with a Doctorate degree in insurance are exempt from both pre-licensing and examination requirements. Additionally, a waiver of the pre-licensing course and examination can be granted if you hold certain professional designations, such as CLU or FLMI, or if you are licensed for the same lines of insurance in your previous home state.
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License types and categories
To become a licensed insurance agent in Georgia, you must meet specific requirements that vary depending on the category or class of insurance you wish to sell.
Insurance licenses in Georgia are categorized based on the type of insurance being sold. These types include credit, life, casualty, property, accident and sickness, and travel. A "Life, Accident and Sickness" license, for instance, allows you to sell both life and accident and sickness insurance, whereas a life insurance license only allows you to sell life insurance.
There are also different licenses for insurance agents, solicitors, counselors, brokers, and adjusters. A temporary insurance agent license is available for those who want to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance through one specific insurer. This type of license is issued on behalf of an insurer and requires sponsorship from an insurance company and supervision by a licensed agent.
Application Process
The application process for a Georgia insurance agent license involves gathering the necessary information, documentation, and requirements. This includes completing a pre-licensing course and passing the insurance exam. After passing the exam, you must submit a license application, along with your certificates of course completion. The fees for the license application and the license itself usually total around $115.
License Renewal and Maintenance
Insurance licenses in Georgia must be renewed annually or biannually, depending on when they were first issued. To maintain your license, you must meet certain criteria, which vary depending on the type of insurance you sell. Continuing Education requirements must be fulfilled to keep your license in good standing.
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Application process and requirements
Aspiring insurance agents in Georgia must complete a series of application steps to obtain a license. The requirements, qualifications, and fees for an insurance license vary depending on the type of insurance being sold. These types range from credit, life, and casualty to property, accident and sickness, and travel.
To become a licensed insurance agent in Georgia, candidates must complete specific requirements set by the state, including age, education, and legal eligibility. Candidates must be at least 18 years old and submit a Citizenship Affidavit along with secure and verifiable documents confirming a lawful presence in the United States. The Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner mandates this step to ensure all applicants meet the legal requirements for licensure.
Prospective agents must also complete a state-approved pre-licensing education course to ensure they have the foundational knowledge necessary for selling and understanding insurance. Course requirements range from 20 to 40 hours, with a few exceptions. For example, travel insurance licensing does not require any courses or an exam, while credit insurance licensing requires five hours of self-study.
After completing the pre-licensing course, candidates should take the state licensing exam. Candidates must register for the exam with Pearson VUE, the authorized testing company, either online or over the phone. It is mandatory to provide accurate personal information, as it must match other forms of identification on the day of the exam. The exam is a multiple-choice test that covers a range of topics found in the Georgia Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook. A passing score is required to move forward with the licensing process.
Once candidates have passed the exam, they must submit a license application, including their certificates of course completion. There are separate fees for the license application and the license itself, usually totaling around $115. Applicants can submit their application through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) or Sircon platform. As part of the licensing process, a thorough background check and fingerprinting are conducted to verify the applicant's identity and check for any criminal history.
It is important to note that temporary licenses are available for resident applicants who are sponsored by an insurance company and supervised by a licensed agent. These licenses are issued for an initial period of 6 months and can be extended in 3-month intervals, up to a maximum of 15 months. Temporary licenses are limited to certain lines of authority, such as Life, Accident and Sickness, Property, and Casualty.
Additionally, individuals who hold specific designations, certifications, or degrees may be exempt from prelicensing education and exam requirements for certain lines of authority. For example, those with a college degree in insurance are exempt from the Life and Health lines of authority.
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License renewal and maintenance
Once you have obtained your insurance license in Georgia, you need to meet certain criteria to maintain your license. These criteria vary depending on the type of insurance you sell. For example, to be eligible to register as a Life Settlement Broker, you must hold a Life license for one year either in Georgia or your home state. Non-resident producers must also have a valid non-resident producer license in Georgia.
To maintain your license, you must renew it annually or biennially, depending on when it was first issued. The renewal process can be completed through the Georgia Licensing portal. If your license is inactivated due to failure to renew or non-compliance with CE requirements, you can apply for reinstatement within 12 months of the inactivation date. Reinstatement requires payment of a reinstatement fee and a late fee, completion of any necessary CE requirements, and fingerprinting if the license has expired.
It is important to note that the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner regulates and licenses various business entities, including insurance agents, agencies, and companies. All insurance professionals in Georgia must be licensed by this office to conduct business in the state.
Additionally, specific submission requirements must be met by Adjusters, Brokers, and Counselors. For example, to request a change of address or a duplicate license, you can log in to the Georgia Licensing portal. To request a name change, you need to complete the Name Change form and submit it with the applicable fee to the provided addresses.
To stay up to date with the requirements for maintaining your license, you can refer to the Georgia Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook, which contains detailed information about licensing, prelicensing, application requirements, exams, licensing fees, and more.
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Temporary licenses
In Georgia, a temporary insurance agent is an individual who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance through one specific insurer. Temporary licenses are issued on behalf of an insurer, and they are only available to resident applicants. To obtain a temporary license, an insurance company must sponsor the individual for licensure, and a supervising agent who is licensed and appointed by the sponsoring insurance company is required. A temporary license holder can only hold the same lines of authority as the supervising agent. The eligible lines of authority for temporary agent licenses include Life, Accident and Sickness, Property, Casualty, and Personal Lines.
A temporary license is issued for an initial period of 6 months from the date of issuance, and it can be extended in 3-month intervals, up to a maximum period of 15 months from the original issue date. A person can only hold one temporary license per lifetime.
To apply for a temporary license, you must complete the Sponsoring Insurer/Agent Certification Form, which is required for your application to be processed. You must also complete the Citizenship Affidavit and upload a copy of the front of your acceptable ID. If you have a previous license from another state, you may be eligible for a waiver of the prelicensing course and examination. In this case, you must attach the original clearance letter from your prior home state and ensure that your state license is active at the time of your move to Georgia. You must also apply for licensure within 90 days of your move.
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Frequently asked questions
To become a licensed insurance agent in Georgia, you must complete a pre-licensing course, take and pass the relevant Georgia insurance license exam, and submit a license application. The type of license you need depends on the category of insurance you wish to sell.
After passing the exam, you need to submit an application through one of two websites: NIPR or Sircon. The application requirements include submitting a Citizenship Affidavit, providing a copy of an acceptable ID, and getting fingerprinted. Once your application is approved, you will receive an email with your license.
While there is no explicit mention of an internship requirement, there are specific steps and requirements that must be fulfilled to obtain a license. These include completing pre-licensing education, passing the exam, and submitting the necessary documentation for the license application.
