Becoming An Insurance Broker: Florida's Requirements And Steps

Becoming an insurance broker in Florida requires a significant time investment and dedication, but it can lead to a rewarding and lucrative career. The process involves several steps, including completing pre-licensing education, registering and taking the Florida licensing exam, submitting to fingerprinting and background checks, and applying for the license. The specific requirements vary depending on the type of insurance license you want to obtain, such as Accident and Health, Automobile, Homeowners, or Life insurance. It's important to be diligent, disciplined, and adaptable to succeed in this field.

Complete the necessary education requirements

To become an insurance broker in Florida, you must complete the necessary education requirements. A high school education is mandatory to be an insurance broker in Florida, and while a bachelor's degree is not required, it makes you a more attractive candidate for employers.

You are not required to have previous professional experience in insurance to apply to become a broker in Florida. However, you must complete a pre-licensing course specific to your chosen line of specialization. The number of hours of pre-licensing education required varies depending on the license you are looking to obtain, ranging from as little as 40 hours to as many as 200 hours for the General Lines (Property & Casualty) license. These study hours must include 3 hours on ethics.

Pre-licensing courses are offered both online and in classroom settings and may require you to purchase course-specific materials and specialized study materials. Expect to spend at least 40 hours in a course and incur costs for course fees and study materials.

Once you've completed the required pre-licensing education, you'll need to register for and pass the Florida licensing exam. The cost to register for the exam is $42, and you will need to provide your social security number and address. The exam will be between 40 and 160 scored questions, and you must score 70% or higher to pass.

Register for the Florida licensing exam

To register for the Florida licensing exam, you must first create an account with Pearson VUE, the organisation that administers all licensing exams. During the registration process, you will be required to provide your social security number and address, as well as pay a $42 USD fee.

Before registering for the exam, you must complete a pre-licensing course, which can be found online or in a classroom setting. These courses vary in length and intensity, but most last at least 40 hours. Once you have completed the course, you can submit proof of passing it to register for the licensing exam.

The Florida licensing exam will differ depending on the type of insurance you wish to sell. Each exam will have different content, so be sure to devote time to studying the specific material. There are study books and online classes available to help you prepare for the exam.

It is important to note that you cannot take the exam more than five times in a 12-month period. If you fail, you must re-register and take the exam again. If you pass, you have one year to apply for a license with the Florida Department of Financial Services.

Submit fingerprints

Fingerprinting is a mandatory requirement for most licenses in Florida. To become an insurance broker, you must be fingerprinted through MorphoTrust USA (now known as IdentoGO by Idemia) and your fingerprints must be submitted electronically via LiveScan.

You must register and make a fingerprinting appointment through the IdentoGO by Idemia website. Here, you can also find locations and pay for fingerprinting. The fingerprinting costs $50.75, plus local Florida county sales tax.

Your fingerprints will be used to conduct a fingerprint-based criminal history check and are submitted to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The results of your fingerprint-based criminal history check are then submitted to the Florida Department of Financial Services.

If your first fingerprint submission is returned as illegible, IdentoGO by Idemia will need you to provide another LiveScan submission at one of their sites free of charge, as long as it is submitted within 90 days of the first submission. If both fingerprint results are illegible, you are not required to submit new fingerprints. Instead, the Bureau of Licensing will submit a name check request to the FBI, which can take up to 45 days for processing.

Please note that Florida does not accept fingerprint results from other vendors or states.

Apply for a Florida license

Once you have passed the licensing exam, you need to register with the state. You can apply for a Florida license through the MyPortal online portal.

You can only hold a resident license in one state at a time. If you are not yet a resident of Florida, you cannot apply for a Florida resident license until you surrender your old state license and move.

The application fee is $50, and there is also a $5 fee for the license ID.

Apply for an appointment

To apply for an appointment as an insurance broker in Florida, you must use eappoint, an online portal. Each appointment costs $60. Typically, brokers apply for appointments with multiple insurers so they can offer a variety of insurance options to their clients.

Before applying for an appointment, you must have passed the licensing exam and applied for a Florida license through MyPortal. You can only hold a resident license in one state at a time. If you are not a Florida resident, you cannot apply for a Florida resident license until you surrender your previous license and move.

To apply for a Florida license, you must submit your fingerprints through MorphoTrust USA, which will be sent electronically via LiveScan. You must also register and make a fingerprinting appointment, which costs $45.80 plus any applicable local Florida county sales taxes. Your fingerprints will be used to conduct a fingerprint-based criminal history check and are submitted to the Florida Department of Financial Services.

After passing the exam and submitting your application, your background check and application will be reviewed by the state. If approved, your license will be issued. If there are issues with your background check, the state may reach out with questions. You will be notified of approval via your MyProfile account on the FL Division of Insurance Agent and Agency Services website.

Frequently asked questions