Do you have to be licensed to sell insurance in California?
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Licensing requirements for health insurance agents vary by state. In order to transact health insurance in the state of California, a person must first obtain a specific type of license from the California Department of Insurance. Show
What Certifies a Health Insurance Agent?To receive a California license to become a health insurance agent or broker a person must complete a state approved insurance course, pass a licensing exam, be fingerprinted for a background check, and have their application approved by the California Department of Insurance. Additionally, they must be appointed by the health insurance companies for whom they sell for. To maintain their license, they must take a required number of hours of specific continuing education courses every two years. Health insurance agents must comply with all California Insurance codes and laws or their license may be revoked. What Certifies a Covered California Agent?A licensed agent who wishes to sell Covered CA plans on the state health insurance marketplace must also receive certification as a Covered CA agent. To obtain Covered CA certification, an agent must complete online courses, pass an exam, and submit an agent agreement and other paperwork. How to verify an Agent’s LicenseYou can check the status of a license for a California health insurance agent or broker at the California Department of Insurance. To see if an agent is certified by Covered CA, use the Covered California Find a Certified Insurance Agent Tool. About the California Department of Insurance (CDI)The CDI is the largest consumer protection agency in the state. Consumer protection is the core of its mission. It oversees over 1,300 insurance companies and over 390,000 agents, brokers, adjusters and business entities. The Insurance Commissioner, an independent statewide officer elected by popular vote, oversees and directs all of its functions. The CDI means to protect consumers by:
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The insurance industry protects homes, cars, health, families, and much more. So, for anyone looking for a profitable and challenging career in an industry that will always be necessary, becoming an insurance broker could be a great choice. Anyone who wants to operate as an insurance broker in California will first need to get their California insurance broker license. That process includes taking a course, passing an exam, and obtaining a California insurance broker surety bond. Today, we’ll look at each of these key steps on the path to getting a California insurance broker license. Types of California Insurance Broker LicensesAspiring California insurance brokers will first need to choose the type of insurance they want to specialize in, as each type requires a different license. The most common California insurance broker license specialties are:
It’s possible to specialize in more than one type of insurance by taking one of the combination courses available, which we’ll discuss in the next section. Pre-Licensing Requirements1. Take a California insurance broker education course.The first task once you’ve chosen your insurance field is to take and pass a California insurance broker pre-licensing course. The state of California requires 32 hours of pre-licensing education, which breaks down into two parts:
Aspiring brokers who want to specialize in more than one field can take a 40-hour course, instead, that covers a combination of two fields. 2. Pass the California insurance broker exam for your specialty.You’ll also need to take and pass a California insurance broker exam in the insurance specialty of your choice. The California Department of Insurance (CDI) offers this exam both at its own CDI testing sites and at testing sites administered by the testing company PSI. Check the CDI website to learn about testing sites near you. The CDI has also added the option to take the insurance exam remotely through a secure and proctored service. Either way, you’ll need to pay the CDI’s license examination fee and achieve at least a 60 percent score on the exam. Once you’ve passed your CDI exam, you’ll be notified that you can proceed with the application process. 3. Get fingerprinted and submit your fingerprints to the state.The state of California requires all people who hold an insurance broker license to have fingerprints on file with the CDI. You have two options for submitting your fingerprints:
In either case, be prepared to pay a fee for the fingerprinting. Submitting your fingerprints before you take the test can help the CDI process your application more quickly, so consider that option if speed is important to you.  4. Complete and submit your application.Next, you’ll need to complete and submit your California insurance broker license application. The easiest way to accomplish this is through California’s FLASH online licensing application system. You’ll need to provide your basic personal information, certification that you’ve completed the education requirements, and information about your work history and experience. Finally, before the CDI will process your application, you’ll need to complete one more task: obtaining a California insurance broker surety bond. 5. Obtain your California insurance broker surety bond.Obtaining a California insurance broker surety bond isn’t difficult, but it shouldn’t be overlooked because it’s required for the state to grant your insurance broker license. What is a surety bond? It’s a type of contract that uses a neutral third party as a financial guarantor to protect a business’s clients. An insurance broker surety bond guarantees that a broker will handle their clients’ money ethically and obey the law. A California insurance broker bond has a required coverage amount of $10,000. However, the insurance broker only needs to pay a small percentage of this amount as a premium. California insurance broker surety bonds are available from Surety Bonds Direct instantly, with no credit check, for a premium of $100.00 (for a two-year bond) or $110.00 (for a three-year bond). Once you’ve completed and submitted your surety bond, wait for the CDI to approve your application. When you’re ready to get your California insurance broker surety bond, Surety Bonds Direct makes it easier than anyone else. Get your California insurance broker surety bond online now in just minutes with instant approvals, or call 1-800-608-9950 to speak to our surety bond experts. Do you need a license to sell insurance in California?California requires each person selling insurance in the state to hold an insurance license. You will choose which line of authority you want to be licensed in: health insurance, life insurance, property and casualty insurance, or any combination of those lines.
What can a non licensed insurance agent do in California?In general terms, an unlicensed person can do processing and typically are not involved in customer interaction, except to forward calls. It is best to check with your state insurance department or your state association to address specific state requirements.
What license do I need to sell car insurance in California?Anyone who wants to operate as an insurance broker in California will first need to get their California insurance broker license. That process includes taking a course, passing an exam, and obtaining a California insurance broker surety bond.
How long does it take to get insurance license in California?The Department typically requires 4 weeks to process and approve your insurance license, once they have received the required documentation. Upon approval, you will receive an email that includes a link to the Department's website that will allow you to view and print your insurance license.
How much is an insurance license in California?Insurance License Fees & Schedule of Fees & Charges Effective March 3, 2019. What disqualifies you from getting an insurance license in California?Any criminal convictions (except juvenile offenses) (This includes DUIs, reckless driving convictions, driving on a suspended license convictions, misdemeanors, felonies, military offenses, etc.); and. Any criminal charges pending at the time you submit your application.
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