Getting your New Jersey insurance license is the first step to becoming an insurance agent in New Jersey. 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 New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance has a 6-step process on how to become an insurance agent in New Jersey. We’ll walk you through step-by-step; from the license application to insurance test prep, to the New Jersey insurance exam, and beyond.
This guide has everything you need to know to get your NJ insurance license quickly and easily.
Recommended: Interested in getting started? We recommend using Kaplan’s online study packages, which come with a 93% pass rate.
How to Get Your New Jersey Insurance License
Getting your insurance license in New Jersey 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: New Jersey 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. New Jersey Insurance Pre-License Education
After you’ve determined which licenses you need, you must now take your New Jersey 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 New Jersey requires twenty-four (24) hours of pre-license education. This means that if you wish to get a Property and Casualty license, you must take forty-eight (48) hours of pre-licensing, and for Life, Accident, and Health you must also take forty-eight (48) hours.
You will receive a certificate upon completion of the course. Keep this certificate, as you will need it when taking your exam.
New Jersey requires that three (3) of those pre-license education hours must be in ethics coursework.
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 3. New Jersey Insurance License Exam
The next step after completing all of your pre-license coursework is to take the insurance exam. You will take one exam for each line of insurance you wish to carry. You must pass your exams within one year of completing your pre-license education course.
This is a proctored test, which means that you will be in a controlled environment with a person watching 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 $45. When you show up you must have a photo ID and the original pre-license education certificate.
For each of the four exams, Life, Accident and Health, Property, and Casualty, you are allotted three hours and thirty minutes (3:30) to complete the exam. You must answer 70% of the questions correctly to pass. You will receive a diagnostic report indicating your strengths and weaknesses in some areas of the exam.
PSI Exams provides a content outline for each of the exams:
- New Jersey Life Insurance Exam Content Outline – 83 Questions
- New Jersey Accident and Health Insurance Exam Content Outline – 88 Questions
- New Jersey Property Insurance Exam Content Outline – 79 Questions
- New Jersey Casualty Insurance Exam Content Outline – 91 Questions
For more information on the New Jersey Insurance exams, visit the PSI Exams New Jersey Insurance Producer License Examination Candidate Information Bulletin.
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 New Jersey? Check out our New Jersey 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 PSI Exams New Jersey website.
Step 4. Fingerprinting And Background Check
New Jersey requires that all insurance license applicants 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 New Jersey Department of Insurance at (609) 292-5316 x50552 or email the License Department.
The fee for having fingerprints taken is $66.05. You must also bring with you at the time of your appointment a completed IDG_NJAPP_020115_V2 form. The form can be found in this New Jersey Department of Insurance PDF.
Schedule your fingerprinting appointment with IdentoGO.
Step 5. New Jersey 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 the initial online application is $190. This will cover as many lines as you wish to apply for. If you want to add a line to your license later, the amendment fee is $20, plus the NIPR fee, for each subsequent applications
Fill out your online application on the NIPR New Jersey website.
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 within 48 hours. 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.
You will receive an email after submitting your application with any remaining requirements you must fulfill. If you have gotten the department all that they need, then you should receive another email after the 48 hours with the acceptance of your license.
After you receive the acceptance email, wait between 24-48 hours, then print your license using the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance Licensee Search 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 New Jersey Insurance License
Once you’ve passed your exams and completed the licensing application, you are now a licensed insurance agent in New Jersey. 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 New Jersey Insurance License Renewal and New Jersey 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
New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance Contact Information
Mailing Address:
New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance
20 West State Street
P.O. Box 327
Trenton, New Jersey 08625
Phone: (609) 292-5316 x 50552
Fax: (609) 984-5263
Email: inslic@dobi.nj.gov
Website: http://www.nj.gov/dobi
License Search: New Jersey Insurance License Search and Lookup
New Jersey Insurance License FAQ
How long is the insurance license period in New Jersey?
A New Jersey insurance producer license is valid for two years and the expiration date is on the last day of your birth month. For a resident license, you can renew online via NIPR, which also offers online electronic nonresident licensing for out-of-state applicants. Learn how to get an insurance license renewal here: New Jersey Insurance License Renewal.
How long does it take to get an insurance license in New Jersey?
2-8 weeks. The bulk of the time is spent studying for your New Jersey 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 New Jersey insurance license cost?
The New Jersey insurance license cost varies depending on the type of license, number of lines of authority, application, fingerprinting, exam, plus the fee for your insurance course. You need to pay $45 more for each retry if you fail the exam once. Please note that the license fee for major lines is also different from limited lines.
How do I get a life insurance license in New Jersey?
To obtain a life insurance license in New Jersey, you must complete pre-licensing education, pass the New Jersey producer licensing exam, get a fingerprint-based background check, apply for the license, and pay the fees. Once you have your license, you can sell life insurance products.
How do I get a property and casualty license in New Jersey?
To get a property and casualty license in New Jersey, you must complete a pre-licensing course, pass the actual state licensing exam, undergo a fingerprint-based background check, submit your application, and pay applicable fees. After obtaining your license, you’re now able to sell P&C insurance products, and in some cases, sell personal lines and surplus lines.
Do I need business insurance in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, business insurance is not a requirement, but it is highly recommended for all business entities. Getting New Jersey business insurance can help protect your business from financial losses due to unforeseen events and can cover various risks. Depending on the type and size of your business entity, you may need different types of business insurance.