Getting your Minnesota 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 Minnesota Insurance Licensing Unit has a 6-step process on how to become an insurance agent in Minnesota. We’ll walk you through step-by-step; from the license application to insurance test prep, to the Minnesota insurance exam, and beyond.
This guide has everything you need to know to get your MN 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.
Minnesota Insurance License
Getting your insurance license in Minnesota 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: Minnesota 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. Minnesota Insurance Pre-License Education
After you’ve determined which licenses you need, you must now take your Minnesota 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 Minnesota requires twenty (20) hours of pre-license education. This means that if you wish to get a Property and Casualty license, you must take forty (40) hours of pre-licensing, and for Life, Accident, and Health you must also take forty (40) hours.
You will receive a certificate upon completion of the course. Keep this certificate, as you will need it when taking your exam.
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. Minnesota 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) and Property & Casualty (P&C) lines are combined exams in Minnesota, so you only have to take two tests if you wish to attain all of these lines of authority: Property, Casualty, Life, and 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 $45 (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, Health & Accident exam consists of one hundred thirty-five (135) questions. You have one hundred eighty minutes to complete this exam.
The Property and Casualty exam consists of one hundred thirty-five (135) questions. You have one hundred eighty minutes to complete this exam.
70% correct answers is the minimum passing score for each exam.
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 Minnesota? Check out our Minnesota 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 Minnesota Insurance page. PSI Exams provides more testing information in their Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota Department of Insurance at (651) 539-1600 or email the department.
Your fingerprint impressions will be taken through PSI, so when you are scheduled to take an exam, have your fingerprinting done on the same day.
You must also sign a Resident Insurance Producer Background Check Consent Form.
The fee for fingerprint services is $65. Your fingerprints will be submitted automatically to the Minnesota Insurance Department.
Step 5. Minnesota 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 passed the exam for, be sure to apply for all of those lines.
The fee for an online application is $50 per line, plus a $30 “tech fee.”
Apply for your license online on the Sircon Minnesota 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.
The license review will take up to ten (10) business days to complete. During this time, you should check with Sircon to see if your license has been issued. If it has, you may print it out. Use the Sircon Minnesota Insurance page.
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 Minnesota Insurance License
Once you’ve passed your exams and completed the licensing application, you are now a licensed insurance agent in Minnesota. 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 Minnesota Insurance License Renewal and Minnesota Insurance Continuing Education for more details
Minnesota Commerce Department Contact Information
Mailing Address:
Insurance Licensing Unit
85 7th Place East, Suite 600
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101
Phone: (651) 539-1600
Email: licensing.commerce@state.mn.us
Website: http://mn.gov/commerce/industries/insurance/
License Search: Minnesota Insurance License Search and Lookup
Minnesota Insurance License FAQ
How long is the insurance license period in Minnesota?
In Minnesota, an insurance license typically lasts for two years. After this time, licensees are advised to renew their licenses before expiration to continue their practice without any interruptions. It’s important to keep all licensing data accessible for a smooth license renewal, find out more about this in our Minnesota Insurance License Renewal.
How long does it take to get an insurance license in Minnesota?
2-8 weeks. The bulk of the time is spent studying for your Minnesota 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 Minnesota insurance license cost?
The total cost of getting licensed as a resident independent adjuster in Minnesota should cost about $375. This figure should comfortably be able to cover the costs of your insurance course, application, and state licensing exam (in addition to any further attempts you may need if you don’t pass the exam the first time).
How do I get a life insurance license in Minnesota?
Resident license applicants must complete a state-approved pre-licensing course and pass the life insurance exam. After this, you, or a person authorized on your behalf, must submit a completed application to the Minnesota Department of Commerce along with any associated fees. The licensing process is the same for all insurance producer and agent licenses.
How do I get a property and casualty license in Minnesota?
For a property and casualty license in Minnesota, individuals need to finish the required pre-licensing education, clear the property and casualty insurance exam, and then apply with the stipulated fee. For a more detailed look into this process, we recommend checking out our Minnesota Insurance License guide.
Do I need business insurance in Minnesota?
If you are operating a business based in Minnesota, having some basic insurance product knowledge is essential to ensure your business is operating safely and legally. Outside of policies that are commonly required under state or federal law, such as workers’ compensation insurance, there are many non-compulsory options that don’t just protect you against more than just clear and present danger.