Get Your Georgia Auto Insurance License: A Guide

If you're interested in becoming a licensed auto insurance agent in Georgia, there are several steps you need to take. Firstly, you must complete a pre-licensing education course, which is a legal requirement in Georgia. This course will provide you with the foundational knowledge needed for both the insurance license exam and your future career. The specific course you choose will depend on the type of insurance license you're seeking. For example, a Property and Casualty (P&C) license will enable you to sell auto insurance, among other types of insurance. After completing your pre-licensing course, you'll need to pass the relevant Georgia insurance license exam. All insurance licensing exams in Georgia are administered by Pearson VUE and require a passing score of 70%. Once you've passed your exam, you'll need to complete a Citizenship Affidavit form and submit your insurance license application, along with the necessary fees. As part of the licensing process, you'll also need to complete a fingerprinting and background check. This is done through the state's approved vendor, Fieldprint. Finally, your application will be reviewed, and if everything is in order, your license should be issued within 14 business days.

Decide which insurance license you need

The first step in becoming a licensed auto insurance agent in Georgia is to determine the type of insurance license you require. This decision will depend on the type of insurance policies you want to sell. For instance, if you want to sell auto, home, or business insurance, you will need a Property & Casualty (P&C) license.

There are several types of insurance licenses available in Georgia, including:

• Life, Accident and Sickness
• Property and Casualty
• Travel, Travel Baggage, and Title

While there is a wide range of licenses to choose from, most insurance agents opt for either the Property and Casualty (P&C) or Life and Health license. Obtaining both licenses is also a common choice, as it allows agents to offer a broader range of insurance products to their clients.

However, if you plan to specialise in a particular type of insurance policy, you can focus on obtaining the specific license for that insurance type. Additionally, if you intend to work as an insurance adjuster, you will need to obtain a separate license.

It is also worth noting that some licenses may qualify you to sell more than one class of insurance. For example, a "Life, Accident and Sickness" license will enable you to sell both life insurance and accident and sickness insurance, whereas a life insurance license will only permit you to sell life insurance.

Therefore, it is essential to research the different types of insurance licenses available in Georgia and choose the one that aligns with your career goals and the specific insurance policies you wish to sell.

Complete a pre-licensing course

To become a licensed auto insurance agent in Georgia, you must complete a pre-licensing course. This is a mandatory step to attaining your license. The course you take will depend on the type of insurance you want to sell. For example, to sell auto insurance, you will need a Property and Casualty license, which requires a 40-hour pre-licensing course.

The pre-licensing course can be completed in a classroom, online, or through self-study. It is important to choose a reliable course provider that covers all the necessary information and provides practice exams. The quality of your study materials will determine your level of preparation for the licensing exam.

Some course providers offer flexible study options, allowing you to study at your own pace and fit your studies into your schedule. Online courses also tend to be more cost-effective, saving you money on travel and accommodation.

Once you have completed your pre-licensing course, you will receive a certificate of completion. This certificate is required when submitting your license application, so be sure to keep it safe.

After completing your course, it is recommended that you take the licensing exam as soon as possible. This will ensure that the information is still fresh in your mind.

The pre-licensing course is a crucial step in your journey to becoming a licensed auto insurance agent in Georgia, providing you with the knowledge and preparation needed to pass the licensing exam.

Pass the relevant Georgia insurance license exam

Passing the relevant Georgia insurance license exam is a pivotal part of becoming a licensed auto insurance agent in the state of Georgia. The state of Georgia uses Pearson VUE to administer its insurance agent licensing. This means you can register and book all of your licensing examinations through the Pearson VUE website. Your test can be carried out online or in person.

Each major insurance line examination includes both general and state-specific material. The general questions test your federal insurance product and agent knowledge, whereas the state-specific questions test you on the Georgia insurance regulations and laws that you will need to know in order to operate as an insurance agent.

