Paul Sanchez
To become an insurance agent in Louisiana, you must obtain a license from the Louisiana Department of Insurance. There are two main types of licenses: the Life, Health & Accident Producer License and the Property and Casualty Producer License. Each license qualifies you to sell different types of insurance products. To obtain a license, you must complete a pre-licensing course, pass a state licensing exam, and submit your license application through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). Fingerprinting and background checks are also required for the licensing process.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| License | Required to sell insurance in Louisiana |
| License Types | Life, Health & Accident Producer License and Property and Casualty Producer License |
| License Provider | Louisiana Department of Insurance |
| Pre-licensing Education | Not required, but recommended |
| Licensing Exam | Required; provided by PSI |
| Exam Locations | Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Metairie, Monroe, Pineville (Alexandria), and Shreveport |
| Exam Fee | $30 for Life, Health, or Accident; $53 for Life, Health, and Accident |
| Exam Prep Courses | Available through Kaplan Financial Education and American Online Insurance School |
| Fingerprinting | Required for all first-time applicants; $39.25 fee |
| Application Fee | One-time non-refundable fee |
| License Renewal | Every 2 years; requires continuing education courses |
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What You'll Learn
Louisiana insurance license types
To become an insurance agent in Louisiana, you must first obtain a Louisiana insurance license. There are different types of Louisiana insurance licenses, each providing qualification to perform different functions in the insurance field. Here is a detailed overview of the common Louisiana insurance license types:
Life and Health Insurance License
This license type qualifies license holders to explain, sell, and write life and health insurance products in Louisiana. With this license, you can sell insurance plans that provide financial protection in the event of damage, injury, or other life and health-related issues.
Claims Adjuster License
The claims adjuster license enables you to investigate and adjust insurance claims in Louisiana. With this license, you can assess and manage the process of insurance claims made in connection with insurance policies.
Resident Producer License
The resident producer license is for Louisiana residents who want to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance products within the state. This license type typically requires the licensee to complete pre-licensing education and pass a state licensing exam. First-time applicants may also need to undergo fingerprinting as part of the licensing process.
It is important to note that the specific requirements and steps to obtain each license type may vary, and it is recommended to refer to the Louisiana Department of Insurance website or seek professional guidance for the most up-to-date and accurate information.
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Pre-licensing courses
Several institutions offer pre-licensing courses, including Kaplan Financial Education, American Online Insurance School, and AD Banker. These courses can be taken online and may include text, videos, live webcasts, practice tests, and video libraries. The duration of these courses varies, with some offering 20-hour or 40-hour programs depending on the desired line of authority. For example, a Life & Health Insurance course may take 40 hours, while a Health Insurance course may be completed in 20 hours.
It is important to note that you must complete a pre-licensing course before taking the state exam. The state exam must be taken within one year of completing the pre-licensing course, and there is an associated fee. The cost of the exam is $30 for Life or Health & Accident exams and $53 for Life, Health, and Accident exams.
Additionally, Louisiana requires fingerprint impressions for all first-time individual resident producer adjuster and consultant applicants. You will need to be electronically fingerprinted at a PSI Louisiana site on the day of your examination and pay a fingerprinting fee of $39.25.
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State exam
To become a licensed insurance agent in Louisiana, you must pass a state licensing exam. This exam will cover industry knowledge and state insurance laws, and you will need to pass a specific exam for each desired line of authority.
Louisiana does not require licensing candidates to complete prelicensing education, but it is highly recommended that you take a prelicensing course of study for the lines of authority desired before taking any examination. These courses are available online and can be completed at your own pace. The pre-licensing courses for different lines of authority include:
- Life – 20-hour course on Life Insurance or 40-hour course on Life & Health Insurance
- Accident & Health or Sickness (Disability) – 20-hour course on Health Insurance or 40-hour course on Life & Health Insurance
- Combined Life / Accident & Health or Sickness (Disability) – 40-hour course on Life & Health Insurance
Once you have completed any desired pre-licensing courses, you can schedule your state insurance exam online at PSI. First-time users will need to create an account, which will allow them to schedule their exam location, date, and time. You can also schedule your exam by phone. The state exam must be taken within one year of completing your pre-licensing course, and there is a fee for the exam, which varies depending on the line of authority.
On the day of your examination, you must arrive at the testing center 30 minutes early for the check-in process and present a valid government ID. Personal items, including bags, wallets, cell phones, calculators, electronic devices, and wristwatches, are not allowed into the testing center. You will also need to be electronically fingerprinted at the PSI Louisiana site during regular testing hours on the day of your examination. This fingerprinting process will be completed by the contracted fingerprinting vendor, IdentoGO, and the prints will be forwarded electronically to the appropriate review agencies, including the Louisiana State Police and the FBI, for a background check. There is a fingerprinting fee of $39.25, which is payable on-site by money order, cashier’s check, company check, VISA, or MasterCard.
Your score will be displayed on-screen at the end of the examination, and a score report will be emailed to you. If you do not pass, there is no limit to the number of times you may retake the examination within the one-year period after completing your pre-licensing course.
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Fingerprinting
The fingerprinting process incurs a state processing fee of $39.25, payable to "PSI" by money order, cashier's check, company check, VISA, or MasterCard. Please note that the processing of your fingerprints may take up to four weeks.
Any misdemeanors or felonies may impact your ability to obtain a license. If you have any concerns about this, it is recommended to contact the Louisiana Department of Insurance for guidance.
After completing your exams and fingerprinting, you will be ready to apply for your Louisiana insurance license.
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License renewal
To renew your Louisiana insurance license, you must meet the continuing education requirements during your "License Renewal Period", which begins 90 days before the license's expiration date. The specific requirements depend on the type of license you hold.
For example, producers licensed in multiple lines have the same continuing education requirements as those with a single line license. However, they must renew annually according to their license type. For multi-licensed producers, the CE requirements must be met in odd-numbered years.
Louisiana's CE requirements are "License Type Specific". Agents must take courses related to their license type that are approved by the Louisiana Department of Insurance. These courses must include at least three credit hours of ethics training.
The expiration date for individual producers licensed in Property, Casualty, Personal Lines, Title, Industrial Fire, Surety, Bail Bonds, or Surplus Lines is the last day of their birth month every odd-numbered year. For those licensed in Life, Health and Accident, Variable Life and Variable Annuity, Limited Lines Life, Credit, or Travel, the expiration date is the last day of their birth month every even-numbered year.
It is important to note that specific licensing requirements may change, and it is the responsibility of each insurance agent to determine their own license renewal requirements.
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Frequently asked questions
To become an insurance agent in Louisiana, you must obtain a license from the Louisiana Department of Insurance. There are two types of licenses: the Life, Health & Accident Producer License and the Property and Casualty Producer License. You must complete a pre-licensing course and pass the state licensing exam.
First, complete a pre-licensing course for the desired line of authority. Then, schedule and pass the state licensing exam. After passing the exam, submit your license application through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) and pay the application fee. You will also need to provide your fingerprints for a background check.
The two main types of insurance licenses in Louisiana are the Life, Health & Accident Producer License and the Property and Casualty Producer License. The Life, Health & Accident Producer License allows you to sell life insurance, health insurance, disability insurance, and long-term care insurance. The Property and Casualty Producer License enables you to sell auto insurance, homeowner's insurance, worker's compensation insurance, commercial property insurance, and liability insurance.
