Orlando Harmon
To become an insurance agent in Florida, you must complete a pre-licensing course, pass a state licensing exam, meet Florida's licensing requirements, and submit your fingerprints and license application to the Florida Department of Financial Services. Florida has specific requirements for those seeking an insurance license, including completing prelicensing and meeting minimum education requirements before taking the state licensing exam. To qualify for a 2-15 Health & Life Agent License, applicants must be at least 18 years old, Florida residents, and US citizens or legal aliens with work authorization. Insurance brokers, who sell insurance policies to consumers, must also meet minimum education requirements, including a high school diploma or GED, and often specialize in one type of insurance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| License | 2-15 Health & Life (Including Annuities & Variable Contracts) Agent License |
| Age | At least 18 years old |
| Residency | Bona fide resident of Florida |
| Citizenship | Citizen of the United States or legal alien with work authorization |
| Education | High school diploma or GED. A bachelor's degree in accounting, business, finance or a related field can improve career prospects. |
| Pre-licensing course | Yes, mandated by the state of Florida. Can be completed in person or online. |
| State licensing exam | Yes, must be passed after the pre-licensing course. |
| Application | Yes, must be submitted electronically along with fingerprints to the Florida Department of Financial Services. |
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What You'll Learn
Complete a pre-licensing course
To become a licensed insurance agent in Florida, you must complete a pre-licensing course. This is a mandatory step in the process and can be done in person or online. The pre-licensing course will prepare you to pass the state licensing exam, which is the next step in becoming a licensed insurance agent.
The pre-licensing course will cover all the necessary information and topics that you need to know to pass the state exam and become a licensed insurance agent. It is important to choose a reputable and approved pre-licensing course provider to ensure that you are getting the most up-to-date and accurate information. The course will likely cover a range of topics, including the different types of insurance, such as health, homeowners, automobile, life, accident, flood, and professional liability insurance.
In Florida, there are specific requirements for the pre-licensing course that must be met. For example, the 2-15 Health & Life (Including Annuities & Variable Contracts) Pre-License Course is a 60-hour approved insurance course that must be completed within four years of the application date. This course is specifically for individuals seeking to sell health and life insurance, including variable annuity insurance, in Florida.
There are also other pre-licensing courses available, such as the Certified All-Lines Adjuster (CALA) designation course, which is offered by Kaplan pursuant to the authority of Florida Statute §626.221 and with the approval of the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS). Completing this course allows individuals to receive their resident or non-resident All-Lines Adjuster license without taking the Florida state licensing exam.
It is important to note that the requirements for the pre-licensing course may vary depending on the type of insurance you choose to specialize in. For example, if you plan to sell only one type of insurance, such as health or property insurance, the course requirements may be different from those selling multiple types of insurance. Therefore, it is essential to review the specific requirements for the pre-licensing course that aligns with your career goals in the insurance industry.
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Pass the state exam
To pass the state exam for becoming an insurance agent in Florida, you must first complete the required pre-licensing course. This can be done in person or online, and the course must be state-approved. The pre-licensing course requires a set amount of educational hours, which may vary depending on the type of insurance you choose as your specialty. For example, to qualify for a 2-15 Health & Life (Including Annuities & Variable Contracts) Agent License, you must complete a 60-hour approved insurance course within four years of your application date.
After completing the required pre-licensing course, you can schedule your state exam. You can schedule the exam online or by phone, and you don't have to wait until you've completed the course to do so. You will need a valid photo ID to take the exam, but it does not have to be a Florida ID. The exam is provided by Pearson VUE, and you can find more information on their website or by calling them directly.
Kaplan Financial offers pre-licensing content that is based directly on the Florida licensing exams, which can help you prepare for the exam. Additionally, the Florida School of Insurance provides online resources and information to help you through the process.
Once you have passed the state exam, you are ready to apply for your insurance license. The application must be submitted electronically, and you will need to submit your fingerprints and license application to the Florida Department of Financial Services.
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Submit fingerprints
To become a licensed insurance agent in Florida, you must submit your fingerprints to the Florida Department of Financial Services. This is a mandatory step in the process, and you will need to have completed it before you can receive your insurance license.
To get your fingerprints taken, you must schedule an appointment with IdentiGo. You will also need a valid photo ID to get fingerprinted, but it does not have to be a Florida ID.
Generally, everyone has to be fingerprinted, even if you are or were a teacher, nurse, or have a concealed carry permit, for example. However, if you would like to see if you can skip this step, you can contact the Florida Department of Financial Services at 850-413-3134.
Once the Florida Department of Financial Services has your fingerprints, they will use them to conduct a background check. If they find anything in your background, they will usually request some kind of paperwork as proof of adjudication or other pertinent documentation.
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Meet Florida's licensing requirements
To meet Florida's licensing requirements, you must be at least 18 years old, a bona fide resident of Florida, and a United States citizen or legal alien with work authorization. You must also not be an employee of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or a state service office.
Florida requires those seeking an insurance license to complete pre-licensing before taking the state licensing exam. You can complete the mandated pre-licensing course in person or online. The pre-licensing course must be completed within four years of the application date and includes 60 hours of approved insurance courses for life and health, including variable annuity insurance.
After completing your pre-licensing/exam prep course, you must pass the state licensing exam. Once you have passed your exam, you are ready to apply for an insurance license. As part of the application process, you will need to submit your fingerprints and may need to provide additional information based on your background check.
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Apply for a license
To apply for a license to become an insurance agent in Florida, you must meet the following requirements:
Firstly, you must be a bona fide resident of Florida and a United States citizen or legal alien with work authorization. You must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED. It is also necessary to complete a 60-hour approved insurance course for life and health, including variable annuity insurance, within four years of your application date. Alternatively, you can complete Florida's mandated pre-licensing course, which can be done in person or online.
After completing the required education, you must pass a state licensing exam. This exam can be scheduled with Pearson Vue, and you will need a valid photo ID to take the test. Once you have passed the exam, you can submit your fingerprints and license application to the Florida Department of Financial Services. The application must be submitted electronically through MyFloridaCFO.com.
It is important to note that Florida requires those seeking an insurance license to complete prelicensing before taking the state licensing exam. You can check if your state is reciprocal with Florida if you already have an insurance license in another state. Additionally, there may be specific requirements for different types of insurance licenses, so be sure to review the qualifications for the license you are seeking.
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Frequently asked questions
You must be a US citizen or legal alien with work authorization, be at least 18 years old, and be a Florida resident. You must also complete a pre-licensing course, pass a state licensing exam, and submit your fingerprints and license application to the Florida Department of Financial Services.
You must complete a 60-hour approved insurance course for life and health, including variable annuity insurance, within four years of your application date.
First, complete the mandated pre-licensing course in person or online. Then, pass the state licensing exam. Next, complete the Florida state application and provide your fingerprints. Finally, submit your application and fingerprints to the Florida Department of Financial Services.
An insurance broker works independently to sell insurance policies to consumers on behalf of providers. They typically sell one type of insurance to become an expert in that field. An insurance agent, on the other hand, works directly for an insurance company to find policies for consumers and clients.
You must be a Florida resident to obtain a resident insurance license. If you already have a license in another state, your state may be reciprocal with Florida, so it is worth checking.
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