Getting your Virginia insurance license is the first step to becoming an insurance agent in the state. Whether you’re interested in selling property and casualty insurance, life insurance, health insurance, or any combination of those lines of authority, this article has the information you need to get started.
The Virginia State Corporation Commission – Bureau of Insurance has a 6-step process on how to become an insurance agent in Virginia. We’ll walk you through step-by-step; from the license application to insurance test prep, to the Virginia insurance exam, and beyond.
This guide has everything you need to know to get your VA insurance license quickly and easily.
Recommended: Interested in getting started? We recommend using Kaplan’s online study packages, which come with a 93% pass rate.
Virginia Insurance License
Getting your insurance license in Virginia is easy! Just follow our step-by-step guide. Be sure to bookmark this page so that you can visit it again throughout this process.
Step 1. Which Insurance Licenses Do You Need?
The first step to getting your insurance license is choosing which licenses you need. The most common licenses new insurance agents get are the property & casualty license (P&C), life and health insurance license (L&H).
The types of insurance products and policies you’ll be selling will determine which licenses you need. Here are some examples of the types of policies you can market with each license:
- Property and Casualty Insurance License – Auto Insurance, Home Insurance, Business Insurance, etc…
- Life and Health Insurance License – Life Insurance, Annuities, Medicare, Health Insurance, etc…
Most insurance agents and producers choose to get both P&C and L&H licenses, but if you plan on specializing in only one category then you don’t need every license.
Insurance adjusters require a separate license. You can find more information on becoming an insurance adjuster here: Virginia Insurance Adjuster License.
Note
If you plan on specializing as a life insurance agent, then you may also need to hold a certain FINRA securities license.
Step 2. Virginia Insurance Pre-Exam Education
After you’ve determined which licenses you need, it’s time to begin studying for the Virginia insurance exams.
Virginia does not require you to take a certain amount of pre-license credits before testing. This means that studying for your exam is 100% up to you.
Most folks choose to take an insurance pre-license course online. These courses are created specifically to give you the skills you need to pass the test. Others purchase books or other self-study tools to prepare themselves.
It’s wise to take a week or so to dedicate to your study of this exam. If you don’t feel as though you’re a strong test taker, take a little longer, but don’t let it drag out for long. We want you to pass your test the first time you take it, and we know that you can do it.
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 3. Virginia Insurance License Exam
The next step after completing all of your pre-license coursework or self-study is to take the insurance exam. You will take one exam for each line of insurance you wish to carry. Life & Annuities/Health (LA&H) and Property & Casualty (P&C) lines are combined lines in Virginia, so you will take two exams if you wish to attain all of these lines of authority: Property & Casualty, Life & Annuities/Health.
This is a proctored test, which means that you will be in a controlled environment with a person watching over you. For people who haven’t tested in a situation like this should be aware of this fact, and work on taming their nerves prior to sitting for the exam.
The fee for each attempt of the exams is $51 (one exam per combined lines of authority). When you show up you must have a photo ID any other documents that the testing facility has asked you to bring.
The Life & Annuities/Health test consists of one hundred forty-five (140) questions. Prometric offers a copy of the Virginia Life, Annuities, and Health Exam Outline.
The Property and Casualty test consists of one hundred forty (135) questions. Prometric offers a copy of the Virginia Property and Casualty Exam Outline.
To explain the exam results, we will quote the Prometric Virginia Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook:
At the end of the exam, the score will be shown on the screen and you will receive an emailed score report. The report indicates the overall score and grade, including the numerical percentage of questions answered correctly and whether you passed or failed. The report also displays the correct percentage in each major section of the exam, as defined by the exam content outline. These section scores are shown to guide you, or your employer and/or trainer, about areas requiring additional preparation for retesting if you do not pass the exam. Even after you pass, you may want to focus on these areas as you begin to provide insurance products and services to the public.
Check out our Insurance Exam Guide. It’s extremely in-depth, and will hopefully help you pass the first time.
Looking for a guide to passing the insurance exam in Virginia? Check out our Virginia Insurance License Exam article.
Insurance license tests are intentionally difficult, but not impossible by any means. You should study to the point of comfortability with the information before you attempt the test. Failing the exam isn’t the end of the world, but keep in mind that you will need to pay the fee each time you attempt the test.
Tip
StateRequirement recommends that you study for one exam at a time, then after passing, starting on your next line. The exams are difficult enough on their own without confusing information from one line to another. Check out our review of the Kaplan Insurance Course.
You may register to take your exams and find more information on the Prometric Virginia Insurance web page.
