Paul Sanchez
If you're looking to sell auto insurance in Georgia, you'll need to get a Georgia insurance license. The requirements to get licensed vary depending on the category of insurance you wish to sell. To get your license, you'll need to complete a pre-licensing course, pass the relevant Georgia Insurance License Exam, complete a citizenship affidavit, submit your insurance license application, and complete a fingerprint and background check.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First Step | Choose the Type of Insurance You Want to Sell |
| Pre-Licensing Education Course | 20-hour course for each line of authority |
| Course combos can also be taken, such as 40-hour courses for Property and Casualty, or for Life and Accident & Sickness | |
| Credit insurance license requires minimal 5 hours of self-study | |
| Comprehensive licenses (e.g. Property and Casualty, Life, Accident, and Sickness) require a 40-hour pre-licensing course | |
| Georgia Insurance License Exam | Passing score of 70% or higher |
| Exam fees are $63 | |
| Citizenship Affidavit | Complete the Citizenship Affidavit form (GID-276-EN) |
| Submit a copy of a secure and verifiable identification document | |
| Insurance License Application | Apply online at NIPR or Sircon |
| Filing fee of $100 and a processing fee of $20 for each license | |
| Fingerprinting and Background Check | Register with the state's approved vendor, Fieldprint |
| Continuing Education | 24 hours of continuing education every two years |
| At least three of those hours should focus on ethics |
What You'll Learn
Choose the type of insurance you want to sell
The type of insurance license you need depends on the type of insurance policies you want to sell. For example, if you want to sell auto insurance, you will need a Property & Casualty (P&C) license. If you want to sell life insurance, you will need a Life, Accident, and Sickness license. Here are some of the most common types of insurance licenses in Georgia:
- Life, Accident, and Sickness: This license allows you to sell life insurance, accident insurance, and sickness insurance.
- Property and Casualty: This license is required to sell auto, home, or business insurance.
- Travel, Travel Baggage, Title: This license covers insurance for travel, including baggage and title protection.
- Credit: This license is for selling credit insurance and requires minimal education, such as 5 hours of self-study.
It's worth noting that some licenses qualify you to sell more than one class of insurance. For example, the Life, Accident, and Sickness license will enable you to sell both life insurance and accident and sickness insurance. On the other hand, a specific license like the Life insurance license will only allow you to sell life insurance policies.
Additionally, if you're looking to work as an insurance adjuster, you'll need to obtain a separate license with its own requirements.
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Review the licensing requirements
The requirements, qualifications, and fees for an insurance license vary by type. The type of insurance policies you want to sell will dictate the type of license you need. For example, you'd need a Property & Casualty (P&C) license to sell auto, home, or business insurance.
- Life, Accident and Sickness
- Property and Casualty
- Travel, Travel Baggage, Title
While there are a large number of different licenses to choose from, most insurance agents obtain a Property and Casualty (P&C) or Life and Health license. Many agents opt for both licenses to offer clients a wider range of insurance products. However, if you want to specialize in one type of policy, you only need the specific license that's relevant to that insurance type.
If you want to work as an insurance adjuster, you'll need a separate license.
Pre-licensing Education Requirements
Before taking the state licensing exam, Georgia requires those seeking an insurance license to complete pre-licensing education. This is a legal requirement in Georgia and is designed to give you the foundational knowledge necessary for the insurance license exam and a successful career in insurance. The amount of educational training required depends on the insurance license type. For example, a credit insurance license requires minimal training (5 hours of self-study), while more comprehensive licenses (e.g. Property and Casualty, Life, Accident, and Sickness) require a 40-hour pre-licensing course.
Examination Requirements
After completing your pre-licensing education course, you will need to take (and pass) the relevant Georgia insurance license exam. The exam you take will depend on the line you wish to specialize in. For example, if you're planning to become a life and health insurance agent, you will need to pass the Life, Accident, and Sickness Agent exam, which has 125 scored questions plus 10 pretest questions. You will have 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete this exam.
All insurance licensing exams in Georgia are administered by Pearson VUE and require a passing score of 70%. Exam fees are $63, regardless of the exam taken.
Citizenship Affidavit Requirements
After successfully passing your exam, you will need to complete a Citizenship Affidavit form (GID-276-EN), which attests to your United States citizenship or lawful presence within the country. This form, along with a copy of a secure and verifiable identification document, must be submitted together with your application to the NIPR or Sircon. Remember that the citizenship affidavit needs to be notarized to be accepted.
Application Requirements
With your citizenship affidavit ready and notarized, you can apply for your license. This process is completed online, and you can submit your application through either the Sircon or NIPR websites. To apply through NIPR, visit www.nipr.com, select "Apply for a New License", and follow the step-by-step instructions to complete your application. To apply through Sircon, visit www.sircon.com/georgia, choose "Apply for a License" to reach the License Applications page, select "New Insurance License", and follow the step-by-step instructions to complete your application.
In both cases, you will be required to pay a filing fee of $100 and a processing fee of $20 for each license you are applying for. Make sure all the information you provide is accurate to avoid any delays with the processing of your application.
Fingerprinting and Background Check Requirements
As part of the licensing process, your fingerprints will be used for a background investigation to assess your suitability for obtaining an insurance license. All new insurance agent applicants will be required to register with the state's approved vendor, Fieldprint, to complete this process. You will need to visit the Fieldprint website and register for this service. Once registered, you will receive a registration approval email, which you will need to bring with you to the fingerprinting site.
