Getting your Alaska life insurance license is the first step towards becoming a life insurance agent in the state.
The Alaska Division of Insurance requires you to complete a six-step process to become a life insurance agent in Alaska — from taking the life insurance exam to applying for a license.
These steps will take a few weeks to complete so we recommend you bookmark this page so you can use it as a reference throughout the process.
How to Get Your Alaska Life Insurance License
- Complete an Alaska Insurance Pre-license Course (Kaplan Education Company – $149+)
- Take the Alaska Life Insurance Licensing Exam (Pearson VUE – $89)
- Get a Fingerprint-Based Background Check (IdentoGO – $15 + Alaska Division of Insurance FBI processing fee – $48.25)
- Complete an Alaska Life Insurance License Application (National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) – $75 application fee + $5.60 transaction fee)
- Mail Your Fingerprint Card
- Watch for Your Application Results
Life Insurance License Alaska
Obtaining your Alaska life insurance license isn’t difficult. Just follow these five steps to start your journey toward becoming a life insurance agent. Once you earn this license, check out our guide on how to get your Alaska property and casualty (P&C) license as well.
Step 1: Complete an Alaska Insurance Pre-license Course
Before you take the Alaska life insurance licensing exam, it’s important to make time to acquire the knowledge you’ll need to pass this exam on your first attempt. Completing a pre-license education course will equip you with the necessary information and tools you’ll need to prepare for your exam.
While Alaska doesn’t have any formal pre-license education requirements, most insurance professionals opt to take a pre-license education course online. Others purchase books or self-study materials to prepare themselves for the exam.
A pre-license education course provides very specific industry knowledge that will be tested during the exam. There is very little information on the test that could be considered “common sense”. Pre-license education courses are self-paced and include study materials like practice exams and flashcards.
Beyond helping you effectively prepare for and pass the life insurance licensing exam on your first try, taking a pre-license education course also will give you a solid understanding of your duties as a life insurance agent.
Recommended Course
Over 81% of our readers use Kaplan’s online courses — which come with a 93% pass rate — when preparing for their insurance license exam(s). For comprehensive study packages, StateRequirement recommends:
Step 2: Take the Alaska Life Insurance Licensing Exam
After you complete a prep course and your own independent studying, it’s time to take the Alaska life insurance exam.
Alaska uses Pearson VUE as its official testing service for delivering licensure exams.
The Alaska life insurance exam outline contains a total of 90 scored questions that includes two sections: general and state-specific. The general section deals with basic life insurance product knowledge. The state section covers state laws, rules, and regulations specific to Alaska.
You’ll have 135 minutes to complete the exam. The Alaska life insurance exam fee is $89, which you must pay at the time of reservation by credit card, debit card, or voucher. The exam is a proctored test, meaning an official proctor will closely monitor you in a controlled environment.
If you happen to fail one section of the Alaska life insurance exam and pass the other, you only need to retake the part you failed. You may refer to the diagnostic section of your score report for information to help you prepare to retake the exam. You must wait at least 24 hours before registering again to take the exam. Your exam results are valid for up to one year from the date of the exam.
Tip
Check out our in-depth insurance exam guide for tips to help you pass on the first attempt.
The best way to understand if you are prepared for the test is to take a Life Insurance Practice Exam.
Step 3: Get a Fingerprint-Based Background Check
After you take the Alaska life insurance exam, you must get a fingerprint-based background check from IdentoGO.
The fee for digital fingerprinting is $15 to cover the IdentoGO by IDEMIA service charge for capturing your fingerprints. You will also include a check payable to the Alaska Division of Insurance for $48.25 to cover the cost of the criminal background check with the FBI. The fee total for fingerprinting services is $63.25.
Anchorage-based applicants can schedule online with Pearson VUE or call (866) 761-8069 to get their fingerprinting done at their exam center.
All other applicants may contact IdentoGO by IDEMIA at (866) 761-8069 to request an FBI FD-258 fingerprint card.
When you complete your fingerprinting appointment, you’ll receive a fingerprint card. Keep your fingerprint card because you’ll need to mail it in at a later step. The required FD-258 card, which Pearson VUE or IdentoGO will send to you, will include a digital version of your fingerprints.
Step 4: Complete an Alaska Life Insurance License Application
Once you pass the life insurance exam and complete the background check, you can apply for your Alaska life insurance license. The application fee is $75, and the NIPR will charge a $5.60 transaction fee for a total of $80.60.
The Alaska Division of Insurance 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 to NIPR’s Alaska licensing section within 12 months of passing the exam.
To apply for a life insurance license in Alaska, make sure you comply with the insurance licensing requirements as defined under statutory law and the Alaska Insurance Administrative Code.
Send any questions or supporting documents to insurance@alaska.gov.
Step 5: Mail Your Fingerprint Card
After completing your license application, you will now mail your fingerprint card. You will send this card to the Alaska Division of Insurance’s mailing address:
Anchorage Mailing/Street Address
Division of Insurance
Robert B. Atwood Building
550 W 7th Ave., Ste. 1560
Anchorage, AK 99501-3567
Juneau Mailing Address
Division of Insurance
P.O. Box 110805
Juneau, AK 99811-0805
Step 6: Watch for Your Application Results
After you complete the previous five steps, the Alaska Division of Insurance will review your application and background check. It reviews filings in the order it receives them, and this process usually takes one or more business days from the date you mail your application.
Once your application review is complete, the Alaska Division of Insurance will email you with its decision or ask you to provide more information.
