Getting your Connecticut life insurance license is the first step towards becoming a life insurance agent in the state.
The Connecticut Insurance Department (CID) requires you to complete a four-step process to become a life insurance agent in Connecticut — 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 Connecticut Life Insurance License
- Complete a Connecticut Insurance Pre-license Course (Kaplan Education Company – $149+)
- Take the Connecticut Life Insurance Licensing Exam (Pearson VUE – $65)
- Complete a Connecticut Life Insurance License Application (National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) – $140 application fee + $5.60 transaction fee)
- Watch for Your Application Results
Life Insurance License Connecticut
Obtaining your Connecticut life insurance license isn’t difficult. Just follow these four 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 Connecticut property and casualty (P&C) license as well.
Step 1: Complete a Connecticut Insurance Pre-license Course
Before you take the Connecticut 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.
Connecticut requires 40 hours of pre-licensing education courses for life insurance. 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
Doing a pre-licensing education course dramatically increases your chance of passing your exam on your first attempt, which can end up saving you both time and money in the long run. For pre-licensing education, StateRequirement recommends:
Step 2: Take the Connecticut Life Insurance Licensing Exam
After you complete a prep course and your own independent studying, it’s time to take the Connecticut life insurance exam.
Connecticut uses Pearson VUE as its official testing service for delivering the state licensing exam.
The Connecticut life insurance exam outline contains a total of 75 scored questions that cover 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 Connecticut.
You’ll have 120 minutes to complete the exam. The Connecticut life insurance exam fee is $65, 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 Connecticut life insurance exam, you must wait 24 hours before making a reservation to retake the test.
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: Complete a Connecticut Life Insurance License Application
Once you pass the life insurance exam, you can apply for your Connecticut life insurance license. The application fee is $140, and the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) will charge a $5.60 transaction fee for a total of $145.60.
The CID 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 Connecticut, make sure you comply with the insurance licensing requirements as defined under the Connecticut Administrative Code.
Send any questions or supporting documents to cid.licensing@ct.gov.
Step 4: Watch for Your Application Results
After you complete the previous three steps, the CID will review your application. It reviews filings in the order it receives them, and this process usually takes seven to 10 business days from the date you mail your application.
Once your application review is complete, the CID 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. To search and manage your Connecticut life insurance license, visit the NAIC SBS License Lookup tool.
Congratulations!
You’re now ready to get started as a life insurance agent in Connecticut.
Next Steps After Securing Your Connecticut Life Insurance License
Once you complete the above steps and have your Connecticut life insurance license, here’s what you should pursue next.
Get Your FINRA Securities Licenses
Overview
Individuals planning to market and sell market-based life insurance products also must obtain the proper securities licenses. As a securities license holder, you can offer securities as part of your services. That’ll make you a credible authority in addressing all of your clients’ financial needs.
SIE Exam
To obtain these licenses, you’ll first need to take and pass the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam. Professionals in the securities industry are required to take the SIE and a series of examinations administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
The SIE exam ensures every life insurance professional has a basic understanding of securities. While taking the SIE exam isn’t a requirement for all insurance professionals, those who don’t obtain at least one securities license limit their ability to work with clients. With a securities license, you can give your clients the option to invest in securities-related products as part of their life insurance plans.
Tip
To help you start preparing for the SIE exam, check out our full guide on How to Pass the SIE Exam.
Obtaining a license to sell securities also requires sponsorship from a firm, company, or organization regulated by FINRA. The sponsor will pay the testing fees required for your SIE exams and submit your personal information to FINRA’s Central Registration Depository (CRD). The Series 6 and Series 7 licenses require a FINRA exam sponsorship before you can take the exam. The exam for a Series 63 license doesn’t require any sponsoring entity.
Once you get your securities license(s), FINRA will list you as a “registered representative.” By achieving the securities licensee designation, you’ll become a highly sought-after professional and set yourself up for a successful career in the insurance industry.
Series 6, 7, and 63 Licenses
Some of the most common securities licenses for insurance agents include the Series 6, 7, and 63 licenses because they allow licensees to sell almost every type of individual security.
The Series 6 (Investment Company and Variable Contracts Products Representative) Securities License is the primary license sought by insurance sales professionals and financial advisors, allowing them to sell grouped securities related to insurance products.
