How to Get an Insurance License in Maine

Written by: Ethan Peyton

Last updated:

How to Get an Insurance License in Maine

Getting your Maine 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 Maine Bureau of Insurance has a 5-step process on how to become an insurance agent in Maine. We’ll walk you through step-by-step; from the license application to insurance test prep, to the Maine insurance exam, and beyond.

This guide has everything you need to know to get your ME 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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Maine Insurance License

Getting your insurance license in Maine 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: Maine 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. Maine Insurance Pre-Exam Education

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

Maine 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.

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:

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Step 3. Maine 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, Accident, & Health (LA&H) and Property & Casualty (P&C) lines are combined tests in Maine, so you will take two exams if you wish to attain all of these lines of authority: Property, Casualty, Life, Accident & Health.

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 $77 (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.

The Life, Accident, and Health test consists of one hundred (136) questions. The test is broken down into two (2) sections: General Knowledge and Maine Specific. Pearson VUE offers a copy of the Maine Life, Accident, and Health Exam Outline.

The Property and Casualty test consists of one hundred forty (140) questions. The test is broken down into two (2) sections: General Knowledge and Maine Specific. Pearson VUE offers a copy of the Maine Property and Casualty Exam Outline.

To explain the scoring of this exam, we will quote the Pearson VUE Maine Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook:

The passing score of an examination was set by the Maine Bureau of Insurance (in conjunction with Pearson VUE) after a comprehensive study was completed for each examination. Raw scores are converted into scaled scores that can range from 0 to 100. To avoid misuse of score information, numeric scores are only reported to fail candidates. The scaled score that is reported to you is neither the number of questions you answered correctly nor the percentage of questions you answered correctly. With a passing score of 70, any score below 70 indicates how close the candidate came to passing, rather than the actual number or percentage of questions the candidates answered correctly.

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 Maine? Check out our Maine 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 Pearson VUE Maine Insurance page.

Step 4. Maine Insurance License Application

Once you have completed your exams, 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 an online application is $25, and NIPR will charge a $5 transaction fee for a total of $30. If you wish to add another line to your license at a later date, you will need to pay the same fee as the original.

You must wait 24-48 hours after passing the exam to fill out the application. This will allow the system to offer you the correct lines of authority to apply for.

Fill out and submit your online application on the NIPR Maine website.

Step 5. 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 initiated by the application 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.

A day after submitting your application, call the licensing department (207-624-8475) and ask them for your license number and access code. If there aren’t any problems, your license should be issued. You will receive a hard copy in the mail within a few weeks.

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 Maine Insurance License

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

Maine Department of Professional & Financial Regulation Contact Information

Mailing Address:
Maine Bureau of Insurance
34 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0034

Phone: (207) 624-8475

Fax: (207) 624-8599

Email: Insurance.PFR@maine.gov

Website: http://www.maine.gov/pfr/insurance/

License Search: Maine Insurance License Search and Lookup

Maine Insurance License FAQ

How long is the insurance license period in Maine?

To maintain the integrity of the licensing process, the Maine Bureau of Insurance keeps examination scores valid for two years, after which candidates must complete continuing education requirements to keep their license current. Learn how to complete an insurance license online renewal here: Maine Insurance License Renewal.

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

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

The total cost for your insurance course, application, and exam will be about $375. This estimation covers the fees you’ll need to pay to take the licensing exam and submit your application, as well as any additional attempts you’ll need at the exam if you don’t pass on your first attempt.

How do I get a life insurance license in Maine?

Securing a life insurance license in Maine will require you to complete a state-approved pre-licensing education course, pass the life insurance examination, and then submit an application with the associated fee. The licensing process is the same for all insurance agent and producer licenses.

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

To get a property and casualty license, you’ll need to first complete the required pre-licensing education before the passing relevant insurance licensing exam and applying with the stipulated fee. For more information on the steps you’ll need to follow, check out our Maine Insurance License guide.

Do I need business insurance in Maine?

Most business entities operating in Maine will need at least some form of business insurance to protect their assets and operate safely. Certain types of business insurance, such as workers’ compensation, are mandatory for employers while others like general liability are just a prudent decision to keep yourself financially protected.

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