Alyssa Lane
Becoming an insurance agent in Arizona requires passing a licensing exam and applying for a license. Arizona has specific training requirements for agents selling, soliciting, or negotiating Long-Term Care products (LTC), Flood Insurance products (NFIP), and Annuity products (Annuity). Agents must complete an approved 8-hour Long-term Care course and a 4-hour LTC refresher course every renewal period. Pre-licensing courses are recommended to pass the exam on the first try, covering complex insurance concepts and terms. After passing the exam, applicants must get fingerprinted and apply for their Arizona license. The entire process can be safely and conveniently completed online.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Minimum age requirement | 18 years old |
| Licensing exam | Required, unless applying for limited-line credit insurance producer authority |
| Exam provider | Prometric |
| Exam prep course | Not required, but recommended |
| Exam fee | Additional fee required for retakes |
| Fingerprinting | Required |
| Fingerprinting provider | Fieldprint |
| License fee | $120 per license class |
| License application | Submit through National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) within one year of passing the exam |
| License renewal | Every four years, by the last day of the agent's birth month |
| Continuing education | 48 hours every four years, including 6 hours of ethics training |
| License types | Health insurance, life insurance, property and casualty insurance, or any combination of those lines |
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What You'll Learn
Age, exam, and application requirements
To become an insurance agent in Arizona, you must be at least 18 years old. Arizona law requires that you pass a licensing exam for each desired line of authority. While prelicensing education is not mandatory in Arizona, it is highly recommended that you take an exam prep course to increase your chances of passing the exam on the first try. These courses are designed to help you understand complex insurance concepts and terms, and they cover everything you need to know for the exam.
Once you have passed your state licensing exam, you are ready to apply for an insurance license. You will need to get fingerprinted and submit your application to the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) within one year of passing the exam. The application fee is nonrefundable, and you must truthfully and completely answer all questions. You may also need to provide additional documentation.
It is important to note that Arizona law limits you to four attempts to pass an exam for a particular line of authority within a one-year period. After four unsuccessful attempts, you must wait one year from the date of the last attempt to retake the exam. The exam covers in-depth product knowledge, industry terms, and insurance concepts relating to the license you are pursuing. There is also a "state section" that covers Arizona law and rules.
If you are a resident of another state ("nonresident"), there are specific requirements you must meet. You must complete the same licensing process as Arizona residents, and you must be licensed in good standing in your home state for the license you want to have in Arizona. Additionally, you must submit your license application within 90 days of relocating to Arizona.
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Pre-licensing courses
There are several options available for pre-licensing courses, offered by providers such as Kaplan Financial Education, America's Professor, and A.D. Banker & Company. These courses will help you understand complex insurance concepts and terms, and teach you everything you need to know for the exam. For example, you will learn about what a "loss payable clause" is, and how personal injury protection coverage works.
America's Professor offers a course that includes a hardcopy textbook, 24/7 access to an online suite of streaming video lectures, and world-class customer service until you pass. A.D. Banker & Company also offers a pre-licensing course that will prepare you to pass the state exam on your first attempt. Their course includes curriculum developed by industry experts, which you can watch, read, and listen to.
It is important to note that you will need to pass the licensing exam to become a licensed insurance agent in Arizona. While pre-licensing courses are not mandatory, they can provide a strong foundation for passing the exam and obtaining your license.
Once you have completed your pre-licensing course, you will be ready to take the state licensing exam. This exam is administered by Prometric, and you must score 70% or higher to pass. After passing the exam, you can apply for your resident license and pay the associated fee.
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Types of insurance agent
To become an insurance agent in Arizona, you must first pass a state licensing exam for each desired line of authority. Arizona doesn't require you to take an exam prep course, but it is highly recommended as it will help you pass your insurance exam on the first try. Once you have passed your state licensing exam, you can apply for an insurance license.
There are several types of insurance agents, including:
- Captive agents: Captive agents work for an insurance company and sell policies only for that company.
- Independent agents: Independent agents can sell policies for one or more insurance companies. They can run their own business and offer a wider range of products to their clients.
- Customer service representatives: These agents help customers understand and make changes to their insurance policies. They work directly with customers to ensure they have the right coverage and make any necessary adjustments.
- Insurance brokers: Brokers work on behalf of their clients, rather than for insurance companies. They help clients find the best insurance products and services to meet their needs.
It is important to note that the type of insurance license you need will depend on the type of insurance policies you want to sell. For example, you need a Property & Casualty (P&C) license to sell auto, home, or business insurance. Additionally, if you want to work as an insurance adjuster, you will need to obtain a separate license.
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License renewal
To renew an insurance license in Arizona, you must complete forty-eight credit hours of continuing education during the four years between renewals. Six of these credit hours must be in ethics. The National Flood Insurance Program course counts towards the 48-hour requirement. You can use independent self-study courses to meet all requirements, and you can take courses in any line of authority.
Licensees renewing a Property, Casualty, Personal Lines, Accident & Health, Life or Variable Products license must complete 48 hours of approved continuing education, with six hours in ethics, before submitting their renewal application. Life or Accident & Health licensees must complete an approved 8-hour Long-term Care course before selling, soliciting, or negotiating long-term care insurance. Agents must also complete an approved 4-hour LTC refresher course every renewal period to continue selling, soliciting, or negotiating long-term care insurance.
You must apply for renewal within 90 days of your license expiring. It costs $120 per application to renew a resident insurance producer license, and $1,000 for a resident surplus lines broker license.
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Training requirements
To become an insurance agent in Arizona, you must be licensed to "sell", "solicit", or "negotiate" insurance in the state. While prelicensing education is not mandatory in Arizona, it is highly recommended that you complete a prelicensing course to prepare for the licensing exam. A.D. Banker and America's Professor offer prelicensing courses that will help you pass your state exam on the first try. These courses will teach you complex insurance concepts and terms, such as how personal injury protection coverage works and what a "loss payable clause" is.
After completing your prelicensing course, you will need to pass a state licensing exam for each desired line of authority. The Arizona Insurance and Financial Institutions require specific training requirements for individual agents selling, soliciting, or negotiating certain insurance products, such as Long-Term Care (LTC), Flood Insurance (NFIP), and Annuity products. For example, agents selling Flood Insurance must complete an approved one-time 3-hour National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) course by the end of their first renewal period.
Once you have passed your state licensing exam, you will need to get fingerprinted electronically through the state-approved vendor, Fieldprint, and apply for your Arizona license. You can apply for your license through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) within one year of passing your exam. After receiving your license, you can start selling or discussing insurance.
To maintain your license, you must renew it periodically and meet any continuing education requirements. For example, agents holding a Major Lines license must renew their license every four years by the last day of their birth month. Before submitting a license renewal application, you must meet any applicable continuing education requirements, such as completing a certain number of training hours.
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Frequently asked questions
To become a licensed insurance agent in Arizona, you must be at least 18 years old and pass a state licensing exam. You will then need to get fingerprinted and apply for your license.
The insurance licensing exam is a test that covers in-depth product knowledge, industry terms, and insurance concepts relating to the license you are pursuing. There is also a section that covers Arizona law and rules.
Although prelicensing education is not required in Arizona, it is highly recommended to take an exam prep course to ensure you pass your exam on the first try.
After passing the exam, you are ready to apply for your resident license and pay the license fee. Applications must be submitted through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) within one year of passing the exam.
