Getting your Florida life insurance license is the first step towards becoming a life insurance agent in the state.
The Florida Division of Insurance Agent and Agency Services (IAAS) requires you to complete a five-step process to become a life insurance agent in Florida — 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 Florida Life Insurance License
- Complete a Florida Insurance Pre-license Course (ExamFX – 10% Discount)
- Get a Fingerprint-Based Background Check (IdentoGO – $48.05 + local Florida sales tax)
- Complete a Florida Life Insurance License Application (Florida’s MyProfile System – $50 application fee + $5 license ID fee)
- Take the Florida Life Insurance Licensing Exam (Pearson VUE – $44)
- Watch for Your Application Results
Life Insurance License Florida
Obtaining your Florida 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 Florida property and casualty (P&C) license as well.
Step 1: Complete a Florida Insurance Pre-license Course
Before you take the Florida 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.
Florida requires 40 hours of pre-license education for life insurance, including courses on annuities and variable contracts. Three of the required 40 hours must focus on ethics.
Note
The Florida Health & Life (Including Annuities & Variable Contracts) Study Manual is published under contract with the Florida Department of Financial Services by the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) – Florida.
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 ExamFX’s online courses — which come with a money-back guarantee — when preparing for their insurance license exam(s). For comprehensive study packages, StateRequirement recommends:
Step 2: Get a Fingerprint-Based Background Check
After you complete your pre-license education course, you must get a fingerprint-based background check from IdentoGO. The fee for fingerprinting services is $48.05 plus the local Florida county sales tax to cover the costs of a fingerprint-based, criminal history record check.
You must register for LiveScan and go to the nearest IdentoGo location to electronically submit your fingerprints.
Once you submit your fingerprints via IdentoGo, that system will electronically send them to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The FDLE will then electronically submit the results of your fingerprint-based, criminal history check to the Florida Department of Financial Services.
Once your application is complete, the Florida Division of IAAS will notify you of your license or registration status by email through your Florida MyProfile account.
Step 3: Complete a Florida Life Insurance License Application
Once you complete the fingerprint-based background check, you can apply for your Florida life insurance license. The application fee is $50 plus a $5 license ID fee for a total of $55. You must apply via your Florida MyProfile account.
After receiving your license, this is the system where you’ll take most other actions regarding your license.
The Florida Division of IAAS will issue a life insurance license to individuals who are at least 18 years old and have passed the proper licensing exam.
To apply for a life insurance license in Florida, make sure you comply with the insurance licensing requirements as defined under the State of Florida Statutes, the Florida Administrative Code, and Florida’s prelicensing rules.
Send any questions or supporting documents to AgentLicensing@MyFloridaCFO.com.
Step 4: Take the Florida Life Insurance Licensing Exam
After you have applied for your life insurance license via your Florida MyProfile account, it’s time to take the Florida life insurance exam.
Florida uses Pearson VUE as its official testing service for delivering licensure exams.
The Florida life insurance exam outline contains a total of 85 scored questions that covers two sections: general and state-specific knowledge. The general section deals with basic life insurance product knowledge. The state-specific section covers insurance concepts and terms, rules, regulations, and practices specific to Florida.
You’ll have 120 minutes to complete the exam. The Florida life insurance exam fee is $44, 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 the Florida life insurance exam, you must reapply by visiting Pearson VUE and pay another exam fee. Florida has a limit of five attempts for the same exam type during a 12-month period.
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 5: Watch for Your Application Results
After you complete the previous four steps, the Florida Department of Financial Services will review your application and background check.
Once it completes that review, you’ll receive a notification in your Florida MyProfile account. If you need to provide any additional information to the state, you’ll receive a notification of this in that account as well.
You also may use your Florida MyProfile account as a Florida insurance license search and lookup tool as well as to print your license.
Congratulations!
You’re now ready to get started as a life insurance agent in Florida.
Recommended: Over 81% of our readers use ExamFX’s online courses — which come with a money-back guarantee — when preparing for their insurance license exam(s). For comprehensive study packages, StateRequirement recommends:
Steps After Securing Your Florida Life Insurance License
Once you complete the above steps and have your Florida 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 Florida, you must take 24 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years in order to renew your license and maintain its good standing. Of those 24 hours, five must cover Florida law and ethics.
While Florida doesn’t require you to renew your insurance license, you need to keep your license current by completing the required CE credits. Your CE course provider will report your course completion to the Florida Division of IAAS within 21 days of completion.
To check your CE requirement and status, go to your Florida MyProfile account, log in, and click on “CE Status.”
Note: You can contact the Florida Division of IAAS at AgentLicensing@myfloridacfo.com if you have any questions.
For a more in-depth look at each one of these steps, check out our Steps After Getting Your Insurance License guide.
Florida Department of Financial Services Contact Information
Mailing Address:
Division of Insurance Agent and Agency Services
Bureau of Licensing
200 East Gaines Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0319
Phone: (850) 413-3137
Email: AgentLicensing@MyFloridaCFO.com
Website: https://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/Agents/Licensure/default.htm
License Search: Florida Insurance Licensee Search
Florida Life Insurance License FAQ
How much does it cost to get a life insurance license in Florida?
To obtain a life insurance license in Florida, you’ll need to pay several fees. These include an insurance pre-license education course fee, a $48.05 fingerprint-based background check fee via IdentoGO, a $50 application and $5 license ID fees via Florida’s MyProfile System, and a $44 Florida insurance exam fee via Pearson VUE.
How long does it take to process a life insurance license application in Florida?
The Florida Division of IAAS reviews your life insurance license application. The review process time varies depending on the application. You will get a notification in your Florida MyProfile account when your application is processed. To check your application status, log in to your account and view your messages.
Can I get a temporary life insurance agent license in Florida?
Yes. According to the Florida statutes, you can get a temporary life insurance agent license in Florida if you are the executor, administrator, or next of kin of a deceased life agent, and you meet certain conditions. A temporary license is nonrenewable and valid for six months only.
Do I need to get my securities license on top of a life insurance license in Florida?
In Florida, if you wish to sell life, including annuities and variable contracts, you need a life insurance license. However, if you plan to deal with securities, obtaining a securities license is also necessary. Both licenses are distinct and cater to different aspects of financial services.
What can I sell with a life insurance license in Florida?
With a life insurance license in Florida, you can sell various life insurance products. This includes term, whole, and universal life insurance policies. Additionally, you are authorized to offer fixed and variable annuities. These annuities provide options for retirement planning and income, complementing your life insurance offerings.
How much can you make with a life insurance license in Florida?
The average salary for a life insurance agent in Florida is approximately $67,391 per year, which equates to about $32.40 per hour, according to recent data from ZipRecruiter. However, life insurance agent salaries are influenced by factors such as experience, location, sales skills, and the type of insurance products sold.
What are the limitations of a Florida life insurance license?
Having a Florida life insurance license only covers life policies unless you have multiple licenses (e.g., combined life and health insurance license). For instance, you need a health insurance license to sell health insurance and a variable annuity license to offer variable annuities. A securities license in addition to your life license also enables you to sell securities products.
How hard is it to get a life insurance license in Florida?
Getting a life insurance license in Florida is not very hard, but it does require some preparation and dedicated effort. It’s really important to keep learning and following the rules to keep your license and stay up-to-date in the field.
