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

The Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation requires you to complete a six-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 Rhode Island

Obtaining your Rhode Island P&C license is easy. Just follow these six 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 Rhode Island life insurance license as well.

Step 1: Complete a Rhode Island Pre-License Education Course

Before you take the Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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.

Step 2: Take the Rhode Island Licensing Exam

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

Rhode Island uses Pearson VUE as its official testing service for delivering licensure exams. Rhode Island offers separate exams for property producer and casualty producer exams. You can take two of these major lines (P&C) in one exam session.

The Rhode Island P&C insurance exam:

• Includes 76 scored questions (property producer exam) and 82 scored questions (casualty producer exam) that cover two sections: general and state-specific knowledge. The general sections deal with basic property and casualty insurance product knowledge. The state-specific sections cover P&C insurance concepts and terms, rules, regulations, and practices specific to Rhode Island.
• Gives you 120 minutes to complete each test for a total of 240 minutes. The exam is a proctored test, meaning an official proctor will closely monitor you in a controlled environment.
• Costs $80, a fee you must pay at the time of reservation by credit card, debit card, or voucher. If you schedule a time to take both the property producer and casualty producer exams back to back, you get one major line exam fee-free of charge.

Passing the Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island P&C insurance exam, you must wait 24 hours after your first attempt before you may schedule your reexamination.

Step 3: Complete a Rhode Island License Application

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

In Rhode Island, you must apply online via the NIPR. The application fee is $120 and the transaction fee is $5.60.

The Rhode Island DBR 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 Rhode Island, make sure you comply with the insurance licensing requirements as defined under the Rhode Island Insurance Code.

If you have any questions or need to forward supporting documents related to your license application, send them to DBR.Insurance@dbr.ri.gov.

Step 4: Get a Fingerprint-Based Background Check

After you apply for your Rhode Island P&C insurance license, you must get a fingerprint-based background check from the Rhode Island Attorney General’s BCI. The fee for fingerprinting services is $5 for the state background check and $35 for the national background check.

To set up a fingerprinting appointment, go to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s BCI website and click on the “Background Checks” link in the left-hand menu.

At your fingerprinting appointment, you’ll receive a receipt. Keep the original receipt for your records and so you can send a copy to the Rhode Island DBR. See the next step for more details about this.

Step 5: Submit Your Background Check Information and Exam Score

After submitting your license application to the state, you’ll receive an email from the Rhode Island DBR requesting your background check information and your exam score report.

You must scan these documents and send the files as attachments in a reply email.

Step 6: Watch for Your Application Results

After you complete the previous five steps, the Rhode Island DBR will review your application and background check. The process usually takes 10 business days from the date you submit your application.

Once the Rhode Island DBR finishes reviewing your application, background check information, and exam score, it’ll email you with its decision or ask you to provide more information.

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. Find your license number by using the NAIC SBS Lookup Search tool.

Congratulations!

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

Next Steps After Securing Your Rhode Island Property and Casualty Insurance License

Once you complete the above steps and have your Rhode Island 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).

Complete Continuing Education and Renew Your License

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

If you have a non-resident license that meets the CE requirements in your home state, you don’t need to take CE courses in Rhode Island.

You must complete the required CE hours at least 90 days before your license expires. You must apply for your license renewal via the NIPR. The renewal fee is $120 and the late fee is $170.

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

Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation Contact Information

Mailing Address:

Insurance Division
1511 Pontiac Avenue 
Cranston, RI 02920

Phone: (401) 462-9520

Fax: (401) 462-9602

Email: DBR.Insurance@dbr.ri.gov 

Website: https://dbr.ri.gov/divisions/insurance/

License Search: Rhode Island Insurance License Lookup