Getting your Massachusetts property and casualty license is the first step toward becoming a P&C insurance agent in Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts Property and Casualty Insurance License
- Complete a Massachusetts Pre-License Education Course (Kaplan Education Company – $139+)
- Take the Massachusetts Licensing Exam (Prometric – $49 combined exam for property insurance and casualty Insurance)
- Complete a Massachusetts License Application (National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) – $225 application fee + $75 lead paint surcharge + $5.60 transaction fee)
- Watch for Your Application Results
Property and Casualty Insurance License Massachusetts
Obtaining your Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts life insurance license as well.
Step 1: Complete a Massachusetts Pre-License Education Course
Before you take the Massachusetts 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.
While Massachusetts doesn’t have any formal pre-license education requirements, most insurance professionals opt to take a pre-license education course online. Pre-license education courses are self-paced and include study materials like practice exams and flashcards. Others purchase books or self-study materials to prepare themselves for the exam.
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:
Step 2: Take the Massachusetts Licensing Exam
After you complete a pre-licensing education course and/or your own independent study, it’s time to take the Massachusetts P&C license exam.
Massachusetts uses Prometric as its official testing service for delivering licensure exams.
The Massachusetts P&C insurance exam splits property and casualty into two exams. You can take both exams for a combined fee of $49.
- Includes 100 scored questions (property insurance exam) and 100 scored questions (casualty insurance exam) that consist of nine parts, including insurance regulations, general insurance concepts, property and casualty insurance basics, different P&C insurance policies, and other coverages and options.
- Gives you 120 minutes (for each of the property and casualty insurance exams) to complete the test. The exam is a proctored test, meaning an official proctor will closely monitor you in a controlled environment.
- Costs $39 for each of the property insurance and casualty insurance exams or $49 for a combined P&C exam, a fee you must pay at the time of reservation by credit card, debit card, or voucher.
Passing the Massachusetts 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 the Massachusetts P&C insurance exam, you can schedule a time to retake it as soon as 24 hours after your first attempt.
Tip
Check out our in-depth insurance exam guide for tips to help you pass on the first attempt.
Step 3: Complete a Massachusetts License Application
Once you pass the P&C insurance exam, you can apply for your P&C insurance license.
In Massachusetts, you must apply online via the NIPR. The application fee is $225 plus a $75 lead paint surcharge and a 5.60 transaction fee. Prometric will electronically submit your exam score report to the NIPR, enabling you to apply online at the NIPR website.
The Massachusetts DOI will issue a P&C 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 P&C insurance license in Massachusetts, make sure you comply with the insurance licensing requirements as defined under the Massachusetts Insurance Code.
If you have any questions or need to forward supporting documents related to your license application, send them to producerupdate.mailbox@state.ma.us.
Step 4: Watch for Your Application Results
After you complete the previous three steps, the Massachusetts DOI’s Producer Licensing Department will review your application. The process usually takes two business days from the date you submit your application.
Once it finishes reviewing your application, the Massachusetts DOI’s Producer Licensing Department 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. You also can search for and verify your license through the Massachusetts DOI’s master list of licensed individuals and business entities, which it generates monthly.
Congratulations!
You’re now ready to get started as a P&C insurance agent in Massachusetts.
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:
Next Steps After Securing Your Massachusetts Property and Casualty Insurance License
Once you complete the above steps and have your Massachusetts 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).
Complete Continuing Education and Renew Your License
In Massachusetts, you must take 60 hours of continuing education (CE) courses to renew your P&C license after your first three years of licensure. Massachusetts CE requirements state that three of those hours must focus on ethics instruction. After your initial license renewal, you must take 45 hours of CE courses for subsequent three-year renewal periods.
Prometric is the CE vendor for Massachusetts. To find approved courses, check out the Approved Course List from Prometric.
If you have a non-resident license with good standing in your home state, you don’t need to take CE courses in Massachusetts.
You must complete your required CE hours at least 30 days before your license expires. Renew your Massachusetts insurance license online through the NIPR. The renewal fee is $225 and the late renewal fee is $450.
For more detailed information, check out how to renew your license with our Massachusetts insurance license renewal guide.
Massachusetts Division of Insurance Contact Information
1000 Washington Street, Suite 810
Boston, MA 02118
Phone: (617) 521-7794
Email: producerupdate.mailbox@state.ma.us
Website: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/division-of-insurance
License Search: Massachusetts Insurance License Search
Massachusetts Property and Casualty License FAQ
How much does it cost to get a property and casualty insurance license in Massachusetts?
The total cost of getting a property and casualty (P&C) insurance license in Massachusetts is at least $543.60 but can reach nearly $700 based on the type of pre-license education course you choose and other relevant fees. The costs include:
Insurance Pre-license Education Course Fee: Kaplan – $139+
Exam Fee: $39 each for property insurance and casualty insurance or $49 for a combined P&C exam via Prometric
Application Fee: $225 application fee + $75 lead paint surcharge + $5.60 transaction fee via the NIPR
How long does it take to process a property and casualty insurance license application in Massachusetts?
It will take up to two business days for you to become an insurance agent from the date you submit your application. You must apply online through the NIPR.
Can I get a temporary property and casualty insurance agent license in Massachusetts?
Yes. Massachusetts provides a 180-day, temporary P&C insurance license. You can apply through the Massachusetts Division of Insurance on paper by downloading the Uniform Application for Individual Producer License/Registration until an online option is available through NIPR for temporary licensees.
Can I get an emergency property and casualty insurance agent license in Massachusetts?
No. An emergency license isn’t available for P&C insurance agents in Massachusetts.
How much can you make with a property and casualty insurance license in Massachusetts?
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 Massachusetts?
Yes. To cancel your license, you must submit a written letter to the Massachusetts DOI’s Producer Licensing Department. In the letter, you must specify you want to cancel your P&C insurance license. Submit your letter to the Producer Licensing Staff by email or fax.