Becoming A Life Insurance Agent In California: A Guide

If you're thinking about becoming a life insurance agent in California, there are a few key steps you need to follow. Firstly, you'll need to complete a pre-licensing course, which provides essential knowledge and tools to help you pass the licensing exam. This includes a certain number of hours of study, such as ethics and insurance code education. Once you've completed the required study hours, you can take the California licensing exam, which tests your understanding of insurance codes, ethics, and specific insurance practices. After passing the exam, you'll need to submit your fingerprints and undergo a background check. The next step is to apply for your California insurance agent license through the state's online application portal. Finally, you can start applying for insurance agent positions, using job search sites and your network of contacts. It's important to note that maintaining your license may require additional steps, such as continuing education credits and renewing your license periodically.

Complete 52 hours of study

To become a life insurance agent in California, you must complete 52 hours of pre-licensing study. This is the highest line of authority you can test for in California, and its pre-licensing study requirement is the highest of all insurance licenses. If you're applying for more than one license and have already taken the required 12 hours of Ethics and California Insurance Code, the 52 hours are reduced to 40.

The pre-licensing education course will equip you with the necessary information and tools to prepare for your exam. It can be completed in a classroom or online format. The course covers:

• 12 hours of Ethics and California Insurance Code
• 20 hours of life insurance and procedures
• 20 hours of accident and health insurance

After completing your 52 hours of study, you can take the licensure exam.

Take the exam

To become a life insurance agent in California, you must pass the state's licensing exam. This is the third step in the process, after completing the required hours of study and before providing your fingerprints for a background check.

The California insurance licensing exam is administered by PSI Exams, and you can schedule an appointment to take the test online or in person. If you choose to take the exam in person, you must arrive at the examination site at least 30 minutes early and bring a valid form of state or government-issued identification, such as a passport, employment authorization card, or permanent resident card. The exam is also available online, via a remote, proctored license exam.

The exam itself is computer-based and consists of 60 to 150 questions, depending on the type of exam and the specific license you are seeking. For example, the exam for accident and health insurance has 75 questions and allows for one and a half hours for completion. The exam for life, accident, and health or sickness has 150 questions and is three hours long. The California life insurance exam contains 75 scored questions across two sections: general and state-specific. The general section covers basic life insurance product knowledge, while the state section covers insurance concepts, terms, rules, regulations, and practices specific to California.

You must achieve a passing score of at least 60% on the exam. If you fail, you can retake the exam as soon as 24 hours after your first attempt. However, you are only allowed to retake the exam up to 10 times within a 12-month period. After that, the California Department of Insurance (CDI) will ban you from retaking the exam for a year from the date of your last failed attempt.

The exam fee is $88, plus a $33 convenience fee, for a total of $121 for each "combined producer exam."

Get fingerprinted

Fingerprints are required for all unlicensed applicants. You can get fingerprinted before or after taking the licensure exam. The California Department of Insurance (CDI) has a contracted fingerprint vendor, Accurate Biometrics, which offers several locations for capturing your fingerprints. You can schedule an appointment with them at (866) 361-9944. When you go to have your fingerprints taken, bring a completed Live Scan Form BCIA 8016 and print out the LIC 442-39A Licensing Applicant Instructions. The DOJ maintains a list of authorised Live Scan Fingerprinting vendors, broken down by county. The fee for fingerprinting includes an FBI processing fee of $17, a DOJ processing fee of $32, and an additional "rolling fee" charged by the DOJ-authorised vendor, which varies depending on the vendor.

To properly record your fingerprints, you must pay the applicable fee and complete the Request for Live Scan Service form BCIA 8016. Take your completed form to the live scan vendor, complete the fingerprint impressions, and retain a copy for your records. The vendor will provide you with an Automated Transaction Identifier (ATI) number, which is assigned to your fingerprint impressions. If your fingerprints are rejected, you can use this number to have them redone at no charge.

Please note that non-payment of the fingerprint fee or failure to submit the fingerprints will delay the processing of your application. Additionally, if a license is not issued within twelve months of the date the fingerprints are submitted, a new set of fingerprint impressions will be required.

Checking the Status of Your Fingerprint Submission

Allow a minimum of seven days from the date your fingerprints were taken before checking the status. First, check with the CDI at (800) 967-9331, as the DOJ sends results directly to them. If the CDI does not have your results, you can use the DOJ's online Applicant Background Check Status service. You will need your date of birth and the 10-digit ATI number from the DOJ form requesting Live Scan fingerprint background checks. When your fingerprints are processed, the DOJ's online service will show "Completed" and provide the date of completion for the California and/or FBI level of services. If the status is not complete after 45 days, contact the CDI for further information.

Apply for the license

Once you have passed your pre-licensing course(s) and exam, you can apply for your California insurance agent license. You can only file your insurance agent license application online through the California Department of Insurance website, as the department stopped accepting paper applications for Form 441-9 after August 2019. If you have a valid reason, you can request an exemption from the electronic-only filing rule.

The application fee is $188. There’s no service fee if you apply via Sircon. If you apply via the NIPR, you must pay a $5.60 transaction fee. You can submit your application to the NIPR’s Attachment Warehouse or the California Department of Insurance by mail:

> California Department of Insurance

> Producer Licensing Bureau

> 320 Capitol Mall

> Sacramento, CA 95814

The CDI will issue a life insurance license to individuals who are at least 18 years old and have passed the proper licensing exam. You should submit your completed license application within 12 months of passing the exam.

To apply for a life insurance license in California, make sure you comply with the insurance licensing requirements as defined under the California Insurance Code.

The CDI will review your application and background check. This process usually takes two to three weeks from the date you send your application.

You can print your license from the Sircon or NIPR websites. Sircon charges a $5.60 fee to print a license. You can also check the status of your license application by visiting the CDI Check License Application Status Service (CLASS) page.

Find and apply for insurance agent positions

Once you've completed the necessary steps to become a licensed insurance agent in California, you can start applying for insurance agent positions. Here are some tips to help you with your job search and application process:

• Use online job search sites: Websites such as Indeed.com, or job boards of specific insurance companies, are great places to find open insurance agent positions in California. You can set up alerts for new postings that match your criteria and apply directly through the site.
• Prepare your resume and cover letter: Create a standard copy of your resume and cover letter, highlighting your skills and experience relevant to the insurance agent role. Customize each version for the specific position you're applying for, using keywords from the job listing to ensure your application stands out.
• Utilize your network: In addition to online job searches, tap into your network of contacts. Reach out to previous colleagues, managers, friends, and other professional connections. They may be aware of job openings that haven't been advertised yet or may know someone who is hiring.
• Dress professionally: Whether you're attending an interview or meeting with a client, dressing professionally is important in making a good first impression. It shows that you take your work seriously and helps to inspire confidence in your abilities.
• Practice interviewing skills: Before your interview, take time to practice common insurance agent interview questions. This will help you feel more confident and prepared during the actual interview, allowing you to better showcase your skills and qualifications.
• Emphasize your skills: During the interview, be sure to emphasize your skills and traits that are well-suited to the role of an insurance agent. These include strong communication and listening skills, the ability to build relationships, perseverance, adaptability, and a desire to help others.
• Follow up after the interview: Don't forget to follow up with the hiring manager or recruiter after your interview. Send a thank-you note or email expressing your continued interest in the position and highlighting any key points from the interview that went well.

Remember that finding the right insurance agent position may take some time, so be patient and persistent in your job search. Stay proactive, continue building your network, and don't be afraid to reach out to companies or recruiters directly to inquire about potential opportunities.

Frequently asked questions