Getting your Nevada insurance license is the first step to becoming an insurance agent in Nevada. 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 Nevada Department of Insurance has a 6-step process on how to become an insurance agent in Nevada. We’ll walk you through step-by-step; from the license application to insurance test prep, to the Nevada insurance exam, and beyond.
This guide has everything you need to know to get your NV insurance license quickly and easily.
How to Get Your Nevada Insurance License
Getting your insurance license in Nevada 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: Nevada 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. Nevada Insurance Pre-Exam Education
After you’ve determined which licenses you need, it’s time to begin studying for the Nevada insurance exams.
Nevada 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
For Nevada insurance pre-license education courses and exam prep, StateRequirement recommends:
Step 3. Nevada 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 combined line of insurance you wish to carry. Property and Casualty are combined as one exam. The same is true for Life, Accident, and 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 at the exams is:
- Life & Accident & Health: $49
- Property & Casualty: $49
- Life: $39
- Accident and Health: $49
- Property: $39
- Casualty: $39
When you arrive you must have a photo ID any other documents that the testing facility has asked you to bring.
Each test is split into two sections: General Knowledge and State Specific. Be sure to study the content outlines provided by Pearson VUE:
To explain scoring, we will quote the Pearson VUE Nevada Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook:
The passing score of an examination was set by the State of Nevada Insurance (in conjunction with Pearson VUE) after a comprehensive study was completed for each examination. Currently, the State of Nevada Insurance uses a scaled cut of 80 for all examinations except for the Bail Bonds exam. Raw scores are converted into scaled scores that can range from 0 to 100. The scaled score that is reported to candidates is neither the number of questions they answered correctly nor the percentage of questions you answered correctly. With a passing score of 80, any score below 80 indicates how close the candidate came to passing, rather than the actual number or percentage of questions the candidates answered correctly. Nevada Administrative Code 697.125 requires that an applicant for a license as a bail bondsman, bail solicitor or property bondsman achieve a score of at least 67 percent to pass the licensing examination. For Bail Bond exams, it is the percentage of questions answered correctly on the examination. Candidates need to answer 67% of questions correctly in order to pass the examination. As such, a percent correct score is printed on the candidate score report for the Bail Bonds exam and a scaled score is printed on the candidate score report for all other Nevada Insurance exams.
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 Nevada? Check out our Nevada 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 Nevada Insurance page.
Tip
When scheduling your exams, ask them about fingerprinting services as well, as this is your next step.
Step 4. Fingerprinting And Background Check
The State of Nevada 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 Department of Insurance at (775) 687-0700.
Fingerprinting is easiest completed through Pearson VUE. These can usually be taken on the same day as your exam.
The fee for fingerprint services is $60, plus a processing fee. Your fingerprints will be submitted automatically to the Insurance Department.
Step 5. Nevada Insurance License Application
After you have passed your exams, the next step is to apply for your license. If you have more than one line of authority that you tested for, be sure to apply for all of those lines.
The fee for an online application is $185. If you wish to add another line of authority at a later date, there is a $50 license amendment fee.
When completing the application, be sure to upload any documentation that the state doesn’t already have. This may include the pre-license completion certificate, exam score certificate, fingerprint documentation, etc.
Apply for your license online with the Sircon Nevada Insurance website.
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 biggest hold-up with the process is waiting for the fingerprints to return from the FBI. The process could take between two to six (2-6) weeks. When the license is issued, you should receive an email from Sircon with verification that the process is complete.
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 Nevada Insurance License
Once you’ve passed your exams and completed the licensing application, you are now a licensed insurance agent in Nevada. 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 three years, you’ll need to renew your insurance license. Check out our guides on Nevada Insurance License Renewal and Nevada 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
Nevada Department of Insurance Contact Information
Mailing Address:
Nevada Division of Insurance
1818 East College Parkway Suite 103
Carson City, Nevada 89706
Phone: (775) 687-0700
Fax: (775) 687-0797
Email: tlyons@doi.nv.gov
Website: http://doi.nv.gov/
License Search: Nevada Insurance License Search and Lookup
Nevada Insurance License FAQ
How long is the insurance license period in Nevada?
Learn how to get an insurance license renewal here: Nevada Insurance License Renewal
How long does it take to get an insurance license in Nevada?
2-8 weeks. The bulk of the time is spent studying for your Nevada 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 Nevada insurance license cost?
The total cost for your insurance course, application, and exam will be about $375. If you don’t pass the exam the first time, add $49 for each subsequent attempt.
How do I get a life insurance license in Nevada?
Follow the steps above. The licensing process is the same for all insurance agent and producer licenses.
How do I get a property and casualty license in Nevada?
Follow the steps above. The licensing process is the same for all insurance agent and producer licenses.
Do I need business insurance in Nevada?
If you are operating a business based in Nevada, you probably need Nevada business insurance to protect your assets and operate safely.