Get Licensed: Life & Accident Insurance In California

If you're looking to get a life and accident insurance license in California, there are a few steps you need to take. First, you'll need to complete a pre-licensing education course, which will cover various insurance concepts, definitions, laws, and regulations. This course will prepare you for the state licensing exam, which you must pass to get your license. In addition, you'll need to complete a fingerprinting and background check process, and submit your license application. There are also continuing education requirements to keep in mind to maintain your license.

Pre-licensing course

To obtain a life and accident insurance license in California, you must complete a prelicensing course that is certified by the California Department of Insurance (CDI). This course will provide you with the foundational knowledge needed to sell insurance in the state and ensure you meet the state's prelicensing education requirements.

The prelicensing course will cover various insurance concepts, definitions, insurance laws, and agent regulations outlined in the California Pre-Licensing Educational and Examination Objectives. It will also include the required 12 hours of Ethics and the California Insurance Code, with 1 hour dedicated to anti-fraud training.

• Accident & Health or Sickness: 20 hours
• Life, Accident & Health or Sickness: 40 hours
• Property/Casualty: 40 hours
• Personal Lines: 20 hours

Upon completion of the prelicensing course, you will receive a Certificate of Completion, which is valid for 3 years. This certificate is a requirement to obtain your license and can be submitted to the CDI upon request.

You can choose from various prelicensing course providers, such as XCEL, National Online Insurance School, and A.D. Banker, each offering online courses and additional study materials to help you prepare for the state exam.

Remember, the prelicensing course is just the first step in obtaining your life and accident insurance license in California. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the other steps in the licensing process, including fingerprinting, passing the state exam, and applying for your license.

State exam

To obtain a life and accident insurance license in California, you must pass a state licensing exam. Here is a detailed guide on what you need to know about the state exam:

Prelicensing Course:

Before taking the state licensing exam, you are required to complete a prelicensing course that is certified by the California Department of Insurance (CDI). The prelicensing course will cover various insurance concepts, definitions, insurance laws, and agent regulations. The course will also include instructional videos, interactive illustrations, practice exams, and student support.

The prelicensing education requirement for a life and accident and health or sickness license applicant consists of a 40-hour prelicensing course specific to this license type and a 12-hour prelicensing course on code and ethics, for a total of 52 hours of prelicensing requirement.

Upon completion of the prelicensing course, you will receive a Certificate of Course Completion, which is valid for three years from the date of passing the final exam.

After successfully completing the prelicensing course, you must register with PSI Services to take the state licensing exam. You can make exam reservations online at the PSI website or over the phone. Here are the steps to register:

• Create an account on the PSI Exams website.
• Select the CA Department of Insurance from the 'Select Organization' dropdown menu.
• Choose your exam from the 'Select Test' dropdown.
• Click the 'Continue' button to complete your registration.

The state exam fee is $55 when testing at a California Department of Insurance (CDI) testing center and $98 when testing at a PSI testing center.

On the day of your state exam, make sure to arrive at least 30 minutes early to allow time for check-in procedures. You will need to present a current form of photo identification (driver's license, passport, etc.) that matches the name on your exam registration. The exam times are typically available in the morning, afternoon, and early evening on weekdays at various locations throughout California.

The state exam is a computer-based multiple-choice test, covering both general insurance product knowledge and specific insurance laws, rules, regulations, and practices unique to California. The exam duration and the number of questions will depend on the license type. For the Life, Accident & Health or Sickness exam, you will have 3 hours to answer 150 questions.

To pass the state licensing exam, you must score at least 60%. You will receive a pass or fail notification immediately after completing the exam. If you fail, you will receive a diagnostic report indicating your strengths and weaknesses.

Retaking the Exam:

If you need to retake the exam, there is an additional fee, and you can immediately reschedule without a waiting period. However, according to the California Insurance Code Section 1682, if an examinee fails the insurance license examination ten times, they will be prohibited from retaking the exam for a 12-month period starting from the date of their last failed attempt.

Fingerprinting

To complete the fingerprinting process, applicants can either schedule an appointment with CDI's contracted fingerprint vendor, Accurate Biometrics, or opt to have their fingerprints taken at the time of their license examination. Accurate Biometrics can be reached at (866) 361-9944 to schedule an appointment and find a convenient fingerprint location.

It is recommended to obtain fingerprint impressions before taking the license examination to minimize the risk of delays in license issuance while awaiting results from the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This proactive approach ensures a smoother and more timely process.

