How to Get an Insurance License in Missouri

Written by: Ethan Peyton

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How to Get an Insurance License in Missouri

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

This guide has everything you need to know to get your MO 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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Missouri Insurance License

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

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

Missouri 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. Missouri 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 lines in Missouri, 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 $49 (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 forty-five (145) questions. The test is broken down into two (2) sections: General Knowledge and Missouri Specific. Pearson VUE offers a copy of the Missouri 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 Missouri Specific. Pearson VUE offers a copy of the Missouri Property and Casualty Exam Outline.

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

The passing score of an examination was set by the Missouri Department 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. 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 Missouri? Check out our Missouri 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 Missouri Insurance page.

Step 4. Missouri 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, and NIPR will charge a $5 transaction fee for a total of $105.

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 personal lines of authority to apply for.

Note

The $100 application fee covers as many lines as you select, but is a “one-time-use” fee. This means that if you plan on getting your license in multiple surplus lines (P&C and LA&H), that you should study for and pass both exams before applying for the license. This will save you the entire license fee. Also, note that StateRequirement still recommends that you only study for one exam at a time.

Fill out and submit your online application on the NIPR Missouri 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 within five to ten (5-10) business days. 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.

Once the review has been completed, you should receive an email from the NIPR regarding the status of your license.

To check and see if your license has been issued, you may look yourself up in the State Based Systems Licensee Look-Up Tool.

If you need to print your license, you may use the State Based Systems License Print Tool. You need either your license number or your NPN number to use this tool.

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 Missouri Insurance License

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

Missouri Department of Insurance Contact Information

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 690
Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-0690

Phone: (573) 751-3518

Fax: (573) 526-3416

Email: licensing@insurance.mo.gov

Website: https://insurance.mo.gov/

License Search: Missouri Insurance License Search and Lookup

Missouri Insurance License FAQ

How long is the insurance license period in Missouri?

In Missouri, an insurance adjuster license typically expires after two years. After this period, all license holders are advised to renew their licenses before expiration in order to continue to adjust claims without any interruptions. Learn how to get an insurance license renewal here: Missouri Insurance License Renewal.

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

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

The total cost for your insurance course, application, and exam will be about $375, though your specific total will vary depending on the specific course you choose as well as the number of attempts you need to pass the exam. For any queries, be sure to contact Pearson VUE.

How do I get a life insurance license in Missouri?

If you want to secure a life insurance license in Missouri, you’ll need to complete a state-approved pre-licensing education course, pass the life insurance examination, and then submit a uniform application under your legal name to the Department of Insurance with the associated fee. The licensing process is the same for all insurance producer and agent licenses.

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

In order to obtain a property and casualty license in Missouri, individuals are required to finish a mandatory pre-licensing course, pass the relevant Missouri insurance licensing exam, and apply to the Department of Insurance with the stipulated fee. The licensing process is the same for all insurance agents and producers.

Do I need business insurance in Missouri?

Business entities based in Missouri will probably need Missouri business insurance to protect their assets and operate safely. It’s worth investing in more than just the commonly mandated policies, such as workers’ compensation, to ensure your business attains more holistic protection from the liabilities it could face.

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