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

The Ohio Department 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.

Property and Casualty Insurance License Ohio

Obtaining your Ohio 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 Ohio life insurance license as well.

Step 1: Complete an Ohio Pre-License Education Course

Before you take the Ohio 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.

In Ohio, you must take a 20-hour, pre-license education course on both property and casualty insurance for a total of 40 hours. After completing the course, you’ll need to present a valid photo ID and an original certificate of completion from the approved pre-license education provider when you arrive to take your exam. Your pre-license course certificate will remain valid for 12 months.

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.

Step 2: Get a Fingerprint-Based Background Check

After you complete the required pre-license education hours, you must get a fingerprint-based background check from the Ohio Attorney General Webcheck Portal. The fee for fingerprinting services is $72.25 to cover the cost of comparing your prints against criminal history records.

Schedule your fingerprinting appointment through any of the vendors listed on the Ohio Attorney General Webcheck Portal.

At your fingerprinting appointment, you’ll receive a receipt. Don’t throw it away! Keep the original receipt for your records.

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 3: Take the Ohio Licensing Exam

After you complete a pre-licensing education course and get a fingerprint-based background check, it’s time to take the Ohio P&C license exam.

Ohio uses PSI as its official testing service for delivering licensure exams.

The Ohio P&C insurance exam:

• Includes a total of 150 scored questions across 10 sections. These sections include insurance regulations, general insurance concepts, property and casualty insurance basics, different types of P&C policies, 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 $42, a fee you must pay at the time of reservation by credit card, debit card, or voucher.

Passing the Ohio 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 Ohio P&C insurance exam, you can schedule a time to retake it as soon as 24 hours after your first attempt. You may schedule this online or by calling PSI at (855) 807-3995.

Step 4: Complete an Ohio License Application

Once you pass the P&C insurance exam, you can apply for your P&C insurance license.

In Ohio, you must apply online via the NIPR. The application fee is $20 ($10 per major line of authority) and the transaction fee is $5.60.

The ODI will issue a P&C insurance license to individuals who are at least 18 years old and have passed the proper licensing exam. You should submit your completed license application within 12 months of passing the exam.

To apply for a P&C insurance license in Ohio, make sure you comply with the insurance licensing requirements as defined under the Ohio Administrative Code.

If you have any questions or need to forward supporting documents related to your license application, send them to licensing@insurance.ohio.gov.

Step 5: Watch for Your Application Results

After you complete the previous four steps, the ODI will review your application and fingerprint-based background check. This process usually takes seven to 10 business days from the date you submit your application.

Once it finishes reviewing your application, the ODI 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 Ohio Department of Insurance Agent / Agency Locator 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 also using the Ohio Department of Insurance Agent / Agency Locator tool.

Congratulations!

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

Next Steps After Securing Your Ohio Property and Casualty Insurance License

Once you complete the above steps and have your Ohio 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 license in Ohio, by visiting the Sircon website. You’ll need to submit this letter along with your job applications.

Complete Continuing Education and Renew Your License

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

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

To avoid delays in renewing your license, you must complete the required CE hours at least 90 days before your license expires. There is no renewal fee, but the late fee is $50.

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 Ohio insurance license renewal guide.

Ohio Department of Insurance Contact Information

Mailing Address:

50 West Town Street
Third Floor – Suite 300
Columbus, OH 43215

Phone: (614) 644-2665

Fax: (614) 644-3475

Email: licensing@insurance.ohio.gov

Website: https://insurance.ohio.gov/agents-and-agencies

License Search: Ohio Insurance License Lookup