How to Get an Insurance License in Florida

Written by: Ethan Peyton

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How to Get an Insurance License in Florida

Getting your Florida insurance license is the first step to becoming an insurance agent in the state. 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 Florida Division of Insurance Agent & Agency Services has a 6-step process on how to become an insurance agent in Florida. We’ll walk you through step-by-step; from the license application to insurance test prep, to the Florida insurance exam, and beyond.

This guide has everything you need to know to get your FL insurance license quickly and easily.

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Florida Insurance License

Getting your insurance license in Florida 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:

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: Florida 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. Florida Insurance Pre-License Education

After you’ve determined which licenses you need, you must now take your Florida insurance pre-license education courses.

Most folks choose to take their insurance pre-license course online. These courses are created specifically to give you the skills you need to pass the test. The types of licenses you choose (also known as “lines of authority”) will determine which courses you take.

Each line of authority in Florida varies in required hours of pre-license education. This means that if you wish to get a Property and Casualty 2-20 license, you must take two-hundred (200) hours of pre-licensing, and for Life and Health 2-15 (including Annuities and Variable Contracts) you must take sixty (60) hours.

You will receive a certificate upon completion of the course. Keep this certificate, as you will need it when taking your exam.

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Step 3. Florida Insurance License Application

After you have completed all of your required pre-licensing education, the next step is to apply for your license. If you have more than one line of authority that you have taken the education for, be sure to apply for all of those lines.

The fee for an online application is $50 plus a $5 License ID fee, totaling $55.

The application process is located within Florida’s MyProfile account system. This system will essentially be your home base for all license actions from this point forward. After receiving your license, this is where you will take most other actions regarding your license and appointments.

Step 4. Fingerprinting And Background Check

The State of Florida 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 Florida Department of Insurance at (850) 413-3140 or email the Insurance Department or check the information on this page.

Fingerprinting must be completed through IdentoGO. You will schedule an appointment at one of the locations in Florida, and they will electronically record your fingerprint information using LiveScan (as opposed to ink and paper).

The fee for fingerprint services is $48.05 plus the local Florida sales tax. Your fingerprints will be submitted automatically to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Step 5. Florida 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. Life, Accident, & Health 2-15 (L&H) and Property & Casualty 2-20 (P&C) lines are combined lines in Florida, so you will take two exams if you wish to attain all of these lines of authority: Property, Casualty, Life, Accident, Health.

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. One great way to get some experience with insurance testing is taking an insurance practice exam.

The fee for each attempt of the exams is $44 (one exam per combined lines of authority). When you show up you must have a photo ID any other documents that the testing facility has asked you to bring.

The Life & Health (including Annuities & Variable Contracts) 2-15 exam consists of one hundred fifty (150) questions, and you have two hours and forty-five minutes (2:45 hours) to complete the exam. Here is a copy of the exam content outline for the Life & Health (including Annuities & Variable Contracts) 2-15 exam.

The Property & Casualty General Lines 2-20 exam consists of one hundred sixty (160) questions, and you have three hours (3 hours) to complete the exam. Here is a copy of the exam content outline for the Property & Casualty 2-20 exam.

total score of 70% is required to pass each exam. You have a limit of five (5) attempts at each exam per year.

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 Florida? Check out our Florida 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 Florida Insurance Testing page. You may also find the Pearson VUE Florida Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook useful.

Step 6. Application Review

Once you have submitted your application and passed your exams, 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.

Once the review has been completed, you should receive a notification in your MyProfile account. If there is any more information that you need to provide the state, you will be notified of this in your account as well.

You may also use the MyProfile account as a Florida license lookup tool and print your license.

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 Florida Insurance License

Once you’ve passed your exams and completed the licensing application, you are now a licensed insurance agent in Florida. 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 Florida Insurance License Renewal and Florida 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

Florida Department of Financial Services Contact Information

Mailing Address:

Division of Insurance Agent & Agency Services
Bureau of Licensing, Room 419
200 East Gaines Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0319

Phone: (850) 413-3137

Email: AgentLicensing@MyFloridaCFO.com

Website: http://www.myfloridacfo.com

License Search: Florida Insurance License Search and Lookup

Florida Insurance License FAQ

How long is the insurance license period in Florida?

Insurance licenses in Florida are perpetual and never expire. License holders must take continuing education classes every two years in order to keep their license current. Learn how to get an insurance license renewal here: Florida Insurance License Renewal.

How long does it take to get an insurance license in Florida?

2-8 weeks. The bulk of the time is spent studying for your Florida 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 and check out our guide on How to Pass the Insurance Exam.

How much does the Florida insurance license cost?

The total cost for your insurance course, application, and exam will generally be about $375. If you don’t pass the exam the first time, add $44 for each subsequent attempt. Be sure to refer to the Florida Financial Services Bureau for the most up-to-date pricing.

How do I get a life insurance license in Florida?

To secure a life insurance license in California, one must complete a state-approved pre-licensing education course, pass the life insurance examination, and then submit an application with the associated fee. You can also obtain a combined variable annuity license from the Division of Insurance Agent and Agency Services alongside your life insurance license to be able to sell both fixed and variable annuities.

How do I get a property and casualty license in Florida?

For a property and casualty license in California, you’ll need to finish the required pre-licensing education, clear the property and casualty insurance exam, and then apply with the stipulated fee. Make sure to refer to the Florida Department of Financial Services Division for the most up-to-date information.

Do I need business insurance in Florida?

If you are operating a business based in Florida, you likely need at least some form of business insurance to ensure both safe and legal operation. Even if your business is not required to hold it under the Florida statutes, business insurance is highly encouraged as it allows you to protect your assets and operate safely.

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