Orlando Harmon
If you're looking to become an insurance agent in Virginia, you'll need to obtain a license from the Virginia Bureau of Insurance. The specific type of license you require will depend on the line of authority you wish to work in, such as health insurance, life insurance, or property and casualty insurance. While pre-licensing education is not mandatory in Virginia, it is highly recommended that you prepare for the licensing exam by enrolling in a study course. Once you've passed the exam and successfully applied for your license, you'll need to renew it every two years. Fingerprinting is also a requirement for all unlicensed applicants in Virginia, and you'll need to submit to a background check by the Virginia State Police and FBI.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Licensing Exams | Register with Prometric |
| Pre-licensing study course | Not required by the state, but highly recommended |
| Application | Apply online through SIRCON or NIPR |
| Processing Time | 15 business days |
| Processing Time for applications with misdemeanour or felony convictions | 30-60 business days |
| Fingerprinting | Required for all unlicensed applicants, to be done at a Fieldprint site |
| Licensing Types | Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Property and Casualty Insurance, or any combination |
| Exam Topics | Industry information, insurance policies and products, and state insurance laws |
| Exam Provider | Prometric |
| License Renewal | Every 2 years |
| License Types | Producer Licenses (for individuals or business entities), Limited Lines, Motor Vehicle Rental Contract, and Temporary Licenses |
| Licensing for Sole Proprietorship | Apply for an individual insurance license |
| Licensing for Trade Name or 'Doing Business As' | Register the fictitious name with the SCC Clerk's Office |
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What You'll Learn
Choose the right license for you
The first step to becoming an insurance agent in Virginia is to get licensed. The Virginia Bureau of Insurance requires each person selling insurance in the state to hold an insurance producer license. You will need to choose which line of authority you want to be licensed in: health insurance, life insurance, property and casualty insurance, or any combination of those lines.
If you want to sell property and casualty insurance, a Property & Casualty (P&C) license will allow you to sell products like auto and homeowner’s insurance. If you want to sell life insurance, annuities, and other insurance products, you should get a Life & Health (L&H) license. Many insurance agents opt to get both P&C and L&H licenses, but if you plan to specialize in one area, it may not be worth the trouble of getting additional licenses.
If you are an individual or business entity that sells, solicits, or negotiates contracts of insurance or annuities, you will need a Producer license. This includes Limited Lines, Motor Vehicle Rental Contract, and Temporary licenses.
The Designated Home State (DHS) adjuster license is available to individuals who are residents of states that don't license adjusters or to company adjusters who reside in a state that only licenses independent adjusters and want to designate another state as their home state. The 70-20 license allows company and independent adjusters residing in certain states to adjust claims in Florida, all states with adjuster reciprocity with Florida, and states that accept the Florida DHS Adjuster license.
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Register for the exam
To register for the Virginia insurance licensing exam, you must first decide which license you need. Most new insurance agents opt for either a Property & Casualty (P&C) license or a Life & Health (L&H) license. You can also choose to get both or a combination of the two. Once you know which license you need, you can begin the registration process.
Virginia does not require prelicensing education, so the decision to study for the exam is yours. However, it is highly recommended that you enroll in a study course due to the exam's difficulty. These courses are specifically designed to give you the skills needed to pass the test, and they cover topics such as industry information, insurance policies and products, and state insurance laws.
To register for the exam, you can contact Prometric at 1-866-891-6396. They provide information about exam content outlines, exam fees, testing locations, and a guide to registering for the exam on their licensing information bulletin.
Additionally, if you are applying for a Title license, you must complete a 16-hour pre-licensing study course and pass the Title examination within one year of completing the course.
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Prepare for the exam
To prepare for the Virginia insurance licensing exam, you must first decide which license you need. Most new insurance agents get either a Property & Casualty (P&C) license or a Life & Health (L&H) license. With a P&C license, you can sell products like auto and homeowner’s insurance. A L&H license allows you to sell life insurance, health insurance, annuities, and other insurance products. Many insurance agents opt to get both P&C and L&H licenses. However, if you plan to specialize in one area, such as auto insurance sales, you may not need additional licenses.
