How to Get a Property and Casualty License in Illinois

Written by: Mary Gerardine

Last updated:

How to Get a Property and Casualty License in Illinois

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

The Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) 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 Illinois Property and Casualty Insurance License

  1. Complete an Illinois Pre-License Education Course (Kaplan – $139)
  2. Take the Illinois Licensing Exam (Pearson VUE – $92 each for the property insurance exam and the casualty insurance exam for a total of $184)
  3. Complete an Illinois License Application (National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) – $215 application fee + $5.60 transaction fee)
  4. Watch for Your Application Results

Property and Casualty Insurance License Illinois

Obtaining your Illinois 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 Illinois life insurance license as well.

Step 1: Complete an Illinois Pre-License Education Course

Before you take the Illinois 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.

Illinois requires 20 hours of pre-license education. Illinois also requires you to take 7.5 of those 20 pre-license education hours in a classroom setting. You can complete the rest of the required hours either in person or online. Keep a copy of the proof of completion for your pre-licensing course, and bring it with you to the exam center. You won’t be allowed to take the licensing exam without this document.

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:

4.7 out of 5 starsKaplan Education Company

Step 2: Take the Illinois Licensing Exam

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

Illinois uses Pearson VUE as its official testing service for delivering licensure exams. You will need to take the P&C insurance exam as two separate lines of authority.

The Illinois P&C insurance exam:

  • Includes 80 scored questions (property insurance exam) and 87 scored questions (casualty insurance exam) 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 Illinois.
  • Gives you 135 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 $92 each for the property and casualty exams, totaling $184. You’ll receive a discount of $92 if the two required exam sections (general and state-specific) are processed in the same order. If you order the general exam section and state exam section separately for both property and casualty lines, you’ll be charged $92 for each examination section for a total of$368. You must pay the fee at the time of reservation by credit card, debit card, or voucher.

Passing the Illinois 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 Illinois P&C insurance exam, you can retake the exam and pass both sections within 90 days of 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 an Illinois License Application

Once you pass the P&C insurance exam, you must wait five days before you may apply for your P&C insurance license.

In Illinois, you must apply online via the NIPRThe application fee is $215 and the transaction fee is $5.60.

The IDOI will issue a P&C insurance license to individuals who are at least 18 years old and have passed the proper licensing exam.

Illinois now requires you to apply for your license electronically. Once you complete the application process through the NIPR, you’ll receive an email from the NIPR that confirms it submitted your application to the IDOI.

To apply for a P&C insurance license in Illinois, make sure you comply with the insurance licensing requirements as defined under the Illinois Insurance Code.

If you have any questions or need to forward supporting documents related to your license application, send them to DOI.Licensing@illinois.gov.

Step 4: Watch for Your Application Results

After you complete the previous three steps, the IDOI will review your application. The process usually takes up to three business days from the date you submit your application.

You can print your license from the NIPR website. There’s no charge to create an account or print a license. You can search and manage your license by visiting the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) State Based Systems (SBS) Lookup Search tool.

Congratulations!

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

Next Steps After Securing Your Illinois Property and Casualty Insurance License

Once you complete the above steps and have your Illinois 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.

You can find P&C insurance job postings on our Insurance Jobs Board.

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 Illinois, you must take 24 hours of continuing education (CE) courses every two years to renew your P&C license. Illinois CE requirements state that three of those hours must focus on ethics, and you must complete them in a classroom setting or via webinar.

If you have a non-resident license that satisfies the CE requirements in your home state, you don’t need to take CE courses in Illinois.

You must complete the required CE hours at least 10 days before your license expires. The renewal fee is $215. You must submit your license renewal application through the NIPR.

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

Illinois Department of Insurance Contact Information

Mailing Address:

320 West Washington Street
Springfield, IL 62767

Phone: (217) 782-4515

Email: DOI.Licensing@illinois.gov 

Website: http://insurance.illinois.gov/ 

License Search: Illinois Insurance License Lookup

Illinois Property and Casualty License FAQ

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

The total cost of getting a property and casualty (P&C) insurance license in Illinois is at least $593.60, but can reach nearly $700 based on the type of pre-license course you choose. The costs include:
Insurance Pre-license Education Course Fee: $139 via Kaplan
Exam Fee: $92 each for the property insurance exam and the casualty insurance exam for a total of $184 via Pearson VUE
Application Fee: $215 application fee + $5.60 transaction fee via the NIPR

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

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

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

Yes. Illinois provides a 180-day, temporary P&C insurance license. You can apply via the NIPR website and select “Temporary Producer.”

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

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

What can I sell with a property and casualty insurance license in Illinois?

With an Illinois P&C license, you can sell insurance products like homeowners insurance, renters insurance, auto insurance, general liability insurance, and workers’ compensation policies.

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

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.

What are the limitations of an Illinois property and casualty insurance license?

Unless you have multiple licenses to sell various types of insurance products, having an Illinois P&C license only gives you the authority to negotiate and sell P&C insurance policies. You’ll need additional licenses to sell other types of insurance.

Can I cancel my property and casualty license in Illinois?

Yes. To cancel your license, mail a signed request (including your entity license number) to:
Illinois Department of Insurance
Attn: Licensing Unit
320 West Washington Street
Springfield, IL 62767

How hard is it to get a property and casualty insurance license in Illinois?

The process is quite simple! Follow the steps above and get started today!

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