Getting your Michigan life insurance license is the first step toward becoming a life insurance agent in the state.

The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) requires you to complete a four-step process to become a life insurance agent in Michigan — from taking the life insurance exam to applying for a 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.

Life Insurance License Michigan

Obtaining your Michigan life insurance license isn’t difficult. Just follow these four steps to start your journey toward becoming a life insurance agent. Once you earn this license, check out our guide on how to get your Michigan property and casualty (P&C) license as well.

Step 1: Complete a Michigan Life Insurance License Application

The first step involves applying for your Michigan life insurance license. The application fee is $10 plus a $5.60 transaction fee. You must apply online via the NIPR.

The Michigan DIFS will issue a life insurance license to individuals who are at least 18 years old and have passed the proper licensing exam. The application is valid for six months from the date of your submission to the NIPR.

To apply for a life insurance license in Michigan, make sure you comply with the insurance licensing requirements as defined under the Michigan Insurance Code. 

Send any questions or supporting documents to DIFS-Licensing@michigan.gov.

Step 2: Complete a Michigan Insurance Pre-license Course

Before you take the Michigan life 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.

Michigan requires 20 hours of pre-license education for life/limited life producers. After completing your pre-license education requirements, you’ll receive a Course Completion Certificate for your life line of authority. The certificate will remain valid for 12 months from your course completion date. 

A pre-license education course provides very specific industry knowledge that will be tested during the exam. There is very little information on the test that could be considered “common sense.” Pre-license education courses are self-paced and include study materials like practice exams and flashcards.

Beyond helping you effectively prepare for and pass the life insurance licensing exam on your first try, taking a pre-license education course also will give you a solid understanding of your duties as a life insurance agent.

Step 3: Take the Michigan Life Insurance Licensing Exam

After you complete a prep course and your own independent studying, it’s time to take the Michigan life insurance exam.

Michigan uses PSI Exams as its official testing service for delivering licensure exams.

The Michigan life insurance exam outline contains a total of 100 scored questions that cover seven sections:

• Insurance Regulation
• General Insurance
• Life Insurance Basics
• Life Insurance Policies
• Life Insurance Policy Provisions, Options, and Riders
• Annuities
• Federal Tax Considerations for Life Insurance, Annuities, and Qualified Plans

You’ll have 120 minutes to complete the exam. The Michigan life insurance exam fee is $41, which you must pay at the time of reservation by credit card, debit card, or voucher. The exam is a proctored test, meaning an official proctor will closely monitor you in a controlled environment.

If you happen to fail the Michigan life insurance exam within 180 days of submitting your license application, you must submit a new license application and fee through the NIPR and then reschedule your exam.

Step 4: Watch for Your Application Results

After you complete the previous three steps, the Michigan DIFS will review your application. It reviews applications in the order it receives them, and this process usually takes up to 14 business days from the date you submit your application.

During the application review process, the Michigan DIFS staff may request additional information from you. Upon approval, the Michigan DIFS will issue your license and send a hard copy to the mailing address you provided on your application.

Michigan doesn’t offer online license printing services through the NIPR.

Congratulations!

You’re now ready to get started as a life insurance agent in Michigan.

Next Steps After Securing Your Michigan Life Insurance License

Once you complete the above steps and have your Michigan life insurance license, here’s what you should pursue next.

Get Your FINRA Securities Licenses

Overview

Individuals planning to market and sell market-based life insurance products also must obtain the proper securities licenses. As a securities license holder, you can offer securities as part of your services. That’ll make you a credible authority in addressing all of your clients’ financial needs.

SIE Exam

To obtain these licenses, you’ll first need to take and pass the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam. Professionals in the securities industry are required to take the SIE and a series of examinations administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). 

The SIE exam ensures every life insurance professional has a basic understanding of securities. While taking the SIE exam isn’t a requirement for all insurance professionals, those who don’t obtain at least one securities license limit their ability to work with clients. With a securities license, you can give your clients the option to invest in securities-related products as part of their life insurance plans.

Obtaining a license to sell securities also requires sponsorship from a firm, company, or organization regulated by FINRA. The sponsor will pay the testing fees required for your SIE exams and submit your personal information to FINRA’s Central Registration Depository (CRD). The Series 6 and Series 7 licenses require a FINRA exam sponsorship before you can take the exam. The exam for a Series 63 license doesn’t require any sponsoring entity. 

Once you get your securities license(s), FINRA will list you as a “registered representative.” By achieving the securities licensee designation, you’ll become a highly sought-after professional and set yourself up for a successful career in the insurance industry.

Series 6, 7, and 63 Licenses

Some of the most common securities licenses for insurance agents include the Series 6, 7, and 63 licenses because they allow licensees to sell almost every type of individual security.

The Series 6 (Investment Company and Variable Contracts Products Representative) Securities License is the primary license sought by insurance sales professionals and financial advisors, allowing them to sell grouped securities related to insurance products. 

Series 6 works together with Series 63 because they are the two partner licenses required to sell insurance policies tied to investments. The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) oversees regulation of the Series 63 (Uniform Securities Agent State Law) license.

The Series 7 license allows you to buy and sell securities (e.g., stocks, bonds, and mutual funds) as part of an investment plan for your clients. To get a Series 7 license, you will first need to register as a new candidate with FINRA and pass the Series 7 exam. The Series 7 exam is commonly known as the General Securities Representative Qualification Exam, but is sometimes referred to as the “Series 7 Top-Off Exam.”

Get a Job in the Insurance Field

Once you earn your license, you can start applying for jobs in the insurance field. With a life insurance license, you can provide advice and recommend insurance products to clients, sell life insurance policies that pay a beneficiary upon an insured person’s death, and sell annuities that pay a set income at retirement.

Find life 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 Michigan, you must take 24 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years to maintain your license in good standing. Three of those hours must focus on ethics. You can find a list of approved CE courses on the Michigan DIFS Insurance Education page. In Michigan, you may complete your CE coursework in a classroom setting or via online or self-study formats.

If you have a non-resident license with good standing in your home state, you don’t need to take CE courses in Michigan. There’s no fee to renew your license in Michigan as long as you fulfill your CE requirements. You can renew your license through the NIPR.

Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services Contact Information

Mailing Address

Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services
P.O. Box 30220
Lansing, MI 48909-7720

Phone: (517) 284-8800

Email: DIFS-Licensing@michigan.gov

Website: https://www.michigan.gov/difs/ 

License Search: Michigan Insurance License Search