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

The Texas 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 Texas

Obtaining your Texas 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 Texas life insurance license as well.

Step 1: Complete a Texas Pre-License Education Course

Before you take the Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas Licensing Exam

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

Texas uses Pearson VUE as its official testing service for delivering licensure exams.

The Texas 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 Texas.
• Gives you 120 minutes to complete the test. The exam is a proctored test, meaning an official proctor will closely monitor you in a controlled environment.
• Costs $33, a fee you must pay at the time of reservation by credit card, debit card, or voucher.

Passing the Texas 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 Texas P&C insurance exam, you can schedule a time to retake it as soon as 24 hours after your first attempt. There’s no limit to the number of attempts you can make on the same exam.

Step 3: Get a Fingerprint-Based Background Check

After you take the Texas P&C license exam, you must get a fingerprint-based background check from IdentoGO. You’ll then need to send a copy of your IdentoGO receipt to the TDI to show that IdentoGO sent your fingerprints to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the FBI. The fee for fingerprinting services is $39.70 to cover the cost of comparing your prints against criminal history records.

To set up a fingerprinting appointment, go to the IdentoGO website or call 888-467-2080. Use service code 11G6QF 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 the license application you send to the TDI.

You must complete your fingerprint-based background check and then submit a license application within one year of passing the P&C licensing exam or you’ll need to retake the exam.

Step 4: Complete a Texas License Application

Once you pass the P&C insurance exam and complete a fingerprint-based background check, you can apply for your P&C insurance license.

In Texas, you must apply online via Sircon or the NIPR. The application fee is $50 and the transaction fee is $5.60 (both Sircon and NIPR).

The TDI 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 Texas, make sure you comply with the insurance licensing requirements as defined under the Texas Insurance Code.

If you have any questions or need to forward supporting documents related to your license application, send them to License@tdi.texas.gov.

Step 5: Watch for Your Application Results

After you complete the previous four steps, the TDI’s Agent & Adjuster Licensing Office will review your application and fingerprint-based background check. This process usually takes one to five business days from the date you mail your application.

Once it finishes reviewing your application, the TDI’s Agent & Adjuster Licensing Office 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 Sircon or NIPR website. 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 Sircon’s Customer Inquiry tool.

Congratulations!

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

Next Steps After Securing Your Texas Property and Casualty Insurance License

Once you complete the above steps and have your Texas 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 Texas, by visiting the Sircon website. You’ll need to submit this letter along with your job applications. The cost is $11 plus any additional, applicable fees.

Complete Continuing Education and Renew Your License

In Texas, you must take 24 hours of continuing education (CE) courses every two years to renew your P&C license. Texas CE requirements include two hours focused on ethics/consumer protection and at least 12 of the total 24 hours taken as “classroom” or “classroom-equivalent” courses.

If you have a non-resident license with good standing in your home state and have held a P&C license in Texas for at least 20 years, you don’t need to take CE courses in Texas.

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 $50 and the late fee is $25.

For every CE hour you fail to complete on time of the required 24 CE hours, you’ll pay a $50 fine up to a maximum of $500 per license. 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 Texas insurance license renewal guide.

Texas Department of Insurance Contact Information

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 12030
Austin, TX 78711-2030

Phone: (512) 676-6500

Email: License@tdi.texas.gov

Website: https://www.tdi.texas.gov

License Search: Texas Insurance License Search