Get Your Copy: Nc Life Insurance License

If you're looking to become a life insurance agent in North Carolina, you'll need to get a North Carolina life insurance license. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started on your journey. First, you must complete a pre-licensing course, which will provide you with the necessary knowledge to pass the state licensing exam. This course covers various insurance concepts, definitions, laws, and regulations, and you must pass the final exam to receive your Exam Admission Ticket. Once you've completed the course and received your ticket, you can apply for your license through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) and pay the required fees. After that, you'll need to get a fingerprint-based background check and schedule your state licensing exam with Pearson VUE. It's important to note that you must pass the exam within 90 days or five attempts, whichever comes first. Once you've passed the exam, you can print your license and start your career as a life insurance agent in North Carolina.

Complete a pre-licensing course

To obtain a life insurance license in North Carolina, you must complete a pre-licensing course. This is the first step in the process and will prepare you to pass the state exam.

The pre-licensing course will cover various insurance concepts, definitions, insurance laws, and agent regulations. The course is designed to be completed in 20 hours, 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.

The course is available online or in a classroom setting. Online courses offer flexibility, allowing you to access the course material from the comfort of your home or office. You can also review the course material as many times as needed during the program period. On the other hand, classroom courses may offer a more structured learning environment and direct interaction with instructors.

When choosing a pre-licensing course provider, ensure they are approved by the North Carolina Department of Insurance. The cost of the course will vary depending on the provider and the format you choose. Some providers offer packages that include the course material and the state exam fee.

It is important to note that certain individuals may be exempt from taking the pre-licensing course. These include Certified Financial Planners (CFP), Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC), and holders of a degree in insurance, among others. However, even if exempt, these individuals must still pass the state exam.

Register for the state licensing exam

Registering for the state licensing exam is the next step after completing a pre-licensing course. This exam will test your knowledge of the relevant insurance concepts, definitions, laws, and regulations. Here's a detailed guide on registering for the state licensing exam for a North Carolina Life Insurance License:

Choose Your Exam Provider:

The North Carolina state licensing exam is provided by Pearson VUE. You can make your exam reservation on their website or over the phone. The phone number for scheduling is (866) 265-6329, or you can call (800) 274-0668.

Exam Reservation Process:

To make a reservation for the state licensing exam, visit the Pearson VUE website. On the homepage, locate the "Make an Exam Reservation" option and follow the on-screen prompts. You will need to create an account and select the specific exam you wish to take.

Exam Fees:

The insurance exam fee is $45.00 per line of authority. For example, if you are applying for a Life Insurance License, the fee for this single line of authority is $45.00.

Required Documents:

On the day of your exam, you will need to bring two current forms of identification to the testing center. The primary identification must be government-issued and include a photo and signature, such as a driver's license or passport. The secondary identification must contain a valid signature and cannot be expired; for example, a debit or credit card.

Additionally, you must bring your Exam Admission Ticket, which you received after passing the pre-licensing course. This ticket is required for admission to the state licensing exam and is valid for five attempts or 90 days, whichever comes first.

Exam Day Instructions:

Arrive at the testing center at least 30 minutes before your scheduled exam time to allow for check-in procedures. If you arrive late, you will not be permitted to take the exam, and you will forfeit your exam fee.

No personal items, including bags, wallets, cell phones, calculators, electronic devices, or wristwatches, are allowed in the testing center. You are only permitted to have a beverage during the exam.

Exam Format and Content:

The state licensing exam is a multiple-choice test delivered on a computer. It consists of two sections: a general section covering basic insurance product knowledge and a state-specific section focusing on insurance laws, rules, regulations, and practices unique to North Carolina.

The exam duration and the number of questions vary depending on the line of insurance. For the Life Agent exam, you will have 1 hour and 15 minutes to answer 60 questions.

Passing Score:

To pass the state licensing exam, you must achieve a score of 70% or higher. You will receive a pass or fail notification immediately after completing the exam.

Retakes:

If you do not pass the exam on your first attempt, you can reschedule after 24 hours. You have five attempts within a 90-day period to pass the exam. If you cannot pass within this timeframe, you will need to retake the pre-licensing course before making further attempts.

Take and pass the state exam

Taking and Passing the North Carolina State Exam

Once you have completed your pre-licensing course and passed the final exam, you will be awarded an Exam Admission Ticket. This is required to sit for the state licensing exam. You will need to make a reservation to take the state examination by visiting the Pearson VUE website and selecting "Make an Exam Reservation". You will then need to follow the on-screen prompts.

The Exam Admission Ticket gives you five attempts to pass the state exam within a 90-day period that follows the completion of your pre-licensing course. If you do not pass after five attempts or within the 90-day period, you will need to retake the pre-licensing course before you can make another attempt.

On the day of your exam, you must bring your Exam Admission Ticket and two valid forms of government-issued identification. The primary form of ID must contain a photograph and signature, such as a driver's license or passport, and the secondary form must contain a signature and not be expired, such as a debit or credit card. It is recommended that you arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment to allow time for check-in procedures. If you arrive late, you will not be allowed to take your exam and will forfeit your exam fee.

The North Carolina state exam is made up of a general section with basic insurance product knowledge and a state section with specific insurance laws, rules, regulations, and practices that are unique to North Carolina. The exam is multiple-choice and taken on a computer. The number of questions varies depending on the line of insurance you are testing for, ranging from 60 to 120 questions. You will have between 1 hour and 15 minutes to 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete the exam. To pass, you need a score of 70% or higher.

If you pass the exam, you will receive a score report marked "pass". If you fail, you will receive a score report that includes a numeric score and diagnostic information relating to the general portion of the examination. You can then reschedule a new exam after 24 hours. After five attempts or 90 days, whichever comes first, you will be required to retake pre-licensing education.

Get fingerprinted

After passing the state licensing exam, you will need to submit your fingerprints electronically to complete a background check. The North Carolina Department of Insurance requires this to ensure that applicants do not have a disqualifying criminal or social services background that would prevent them from becoming a licensed insurance agent.

You will receive an email with instructions on how to complete this requirement from the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) after submitting your insurance license application. Print the Fingerprint Submission Packet-Release forms from the NIPR email link. Contact your local law enforcement agency to obtain information on their days and hours of operation for fingerprinting services. Before scheduling an appointment, make sure they can perform Livescan fingerprints for non-criminal reasons, as fingerprint cards will not be accepted.

The applicant must have a photo ID, and they are responsible for completing pages 1 and 3 of the packet. A local law enforcement officer must sign page 2 of the packet. The local law enforcement agency may charge a fee for taking the fingerprint impressions.

Finally, send the completed forms to the NC Licensing Offices of Pearson VUE via email, mail, or fax.

Print your license

Printing your North Carolina life insurance license is a simple process. You can print your license for free online through State Based Systems (SBS), an electronic system owned by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Here is a step-by-step guide to printing your license:

• Go to the SBS Connect website.
• Click on the "Print Your License" button.
• Follow the identifying information steps. For individual licenses:

• Select "North Carolina" as the license state.
• Choose "Individual" as the entity type.
• Enter your last name.
• Input the last four digits of your social security number.
• Provide your National Producer Number (NPN). If you don't know your NPN, you can look it up on the website.

For business licenses:

• Select "North Carolina" as the license state.
• Choose "Business Entity" as the entity type.
• Enter the business entity name.
• Input the full Federal Tax ID Number (FEIN) of the business entity.
• Provide the business entity license number. If you don't know the business entity license number, you can look it up on the website.

Follow the prompts to print your license.

Remember that the first print is free, so consider saving a copy of your license on your computer for future reference.

Frequently asked questions