How to Get a Property and Casualty License in New Mexico

Written by: Kevelyn Rodriguez

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How to Get a Property and Casualty License in New Mexico

Getting your New Mexico property and casualty license is the first step toward becoming a P&C insurance agent in New Mexico.

The New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance requires you to complete a five-step process to obtain your property & casualty license – from taking the P&C insurance exam to applying for a P&C 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.

How to Get Your New Mexico Property and Casualty Insurance License

  1. Get a Fingerprint-Based Background Check (Gemalto – $44)
  2. Complete a New Mexico License Application (National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) – $30 application fee + $5.60 transaction fee)
  3. Complete a New Mexico Pre-license Education Course (Kaplan – $139)
  4. Take the New Mexico Licensing Exam (Prometric – $75)
  5. Watch for Your Application Results

Property and Casualty Insurance License New Mexico

Obtaining your New Mexico P&C license is easy. Just follow these five simple steps to start your journey toward becoming a property and casualty insurance agent. Once you earn this license, check out our guide on how to get your New Mexico life insurance license as well.

Step 1: Get a Fingerprint-Based Background Check

New Mexico requires all insurance license applicants to provide their fingerprints prior to licensing. You must get a fingerprint-based background check from GemaltoThe fee for fingerprinting services is $44 to cover the cost of comparing your prints against criminal history records.

To set up a fingerprinting appointment, go to the Gemalto website or call (877) 996-6277. Use service code NM920210Z when making your appointment.

At your fingerprinting appointment, you’ll receive a receipt. Don’t throw it away! Keep the original receipt for your records and attach a copy to your license application.

After completing your fingerprint-based background check, you must submit your license application within one year of passing the licensing exam. If you fail to do so, you’ll need to retake the exam.

Step 2: Complete a New Mexico License Application

After you complete your fingerprint-based background check, you are now ready to apply for your New Mexico P&C insurance license. The application fee is $30 plus a $5.60 transaction fee, and you must apply online via the NIPR.

The New Mexico OSI will issue a P&C insurance license to individuals who are at least 18 years old and have passed the proper licensing exam (see Step 4). To apply for a P&C insurance license in New Mexico, make sure you comply with the insurance licensing requirements as defined under the New Mexico Insurance Code and New Mexico Administrative Code.

Send any questions or supporting documents to agents.licensing@state.nm.us.

Step 3: Complete a New Mexico Pre-License Education Course

Before you take the New Mexico P&C 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.

While New Mexico doesn’t have any formal pre-license education requirements, most insurance professionals opt to take a pre-license education course online. Pre-license education courses are self-paced and include study materials like practice exams and flashcards. Others purchase books or self-study materials to prepare themselves for the exam.

A pre-license education course provides very specific industry knowledge that insurance professionals will encounter during the exam. There are very few questions on this test that you can answer with “common sense” information.

You can complete insurance licensing courses on your own schedule and at your own pace when you choose online courses. Taking a pre-license education course will also give you a solid understanding of your duties as a P&C insurance agent.

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:

4.7 out of 5 starsKaplan Education Company

Step 4: Take the New Mexico Licensing Exam

After you complete a pre-licensing education course and/or your own independent study, it’s time to take the New Mexico P&C license exam.

New Mexico uses Prometric as its official testing service for delivering licensure exams.

The New Mexico P&C insurance exam:

  • Includes a total of 150 scored questions across 10 sections. Those sections cover insurance regulations, general insurance concepts, P&C insurance basics, different P&C policy types, and other coverages and options.
  • Gives you 150 minutes to complete the test. The exam is a proctored test, meaning an official proctor will closely monitor you in a controlled environment.
  • Costs $75, a fee you must pay at the time of reservation by credit card, debit card, or voucher.

Passing the New Mexico P&C license exam can prove challenging, but taking an exam prep course and following a good study program can help prepare you to pass on your first attempt.

If you happen to fail the New Mexico P&C insurance exam, you can schedule a time to retake it as soon as 24 hours after your first attempt. After the fourth unsuccessful attempt, you’ll be placed into a six-month waiting period and won’t be able to retake the exam until the waiting period is over.

Tip

Check out our in-depth insurance exam guide for tips to help you pass on the first attempt.

