How to Get a Property and Casualty License in Colorado

Written by: Nik Ventouris

Last updated:

Getting your Colorado property and casualty license is the first step toward becoming a P&C insurance agent in Colorado.

The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies’ Division of Insurance requires you to complete a four-step process to obtain your property & casualty license – from taking the P&C insurance exam to applying for a P&C 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 Colorado Property and Casualty Insurance License

  1. Complete a Colorado Pre-License Education Course (Kaplan Education Company – $139+)
  2. Take the Colorado Licensing Exam (Pearson VUE – $41)
  3. Complete a Colorado License Application (Sircon or the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) – $47 application fee + $5.60 transaction fee)
  4. Watch for Your Application Results

Property and Casualty Insurance License Colorado

Obtaining your Colorado P&C license is easy. Just follow these four simple steps to start your journey toward becoming a property and casualty insurance agent. Once you earn this license, check out our guide on how to get your Colorado life insurance license as well.

Step 1: Complete a Colorado Pre-License Education Course

Before you take the Colorado P&C 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.

Colorado requires 40 hours of pre-license education for P&C insurance license applicants. Every license applicant must also complete an additional 10 hours of education in the following areas:

  • Principles of Insurance (Three Hours)
  • Legal Concepts and Regulations (Four Hours)
  • Ethics (Three Hours)

A pre-license education course provides very specific industry knowledge that insurance professionals will encounter during the exam. There are very few questions on this test that you can answer with “common sense” information.

You can complete insurance licensing courses on your own schedule and at your own pace when you choose online courses. Taking a pre-license education course will also give you a solid understanding of your duties as a P&C insurance agent.

Recommended Course

Over 81% of our readers use Kaplan’s online courses — which come with a 93% pass rate — when preparing for their insurance license exam(s). For comprehensive study packages, StateRequirement recommends:

4.5 out of 5 starsKaplan Education Company

Step 2: Take the Colorado Licensing Exam

After you complete a pre-licensing education course and/or your own independent study, it’s time to take the Colorado P&C license exams.

Colorado uses Pearson VUE as its official testing service for delivering licensure exams. In Colorado, property and casualty insurance are two separate lines of authority. You can take an exam geared toward property insurance or casualty insurance — or take both. You may take up to two examinations during one exam session for a single fee only at a physical Pearson VUE test center location.

The Colorado property or casualty insurance exam:

  • Includes 75 scored questions (property insurance) and 81 scored questions that cover two sections: general and state-specific knowledge. The general sections deal with basic property and casualty insurance product knowledge. The state-specific sections cover P&C insurance concepts and terms, rules, regulations, and practices specific to Colorado.
  • Gives you 240 minutes total (120 minutes for property and 120 minutes for casualty) to complete the test. The exam is a proctored test, meaning an official proctor will closely monitor you in a controlled environment.
  • Costs $41, a single fee to cover both the property and casualty exams taken in one session that you must pay at the time of reservation by credit card, debit card, or voucher.

Passing the Colorado P&C license exam can prove challenging, but taking an exam prep course and following a good study program can help prepare you to pass on your first attempt.

If you happen to fail either the Colorado property or casualty insurance exam, you can schedule a time to retake it as soon as 24 hours after your first attempt. There’s no limit to the number of attempts you can make on the same exam.

Tip

Check out our in-depth insurance exam guide for tips to help you pass on the first attempt.

Step 3: Complete a Colorado License Application

Once you pass the P&C insurance exams, you can apply for your P&C insurance license.

In Colorado, you must apply online via Sircon or the NIPRThe application fee is $47 for both Sircon and NIPR, but the NIPR also charges a $5.60 transaction fee.

The Colorado DORA DOI will issue a P&C insurance license to individuals who are at least 18 years old and have passed the proper licensing exams. You should submit your completed license application within 12 months of passing the P&C exams.

