The Path To Becoming An Auto Insurance Agent In Pa

If you want to become an auto insurance agent in Pennsylvania, you'll need to get a Pennsylvania insurance license. The process involves five steps: completing a pre-licensing education course, passing the relevant Pennsylvania Insurance License Exam, completing a fingerprint and background check, submitting your insurance license application, and then waiting for the results. The pre-licensing education course must be certified by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department and contain a minimum of 24 credit hours. The exam is administered by PSI and costs $43. The fingerprinting and background check is done via Live Scan at an IdentoGO enrollment center and costs $27.75. The license application is submitted online and costs $55.

Complete pre-licensing education

To become an auto insurance agent in Pennsylvania, you'll need to complete a pre-licensing education course. This is an essential step to becoming a licensed insurance agent in the state. The pre-licensing education course will cover various insurance concepts, definitions, insurance laws, and agent regulations. It will also help prepare you for the state insurance exam.

When choosing a pre-licensing education course, look for one that is approved by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department and covers the topics you need to know for the type of insurance license you want to earn. The course should include at least 24 hours of instruction, with a minimum of 3 hours dedicated to ethics. You can find approved courses by searching for "pre-licensing education courses" on the Pennsylvania Insurance Department website.

The cost of pre-licensing education courses varies, but it's important to remember that you tend to get what you pay for. Be sure to choose a course with a good reputation and flexible learning options that fit your schedule and preferred learning style. The goal is not just to complete the course but to prepare you to pass your license exam on the first try.

After completing your chosen pre-licensing education course, you will receive a certificate of completion. This certificate is essential, as you will need to present it when you take your licensing exam. So, be sure to keep it safe!

Register and pay for the exam

Registering and paying for the exam is the second step in the process of becoming an auto insurance agent in Pennsylvania. After completing the pre-licensing education requirements, you can register for the insurance examination. The exam provider is PSI, and you can register online at https://candidate.psiexams.com or by calling 800.733.9267. The exam fee varies depending on the topic, but most exams cost $43.

When registering, you will need to select the specific type of insurance examination you wish to take, as the fee and content of the exam will depend on the type of insurance license you are seeking to obtain. For example, if you are seeking a license in Life, Accident & Health insurance, the exam fee is $40, while the fee for the Life, Accident & Health exam is $50.

PSI also provides information and practice exams online to help you prepare for the examination. It is recommended that you take advantage of these resources to increase your chances of passing the exam on your first attempt.

Take the exam

After completing your pre-licensing education course, you will need to take (and pass) the relevant Pennsylvania insurance license exam. The exam will depend on the line you wish to specialize in. For example, if you want to work as an Accident and Health Producer, you will need to pass the Accident and Health Insurance exam, which has 100 questions and lasts 120 minutes.

In Pennsylvania, all insurance exams are multiple-choice and are administered by PSI. The exams can cost differing amounts depending on the insurance lines involved. Generally, "single line" exams such as Life or Accident & Health will cost $43, while "joint line" exams such as Life, Accident & Health or Property and Casualty will cost $53.

To schedule your insurance exam, you will need to head to PSI's website or contact them by phone at (888) 818-5822 or (800) 733-9267. Remember to bring a copy of your Certificate of Completion and valid ID with you to the testing center, or show copies of these to an exam proctor if you're taking the test remotely.

Keep in mind that you can sit for more than one exam at a time (e.g., if you want to apply for both a P&C and a life and health insurance license). However, it is recommended to avoid this route as passing the exam is challenging, and there is little to gain and a lot to lose by confusing separate line material.

The best approach is to study for one exam at a time, averaging between two to six weeks of study time per exam, depending on whether you are studying full-time or part-time and how comfortable you are with taking proctored exams.

To pass your insurance exam, you will need to obtain at least 70% overall. There is no limit on the number of attempts you can make if you fail.

Apply for your license

Once you have passed your state insurance exam, you can apply for your insurance license. You can do this through the Vertafore website, using the kiosk at the PSI testing center. You can also apply online using your own computer. The application fee is $55.

During your application, you will also register and pay to have your fingerprints electronically scanned to complete a background check by the Department of Insurance. This will cost $22.60 or $23.85. When scheduling your appointment at the IdentoGO website, you must use the appropriate service code assigned to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, which is 1KGBGJ. You will be provided with a registration number, which you must bring to your appointment.

After you complete your application, you can look up its status at www.insurance.pa.gov. Once it has been issued, you can print it directly from the website.

Get fingerprinted

After passing the exam, you can apply for your license and get fingerprinted. Fingerprints are required by the State of Pennsylvania from all unlicensed applicants and will be submitted for a background check. The Pennsylvania Insurance Department requires fingerprints to ensure that applicants do not have a disqualifying criminal or social services background that would prevent them from becoming a licensed insurance agent.

You can get fingerprinted at the testing centre or register online via the IdentoGO website at https://uenroll.identogo.com, or by calling 844.321.2101. When registering online, be sure to use the correct service code 1KGBGJ. This is essential as it allows the fingerprinting agency to correctly process your background report. Your check will not be valid without it. You will be provided with a registration number, which you must bring to your fingerprint appointment.

The fingerprinting fee is $22.60 or $23.85, depending on the source.

Frequently asked questions