Getting your Delaware insurance license is the first step to becoming an insurance agent in Delaware. Whether you’re interested in selling property and casualty insurance, life insurance, health insurance, or any combination of those lines of authority, this article has the information you need to get started.
The Delaware Department of Insurance has a 6-step process on how to become an insurance agent in Delaware. We’ll walk you through step-by-step; from the license application to insurance test prep, to the Delaware insurance exam, and beyond.
This guide has everything you need to know to get your DE insurance license quickly and easily.
How to Get Your Delaware Insurance License
Getting your insurance license in Delaware is easy! Just follow our step-by-step guide. Be sure to bookmark this page so that you can visit it again throughout this process.
Step 1. Which Insurance Licenses Do You Need?
The first step to getting your insurance license is choosing which licenses you need. The most common licenses new insurance agents get are the property & casualty license (P&C), life and health insurance license (L&H).
The types of insurance products and policies you’ll be selling will determine which licenses you need. Here are some examples of the types of policies you can market with each license:
- Property and Casualty Insurance License – Auto Insurance, Home Insurance, Business Insurance, etc…
- Life and Health Insurance License – Life Insurance, Annuities, Medicare, Health Insurance, etc…
Most insurance agents and producers choose to get both P&C and L&H licenses, but if you plan on specializing in only one category then you don’t need every license.
Insurance adjusters require a separate license. You can find more information on becoming an insurance adjuster here: Delaware Insurance Adjuster License.
Note
If you plan on specializing as a life insurance agent, then you may also need to hold a certain FINRA securities license.
Step 2. Delaware Insurance Pre-Exam Education
After you’ve determined which licenses you need, it’s time to begin studying for the Delaware insurance exams.
Delaware does not require you to take a certain amount of pre-license credits before testing. This means that studying for your exam is 100% up to you.
Most folks choose to take an insurance pre-license course online. These courses are created specifically to give you the skills you need to pass the test. Others purchase books or other self-study tools to prepare themselves.
It’s wise to take a week or so to dedicate to your study of this exam. If you don’t feel as though you’re a strong test taker, take a little longer, but don’t let it drag out for long. We want you to pass your test the first time you take it, and we know that you can do it.
Recommended Course
For Delaware insurance pre-license education courses and exam prep, StateRequirement recommends:
Step 3. Fingerprinting and Background Check
The State of Delaware requires that all insurance license applications provide fingerprints prior to licensing. Giving your fingerprints will initiate a background check. If you have any prior misdemeanors or felonies, this may affect the outcome of your licensing efforts. For more information on this topic, call the Delaware Department of Insurance at 302-674-7390 or email the Insurance Department.
You must schedule your fingerprinting appointment with the Delaware State Police at (302) 739-2528. Tell them that you are getting your fingerprints for a Delaware insurance license and that you need both state and FBI background checks run.
The fee for fingerprinting is $75. When completed, they will send the results directly to the Insurance Department.
Step 4. Delaware Insurance License Exam
The next step after completing all of your pre-license coursework or self-study is to take the insurance exam. You will take one exam for each line of insurance you wish to carry.
Pearson VUE offers what is called “back-to-back” exams in Delaware. This means that you can take the Property and the Casualty exams on the same day, and only pay for one of them. This is also the case with the Life and Accident and Health exams.
This is a proctored test, which means that you will be in a controlled environment with a person watching over you. For people who haven’t tested in a situation like this should be aware of this fact, and work on taming their nerves prior to sitting for the exam.
The fee for each attempt of the exams is $90. When you show up you must have a photo ID any other documents that the testing facility has asked you to bring.
All of the exams are comprised of around ninety (90) questions (some a few more, some a few less), and are split into two sections: General Knowledge, and State Specific.
Pearson VUE also allows “partial pass” in Delaware. This means that if you pass one section of an exam, but not the other, you will not have to retake the already passed section when testing again. You have up to one (1) year to pass the other section of the exam.
To explain the scoring of the exams, we will quote the Pearson VUE Delaware Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook:
The passing score of an examination is set by the State of Delaware Department of Insurance in conjunction with Pearson VUE. Raw scores are converted into scaled scores that can range from 0 to 100. The scaled score that is reported is neither the number of questions answered correctly nor the percentage of questions answered correctly. Any score below the minimum required passing score indicates how close the candidate came to passing, rather than the actual number or percentage of questions the candidate answered correctly. Some exams require a scaled score of 70 to pass and others require a scaled score of 80 to pass. The passing score will be listed on your score report.