Step 5: Watch for Your Application Results

After you complete the previous four steps, the New Mexico OSI will review your application and background check. This process usually takes one to five business days from the date you submit your application.

Once it finishes reviewing your application, the New Mexico OSI will email you with its decision. If you need to provide more information, a specialist will contact you.

You can print your license from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) State Based Systems (SBS) License Manager page. There’s no charge to create an account or print a license. If you don’t remember your license number, you can find it by using the NAIC SBS Lookup Search tool.

Congratulations!

You’re now ready to get started as a P&C insurance agent in New Mexico.

Next Steps After Securing Your New Mexico Property and Casualty Insurance License

Once you complete the above steps and have your New Mexico P&C insurance license, here’s what you should pursue next.

Get a Job in the Insurance Field

Once you hold a P&C license, you can consider several different insurance-related careers. The P&C license gives you authorization within your state to sell P&C insurance policies and related products that’ll provide financial protection to your clients against loss or damage.

You can find P&C 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). You can request a letter of certification, which proves you have a P&C insurance license in New Mexico, by sending a completed Request for Letter of Certification form to agents.licensing@state.nm.us. You may need to submit this letter along with your job applications. If you do, the cost of requesting a letter of certification is $10 plus any additional, applicable fees.

Complete Continuing Education and Renew Your License

In New Mexico, you must take 24 hours of continuing education (CE) courses every two years to renew your P&C license. New Mexico CE requirements state that three of those hours must focus on ethics.

If you have a non-resident license with good standing in your home state, you don’t need to take CE courses in New Mexico.

To avoid delays in renewing your license, you must complete the required CE hours at least 30 days before your license expires. The renewal fee is $60 and the late fee is $120.

You can’t renew your license until you complete your CE hours and pay any outstanding fines.

For more detailed information, check out how to renew your license with our New Mexico insurance license renewal guide.

New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance Contact Information

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 1689
Santa Fe, NM 87504-1689

Phone: (855) 427-5674

Email: agents.licensing@state.nm.us

Website: http://www.osi.state.nm.us/

License Search: New Mexico Insurance License Search

New Mexico Property and Casualty License FAQ

How much does it cost to get a property and casualty insurance license in New Mexico?

The total cost of getting a property and casualty (P&C) insurance license in New Mexico is at least $343.60, but can reach nearly $500 based on the type of pre-license education course you choose. The costs include: 
Fingerprint-Based Background Check Fee: $44 via Gemalto
Application Fee: $30 + $5.60 transaction fee via the NIPR
Insurance Pre-license Education Course Fee: $139 via Kaplan
Exam Fee: $75 via Prometric

How long does it take to process a property and casualty insurance license application in New Mexico?

It will take up to one to five business days for you to become an insurance agent. You’ll receive an email once the New Mexico OSI reviews your application.

Can I get a temporary property and casualty insurance agent license in New Mexico?

Yes. The New Mexico Superintendent of Insurance may issue a temporary insurance producer license to an individual for a period not to exceed 180 days without requiring an exam. This is intended for use when extenuating circumstances exist that require a designee to substitute for the producer (e.g., an active agent or broker’s death or induction into active military duty).

Can I get an emergency property and casualty insurance agent license in New Mexico?

No. An emergency license isn’t available for property and casualty insurance agents in New Mexico.

What can I sell with a property and casualty insurance license in New Mexico?

With a New Mexico P&C license, you can sell insurance products like homeowners insurance, renters insurance, auto insurance, general liability insurance, and workers’ compensation policies.

How much can you make with a property and casualty insurance license in New Mexico?

According to ZipRecruiter, P&C insurance agents earn an average salary of between $30,000 and $44,500+ per year. P&C insurance agents who sell homeowners and auto insurance also can earn a 5 percent to 20 percent commission based on policy premiums.

What are the limitations of a New Mexico property and casualty insurance license?

Unless you have multiple licenses to sell various types of insurance products, having an Alabama P&C license only gives you the authority to negotiate and sell P&C insurance policies. You’ll need additional licenses to sell other types of insurance.

Can I cancel my property and casualty license in New Mexico?

Yes. To cancel your license, send your completed License Cancellation Form to agents.licensing@state.nm.us.

How hard is it to get a property and casualty insurance license in New Mexico?

The process is quite simple! Follow the steps above and get started today!

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