Jeffrey Wade
If you want to become an insurance agent in Pennsylvania, you must pass a licensing exam. To apply for a Pennsylvania insurance license, you must first complete prelicensing education, which includes 24 hours of courses with a minimum of 3 hours of ethics. After completing the prelicensing education requirements, you can register for the insurance examination. The PSI Learning Academy provides information and practice exams online. On the day of the exam, you must bring a government ID with a photo and signature, such as a driver's license or passport. Once you pass the exam, you can submit your license application online with Sircon or the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). You can check the status of your license application on the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance website.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official health insurance marketplace in Pennsylvania | Pennie |
| Website to check the application status | www.insurance.pa.gov |
| Website to learn about courses, providers, and locations | Sircon |
| Website to register for the insurance examination | https://candidate.psiexams.com |
| Phone number to register for the insurance examination | 800.733.9267 |
| Eligibility requirements for Unemployment Compensation (UC) benefits | Sufficient qualifying wages, a minimum of 18 credit weeks in the base year, qualifying separation, availability to accept suitable work, and participation in reemployment services |
| Eligibility requirements for Medicaid | Income, household size, resources (e.g., bank accounts, life insurance, vehicles, owned property), disability, or need for long-term care |
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What You'll Learn
Eligibility requirements for insurance agents
To become an insurance agent in Pennsylvania, you must obtain a Pennsylvania insurance license. The eligibility requirements for this license include:
Pre-licensing Education (PLE)
Although pre-licensing education is not mandatory in Pennsylvania, it is highly recommended as it prepares candidates for the state licensing exam. The pre-licensing course must include a minimum of 24 credit hours. For a P&C license, this includes 3 hours of ethics. Candidates can refer to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department Bureau of Licensing and Enforcement page for detailed information on eligible PLE providers and courses.
State Licensing Exam
After completing the PLE, candidates must register for and pass the state licensing exam. This exam can be taken through PSI Exams, the authorized provider for Pennsylvania's insurance licensing exams. Candidates must register with PSI Exams or through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR).
Background Check
As part of the licensing process, applicants must undergo a background check, which includes fingerprinting. This can be scheduled through IdentoGO, an authorized service provider. Fingerprinting is critical for verifying the identity of the applicant and checking for any past criminal activities that may affect their eligibility.
License Application
Once the above steps are completed, applicants can fill out and submit their license application through the Pennsylvania Insurance Department's website. It is important to ensure that all required fields are accurately completed to prevent delays in the process.
License Renewal
Pennsylvania insurance licenses expire every two years and must be renewed by completing 24 credit hours of continuing education and paying a $55 renewal fee. There are three options for renewal: online through NIPR, online through Vertifore (Sircon), or by mailing a paper application.
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Prelicensing education
A.D. Banker, for example, offers prelicensing courses that can be supplemented with web classes, flashcards, and study manuals. ExamFX also offers comprehensive insurance training packages. These courses will provide you with current and up-to-date information to prepare for the Pennsylvania insurance examination. The courses cover everything contained in the Pennsylvania Insurance Department Candidate Information Bulletin and are broken down into easily understandable lessons.
The amount of time and number of questions on the exam will vary depending on which line of insurance you are testing for. Exams will last 2 hours or 2 hours and 50 minutes and can have 100-150 questions. To pass, you will need a score of 70% or higher.
After completing your prelicensing course, you will be ready to take the state licensing exam. You will need to register for the official licensing exam through PSI, and pay the exam fee. Following the exam, you will receive a pass or fail notification and a diagnostic report indicating your strengths and weaknesses.
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Registering for the insurance exam
Online Registration:
- Visit the PSI Services website and click on the 'Government/State Licensing Agencies' link on the left side of the page.
- Choose Pennsylvania from the 'Select Jurisdiction' drop-down menu, and wait for the second drop-down menu to appear.
- Select 'PA Insurance' from the 'Select Account' drop-down menu.
- Click on your desired exam from within the 'Classification' box.
- Sign in or create an account by following the instructions provided.
Phone Registration:
Alternatively, you can register by calling PSI Services at (800) 733-9267.
