Paul Sanchez
Becoming an insurance agent in Ohio requires dedication and commitment. Prospective agents must complete pre-licensing education, pass a state exam, and undergo a fingerprint-based background check. Pre-licensing courses are offered by various institutions, covering essential insurance knowledge and state-specific regulations. The state exam must be passed with a score of 70% or higher, after which individuals can apply for their insurance sales license. The entire process equips future insurance agents with the necessary skills and credentials to sell insurance products in Ohio.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pre-licensing education | 20-40 hours of insurance education either in the classroom or online |
| Lines of authority | Health insurance, life insurance, property and casualty insurance, or any combination of those lines |
| Pre-licensing course content | General principles of insurance for the chosen line of authority |
| Pre-licensing exam passing score | 70% or higher |
| Exam format | Multiple choice |
| Exam duration | 2 to 2.5 hours |
| Number of questions | 100 to 150 |
| Post-exam | Apply for an insurance sales license either at the test center or online |
| License validity | 2 years |
| Renewal | Every 2 years |
| Continuing education requirements | 24 hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of topics approved as ethics |
| Additional requirements | Fingerprint-based background check |
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What You'll Learn
Complete pre-licensing education
To become an insurance agent in Ohio, you must complete prelicensing education before taking the state licensing exam. The Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) requires potential agents to complete 20 hours of prelicensing education for each line of authority. The lines of authority include health insurance, life insurance, property and casualty insurance, or any combination of those lines.
Prelicensing courses are offered by various institutions, such as Kaplan Financial Education, Hondros College, American Online Insurance School, and AD Banker. These courses can be taken in a classroom setting or online, providing flexibility for those with different learning preferences and schedules. The content of these courses covers the fundamental principles of insurance and prepares you for the state exam.
The pre-licensing course must consist of 20 classroom hours per line of authority or equivalent individual instruction. It is important to note that certain lines of authority, such as the Variable Life and Variable Annuity Products line, are exempt from the pre-licensing course requirement. However, individuals seeking a license in this line must hold the "Life" line of authority and have passed the necessary securities examinations.
Upon completion of the pre-licensing course, you will need to pass a final exam with a score of 70% or higher to receive your Certificate of Completion. This certificate is a prerequisite for taking the state exam and must be presented at the test centre along with a photo ID. The state exam will cover both general insurance product knowledge and specific insurance laws, regulations, and practices unique to Ohio.
In addition to prelicensing education, individuals seeking an insurance license in Ohio must also complete a fingerprint-based background check. This can be done at approved fingerprint locations or at the testing centre, and the results must be submitted to the Ohio Department of Insurance.
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Pass the state exam
To pass the state exam, you must first complete the pre-licensing requirements. This includes 20 hours of pre-licensing education for each line of authority, such as health insurance, life insurance, property and casualty insurance, or any combination of those lines. You will need to pass a final exam for the pre-licensing course with a score of 70% or higher to receive a certificate of completion.
You will then need to schedule your state exam. Before the exam, you must submit your fingerprints for a background check. You can get fingerprinted at the testing center or at a separate fingerprint location. Results of the background check must be submitted to the Ohio Department of Insurance directly.
On the day of the exam, you will need to bring your pre-licensing education Certificate of Completion and a photo ID to the test location. The exam will cover both a general section with basic insurance product knowledge and a state section with specific insurance laws, rules, regulations, and practices unique to Ohio. Exams will last 2 to 2.5 hours and can have 100 to 150 multiple-choice questions. You will need a score of 70% or higher to pass.
After your exam, you will receive a pass or fail notification. If you pass, you can immediately apply for your insurance sales license either at the test center or on the Ohio Department of Insurance website.
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Apply for an insurance license
To apply for an insurance license in Ohio, you must first complete a prelicensing course. The Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) requires potential agents to complete 20 hours of prelicensing education for each line of authority. The pre-licensing course must consist of 20 classroom hours per line of authority, or equivalent individual instruction, on the general principles of insurance for that line of authority. You can choose to complete your prelicensing education either in the classroom or online.
