California Life Insurance: License Code Check Guide

To check the status of a California life insurance license, you can use the California Department of Insurance's online license status inquiry service. This service allows you to retrieve license details, including enforcement actions, for insurance agents, brokers, adjusters, bail agents, and agencies or organizations. You can search using either the license number or the name of the licensee. It is important to note that the online service requires the use of specific web browsers, including Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. Additionally, you can create a Sircon account to print your California license, or use the Sircon website to check your continuing education (CE) credits and ensure your license is compliant to market and sell LTC insurance products.

Pre-license education

To obtain a life insurance license in California, you must complete a pre-licensing education course. This course will give you the knowledge to pass the California life insurance licensing exam.

California requires 20 hours of life insurance pre-licensing education. Additionally, you must complete 12 hours of ethics and California Insurance Code to satisfy the state's 32-hour pre-licensing education requirement.

You can choose from various pre-licensing education providers, such as Kaplan Education Company, AD Banker, and XCEL. These companies offer online courses that can be supplemented with web classes, learning tools, and study manuals.

The cost of the pre-licensing education course varies depending on the provider. For example, Kaplan Education Company charges $149 or more for their course.

Fingerprint-based background check

To obtain a California life insurance license, you must complete a fingerprint-based background check. This is a mandatory step in the process, and it must be done before you can take the California life insurance licensing exam. Here is a detailed guide on how to complete the fingerprint-based background check:

• Complete the necessary forms: Download and fill out the Request for Live Scan Service (Form BCIA 8016) and the Licensing Applicant Instructions (Form LIC 442-39A). These forms are required for the background check process.
• Find an authorized fingerprint vendor: The California Department of Insurance (CDI) has a contracted fingerprint vendor, Accurate Biometrics, which offers services in Los Angeles, California. If this location is not convenient for you, the California Department of Justice (DOJ) maintains a list of authorized Live Scan Fingerprinting vendors broken down by county.
• Pay the required fees: The total cost for the fingerprinting services is $59, plus additional processing fees. This includes an FBI processing fee of $17, a DOJ processing fee of $32, and a CDI contractor rolling fee of $10. If you choose a vendor from the DOJ list, there will be an additional "rolling fee" that varies depending on the vendor.
• Provide identification and complete fingerprinting: Visit your chosen fingerprint vendor and provide your completed forms and identification. The live scan operator will check your identification, capture your fingerprints electronically, and transmit the data to the DOJ.
• Receive your Automated Transaction Identifier (ATI) number: At the end of your fingerprinting session, you should receive an ATI number. This number is used to identify the transaction and can be used to track the status of your fingerprint submission. Keep in mind that receiving the ATI number does not necessarily mean that your fingerprints and personal information have been submitted to the DOJ. The transmission of information is controlled by the live scan operator and may vary in timeliness.
• Allow time for processing: Once your fingerprints are received by the DOJ, they will be searched against the fingerprint database. If there are no matches, the transaction will typically be processed electronically within 48 to 72 hours. If there is a match, a technician will need to manually review the records, which can take an indeterminate amount of time.
• Receive the background check response: After the review process, the background check response will be sent to the agency that requested the criminal background check. In some cases, a copy may also be mandated to be sent to another agency, depending on certain conditions.

Additional Considerations:

• It is recommended to obtain your fingerprint impressions in a timely manner to minimize the risk of delaying your license issuance while awaiting results from the DOJ and FBI.
• If your fingerprints are rejected due to poor print quality, you may need to resubmit them or request a name check of the criminal history database.
• You can check the status of your fingerprint submission by contacting the CDI or using the DOJ's online Applicant Background Check Status service. However, allow at least seven days from the date the fingerprints were taken before making a status inquiry.

California Life Insurance Licensing Exam

The California Life Insurance Licensing Exam is administered by PSI Services LLC (PSI), a California-based company that provides state-based regulatory licensure services. The exam is a requirement for anyone looking to become a life insurance agent in the state. Here is a comprehensive guide to the exam and the process of obtaining your license:

Exam Structure and Content:

The California Life Insurance Licensing Exam consists of 75 scored questions, divided into two sections: general and state-specific. The general section covers basic life insurance product knowledge, while the state-specific section deals with insurance concepts, terms, rules, regulations, and practices unique to California. You will have 105 minutes to complete the exam.