How to Prepare for Your Georgia Insurance Licensing Exam

• Doing a pre-licensing education course dramatically increases your chance of passing your exam on your first attempt, which can save you time and money in the long run.
• Getting a pre-license course can help you get accustomed to the large amount of content that you will have to memorise. This is also a legal requirement in the state of Georgia.
• Make enough time to study. Not leaving enough time to prepare is an easy way to ensure that you do not pass your exam on your first attempt. Remember, there are zero questions on your exam that are based on common sense or critical thinking. All questions are purely factual and, therefore, relate to how well you understand and remember the content that you have learned. We recommend allocating around one to two weeks to prepare for your exam, as this should allow you to go through all of the material at least twice.
• Control test anxiety. Even though you cannot control whether you get exam anxiety or not, you can take a few steps when preparing to limit its effect on your performance:
• Establish a consistent pre-test routine, get plenty of sleep, study effectively, and arrive early.

How to Pass the Georgia Insurance Exam

Passing your Georgia insurance exam ultimately comes down to your mindset and degree of preparation. Here are some exam tips and tricks that should help you perform as well as you can during your exam:

• Get a pre-license course.
• Make enough time to study.
• Control test anxiety.

After You Pass Your Georgia Insurance Exam

Your next steps will depend on whether you actually passed your exam, as well as on whether you plan to get licensed for any additional lines. You can apply for your license up to 12 months after you complete your exam, so if you would like to attempt passing additional insurance line exams before filing your licensing application with the OCI, you are totally free to do that.

After you have passed your insurance licensing exam, you will need to:

• Complete a fingerprint and background check.
• File your licensing application.
• Wait for your application to be reviewed.

Complete a citizenship affidavit

To become a licensed auto insurance agent in Georgia, you will need to complete a citizenship affidavit. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do this:

Step 1: Print and Complete the Citizenship Affidavit Form

Firstly, you will need to download the relevant citizenship affidavit form. This can be found on the official Georgia government website. Once you have accessed and downloaded the form, you should print it out and complete all the necessary sections.

Step 2: Sign and Notarize the Form

After filling out the form, you will need to sign it. This must be done in the presence of a notary public, who will then notarize the document. Notarization is a mandatory step in the process and verifies the authenticity of your signature.

Step 3: Make a Copy of Your Identification Document

Along with the affidavit, you will need to submit a copy of a secure and verifiable identification document. This can be a government-issued driver's license, a U.S. Department of State driver's license, a U.S. learner's permit, a national/state/country identification card, a military ID for spouses and dependents, or an alien registration card (Green Card/Permanent Resident Visa). Ensure that the copy is clear and legible.

Step 4: Submit the Form and Identification Document

Now, you can submit the completed and notarized affidavit, along with the copy of your identification document. This can be done online via the NIPR or Sircon portals. Both platforms will guide you through the submission process, and you will be required to pay a filing fee of $100 and a processing fee of $20 for each license you are applying for.

It is important to note that your application cannot be processed until the affidavit, identification document, and application fees are submitted correctly. Therefore, ensure that all the required documents are attached and that the information provided is accurate to avoid any delays.

Submit your insurance license application

To submit your insurance license application, you will need to follow these steps:

Step 1: Submit Your Application Online

You can submit your application through either the Sircon or NIPR websites.

Step 2: Pay the Fees

Regardless of the website you choose, you will be required to pay a filing fee of $100 and a processing fee of $20 for each license you are applying for.

Step 3: Attach Required Documents

Make sure to attach all the required documents to your application. Emailed or mailed documents will not be attached to your application. You must upload the required documents to your application.

Step 4: Wait for Application Review

If everything on your application has been filled out correctly, your license should be issued within 14 business days. This is the amount of time it typically takes for a license application and background check to be reviewed.

Step 5: Expect Delays for Incomplete Applications

If your application is missing any required documents, you will receive a deficiency notice via email. You will have 60 days to resolve any deficiencies. If your application remains incomplete after 60 days, it will be closed, and you will need to reapply.

Step 6: Appeal Denied Applications

If your request is denied, you will receive a Notice of Denial stating the grounds for the refusal. You will have the option to file a written petition to appeal the decision within 20 days of the issuance of the Notice of Denial.

Frequently asked questions