Once you know which license you need, you can begin to study for the exam. While the Virginia Bureau of Insurance doesn't require pre-licensing education, it is highly recommended due to the exam's difficulty. These courses are designed to give you the skills needed to pass the test, covering industry information, insurance policies and products, and state insurance laws.
America's Professor and Kaplan Financial Education offer pre-licensing courses to help you pass your exam on the first try. You can also review the exam content outlines, exam fees, testing locations, and registration guides on Prometric's licensing information bulletin.
Remember, the exam will test your knowledge of industry information, insurance policies and products, and state insurance laws, so make sure you are well-prepared.
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Pass the exam
To pass the Virginia insurance exam, you must first register for the exam with Prometric. You can register by calling 1-866-891-6396. While the state of Virginia does not require prelicensing education, it is highly recommended that you enroll in a study course due to the difficulty and nature of the exam. These courses are specifically designed to give you the skills needed to pass the test.
The exam will test your knowledge of industry information, insurance policies and products, and state insurance laws. Therefore, it is important to prepare thoroughly and familiarize yourself with these topics. You can access exam content outlines, exam fees, testing locations, and registration guides on Prometric's licensing information bulletin.
Additionally, you must choose which line of authority you want to be licensed in: health insurance, life insurance, property and casualty insurance, or any combination of these. This choice will determine the specific content you need to focus on during your exam preparation.
Virginia requires fingerprint impressions from all unlicensed applicants. You must schedule an appointment with Fieldprint and use the code corresponding to the type of license you are applying for. The cost of fingerprinting is $34.95, which includes Virginia State Police and FBI fees. Your fingerprints will be collected electronically and transmitted for a background check.
Remember that passing the exam is just one step in the process of becoming a licensed insurance agent in Virginia. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the other requirements and steps, such as applying for the license and meeting any additional state-specific criteria.
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Submit your license application
To submit your license application, you must first choose which license you need. Most new insurance agents in Virginia get either a Property & Casualty (P&C) license or a Life & Health (L&H) license. You can also choose to get both, or a combination of the two.
Once you have decided on the license type, you must register for the insurance licensing exam with Prometric. You can call them at 1-866-891-6396. If you are applying for a Title license, you must complete a 16-hour pre-licensing study course and pass the Title examination within a year of completing the course. Although Virginia does not require prelicensing education, it is highly recommended that you enroll in a study course due to the difficulty of the exams.
After passing the exam, you can submit your license application online through Sircon or NIPR. Attach any related documents to your application. Nonresidents must currently hold the same license they are applying for in their home state. If you are operating as a Sole Proprietorship, apply for an individual insurance license. If you are operating under a trade name, register your fictitious name with the SCC Clerk's Office.
As part of the application requirements, resident applicants must schedule an appointment to be fingerprinted at one of Fieldprint's 93 locations. The fingerprinting cost is $34.95, which includes the Virginia State Police and FBI fees. Bring the appointment number and two forms of valid identification to your Fieldprint appointment. Your fingerprints are collected electronically and transmitted to the Virginia State Police and FBI for a background check.
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Frequently asked questions
To become an insurance agent in Virginia, you must pass a licensing exam and obtain a license. The state of Virginia does not require prelicensing education, but it is recommended due to the difficulty of the exam. The exam will test your knowledge of industry information, insurance policies and products, and state insurance laws.
First, you must choose which license you need. The most common licenses are Property & Casualty (P&C) and Life & Health (L&H). Once you know which license you need, you can begin studying for the exam. After passing the exam, you can apply for your license, which will need to be renewed every 2 years.
The Commonwealth of Virginia requires fingerprint impressions from all unlicensed applicants. Fingerprinting must be done at a Fieldprint site and must be no older than 90 days for use with an application. The cost for fingerprinting is $34.95.
Federal law disqualifies individuals convicted of certain felony crimes involving dishonesty or a breach of trust from working in the insurance industry. This ban may be lifted with approval from the Commissioner of Insurance.