Exam Preparation:
While not mandatory, it is highly recommended that you complete an educational course or training package to prepare for the exam. ExamFX and A.D. Banker offer comprehensive prelicensing courses that cover the exam content and provide practice exams. These courses increase your chances of passing the state exam on your first attempt.
Exam Format:
The Pennsylvania insurance licensing exam is a multiple-choice test taken on a computer. It consists of two sections: a general section covering basic insurance product knowledge and a state-specific section focusing on Pennsylvania's insurance laws, rules, regulations, and practices. The passing score for most exams is 70%.
Exam Day Instructions:
On the day of your exam, you must present a current form of photo identification (e.g., driver's license, passport) that matches the name on your exam registration. Personal items, including bags, wallets, cell phones, calculators, electronic devices, and wristwatches, are not allowed in the testing center and must be left in your vehicle or checked into provided storage space. Food and drinks are also prohibited. You must remain in the testing center for the duration of the exam, as breaks are not permitted.
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Additional requirements for certain products
Pennsylvania law requires all motor vehicle owners to have vehicle liability insurance. This covers property damage or injuries caused to others in a crash. The minimum requirements for liability insurance are:
- Bodily Injury Liability: $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident.
- Property Damage Liability: $5,000 per accident.
- Personal Injury Protection: $5,000 per person (as Pennsylvania is a No-Fault State).
In addition to the above, you have the option to choose between full or limited tort coverage. Tort coverage is the ability to sue another at-fault driver for damages like pain and suffering. Full tort policies are more expensive but allow unrestricted rights to sue. Limited tort coverage is cheaper but restricts your ability to sue unless injuries are severe as defined by Pennsylvania law.
There are also optional insurance coverages available, such as:
- Collision coverage: This pays for damages to your vehicle in an accident.
- Comprehensive coverage: This covers damage to your vehicle not related to a collision, such as natural disasters, fires, vandalism, or hitting an animal.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: This pays for your injuries and property damage if you are in an accident with a motorist who is uninsured or underinsured, including hit-and-run accidents.
If you lease or finance your vehicle, the financing company may require you to purchase certain types of optional coverage.
It is important to note that insurance companies must notify PennDOT when an insurance policy is cancelled. However, they are not required to notify PennDOT when a new policy is acquired. It is the vehicle owner's responsibility to inform PennDOT of new insurance and provide proof. Failure to do so will result in the suspension of the vehicle registration.
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Renewing your license
To renew your license, you must fulfill certain eligibility, testing, and continuing education requirements. The specific requirements vary depending on the type of license you hold.
For instance, as of April 29, 2025, resident producers and resident/non-resident title agents will be required to complete 3 hours of ethics CE as part of a 24-hour CE requirement. Additionally, resident producers with property and casualty lines of authority must complete 2 hours of flood CE.
Producers selling flood insurance must complete a one-time 3-hour Continuing Education course related to the National Flood Insurance Program before selling. Those selling annuity products must complete a one-time 4-hour Annuity Suitability course, and those selling long-term care policies must complete an initial 8-hour Long-Term Care Training course, followed by a 4-hour course every compliance period.
There are three options for renewing your license:
- Online through NIPR
- Online through Vertifore (Sircon)
- Renewal via paper application (mailed with payment and a properly completed renewal invoice to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department)
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Frequently asked questions
If you are looking to apply for health insurance, Pennie is Pennsylvania's official health insurance marketplace. You can enrol during the open season, which runs from November through January every year. If you have missed the open season, you can check if you qualify for a special enrolment period. You can also check if you qualify for Medicaid, which is available to Pennsylvania residents regardless of how long they have been a resident.
To become a licensed insurance agent in Pennsylvania, you must pass a licensing exam. There are prelicensing courses available that will prepare you to pass the state exam. After completing your prelicensing education, you can register for the insurance examination.
You can renew your insurance license in Pennsylvania by fulfilling continuing education requirements and then renewing your license online.
If you are claiming Unemployment Compensation (UC) in Pennsylvania, you can file a claim any day, any time. You will first need to determine your financial eligibility, which considers your wages and length of employment. You will then need to file your claim, after which you will receive a notice of financial determination.
