How to Get an Insurance License in Arkansas

Written by: Ethan Peyton

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How to Get an Insurance License in Arkansas

Getting your Arkansas insurance license is the first step to becoming an insurance agent in the state. Whether you’re interested in selling property and casualty insurance, life insurance, health insurance, or any combination of those lines of authority, this article has the information you need to get started.

The Arkansas Insurance Department has a 6-step process on how to become an insurance agent in Arkansas. We’ll walk you through step-by-step; from the license application to insurance test prep, to the Arkansas insurance exam, and beyond.

This guide has everything you need to know to get your AR insurance license quickly and easily.

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Arkansas Insurance License

Getting your insurance license in Arkansas is easy! Just follow our step-by-step guide. Be sure to bookmark this page so that you can visit it again throughout this process.

Step 1. Which Insurance Licenses Do You Need?

The first step to getting your insurance license is choosing which licenses you need. The most common licenses new insurance agents get are the property & casualty license (P&C)life and health insurance license (L&H).

The types of insurance products and policies you’ll be selling will determine which licenses you need. Here are some examples of the types of policies you can market with each license:

Most insurance agents and producers choose to get both P&C and L&H licenses, but if you plan on specializing in only one category then you don’t need every license.

Insurance adjusters require a separate license. You can find more information on becoming an insurance adjuster here: Arkansas Insurance Adjuster License.

Note

If you plan on specializing as a life insurance agent, then you may also need to hold a certain FINRA securities license.

Step 2. Arkansas Insurance Pre-License Education

After you’ve determined which licenses you need, you must now take your Arkansas insurance pre-license education courses.

Most folks choose to take their insurance pre-license course online. These courses are created specifically to give you the skills you need to pass the test. The types of licenses you choose (or your personal lines of authority) will determine which courses you take.

Each line of authority in Arkansas requires twenty (20) hours of pre-license education. This means that if you wish to get a Property and Casualty license, you must take forty (40) hours of pre-licensing, and for Life and Health you must also take forty (40) hours.

You will receive a certificate upon completion of the course. Keep this certificate, as you will need it when taking your exam.

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Step 3. Arkansas Insurance License Application

After completing your pre-license education you will apply for your license. If you have more than one line of authority that you plan on taking the exam for, be sure to apply for all of those lines.

The producer application fee is $15, plus NIPR’s $5.60 transaction fee. If you apply for additional lines of authority later, only the $5 transaction fee will be charged as an amendment fee.

Each line of authority will require its own license application. This means that if you wish to the carry property & casualty line, plus the life & accident and health line, you will need to complete the license and background checks twice.

Fill out and submit your online application on the NIPR website.

Step 4. Background Check

The State of Arkansas requires all licensees to submit an application for a background check. If you have any prior misdemeanors or felonies, this may affect the outcome of your licensing efforts. For more information on this topic, call the Arkansas Department of Insurance at (501) 371-2750 or email the Insurance License Department.

You will find the application on this page of the Arkansas Insurance Department website.

The fee for the background check is $24.

Step 5. Arkansas Insurance License Exam

The last step after completing all of your pre-license coursework is to take the insurance exams. You will take one exam for each line of insurance you wish to carry. Life and Health are separate lines in Arkansas, so they are all separate tests. Property & Casualty (P&C), however, can be combined lines, so you will take one test for both of these lines. This means that for all four of these lines you will take three exams.

This is a proctored test, which means that you will be in a controlled environment with a person watching you. For people who haven’t tested in a situation like this should be aware of this fact, and work on taming their nerves prior to sitting for the exam.

The fee for each attempt of the exams is as follows:

  • Life & Health: $100
  • Property & Casualty: $100

When you show up you must have a photo ID and the original pre-license education certificate.

Life and Health are two separate exams that can be taken together. The Life exam consists of fifty (80) questions, and you have two hours and thirty minutes (2:30) to complete it and the Health exam consists of eighty (80) questions, and you have two hours and thirty minutes (2:30) to complete it.

Property & Casualty is a combined exam consisting of one-hundred twenty five (125) questions, and you have three hours and thirty minutes (3:30) to complete it.

An outline of included subjects for these exams can be found here:

For more information on the scoring of the exam, we will quote the PSI Arkansas Insurance Department Licensure Candidate Information Bulletin:

You must get 70% correct to pass the examination. Your score will be displayed on screen at the end of the examination and a score report will be emailed to you. If you fail, the emailed score report will include the diagnostic report indicating your strengths and weaknesses by examination type.

Check out our Insurance Exam Guide. It’s extremely in-depth, and will hopefully help you pass the first time.