To apply for a P&C insurance license in Colorado, make sure you comply with the insurance licensing requirements as defined under the Colorado State Statutes and Colorado Insurance Regulations.

If you have any questions or need to forward supporting documents related to your license application, send them to dora_insurance@state.co.us.

Step 4: Watch for Your Application Results

After you complete the previous three steps, the Colorado DORA DOI will review your application to determine if you meet all of the licensing requirements. This process usually takes three to five business days from the date you submit your application.

You can print your license from the Sircon or NIPR website. There’s a $5 fee to print a license via Sircon. If you don’t remember your license number, you can find it by using Sircon’s Customer Inquiry tool.

Congratulations!

You’re now ready to get started as a P&C insurance agent in Colorado.

Recommended: Over 81% of our readers use Kaplan’s online courses — which come with a 93% pass rate — when preparing for their insurance license exam(s). For comprehensive study packages, StateRequirement recommends:

4.5 out of 5 starsKaplan Education Company

Next Steps After Securing Your Colorado Property and Casualty Insurance License

Once you complete the above steps and have your Colorado P&C insurance license, here’s what you should pursue next.

Get a Job in the Insurance Field

Once you hold a P&C license, you can consider several different insurance-related careers. The P&C license gives you authorization within your state to sell P&C insurance policies and related products that’ll provide financial protection to your clients against loss or damage.

When applying for an insurance-related job, potential employers will request your license number and National Producer Number (NPN). You can request a letter of certification, which proves you have a P&C license in Colorado, by visiting the Sircon website.

Complete Continuing Education and Renew Your License

In Colorado, you must take 24 hours of continuing education (CE) courses every two years to renew your P&C license. Colorado CE requirements include completing 18 of those 24 credit hours in the line of authority for which you’re licensed, three credit hours in ethics, and three credit hours in a category of your choice.

To find out if you need to take Colorado courses, go to the Sircon website and click on the Continuing Education Transcript Inquiry link.

To avoid delays in renewing your license, you must complete your CE hours at least 90 days before your license expires. You may renew your license via Sircon or the NIPRThe renewal fee is $27.

For more detailed information, check out how to renew your license with our Colorado insurance license renewal guide.

Colorado Department of Insurance Contact Information

Mailing Address:

1560 Broadway, Suite 850
Denver, CO 80202

Phone: (303) 894-7499

Email: dora_insurance@state.co.us 

Website: https://doi.colorado.gov/ 

License Search: Colorado Insurance License Status Inquiry

Colorado Property and Casualty License FAQ

How much does it cost to get a property and casualty insurance license in Colorado?

The total cost of getting a property and casualty (P&C) insurance license in Colorado is at least $287.60, but can reach nearly $500 based on the type of pre-license course you choose. The costs include:
Insurance Pre-license Education Course Fee: Kaplan – $139+
Exam Fee: $41 via Pearson VUE
Application Fee: $47 application fee + $5.60 transaction fee via Sircon or the NIPR
Printing a license: $5 via Sircon

How long does it take to process a property and casualty insurance license application in Colorado?

It will take up to three to five business days for you to become an insurance agent from the date you submit your application.

Can I get a temporary property and casualty insurance agent license in Colorado?

No. Colorado no longer provides temporary licenses to insurance producers.

Can I get an emergency property and casualty insurance agent license in Colorado?

No. An emergency license isn’t available for P&C insurance agents in Colorado.

How much can you make with a property and casualty insurance license in Colorado?

According to ZipRecruiter, P&C insurance agents earn an average salary of between $30,000 and $44,500+ per year. P&C insurance agents who sell homeowners and auto insurance also can earn a 5 percent to 20 percent commission based on policy premiums.

Can I cancel my property and casualty license in Colorado?

Yes. To cancel your license, download the License Cancellation Form and then mail your completed form to Pearson VUE at 3131 S. Vaughn Way, Suite 205, Aurora, CO 80014, or fax it to (303) 733-9507.

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