Registration and Scheduling:

To register for the exam, you must pay a fee of $88, plus a $33 convenience fee for PSI locations, or a $43 convenience fee for remote testing. You can schedule your exam online or by calling PSI at (833) 518-7456. PSI offers a variety of examination sites and times, including Saturday examinations and evening hours at some locations.

Exam Day:

Arrive at least 30 minutes early to allow for sign-in and identification verification. Remember that cheating is a crime, and if caught, you could face a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to one year. On the day of the exam, you must bring one valid form of government-issued photo identification, such as a driver's license, passport, or military ID.

Results and Retakes:

After taking the exam, you will receive a diagnostic report indicating your scores in both sections and the areas you need to improve. If you don't pass on your first attempt, you can retake the exam as soon as 24 hours later. However, you are limited to 10 attempts within a 12-month period. If you fail to pass within this timeframe, the California Department of Insurance (CDI) will ban you from retaking the exam for a year from your last failed attempt.

Additional Considerations:

Before taking the exam, you must complete a pre-license education course, which will provide you with the knowledge and tools needed to pass. California requires 20 hours of life insurance pre-licensing education, including 12 hours of ethics and California Insurance Code. It is also recommended that you complete a fingerprint-based background check before taking the exam, which can be done through Accurate Biometrics or PSI test centers.

Next Steps:

Once you have passed the California Life Insurance Licensing Exam, you can proceed to the next steps of the licensing process, which include completing a license application, paying the application fee, and waiting for the results. Remember, obtaining your California life insurance license is a multi-step process, and passing the exam is just one part of it.

License Application

Once you have passed the life insurance exam and completed the background check, you can apply for your California life insurance license. The application fee is $188. There is no service fee if you apply via Sircon. However, if you apply via the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR), you must pay a $5.60 transaction fee.

You can submit your application to the NIPR's Attachment Warehouse or the California Department of Insurance by mail:

> California Department of Insurance

> Producer Licensing Bureau

> 320 Capitol Mall

> Sacramento, CA 95814

The CDI will issue a life insurance license to individuals who are at least 18 years old and have passed the proper licensing exam. You should submit your completed license application within 12 months of passing the exam.

To apply for a life insurance license in California, make sure you comply with the insurance licensing requirements as defined under the California Insurance Code.

You can check the status of your license application by visiting the CDI Check License Application Status Service (CLASS) page.

You can print your license from the Sircon or NIPR websites. Sircon charges a $5.60 fee to print a license.

If you submitted your application or renewal using Sircon.com, you can print your license for free within 30 days of its approval. If you used a paper application or NIPR to apply for a license, you must pay to print your license. After you pay the fee, you can print copies for 30 days at no extra cost.

License renewal

To renew a California life insurance license, you must complete 24 hours of continuing education (CE) credits every two years. This must be completed at least 60 days before your license expires. You can renew your license through the Resident License Renewal application up to the license expiration date. After the expiration date, you must reinstate your license by visiting https://www.sircon.com/. You may reapply one year after the expiration date through the Resident Licensing application. The renewal fee is $188, and the late fee is $282.

The California Department of Insurance (CDI) will email a renewal notice approximately 90 days before your license expires. If you do not receive this, you can check your license status online to review your license expiration date and continuing education credits. After reviewing your license status, you can link to Sircon's Renewal or Reinstate a License service.

A renewal is considered late if it occurs after the expiration date on the license, or if any license renewal requirement, such as continuing education hours, are completed after the expiration date. A 50% penalty fee is required for late renewals, and all insurance company appointments must be re-established with the appropriate forms and fees. There is no grace period. You have exactly one calendar year from the expiration date to late-renew your license. After this time, you must file a new application.

If you use Sircon's Renewal or Reinstate a License service and satisfy all the renewal requirements, the licensing record is updated on the CDI's website, and the renewed license can be printed immediately.

Frequently asked questions