Looking for a guide to passing the insurance exam in Arkansas? Check out our Arkansas Insurance License Exam article.

Insurance license tests are intentionally difficult, but not impossible by any means. You should study to the point of comfortability with the information before you attempt the test. Failing the exam isn’t the end of the world, but keep in mind that you will need to pay the fee each time you attempt the test.

Tip

StateRequirement recommends that you study for one exam at a time, then after passing, starting on your next line. The exams are difficult enough on their own without confusing information from one line to another. Check out our review of the Kaplan Insurance Course.

You may register to take your exams and find more information on the PSI Arkansas Insurance Exam Page.

Step 6. Application Review

Once you have submitted your application and have filled all the other requirements, your license application will be reviewed by the state. Your background check will also be reviewed.

If everything is to acceptable standards your license should be issued quickly. If there are any items from your background check that need to be reviewed, it may slow down the process of issuance. If this is the case, the state may contact you to provide context to the issues that they have run into.

3-5 days after passing your license test, contact the Arkansas Insurance Department to verify that your license has been obtained. You will not receive any correspondence from the state regarding the status of your license.  You must make the call to them. The phone number to the Arkansas Insurance Department is (501) 371-2750.

To check and see if your license has been issued, you may look yourself up in the State Based Systems License Look-Up System.

Congratulations!

You’ve done the work, put in the time and effort, and now hold the key to your own success!  We’re proud of you. Take five (5) minutes and celebrate.

After Getting Your Arkansas Insurance License

Once you’ve passed your exams and completed the licensing application, you are now a licensed insurance agent in Arkansas. A common question we hear is, “I have my insurance license, now what?” Here are a few things you can do or need to know:

  • Get a job in the insurance field. Check out StateRequirement’s Insurance Jobs board
  • If you’re going to sell advanced life insurance products, you’ll need to have the proper securities licenses. Series 6, Series 7, and Series 63 are the most common among insurance agents, but you’ll need to begin with the SIE (Securities Industry Essentials) exam. Find out which licenses you need with our Securities Licensing Guide
  • Every two years, you’ll need to renew your insurance license. Check out our guides on Arkansas Insurance License Renewal and Arkansas Insurance Continuing Education for more details
  • Learn how to market yourself as an insurance agent: Have a look at our Insurance Agent Marketing article
  • Interested in learning how successful life insurance agents operate? Check out our How Do Life Insurance Companies Make Money article

Arkansas Insurance Department Contact Information

Mailing Address:
1 Commerce Way Little Rock
Arkansas 72202

Phone: (501) 371-2750

Fax: (501) 683-2604

Email: insurance.license@arkansas.gov

Website: http://insurance.arkansas.gov

License Search: Arkansas Insurance License Search and Lookup

Arkansas Insurance License FAQ

How long is the insurance license period in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, a new insurance license is valid for two years. To be able to practice continuously without interruption, it’s essential to renew your license before its expiration date. Learn how you can do this in our article on Arkansas Insurance License Renewal.

How long does it take to get an insurance license in Arkansas?

It typically takes anywhere from two to eight weeks. The bulk of the time is spent studying for your Arkansas insurance exam. Some people study for as little as one week and feel comfortable taking the exam. We recommend you take whatever amount of time you need to feel comfortable with the material. Check out our guide: How to Pass the Insurance Exam.

How much does the Arkansas insurance license cost?

It typically costs around $375 to get an insurance producer license in Arkansas, which involves completing an insurance course, submitting an application, and passing an exam. Depending on the number of attempts you need to pass the exam, however, your total may vary since each attempt after the first costs $100.

How do I get a life insurance license in Arkansas?

To obtain a life insurance license in Arkansas, make sure to complete the necessary pre-licensing education, pass the state exam, apply to the Arkansas Insurance Department licensing division, and pay any associated fees. We also break down these steps above if you’re looking for a more detailed walkthrough of the insurance agent licensing procedure in Arkansas.

How do I get a property and casualty license in Arkansas?

For a property and casualty license in Arkansas, applicants will need to finish the required pre-licensing education, pass the state licensing exam, and submit an application to the Arkansas Insurance Department with any relevant fees. For more information on the licensing process and the national insurance producer registry, we recommend checking out our Arkansas Insurance License article.

Do I need business insurance in Arkansas?

Most business entities based in Arkansas will need some form of insurance in order to operate. As a common example, workers’ compensation insurance is a requirement for any business with employees. Additionally, it’s worth investing in Arkansas business insurance to ensure your assets are protected your assets and your business is operating safely.

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