Series 6 works together with Series 63 because they are the two partner licenses required to sell insurance policies tied to investments. The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) oversees regulation of the Series 63 (Uniform Securities Agent State Law) license.
The Series 7 license allows you to buy and sell securities (e.g., stocks, bonds, and mutual funds) as part of an investment plan for your clients. To get a Series 7 license, you will first need to register as a new candidate with FINRA and pass the Series 7 exam. The Series 7 exam is commonly known as the General Securities Representative Qualification Exam, but is sometimes referred to as the “Series 7 Top-Off Exam.”
Get a Job in the Insurance Field
Once you earn your license, you can start applying for jobs in the insurance field. With a life insurance license, you can provide advice and recommend insurance products to clients, sell life insurance policies that pay a beneficiary upon an insured person’s death, and sell annuities that pay a set income at retirement.
When applying for an insurance-related job, potential employers will request your license number and National Producer Number (NPN).
Complete Continuing Education and Renew Your License
In Connecticut, you must take 24 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years to maintain your license in good standing. Of those 24 hours, three must focus on Connecticut insurance law and ethics.
If you have a non-resident license with good standing in your home state, you don’t need to take CE courses in Connecticut. To find out if you need to take Connecticut courses, go to the NAIC SBS website and click on “License Manager.” You can’t renew your license until you complete your CE hours and pay any outstanding fines.
In Connecticut, you also must renew and manage your life insurance license every two years. To avoid delays in renewing your license, you must complete CE hours at least 90 days before your license expires. The CE provider will report your successful completion of those courses to the CID. The renewal fee is $160 and the late fee is $320.
Learn how to renew your license with our Connecticut Insurance License Renewal guide.
Connecticut Department Of Insurance Contact Information
Mailing Address
Connecticut Insurance Department
153 Market Street, 7th Floor
Hartford, CT 06103
Phone: 860-297-3800
Email: cid.licensing@ct.gov
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/CID
License Search: Connecticut Insurance License Search
Connecticut Life Insurance License FAQ
How much does it cost to get a life insurance license in Connecticut?
To obtain a Colorado life insurance license, you need to pay a few fees. You need to pay for a pre-licensing education course ($149) and the Connecticut insurance license exam fee ($65) via Pearson VUE, an online testing provider. Additionally, there’s a total fee of $145.6 for the application fee that you need to pay through NIPR.
How long does it take to process a life insurance license application in Connecticut?
It takes seven to ten business days to process life insurance licenses in Connecticut. After you pass the Connecticut insurance exam and filed your application, you will receive an email from the CID confirming that they issued your insurance license.
Can I get a temporary life insurance agent license in Connecticut?
Yes. Connecticut provides a 180-day, temporary life insurance license. The Connecticut Insurance Department requires you to apply online via their website and select the “Producer New” for the insurance producer license application option. You may not apply through the NIPR or submit a paper application.
Do I need to get my securities license on top of a life insurance license in Connecticut?
Depending on the license types you have, you can sell different products as a licensed insurance agent. With a life insurance license, you can only sell basic products, such as term or whole life insurance. However, with a securities license, you can also sell more advanced products, such as stocks or mutual funds.
What can I sell with a life insurance license in Connecticut?
With a Connecticut life insurance license, you can sell various life insurance products. These include term life, whole life, universal life, and variable life insurance policies. Additionally, you may offer riders and related financial planning services that focus on long-term financial security and estate planning.
How much can you make with a life insurance license in Connecticut?
In Connecticut, the average salary for a life insurance agent is approximately $80,194 per year, according to data from ZipRecruiter. This equates to about $38.56 per hour, offering a lucrative opportunity for those in the life insurance field.
What are the limitations of a Connecticut life insurance license?
A Connecticut life insurance license lets you sell life insurance, retirement plans, and annuities. For other insurance products, you need multiple licenses (e.g., life and health). A securities license lets you sell securities, such as stocks and bonds, in addition to life insurance products. You need FINRA accreditation for that.
How hard is it to get a life insurance license in Connecticut?
Obtaining a life insurance license in Connecticut is moderately challenging. It requires completing a pre-licensing education course, passing the state insurance exam, and fulfilling application procedures. The process demands dedication to studying and understanding insurance concepts, but with focused effort, you can successfully acquire the license.