How to Get a Life Insurance License in Arizona

Getting your Arizona life insurance license is the first step towards becoming a life insurance agent in the state.

The Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions requires you to complete a six-step process to become a life insurance agent in Arizona — 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.

Life Insurance License Arizona

Obtaining your Arkansas 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 Arizona property and casualty (P&C) license as well.

Step 1: Complete an Arizona Insurance Pre-license Course

Before you take the Arizona 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 Arizona 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.

Step 2: Take the Arizona Life Insurance Licensing Exam

After you complete a prep course and your own independent studying, it’s time to take the Arizona life insurance exam.

Arizona uses Prometric as its official testing service for delivering licensure exams.

The Arizona life insurance exam outline contains a total of 100 scored questions that includes seven sections. Those sections cover basic life insurance knowledge, insurance concepts, and terms, rules, state and federal regulations, and practices specific to Arizona.

You’ll have 120 minutes to complete the exam. The Arizona life insurance exam fee is $38, 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.

Prometric will electronically notify the Arizona DIFI of your exam results within 48 hours of you passing the exam.

Step 3: Get a Fingerprint-Based Background Check

After you take the Arizona life insurance exam, you must get a fingerprint-based background check from Prometric. Prometric offers a fingerprinting service at its Arizona test centers. The total cost of fingerprinting services is $42, which includes a $20 fee charged by Prometric plus a $22 fee for FBI fingerprint processing. 

At your fingerprinting appointment, you’ll receive a receipt. Don’t throw it away! Keep the original receipt for your records because you’ll need to mail it in during a later step.

After completing your fingerprint-based background check, you must submit your license application within one year of passing the licensing exam. If you fail to do so, you’ll need to retake the exam.

Step 4: Complete an Arizona Life Insurance License Application

Once you pass the life insurance exam and complete the background check, you can apply for your Arizona life insurance license. The application fee is $120, and the NIPR will charge a $5.60 transaction fee for a total of $125.60. You must submit a completed Form L-FPV as part of your insurance license application. The form includes instructions you need to follow so the Arizona DIFI will accept your fingerprints.

The Arizona DIFI 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 within 12 months of passing the exam.

To apply for a life insurance license in Arizona, make sure you comply with the insurance licensing requirements as defined under the Arizona Insurance Code and Arizona Administrative Code.

Send any questions or supporting documents to licensing@azinsurance.gov.

Step 5: Mail Your Fingerprint Card and Form L-152

After completing and submitting your license application to the NIPR, you will now mail in your fingerprint card. You will send this card to the Arizona DIFI (address below).

Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions
100 North 15th Avenue, Suite 261
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2630

Arizona also requires you to submit a completed Form L-152 with your application to verify your identity. You must fill it out and attach a copy of one of the 13 forms of identification listed, such as your driver’s license, passport, birth certificate, etc.

Once you complete this document, email it to licensing@azinsurance.gov. Do not send this document until you have passed the exam and sent in your application.

Step 6: Watch for Your Application Results

After you complete the previous five steps, the Arizona DIFI will review your application and background check. It reviews filings in the order it receives them, and this process usually takes up to one month.

Your license will appear within the Arizona DIFI’s License Search tool as soon as the department verifies you meet all license requirements

You can also 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) Arizona Lookup tool.

Congratulations!

You’re now ready to get started as a life insurance agent in Arizona.

Steps After Securing Your Arizona Life Insurance License

Once you complete the above steps and have your Arizona 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 Arizona, you must complete 48 hours of continuing education (CE) in order to renew your license and maintain its good standing.

From these, at least six hours must relate to ethics training. You can search for Arizona-approved courses and course providers on the Prometric Arizona Licensees page.

If you have a non-resident license and have good standing in your home state, you don’t need to take CE courses in Arizona. In Arizona, you must also renew and manage your life insurance license every four years. To avoid delays in renewing your license, you must complete continuing education hours within 90 days before your license expires. The renewal fee for this is $120, with a late fee of $100 being imposed.

Arizona Department of Insurance Contact Information

Mailing Address

Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions
100 North 15th Avenue, Suite 261
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2630

Phone: (602) 364-4457

Email: insurancelicensing@difi.az.gov 

Website: https://insurance.az.gov/

License Search: Arizona Insurance License Lookup