Becoming An Insurance Broker: North Carolina Requirements

If you're looking to become an insurance broker in North Carolina, you'll need to obtain a North Carolina insurance license. The process involves six steps: deciding on the type of insurance license you need, completing a pre-licensing education course, submitting your insurance license application, completing a fingerprint and background check, passing the relevant North Carolina insurance license exam, and finally, the application review. The cost of obtaining a license is typically around $530, and you can expect to wait up to 60 days for your license to be issued.

Complete a pre-licensing course

To become an insurance broker in North Carolina, you must complete a pre-licensing course. This is a mandatory step in the process and will give you the knowledge you need to pass the state licensing exam.

The pre-licensing course must be state-approved and cover the relevant field of insurance you wish to practice in. The course will last a minimum of 20 hours, except for the Medicare Supplement/Long-Term Care line, which requires 10 hours. The course will cover various insurance concepts, definitions, insurance laws, and agent regulations.

After completing the required number of hours, you will need to pass a final exam with a score of at least 70%. This is a requirement to receive your Certificate of Completion, also known as an Exam Admission Ticket, which is necessary to sit for the state licensing exam.

Some individuals are exempt from taking the pre-licensing course. This includes Certified Financial Planners, Certified Insurance Counsellors, and Registered Health Underwriters, among others. If you hold a degree in insurance (associate or bachelor's), you are also exempt from the pre-licensing requirement.

It is important to choose a reputable and approved pre-licensing course provider to ensure you receive the necessary education and training to pass the state licensing exam.

Register for the state licensing exam

Once you have passed your pre-licensing course, you will need to register to take the state licensing exam.

To do this, visit the Pearson VUE website and select "Make an Exam Reservation". You will then need to follow the on-screen prompts to complete your registration.

Within an hour of submitting your application through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR), you should receive an email from Pearson VUE containing instructions on how to schedule your exam. This usually involves calling Pearson VUE directly and providing the following information:

• Your pre-licensing education (PLE) completion date
• The school code of your PLE course provider
• The details contained within the email

The exam will cost $45 or $46 per line of authority and you will need to bring your Exam Admission Ticket to the exam. This ticket is valid for 90 days and gives you five attempts to pass the exam. If you do not pass within this time, you will need to retake the pre-licensing course.

You will be required to provide a copy of your Exam Admission Ticket and two current forms of identification at the testing centre. The name on the identification must exactly match the name on the registration. The primary identification must be government-issued and photo-bearing with a signature, such as a driver's license or passport. The secondary identification must contain a valid signature and must not be expired, such as a debit or credit card.

Submit your insurance license application

Once you have passed your pre-licensing course and the state examination, you can submit your insurance license application. In North Carolina, applications are submitted online through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) for a fee of $82 (plus a fee of $50 per line of authority). There is also a processing fee of $5.60 for each application you submit.

Be aware that if you need to make any changes to your application after submitting, you will be charged an Amendment Fee of $44 plus $50 per line of authority.

You will have six months to complete all the subsequent steps and meet any licensing requirements after submitting your application. If you fail to do so, your application will be canceled, and you will have to start the process again.

Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email with your National Producer Number (NPN). This is a unique identifier used to track individuals and business entities on a national basis.

After submitting your application through NIPR, you will also receive an email containing instructions on how to submit your fingerprints to the NC Licensing Office of Pearson VUE. This is a requirement under 11 NCAC 06A.0418 of North Carolina's Administrative Code.

The email will contain a link to print an up-to-date Insurance Producer Fingerprint Criminal Background Packet and instructions on how to submit your fingerprints. This is usually done electronically through Live Scan. There are numerous law enforcement agencies in North Carolina where you can do this.

Once you have had your fingerprints taken, you will need to get the fingerprint form signed by a law enforcement officer and submit it to the NC Licensing Office of Pearson VUE by fax, e-mail, or mail. This process costs $38 and will initiate a background check.

Complete a fingerprint and background check

To become an insurance broker in North Carolina, you'll need to complete a fingerprinting and background check process. This is a mandatory step to ensure that you meet the state's insurance agent regulations. Here's a detailed guide on how to complete this process:

• Print the Fingerprint Submission Packet: After submitting your license application, you will receive an email from the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) with a link to access the Fingerprint Submission Packet. Print this packet, which includes the necessary forms and instructions for fingerprinting.
• Contact Local Law Enforcement: Get in touch with your local law enforcement agency to inquire about their days and hours for fingerprinting services. Ensure that they offer Livescan fingerprints for non-criminal purposes, as fingerprint cards are typically not accepted.
• Visit the Law Enforcement Agency: Take the form packet, including the cover page, to the local law enforcement agency for digital fingerprinting. Remember to bring a valid photo ID with you.
• Complete the Forms: As an applicant, you need to fill out pages 1 and 3 of the packet. The person taking your fingerprints, a local law enforcement officer, will need to sign page 2 of the packet.
• Submit the Completed Forms: Send the completed forms (pages 1 through 3) to the North Carolina Licensing Office of Pearson VUE. You can submit the forms by fax, scan and email, or postal mail. Remember to include the signed SBI Release Form with your submission.
• Pay the Required Fees: The local law enforcement agency may charge a fee for taking your fingerprint impressions. Additionally, there is a $38 fee for the background check process, which is part of the fingerprint submission.
• Timing and Instructions: It is important to be mindful of the timing. Initial applicants for an Insurance Producer License must submit their fingerprints within 30 days of applying for the license. The instructions for fingerprint submission will be provided in the email notification from NIPR after you submit your application.

Pass the state licensing exam

To pass the state licensing exam, you must first complete a pre-licensing course that is certified by the North Carolina Department of Insurance. This course will cover various insurance concepts, definitions, insurance laws, and agent regulations. The course typically takes 20 hours to complete, and you must pass a final exam with a score of at least 70% to receive your Certificate of Completion, also known as an Exam Admission Ticket. This ticket is required to sit for the state licensing exam.

There are some exemptions to the pre-licensing course requirement. For example, if you are a Certified Financial Planner, Certified Insurance Counselor, or a Registered Health Underwriter, you are exempt from this requirement.

Once you have passed the pre-licensing course, you can register to take the state licensing exam. The exam is administered by Pearson VUE, and you can make a reservation by visiting their website and selecting "Make an Exam Reservation." The exam costs $45 per line of authority, and you must bring your Exam Admission Ticket to sit for the exam. The ticket is valid for 90 days and gives you five attempts to pass the exam.

The state licensing exam is multiple-choice and typically lasts for one hour and 15 minutes, with 55 questions. To pass, you must achieve a score of 70% or higher. If you do not pass after five attempts or within the 90-day period, you will need to retake the pre-licensing course.

If you successfully pass the state licensing exam, Pearson VUE will notify the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) within 48 to 72 hours, and they will update your pending insurance license application.

Frequently asked questions