Becoming A Life Insurance Agent In Georgia: A Guide

If you're looking to become a life insurance agent in Georgia, there are a few steps you need to take. First, you'll need to complete a pre-licensing course and pass the state licensing exam. This will give you the necessary knowledge to sell insurance and advise clients. You'll then need to apply for your license, which involves submitting an application, paying fees, and undergoing a background check. Once you've received your license, you can start selling life insurance and helping clients with their insurance needs.

Take a pre-licensing course

To become a life insurance agent in Georgia, you must complete a pre-licensing course. This is a mandatory step in the process, and you will need to put in around 20 hours of study time.

There are a variety of course providers to choose from, including America's Professor, Kaplan, and the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner. The courses are designed to be self-paced and include study materials such as practice exams and flashcards. The cost of the course varies depending on the provider, with America's Professor offering courses for $149+, and Kaplan's courses are priced at a similar level.

The pre-licensing course will cover very specific industry knowledge that will be essential for your future career as an insurance agent. It will also give you a solid understanding of your duties and responsibilities in this role. The course will prepare you for the state licensing exam, which you must pass to become a licensed insurance agent in Georgia.

It is important to choose a reliable course provider that covers all the information you need to know to pass the licensing exam. The quality of the study materials will have a direct impact on your exam preparation, so be sure to select a course that includes practice exams and allows you to test your knowledge.

Once you have completed your pre-licensing course, received your certificate of completion, and feel comfortable with the material, you will be ready to take the Georgia insurance licensing exam. It is recommended that you take the exam as soon as possible after finishing your pre-licensing course to ensure the information is fresh in your mind.

Pass the state exam

Passing the state exam is a crucial step in becoming a life insurance agent in Georgia. Here's a detailed guide to help you prepare for and pass the exam:

Complete a Pre-License Course:

Before registering for the state exam, it is essential to acquire the necessary knowledge to increase your chances of passing on the first attempt. Enrolling in a pre-license education course will equip you with the tools and information you need to prepare for the exam. In Georgia, you are required to complete 20 hours of pre-license education specific to life insurance. These courses are self-paced and often include study materials such as practice exams and flashcards. They are designed to provide you with a solid understanding of the industry and your future duties as a life insurance agent.

Understand the Exam Format and Content:

The Georgia life insurance licensing exam, administered by Pearson VUE, consists of 80 scored questions across five sections: Policy Riders, Provisions, Options, and Exclusions; Completing the Application, Underwriting, and Delivering the Policy; Taxes, Retirement, and Other Insurance Concepts; and State Laws, Rules, and Regulations. You will have 120 minutes to complete the exam. The questions are designed to assess your understanding of industry-specific knowledge, so it is crucial to dedicate sufficient time to preparing for the exam.

Register for the Exam and Pay the Fee:

Once you feel prepared, it's time to register for the Georgia life insurance licensing exam. The exam fee is $63, payable by credit card, debit card, or voucher at the time of reservation. Remember to schedule your exam as soon as possible after completing your pre-licensing course to maximize your knowledge retention.

Arrive Prepared on Exam Day:

On the day of the exam, arrive at the test center at least 30 minutes early. Bring two forms of acceptable identification, as outlined by the testing center. You will not be allowed to take the exam without proper identification, and you will forfeit your examination fee. During the exam, you will have the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the computer interface and navigate through the tutorial before starting the timed exam. The time allotted for the exam begins as soon as you view the first question. Make sure you manage your time effectively to complete all sections within the given time frame.

Receive Your Results:

Immediately after completing the exam, you will receive your official score. If you pass, you can move on to the next step in the licensing process. However, if you fail the exam, you must wait at least 24 hours before scheduling a retake. If you receive a failing score on your second attempt, you will need to wait two weeks before taking the exam again.

Get fingerprinted

To become a life insurance agent in Georgia, you must complete a fingerprint-based background check. This is a mandatory part of the licensing process, which is carried out to ensure that applicants do not have a criminal or social services background that would prevent them from becoming a licensed insurance agent.

Firstly, you must register with the state's approved vendor, Fieldprint, to complete this process. You will need to visit the Fieldprint website and register for this service. Once registered, you will receive a registration approval email, which you will need to bring with you to the fingerprinting site.

It is important to note that you will not be able to schedule a fingerprinting appointment until after your license application has been submitted. This ensures that your application details are on file and ready to be cross-referenced with the background check results.

After registering at Fieldprint's website, you will receive a registration approval email from the company. You need to take this registration approval message with you to the fingerprinting site for inspection before Fieldprint will take your fingerprints. Fieldprint will electronically scan your fingerprints, which avoids the need for inked fingerprint cards. The fee for fingerprinting services is $51.50 to cover the cost of comparing your prints against criminal history records.

Electronic fingerprints are valid for 6 months from the date they are submitted.

Apply for a Georgia Insurance License

Once you have completed the necessary pre-licensing education, passed the state licensing exam, and completed a citizenship affidavit and fingerprint-based background check, you are ready to apply for your Georgia insurance license.

To become licensed as an agency, you must submit a complete GID-130 form for a Resident Georgia Agency or the Uniform Application for Nonresident Business Entity. This must include the appropriate fee (typically around $115) to the Georgia Insurance Department and any required supporting documentation. You will also need to apply online via Sircon or the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR).

You will be assigned an NPN, a unique identifier used to track individuals and business entities on a national basis. The NPN is used by many states to replace a producer license number.

The Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner 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.

Processing times may vary, but the average turnaround time is 14 business days. You can print your license from either the Sircon or the NIPR website.

Plan for Continuing Education Requirements

To become a life insurance agent in Georgia, you must complete 24 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years to renew your license. Three of those 24 hours must focus on ethics. If you have a non-resident license in good standing in your home state, you are exempt from taking CE courses in Georgia.

Licensees holding multiple authorities (Life & Health and Property & Casualty) must complete 24 total hours, with 50% of the hours in Life & Health and 50% of the hours in Property & Casualty courses. This must include 2 hours of ethics training. Credit earned from general courses is acceptable in meeting Life & Health or Property & Casualty requirements.

IIAG Members can take advantage of free or discounted continuing education opportunities. Members can attend free CE webinars, receive discounts on designations and education, and access exclusive education opportunities.

Frequently asked questions