Getting your Maryland property and casualty license is the first step toward becoming a P&C insurance agent in Maryland.
The Maryland Insurance Administration 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 Maryland Property and Casualty Insurance License
- Complete a Maryland Pre-License Education Course (Kaplan – $139)
- Take the Maryland Licensing Exam (Prometric– $60)
- Complete a Maryland License Application (National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) – $54 application fee + $5.60 transaction fee)
- Watch for Your Application Results
Property and Casualty Insurance License Maryland
Obtaining your Maryland 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 Maryland life insurance license as well.
Step 1: Complete a Maryland Pre-License Education Course
Before you take the Maryland 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.
Maryland requires P&C insurance applicants to complete 40 combined hours of pre-licensing education. 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
Doing a pre-licensing education course dramatically increases your chance of passing your exam on your first attempt, which can end up saving you both time and money in the long run. For pre-licensing education, StateRequirement recommends:
Step 2: Take the Maryland Licensing Exam
After you complete a pre-licensing education course and/or your own independent study, it’s time to take the Maryland P&C license exam.
Maryland uses Prometric as its official testing service for delivering licensure exams.
The Maryland P&C insurance exam:
- Includes a total of 120 scored questions that consists of 10 parts covering insurance regulation, general insurance concepts, property and casualty insurance basics, dwelling and homeowners policies, auto insurance, commercial package and business owner policies, workers’ compensation insurance, and other coverages and options.
- Gives you 150 minutes to complete the test. The exam is a proctored test, meaning an official proctor will closely monitor you in a controlled environment.
- Costs $60, a fee you must pay at the time of reservation by credit card, debit card, or voucher.
Passing the Maryland 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 Maryland P&C insurance exam, you must wait four days before retaking the exam. Your exam results will remain valid for six months. If you don’t apply for the P&C license within six months, your exam results will expire and you must take the pre-licensing course again in order to retake the exam.
Tip
Check out our in-depth insurance exam guide for tips to help you pass on the first attempt.
Step 3: Complete a Maryland License Application
Once you pass the P&C insurance exam, you can apply for your P&C insurance license.
In Maryland, you must apply online via the NIPR. The application fee is $54 and the transaction fee is $5.60.
The Maryland Insurance Administration 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 six months of passing the exam.
To apply for a P&C insurance license in Maryland, make sure you comply with the insurance licensing requirements as defined under Maryland Laws and Regulations.
If you have any questions or need to forward supporting documents related to your license application, send them to producerlicensing.mia@maryland.gov.
Step 4: Watch for Your Application Results
After you complete the previous three steps, the Maryland Insurance Administration will review your application. The process usually takes three to five 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. If you need to search and verify your license, you can use the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) State Based Systems (SBS) Maryland Lookup tool.
Congratulations!
You’re now ready to get started as a P&C insurance agent in Maryland.
Next Steps After Securing Your Maryland Property and Casualty Insurance License
Once you complete the above steps and have your Maryland 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 Required Continuing Education Credits
In Maryland, you must take 24 hours of continuing education (CE) courses every two years to renew your P&C license. Maryland CE requirements state that three of those hours must focus on ethics or consumer protection and two hours must focus on flood education for combined P&C lines of authority.
If you have a non-resident license that meets all the CE requirements in your home state, you don’t need to take CE courses in Maryland.
The Maryland Insurance Administration will send you a renewal notice to the email address you provided with your license application. To avoid delays in renewing your license, you must complete your CE requirements at least 30 days before your license expiration date. You can renew your license through the NIPR. The renewal fee is $69 and the late fee is $100.
For more detailed information, check out how to renew your license with our Maryland insurance license renewal guide.
Maryland Insurance Administration Contact Information
Mailing Address:
200 St. Paul Place, Suite 2700
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: (410) 468-2411
Email: producerlicensing.mia@maryland.gov
Website: https://insurance.maryland.gov/Pages/default.aspx
License Search: Maryland Insurance License Lookup
Maryland Property and Casualty License FAQ
How much does it cost to get a property and casualty insurance license in Maryland?
The total cost of getting a property and casualty (P&C) insurance license in Maryland is at least $308.60 but can reach nearly $500 based on the type of pre-license education course you choose. The costs include:
Insurance Pre-license Education Course Fee: $139 via Kaplan
Exam Fee: $60 via Prometric
Application Fee: $54 application fee + $5.60 transaction fee via the NIPR
How long does it take to process a property and casualty insurance license application in Maryland?
It will take up to three to five business days for you to become an insurance agent from the date you sent your application.
Can I get a temporary property and casualty insurance agent license in Maryland?
Yes. Maryland provides a 15-month, temporary P&C insurance license. To apply, refer to the Maryland Insurance Administration’s Initial Producer Licensing guide and follow the application instructions.
Can I get an emergency property and casualty insurance agent license in Maryland?
No. An emergency license isn’t available for P&C insurance agents in Maryland.
What can I sell with a property and casualty insurance license in Maryland?
With a Maryland 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 Maryland?
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 a Maryland property and casualty insurance license?
Unless you have multiple licenses to sell various types of insurance products, having a Maryland 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 Maryland?
Yes. To cancel your license, email your request to producerlicensing.mia@maryland.gov or fax it to (410) 468-2399. You may submit a request to delete a line of authority or a request for certification/clearance by following the instructions seen on the Maryland Insurance Administration’s FAQs.
How hard is it to get a property and casualty insurance license in Maryland?
The process is quite simple! Follow the steps above and get started today!