On the day of your fingerprint impressions, remember to bring a completed Live Scan Form BCIA 8016 and a printed copy of the LIC 442-39A Licensing Applicant Instructions. The DOJ maintains a list of authorized Live Scan Fingerprinting vendors, and applicants can choose a convenient location, keeping in mind that there may be variations in the additional "rolling fee" charged by different vendors.

To properly record your fingerprints, ensure that you complete the necessary forms, including the Request for Live Scan Service form BCIA 8016, and retain a copy for your records. The Live Scan vendor will provide you with an Automated Transaction Identifier (ATI) number, which is essential for tracking and, if needed, redoing your fingerprint impressions at no extra charge.

The total processing fee for fingerprint impressions varies depending on the location and payment method. At CDI examination sites, the total fee is $59.00, including the FBI processing fee of $17, the DOJ processing fee of $32, and the CDI contractor's rolling fee of $10.00. Checks should be made payable to Accurate Biometrics, and they also accept money orders, cashier's checks, personal checks, and major credit cards.

It is important to note that non-payment of the fingerprint fee or failure to submit the fingerprint impressions will cause a delay in the processing of your application. Therefore, it is advisable to stay on top of these requirements to ensure a smoother journey towards obtaining your life and accident insurance license in California.

License application

To apply for a life and accident insurance license in California, you must complete a few steps before submitting your license application. Here is a detailed guide on the license application process:

• Complete a Pre-Licensing Course: Before applying for the license, you are required to complete a pre-licensing education course that is certified by the California Department of Insurance (CDI). This course will prepare you for the state licensing exam. The pre-licensing course requirements vary depending on the license type. For a Life, Accident & Health license, you need to complete 40 hours of pre-licensing education, including 20 hours focused on Accident and Health and 12 hours on Ethics & California Insurance Code. The Certificate of Course Completion is valid for three years from the date of passing the pre-licensing course final exam.
• Pass the California Licensing Exam: After completing your pre-licensing course, you must pass the state licensing exam. The exam is administered by PSI Services, and you need to register with them to take the test. The exam fee is $55 when testing at a CDI testing center and $98 at a PSI testing center. A passing score is 60%.
• Fingerprint and Background Check: The State of California and CDI require fingerprint impressions from all applicants to ensure applicants do not have a criminal background that would prevent them from becoming licensed insurance agents. You can complete this requirement before or on the day of your exam. The fee for fingerprinting is $75 at a CDI testing site and $84.95 at a PSI testing site.
• Submit the Insurance License Application: Once you have passed your state licensing exam, you can submit your insurance license application through the CDI website. The application fee is $188. The Department typically takes about four weeks to process and approve your insurance license after receiving the required documentation. You will receive an email with a link to view and print your insurance license.

Continuing education

The State of California mandates that all insurance agents, including life-only agents, broker-agents, accident and health agents, property casualty broker-agents, and personal lines broker-agents, complete a specific number of continuing education hours to renew their licenses. The standard requirement is 24 hours of continuing education every two years, including 3 hours of ethics training. This means that you will need to complete 12 hours of continuing education and 1.5 hours of ethics training per year to stay compliant.

For limited lines automobile insurance agents, the requirements are slightly different. They are generally required to complete 20 hours of education with 3 hours of ethics training every two years.

It is important to note that non-resident license holders are exempt from these requirements and only need to adhere to the continuing education mandates of their home state.

Long-Term Care (LTC) and Annuity Products:

If you are selling long-term care (LTC) or annuity products, additional continuing education requirements apply. For example, to sell long-term care insurance, you must complete eight hours of LTC training in each of the first four 12-month periods after obtaining your license. Subsequently, you need to complete eight hours of LTC training during each two-year license term.

To sell annuity products, you must complete an initial eight-hour annuity training course before offering these products to clients. Following this, you are required to undertake four hours of annuity training during each license renewal period.

24-Hour Care Coverage:

Selling 24-Hour Care Coverage comes with its own set of continuing education mandates. To be authorized to transact this type of insurance, you must complete a course, program of instruction, or seminar provided by an approved CE provider. This program will cover workers' compensation and general principles of employer liability and will include an examination. The number of instruction hours will be the same as the prelicensing requirements for a casualty broker-agent on these subjects.

Keeping Up with Changes:

The State of California may update its continuing education requirements over time. It is your responsibility as a license holder to stay informed about any changes to the CE mandates. You can find the most current information on the California Department of Insurance website. Checking this website regularly will help ensure that you remain compliant with the latest requirements.

Timely Completion:

It is advisable to complete your continuing education hours at least 60 days before your license expires. This buffer will help ensure that your license remains active without interruption.

Frequently asked questions