Check out our Insurance Exam Guide. It’s extremely in-depth, and will hopefully help you pass the first time.
Looking for a guide to passing the insurance exam in Delaware? Check out our Delaware Insurance License Exam article.
Insurance license tests are intentionally difficult, but not impossible by any means. You should study to the point of comfortability with the information before you attempt the test. Failing the exam isn’t the end of the world, but keep in mind that you will need to pay the fee each time you attempt the test.
Tip
StateRequirement recommends that you study for one exam at a time, then after passing, starting on your next line. The exams are difficult enough on their own without confusing information from one line to another. Check out our review of the Kaplan Insurance Course.
You may register to take your exams and find more information on the Pearson VUE Delaware Insurance Exam page.
After passing, you will receive a report from Pearson VUE. Do not lose this report, as you will need it in the next step!
Step 5. Delaware Insurance License Application
Once you have completed your exams and fingerprinting, you are now ready to apply for your license. If you have more than one line of authority that you have passed the exam for, be sure to apply for all of those lines.
The fee for an online application is $100, and NIPR will charge a $5.60 transaction fee for a total of $105.60. If you wish to add lines of authority to your license at a later date, there is an amendment fee of $25.
Fill out and submit your online application on the NIPR Delaware website.
After submitting your application, you should receive an email requesting your background check information and exam report. The state should already have your background check, but you will need to send them a copy of your exam report.
Step 6. Application Review
Once you have submitted your application and have filled all the other requirements, your license application will be reviewed by the state. Your background check will also be reviewed.
If everything is to acceptable standards your license should be issued quickly. If there are any items from your background check that need to be reviewed, it may slow down the process of issuance. If this is the case, the state may contact you to provide context to the issues that they have run into.
The background check normally takes about two (2) weeks to be completed, and your license will be approved (or held) once the state has reviewed these results.
Once everything is completed, you will receive another email with confirmation that your license has been issued. This email will not have your license number in it, so you will need to look it up with the State Based Systems Licensee Lookup Tool.
Congratulations!
You’ve done the work, put in the time and effort, and now hold the key to your own success! We’re proud of you. Take five (5) minutes and celebrate.
After Getting Your Delaware Insurance License
Once you’ve passed your exams and completed the licensing application, you are now a licensed insurance agent in Delaware. A common question we hear is, “I have my insurance license, now what?” Here are a few things you can do or need to know:
- Get a job in the insurance field. Check out StateRequirement’s Insurance Jobs board
- If you’re going to sell advanced life insurance products, you’ll need to have the proper securities licenses. Series 6, Series 7, and Series 63 are the most common among insurance agents, but you’ll need to begin with the SIE (Securities Industry Essentials) exam. Find out which licenses you need with our Securities Licensing Guide
- Every two years, you’ll need to renew your insurance license. Check out our guides on Delaware Insurance License Renewal and Delaware Insurance Continuing Education for more details
- Learn how to market yourself as an insurance agent: Have a look at our Insurance Agent Marketing article
- Interested in learning how successful life insurance agents operate? Check out our How Do Life Insurance Companies Make Money article
Delaware Department Of Insurance Contact Information
Mailing Address:
The Nemours Building
1007 Orange Street, Suite 1010
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
Phone: (302) 674-7390
Fax: (302) 736-7906
Email: licensing@delaware.gov
Website: http://www.delawareinsurance.gov/
License Search: Delaware Insurance License Search and Lookup
Delaware Insurance License FAQ
How long is the insurance license period in Delaware?
Learn how to get an insurance license renewal here: Delaware Insurance License Renewal
How long does it take to get an insurance license in Delaware?
2-8 weeks. The bulk of the time is spent studying for your Delaware insurance exam. Some people study for as little as one week and feel comfortable taking the exam. We recommend you take whatever amount of time you need to feel comfortable with the material. Check out our guide: How to Pass the Insurance Exam
How much does the Delaware insurance license cost?
The total cost for your insurance course, application, and exam will be about $375. If you don’t pass the exam the first time, add $90 for each subsequent attempt.
How do I get a life insurance license in Delaware?
Follow the steps above. The licensing process is the same for all insurance agent and producer licenses.
How do I get a property and casualty license in Delaware?
Follow the steps above. The licensing process is the same for all insurance agent and producer licenses.
Do I need business insurance in Delaware?
If you are operating a business based in Delaware, you probably need Delaware business insurance to protect your assets and operate safely.