You won't be able to schedule a fingerprinting appointment until after your license application has been submitted. This ensures that your application details are on file and ready to be cross-referenced with the background check results.
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Complete a pre-licensing course
To obtain an auto insurance license in Georgia, you must complete a pre-licensing course. This is a legal requirement in Georgia and is designed to equip you with the foundational knowledge necessary for both the insurance license exam and a successful career in insurance. The amount of training required depends on the insurance license type or "class". For example, a credit insurance license requires minimal study (5 hours of self-study), while more comprehensive licenses (e.g. Property and Casualty, Life, Accident, and Sickness) require a more extensive 40-hour pre-licensing course.
When deciding on a pre-licensing course, consider the following factors:
- Course flexibility: Does it allow for flexible learning, or does it need to be completed within a short time frame?
- Course price: While cheaper courses may be tempting, remember that you often get what you pay for.
- Course reputation: How reliable is the course provider? Do they have good reviews?
Completing a pre-licensing course dramatically increases your chance of passing your exam on the first attempt, which can save you both time and money in the long run.
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Pass the state licensing exam
Passing the state licensing exam is a crucial step in obtaining your Georgia insurance license. Here are some detailed instructions to help you prepare for and pass the exam:
Choose the Right Pre-Licensing Course:
Before taking the state licensing exam, you must complete a pre-licensing course. The type of pre-licensing course you choose will depend on the type of insurance license you are seeking. For example, if you want to obtain a Property & Casualty (P&C) license to sell auto insurance, you will need to take an approved 40-hour Property and Casualty pre-licensing course. On the other hand, if you are seeking a credit insurance license, the requirement is minimal, with just 5 hours of self-study needed.
Understand the Exam Format:
The Georgia insurance licensing exam is administered by Pearson VUE and consists of multiple-choice questions. The exam is computerized, and you will be given an opportunity to familiarise yourself with the system before starting. The exam is divided into two parts: the ""national" insurance section and the "state rules" section. Each part has a minimum passing score of 70%. You will have 1 or 2 hours to complete the exam, depending on the type of license you are applying for.
Prepare for the Exam:
Enrolling in a pre-licensing course is a great way to prepare for the state licensing exam. These courses are designed to give you the foundational knowledge you need to pass the exam. Additionally, you can find sample questions, test formats, and other resources on websites like America's Professor. It is recommended that you follow a structured study process, such as watching lectures, highlighting key concepts, and reviewing practice questions.
Register for the Exam:
You can register for the state licensing exam by calling Pearson VUE at 1-800-274-0488 or visiting their website. The exam fee is $63, payable by credit card, debit card, or voucher. When registering, have the following information ready: your legal name, address, Social Security number, phone number, preferred exam date and location, and payment method.
Take the Exam:
On the day of your exam, arrive at the test centre 30 minutes early with two forms of acceptable identification. One must be a government-issued photo ID with your signature, and the other must contain a valid signature. You will not be allowed to take the exam without proper identification, and you will forfeit your exam fee. You will have the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the computer system before starting the exam. Once you begin, focus on the exam, and use your time efficiently.
Receive Your Results:
Immediately after completing the exam, you will receive your official score. If you pass, you can move on to the next step of the licensing process. If you fail, you will need to wait at least two weeks before retaking the exam, and you will have to pay an additional test fee.
Passing the state licensing exam is a significant step towards obtaining your Georgia insurance license. By choosing the right pre-licensing course, understanding the exam format, preparing thoroughly, and following the registration and test-taking guidelines, you can increase your chances of success.
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Submit your insurance license application
Once you have completed your pre-licensing education course, passed your state licensing exam, and have your citizenship affidavit notarised, you can submit your insurance license application.
This process is completed online, and you can submit your application through either the Sircon or NIPR websites.
Applying through NIPR:
- Visit www.nipr.com
- Select "Apply for a New License"
- Follow the step-by-step instructions to complete your application
Applying through Sircon:
- Visit www.sircon.com/georgia
- Choose "Apply for a License" to reach the License Applications page
- Select "New Insurance License"
- Follow the step-by-step instructions to complete your application
In both cases, you will be required to pay a filing fee of $100 and a processing fee of $20 for each license you are applying for.
Make sure all the information you provide is accurate to avoid any delays with the processing of your application.
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Frequently asked questions
The first step is to complete a pre-licensing education course. This is a legal requirement in Georgia and will equip you with the foundational knowledge necessary for the insurance license exam and your career.
The length of the course depends on the type of insurance license you are seeking. For example, a credit insurance license requires just 5 hours of self-study, while more comprehensive licenses like Property and Casualty, Life, Accident, and Sickness require a 40-hour pre-licensing course.
After completing your pre-licensing course, you will need to pass the relevant Georgia insurance license exam(s). All insurance licensing exams in Georgia are administered by Pearson VUE and require a passing score of 70%.
After passing the exam, you will need to complete a Citizenship Affidavit (Form GID-276-EN), which attests to your United States citizenship or lawful presence in the country. This form, along with a copy of your ID, must be submitted with your license application.
You can submit your application online through either the Sircon or National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) websites. There is a filing fee of $100 and a processing fee of $20 for each license you are applying for.
