Getting your South Dakota property and casualty license is the first step toward becoming a P&C insurance agent in South Dakota.
The South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation’s Division of Insurance requires you to complete a four-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 South Dakota Property and Casualty Insurance License
- Complete a South Dakota Pre-License Education Course (Kaplan – $139)
- Take the South Dakota Licensing Exam (Pearson VUE – $95)
- Complete a South Dakota License Application (Sircon or the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) – $25 application fee + $5.60 transaction fee)
- Watch for Your Application Results
Property and Casualty Insurance License South Dakota
Obtaining your South Dakota P&C license is easy. Just follow these four 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 South Dakota life insurance license as well.
Step 1: Complete a South Dakota Pre-License Education Course
Before you take the South Dakota 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 South Dakota 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:
Step 2: Take the South Dakota Licensing Exam
After you complete a pre-licensing education course and/or your own independent study, it’s time to take the South Dakota P&C license exam.
South Dakota uses Pearson VUE as its official testing service for delivering licensure exams.
The South Dakota P&C insurance exam:
- Includes a total of 130 scored questions that cover two sections: general and state-specific knowledge. The general section deals with basic property and casualty insurance product knowledge. The state-specific section covers P&C insurance concepts and terms, rules, regulations, and practices specific to South Dakota.
- 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 $95, a fee you must pay at the time of reservation by credit card, debit card, or voucher.
Passing the South Dakota 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 South Dakota P&C insurance exam, you can schedule a time to retake it as soon as 24 hours after your first attempt.
Tip
Check out our in-depth insurance exam guide for tips to help you pass on the first attempt.
Step 3: Complete a South Dakota License Application
Once you pass the P&C insurance exam, you can apply for your P&C insurance license. But you must wait two days before submitting your application.
After two days, you can apply for your license online via Sircon or the NIPR. The application fee is $25 and the transaction fee is $5.60 (for both Sircon and the NIPR).
The South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation’s Division of Insurance 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 South Dakota, make sure you comply with the insurance licensing requirements as defined under the South Dakota Insurance Code and the South Dakota Administrative Code.
If you have any questions or need to forward supporting documents related to your license application, send them to sdinsurance@state.sd.us.
Step 4: Watch for Your Application Results
After you complete the previous three steps, the South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation’s Division of Insurance will review your application. The process usually takes one to five business days from the date you submit your application.
Once the South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation’s Division of Insurance finishes reviewing your application, it’ll email you with its decision or ask you to provide more information.
You can print your license from the Sircon website. There’s no charge to print a license. If you don’t remember your license number, you can find it by using Sircon’s State Inquiry License Number/National Producer Number Inquiry tool.
Congratulations!
You’re now ready to get started as a P&C insurance agent in South Dakota.
Next Steps After Securing Your South Dakota Property and Casualty Insurance License
Once you complete the above steps and have your South Dakota 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 South Dakota, 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 South Dakota, you must take 10 hours of continuing education (CE) courses every two years to renew your P&C license. South Dakota CE requirements include 10 CE hours per license qualification. This means you only need to take 10 CE hours to renew your P&C license, which the state treats as one combined qualification.
If you have a non-resident license with good standing in your home state, you don’t need to take CE courses in South Dakota.
You must complete the required CE hours at least 90 days before your license expires. You must apply via Sircon or the NIPR. The renewal fee is $20 and the late fee is $40.
For more detailed information, check out how to renew your license with our South Dakota insurance license renewal guide.
South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation Contact Information
Mailing Address:
Division of Insurance
124 South Euclid Avenue, 2nd Floor
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 773-3563
Fax: (605) 773-5369
Email: sdinsurance@state.sd.us
Website: http://dlr.sd.gov/insurance
License Search: South Dakota Insurance License Lookup
South Dakota Property and Casualty License FAQ
How much does it cost to get a property and casualty insurance license in South Dakota?
The total cost of getting a property and casualty (P&C) insurance license in South Dakota is at least $314.60, but can reach nearly $500 based on the type of pre-license education course you choose. The costs include:
Insurance Pre-license Education Course Fee: $139 via Kaplan
Exam Fee: $95 via Pearson VUE
Application Fee: $25 application fee + $5.60 transaction fee via Sircon or the NIPR
How long does it take to process a property and casualty insurance license application in South Dakota?
It will take up to one to five business days for you to become an insurance agent. You’ll receive an email once the South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation’s Division of Insurance reviews your application.
Can I get a temporary property and casualty insurance agent license in South Dakota?
Yes. South Dakota provides a 180-day, temporary P&C license. The cost of a temporary license is $10. Information on getting a temporary insurance producer license is available in the “Resident Producers” section on the South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation’s Division of Insurance website. You may direct your questions and inquiries to the South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation’s Division of Insurance at 605-773-3563 or by email at sdinsurance@state.sd.us.
Can I get an emergency property and casualty insurance agent license in South Dakota?
No. South Dakota doesn’t provide emergency P&C licenses.
What can I sell with a property and casualty insurance license in South Dakota?
With a South Dakota 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 South Dakota?
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 South Dakota property and casualty insurance license?
Unless you have multiple licenses to sell various types of insurance products, having a South Dakota 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 South Dakota?
Yes. To cancel your license, contact the South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation’s Division of Insurance to request cancellation of your license at sdinsurance@state.sd.us.
How hard is it to get a property and casualty insurance license in South Dakota?
The process is quite simple! Follow the steps above and get started today!