You can print your license from the NIPR website. There’s no charge to create an account or print a license. You can also manage and search for your license by using the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) State Based Systems (SBS) Alaska Lookup tool.
Congratulations!
You’re now ready to get started as a life insurance agent in Alaska.
Recommended: Over 81% of our readers use Kaplan’s online courses — which come with a 93% pass rate — when preparing for their insurance license exam(s). For comprehensive study packages, StateRequirement recommends:
Steps After Securing Your Alaska Life Insurance License
Once you complete the above steps and have your Alaska life insurance license, there are a few steps you’ll need to take in order to a) excel as an insurance agent, and b) maintain your life insurance license.
Let’s take a brief look at these below.
Obtain All Relevant Securities Licenses
If you’re planning on selling advanced life insurance products, you’ll likely need to pass the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam and obtain the relevant securities licenses (e.g., Series 6, 7, and 63).
For more information on this step, you can have a look at our in-depth Securities Licensing overview.
Choose a Means of Selling
You’ll have to decide whether you’d prefer working as a captive agent employed by one company, or running your own business as an independent agent.
If you’re just starting out, you’ll likely benefit from working as a captive agent, but this will ultimately depend on your personal aspirations and opportunities.
Develop Your Marketing Approach
To succeed as an insurance agent, you’ll need to adopt a marketing approach that’s effective for you.
We recommend finding and sticking to a niche, as well organizing all client appointments for the start of your week. This is because this can improve your overall client conversions.
Keep Your License Valid
In Alaska, you will be required to complete 24 hours of continuing education (CE) to renew your license in good standing if you’ve been operating for a full two-year period.
You must earn your credit hours before your renewal date. Three of those credit hours must focus on ethics while no more than eight hours should focus on management, marketing, sales, and training. To find these courses, visit the NAIC SBS Lookup Search tool, click on Alaska as your jurisdiction, and then select “Course or Provider” as your search type.
If you have a non-resident license that meets CE requirements in your home state, you don’t need to take CE courses in Alaska.
When you complete an approved course, your course provider will issue you a certificate of completion and report your CE credits to the Alaska Division of Insurance within 10 days of course completion. The NIPR verifies compliance with Alaska’s CE requirement before you can submit your license renewal application. Check Verify My CE to view your CE transcript.
After you have completed your continuing education and you are within 90 days of your license expiration, you may renew your Alaska insurance license online using the NIPR Alaska Renewal System. There is a fee of $75 per application to renew your license.
You also may contact the Alaska Division of Insurance for assistance with submitting a paper application for renewal. There is an additional $50 fee for this service.
For a more in-depth look at each one of these steps, check out our Steps After Getting Your Insurance License guide.
Alaska Department of Insurance Contact Information
Mailing Address:
Anchorage
Division of Insurance
Robert B. Atwood Building
550 W 7th Ave., Ste. 1560
Anchorage, AK 99501-3567
Phone: 907-269-7900
Juneau
Alaska Division of Insurance
P.O. Box 110805
Juneau, AK 99811-0805
Phone: (907) 465-2515
Email: insurance@alaska.gov
Website: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/ins/
License Search: Alaska Insurance License Lookup
Alaska Life Insurance License FAQ
How much does it cost to get a life insurance license in Alaska?
Getting a life insurance license in Alaska costs a minimum of $380.85. This includes a pre-license education course (starts at $149), Alaska insurance license exam fee ($89), fingerprint-based background check via IdentoGO ($15), FBI processing fee via Alaska Division of Insurance ($48.25), and application fee ($75 + $5.60 transaction fee via NIPR).
How long does it take to process a life insurance license application in Alaska?
The process of getting an Alaska life insurance license can take one or more business days after your requirements and other applicable documents have been received. You also need to provide details establishing your identity and background, and provide reasonable assurance that you are qualified and trustworthy to sell life insurance in Alaska.
Can I get a temporary life insurance agent license in Alaska?
Yes. Alaska offers a 90-day temporary life insurance license. To obtain this temporary license, you need to submit an application and basic organizational documents to the Alaska Division of Insurance. This provision reflects the state’s commitment to maintaining and involving experienced and qualified personnel in the insurance sector.
Do I need to get my securities license on top of a life insurance license in Alaska?
Probably. As a licensed insurance agent in Alaska, obtaining a securities license is advisable. It allows you to offer a broader range of products, including those tied to the securities market, enhancing your career prospects and enabling you to provide comprehensive retirement and life insurance plans. However, you need FINRA accreditation to apply for this license.
What can I sell with a life insurance license in Alaska?
In Alaska, with your life insurance license, you can sell life insurance policies that guarantee a payout to a chosen beneficiary when the insured individual passes away. You are also able to sell annuities, providing a stable income at retirement.
How much can you make with a life insurance license in Alaska?
According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for a life insurance agent in Alaska is $89,189. This is higher than the national average of $88,9682. However, the salary range can vary from $18,000 to $120,000 depending on your experience, location, and policies that you sell.
What are the limitations of an Alaska life insurance license?
An Alaska life insurance license limits you to selling life insurance policies, retirement plans, and annuities. You cannot sell other types of insurance with this license alone, unless you opt to obtain multiple licenses (e.g. the combined life and health insurance license). However, adding a securities license allows you to sell securities, including stocks and bonds.
How hard is it to get a life insurance license in Alaska?
Getting a life insurance license in Alaska is not very hard, but you need to pass an exam, undergo a background check, and file an application. If you’re performing administrative functions, you’ll also need to register as a third-party administrator and submit certified financial statements provided by an independent certified public accountant to the Alaska Division of Insurance.