Step 4. Fingerprinting and Background Check
After passing your exams, you must get a fingerprint-based background check from Fieldprint. The fee for a criminal history record report is $35.72 to cover the cost of comparing your prints against criminal history records.
To set up a fingerprinting appointment, go to the Fieldprint website or call (877) 614-4364. Use code FPVABOICHRR to create a secure user account when making your appointment via Fieldprint.
Bring your appointment number and two forms of valid identification to your Fieldprint appointment. Your fingerprints are collected electronically and will be transmitted to the Virginia State Police and FBI for a background check. The results are then sent to the Bureau of Insurance for review.
Step 5. Virginia Insurance License Application
Once you have completed your exams and your background check, you are now ready to apply for your license. If you have more than one line of authority that you have passed the exam for, be sure to apply for all of those lines.
The fee for an online application is $15 per “license type”, plus a small fee from Sircon. Note that Property and Casualty are regarded as one license type, while Life and Health are two separate types. This means that if you are applying for all of those licenses, your fee would be $45, plus the Sircon fee.
You must also upload your notarized Criminal History Record Report with the application.
Fill out and submit your online application on the Sircon Virginia website.
Step 6. Application Review
Once you have submitted your application and have filled all the other requirements, your license application will be reviewed by the state. Your background check initiated by the application will also be reviewed.
If everything is to acceptable standards your license should be issued within fifteen to twenty (15-20) business days. If there are any items from your background check that need to be reviewed, it may slow down the process of issuance. If this is the case, the state may contact you to provide context to the issues that they have run into.
Once the review has been completed, you should receive an email from the NIPR regarding the status of your license.
To check and see if your license has been issued, you may look yourself up in the Virginia License Application Status Inquiry page.
Congratulations!
You’ve done the work, put in the time and effort, and now hold the key to your own success! We’re proud of you. Take five (5) minutes and celebrate.
After Getting Your Virginia Insurance License
Once you’ve passed your exams and completed the licensing application, you are now a licensed insurance agent in Virginia. A common question we hear is, “I have my insurance license, now what?” Here are a few things you can do or need to know:
- Get a job in the insurance field. Check out StateRequirement’s Insurance Jobs board
- If you’re going to sell advanced life insurance products, you’ll need to have the proper securities licenses. Series 6, Series 7, and Series 63 are the most common among insurance agents, but you’ll need to begin with the SIE (Securities Industry Essentials) exam. Find out which licenses you need with our Securities Licensing Guide
- Check out our guides on Virginia Insurance License Renewal and Virginia Insurance Continuing Education for more details
Virginia State Corporation Commission Contact Information
Mailing Address:
Bureau of Insurance
P.O. Box 1157
Richmond, Virginia 23218-1157
Physical Address:
Bureau of Insurance
3rd floor 1300 E. Main St.
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Phone: (804) 371-9631
Email: AgentLicensing@scc.virginia.gov
Website: https://www.scc.virginia.gov/boi/index.aspx
License Search: Virginia Insurance License Search and Lookup
Virginia Insurance License FAQ
How long is the insurance license period in Virginia?
The insurance license period in Virginia is based on the date of issuance of the license, which is 13 months before your first renewal. According to the Virginia Bureau of Insurance website, you will receive a renewal notice within 90 days before your renewal/CE date. Learn how to get an insurance license renewal here: Virginia Insurance License Renewal.
How long does it take to get an insurance license in Virginia?
2-8 weeks. The bulk of the time is spent studying for your Virginia insurance exam. Some people study for as little as one week and feel comfortable taking the exam. We recommend you take whatever amount of time you need to feel comfortable with the material. Check out our guide: How to Pass the Insurance Exam.
How much does the Virginia insurance license cost?
The total cost for your Virginia insurance licensing exam, insurance course, fingerprint-based background check, and application is around $101.72 or more. If you don’t pass the exam the first time, add $51 for each subsequent attempt. Note that the cost for the licensing application process is $15 per “license type,” including a small fee from Sircon.
How do I get a life insurance license in Virginia?
To obtain a life insurance license in Virginia, you must complete a pre-license course and pass the state exam. Subsequently, you will need to undergo a fingerprint-based background. Finally, you must complete the licensing process by submitting an application online through Sircon.
How do I get a property and casualty license in Virginia?
To get a property and casualty license in Virginia, you need to take a pre-license education course from a state-approved insurance school or course provider, pass the state licensing exam, obtain a fingerprint-based background check, apply for the license online, and pay the fees.
Do I need business insurance in Virginia?
Business insurance is not required by Virginia law, but having a Virginia business insurance can protect your assets from various risks. Depending on your industry and activities, you may need different types of coverage, such as workers’ compensation, general liability, professional liability, etc.