Getting your Mississippi 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 Mississippi Insurance Department has a 5-step process on how to become an insurance agent in Mississippi. We’ll walk you through step-by-step; from the license application to insurance test prep, to the Mississippi insurance exam, and beyond.
This guide has everything you need to know to get your MS 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.
Mississippi Insurance License
Getting your insurance license in Mississippi 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: Mississippi 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. Mississippi Insurance Pre-License Education
After you’ve determined which licenses you need, you must now take your Illinois 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 Mississippi 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. Mississippi Insurance License Exam
The next step after completing all of your pre-license coursework 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) are a total of four lines, but they are given in two exams.
This is a proctored test, which means that you will be in a controlled environment with a person watching 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 $52. When you show up you must have a photo ID and the original pre-license education certificate.
Note
Military veterans that show proper ID are exempt from exam fees.
You must achieve 70% correct answers to pass the Property & Casualty exam, and 65% correct answers to pass the Life and Accident & Health exam.
Be sure to study the Pearson VUE Mississippi Insurance Exam Content Outlines before studying for the tests.
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 Mississippi? Check out our Mississippi 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 Mississippi Insurance site.
Find more information about the exams in the Pearson VUE Mississippi Insurance Candidate Handbook.
Step 4. Mississippi 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 $100, plus a small service fee. If you wish to add a line of authority to your license at a later date, there will be a $25 amendment fee.
Be sure to apply for all of the lines that you passed an exam for.
Fill out your online application on either the Sircon Mississippi page or the NIPR Mississippi page.
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 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.
Your application will take three to five (3-5) business days to be reviewed. After the review is complete you will receive an email from the licensing department regarding your license issuance.
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 Mississippi Insurance License
Once you’ve passed your exams and completed the licensing application, you are now a licensed insurance agent in Mississippi. 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 Mississippi Insurance License Renewal and Mississippi Insurance Continuing Education for more details
Mississippi Insurance Department Contact Information
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 79
Jackson, Mississippi 39205-0079
Phone: (601) 359-3582
Fax: (601) 359-1951
Email: licensing@mid.ms.gov
Website: http://www.mid.ms.gov
License Search: Mississippi Insurance License Search and Lookup
Mississippi Insurance License FAQ
How long is the insurance license period in Mississippi?
Insurance licenses in Mississippi typically last for two years before they will need to be renewed. Renewing your license before its expiration date will allow you to continue selling insurance without any interruptions. Learn how to get an insurance license renewal here: Mississippi Insurance License Renewal.
How long does it take to get an insurance license in Mississippi?
2-8 weeks. The bulk of the time is spent studying for your Mississippi 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 Mississippi insurance license cost?
You can expect it to typically cost about $375 to obtain an insurance license in Mississippi, though the precise cost will ultimately depend on the specific license and insurance course. The Mississippi Insurance Department’s website is a good place to start if you’re looking to find more exact costs.
How do I get a life insurance license in Mississippi?
Obtaining a life insurance license in Mississippi involves completing a state-approved pre-licensing education course, passing the life insurance examination, and then submitting an application with the associated fee to the Mississippi Insurance Department. The licensing process is the same for all insurance agent and producer licenses.
How do I get a property and casualty license in Mississippi?
If you’re looking to obtain a property and casualty license in Mississippi, there are three key steps you’ll need to take: finish the required pre-licensing education, pass the property and casualty insurance exam, and submit an application to the Department of Insurance.
Do I need business insurance in Mississippi?
Yes, you will likely require insurance if you’re working as an insurance agent or producer in Mississippi. While certain business insurances, like workers’ compensation, may be mandatory, it’s also worth looking into other non-obligatory policies, like general liability, as they are advisable for financial protection.