How to Get a Life Insurance License in Hawaii

Getting your Hawaii life insurance license is the first step toward becoming a life insurance agent in the state.

The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Insurance Division (DCCA Insurance Division) requires you to complete a five-step process to become a life insurance agent in Hawaii — 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 Hawaii

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

Step 1: Complete a Hawaii Insurance Pre-license Course

Before you take the Hawaii 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 Hawaii 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 Hawaii Life Insurance Licensing Exam

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

Hawaii uses Pearson VUE as its official testing service for delivering licensure exams.

The Hawaii 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 Hawaii.

You’ll have 120 minutes to complete the exam. The Hawaii life insurance exam fee is $75, 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.

Pearson VUE also allows Hawaii exam takers to earn a “partial pass” score. That means you don’t have to retake the full exam if you pass one section, but not the other. You only have to retake the section you failed on your previous attempt.

Step 3: Get a Fingerprint-Based Background Check

After you take the Hawaii life insurance exam, you must get a fingerprint-based background check from Fieldprint Hawaii. The fee for fingerprinting services is $67 to cover the cost of comparing your prints against criminal history records.

Schedule your appointment with Fieldprint Hawaii, and then enter “HI-DCCA-INS” as the code to designate the DCCA Insurance Division as the recipient of your fingerprint results.

Once complete, Fieldprint Hawaii will send your fingerprinting results directly to the DCCA Insurance Division.

Step 4: Complete a Hawaii Life Insurance License Application

Once you pass the life insurance exam and complete the background check, you can apply for your Hawaii life insurance license. The application fee depends on your date of birth and when the DCCA Insurance Division receives your completed application. 

You must submit your application via the NIPR. For application fees, see the NIPR’s Hawaii Licensing Fees. 

The DCCA Insurance Division will issue a life insurance license to individuals who are at least 18 years old and have passed the proper licensing exam. You must submit the completed license application and applicable licensing fee within 60 days of the date of fingerprinting.

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

Send any questions or supporting documents to insurance@dcca.hawaii.gov.

Step 5: Watch for Your Application Results

After you complete the previous four steps, the DCCA Insurance Division will review your application and background check. It reviews filings in the order it receives them, and this process usually takes three to 10 business days from the date you submit your application.

You can print your license from the NIPR website or the Hawaii Insurance Licensee Services page. There’s no charge to create an account or print a license. If you need to search for and manage your license, you can find it by using Hawaii’s Insurance License Search tool.

Congratulations!

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

Steps After Securing Your Hawaii Life Insurance License

Once you complete the above steps and have your Hawaii 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 Hawaii, you must take 21 hours of continuing education (CE) courses every two years to renew your license for a life-only line of authority. Three of those 21 hours must focus on ethics and/or Hawaii insurance laws and rules. To find these courses, go to the DCCA Insurance Division’s CE Approved Courses Search portal. 

If you have a non-resident license in good standing with your home state, you don’t need to take CE courses in Hawaii. You can’t renew your license until you complete your CE hours and pay any outstanding fines.

To avoid delays in renewing your license, you must complete the required CE hours at least 60 days before your license expires. You can then renew your license at the DCCA Insurance Division’s Insurance License Extension/Renewal portal by paying a renewal fee of $100.

Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Insurance Division Contact Information

Mailing Address:

Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Insurance Division
P.O. Box 3614
Honolulu, HI 96811

Phone: 808-586-2790

Email: insurance@dcca.hawaii.gov 

Website: http://cca.hawaii.gov/ins/ 

License Search: Hawaii Insurance License Search