Once you have completed your prelicensing education, you will need to take and pass a final exam. The exam will cover both a general section with basic insurance product knowledge and a state section with specific insurance laws, rules, regulations, and practices that are unique to Ohio. To pass the exam, you will need a score of 70% or higher. After passing the exam, you will receive a Certificate of Completion, which you must present at the state exam.
In addition to completing the prelicensing course and passing the final exam, you will also need to complete a fingerprint-based background check. You can get fingerprinted at the testing center or at a fingerprint location, and the results will be submitted directly to the Ohio Department of Insurance.
Once you have completed all the above requirements, you are ready to apply for your insurance license. You can apply for your license immediately after passing your state exam at the test center or online at www.insurance.ohio.gov.
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Complete a background check
To become an insurance agent in Ohio, you must complete a fingerprint-based background check. You can get fingerprinted at the testing center or at a fingerprint location. For more information on fingerprinting requirements and locations, visit National Webcheck Vendors. Fingerprints are captured electronically and submitted to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and/or Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) licensing in the state of Ohio.
The results of the BCI & FBI background checks must be submitted to the Ohio Department of Insurance directly from the BCI. For your convenience, you can complete the background check at all Hondros College locations through FastFingerprints. The background check is a mandatory step in the process of becoming an insurance agent in Ohio and must be completed before taking the state licensing exam.
The state licensing exam is an important step in obtaining your insurance license in Ohio. It covers both a general section with basic insurance product knowledge and a state-specific section with insurance laws, rules, regulations, and practices unique to Ohio. The exam also includes “experimental” questions that are not identified or factored into your final score. These questions may not be covered in your prelicensing materials.
To prepare for the state licensing exam, it is recommended to take a prelicensing training course that includes practice exams simulating the format of the actual exam. This will help you become familiar with the exam structure and increase your chances of passing. The prelicensing training course should cover all the relevant topics included in the exam, giving you the necessary knowledge to sell insurance products and services to the public.
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Choose a line of authority
To become an insurance agent in Ohio, you must choose a line of authority. This refers to the type of insurance you want to sell and be licensed to sell. The lines of authority available in Ohio are health insurance, life insurance, property and casualty insurance, or any combination of those lines.
Once you know which license you need, you can begin the process of becoming a licensed insurance agent. The Ohio Department of Insurance requires all insurance agents in the state to complete an approved prelicensing education course. This involves 20 hours of prelicensing education for each line of authority. For example, if you want to sell both life insurance and health insurance, you will need to complete 40 hours of prelicensing education.
The pre-licensing course must consist of 20 classroom hours per line of authority, or equivalent individual instruction, on the general principles of insurance for that line. The lines of authority requiring a pre-licensing course include Variable Life and Variable Annuity Products. However, this line is exempt from the pre-licensing course and examination. To qualify for this line of authority, you must already hold and maintain a "Life" line of authority and have passed the securities examinations "Series 6" or "Series 7" and "Series 63" or "Series 66". You must also be licensed with a registered Broker-Dealer, adhering to the rules of the Ohio Securities Commission.
After completing the required prelicensing education hours for your chosen line of authority, you will need to take a final exam. You must pass with a score of 70% or higher to receive a certificate of completion and be eligible to take the state exam. This certificate must be presented at the state exam, along with a photo ID. The state exam will cover both a general section with basic insurance product knowledge and a state-specific section. It will include experimental questions that are not identified or factored into your final score.
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Frequently asked questions
You must complete 20-40 hours of prelicensing education for each line of authority, pass the state licensing exam, and apply for an insurance license.
Health insurance, life insurance, property and casualty insurance, or any combination of those lines.
The exam will last 2 to 2.5 hours with 100 to 150 multiple-choice questions. You need a score of 70% or higher to pass.
The exam will cover basic insurance product knowledge and specific insurance laws, rules, regulations, and practices unique to Ohio.
After passing the exam, submit your fingerprints and apply for your license through the NIPR website or at www.insurance.ohio.gov.
