How to Get an Insurance License in Louisiana

Written by: Ethan Peyton

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How to Get an Insurance License in Louisiana

Getting your Louisiana 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 Louisiana Department of Insurance has a 6-step process on how to become an insurance agent in Louisiana. We’ll walk you through step-by-step; from the license application to insurance test prep, to the Louisiana insurance exam, and beyond.

This guide has everything you need to know to get your LA 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.

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Louisiana Insurance License

Getting your insurance license in Louisiana 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: Louisiana 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. Louisiana Insurance Pre-License Education

After you’ve determined which licenses you need, it’s time to begin studying for the Louisiana insurance exams.

Louisiana does not require you to take a certain amount of pre-license credits before testing. This means that studying for your exam is 100% up to you.

Most folks choose to take an insurance pre-license course online. These courses are created specifically to give you the skills you need to pass the test. Others purchase books or other self-study tools to prepare themselves.

It’s wise to take a week or so to dedicate to your study of this exam. If you don’t feel as though you’re a strong test taker, take a little longer, but don’t let it drag out for long. We want you to pass your test the first time you take it, and we know that you can do it.

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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:

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Step 3. Louisiana 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, Health, & Accident (LH&A), Property & Casualty (P&C), and surplus lines are combined exams in Louisiana, so you only have to take two tests if you wish to attain all of these personal lines of authority: Property, Casualty, Life, and Health & Accident.

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.

The fee for each attempt of the exams is $65 (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.

Both the Life, Health & Accident and the Property & Casualty exams, contain one hundred fifty (150) questions and have a time limit of one hundred sixty (160) minutes. A minimum score of 70% correct answers is required to pass each exam.

PSI Exams offers content outlines for each of the exams:

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 Louisiana? Check out our Louisiana 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 Louisiana Insurance page. PSI Exams provides more testing information on their Louisiana Insurance License Examination Candidate Information Bulletin.

Tip

When contacting PSI Exams about your testing, also ask them about their fingerprinting services, as this is your next step.

Step 4. Fingerprinting And Background Check

The State of Louisiana 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 Louisiana Department of Insurance at (225) 342-0860 or email the department.

Your fingerprints will be done through PSI Exams, so when you are scheduled to take an exam, have your fingerprinting done on the same day.

The fee for fingerprint services is $39.25. Your fingerprints will be submitted automatically to the Louisiana Insurance Department.

Step 5. Louisiana Insurance License Application

After you have completed your exams and fingerprinting, 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 $75 per combined line, plus a $5 NIPR fee, for a total of $80.

Apply for your license online on the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) Louisiana Insurance page.

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.

After applying for the license, the best way to check your application status is to visit your Industry Access account.

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 Louisiana Insurance License

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

Louisiana Department of Insurance Contact Information

Mailing Address:
Louisiana Department of Insurance
P.O. Box 94214
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804

Phone: (225) 342-0860

Email: producerlicensing@ldi.la.gov

Website: https://www.ldi.la.gov/

License Search: Louisiana Insurance License Search and Lookup

Louisiana Insurance License FAQ

How long is the insurance license period in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, an insurance license is typically valid for two years after the day it was issued. After this period, licensees must renew their licenses and meet the same continuing education requirements each so they can keep offering their services without any interruptions. Learn how to get an insurance license renewal here: LouisGetting licensed as an insurance agent in Louisiana should cost about $375 in total. This includes a $65 fee to take the licensing exam, a $40 fee for fingerprinting, and an $80 fee to submit your application. The total cost will ultimately depend on the specific insurance course you choose, as well as the number of attempts it takes you to pass the exam the first time.
iana Insurance License Renewal.

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

2-8 weeks. The bulk of the time is spent studying for your Louisiana 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 Louisiana insurance license cost?

Getting licensed as an insurance agent in Louisiana should cost about $375 in total. This includes a $65 fee to take the licensing exam, a $40 fee for fingerprinting, and an $80 fee to submit your application. The total cost will ultimately depend on the specific insurance course you choose, as well as the number of attempts it takes you to pass the exam the first time.

How do I get a life insurance license in Louisiana?

Before starting your career as a life insurance agent in Louisiana you’ll first obtain a specific license. This involves completing a state-approved pre-licensing education course, and passing the life insurance examination process, before finally sending an application and $80 fee to the Department of Insurance website.

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

The process for obtaining a property and casualty license is similar to the process for obtaining a standard insurance agent license, except that applicants individuals need to satisfy specific property and casualty insurance exam requirements instead. For more information on this process, we recommend checking out our Louisiana Insurance License.

Do I need business insurance in Louisiana?

For business entities based in Louisiana, it’s a good idea to invest in business insurance to protect your assets and operate safely. While some insurance policies will be mandatory, like workers’ compensation insurance for businesses with employees, it’s still wise to obtain others such as general liability, which aren’t obligatory, for more complete financial protection.

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