HOW TO BECOME A LICENSED INSURANCE AGENT

The first and foremost thing for anyone planning on selling insurance or becoming an insurance agent is to acquire their license. However, there are certain requirements and parameters that one needs to meet to ensure that they qualify for the license. The number and types of insurances being offered has seen a rise in recent years and in order to keep these under check, the number of insurance laws have also subsequently increased. The requirements differ and vary from state to state as each state has their own laws but there are some requirements which are mostly same for all states.

Basic education and past history:

One of the most basic things required for someone who plans to become an insurance agent is the background check and minimum education. All candidates must go through this as clients rely on their agents to help them through the process of filing a claim. Criminal background checks are also performed by some states to ensure that the candidate has a clean history.

A high-school diploma is usually the minimum requirement but employers usually prefer applicants who have a college degree under their belt. The relevant field of education can be business, sales, economics or even finance.

The training:

Training is not mandatory in every state but can be required by some states where a candidate is planning to become an insurance agent. The candidate needs to decide what kind of insurance they want to sell and be a part of such as life insurance, health insurance, property insurance or casualty insurance.

Once the candidate has decided on which type of insurance they want to be a part of they can check with the department of insurance of their respective state and get a list of the required courses as well as the providers of said courses.

The number of course hours the individual needs to complete in order to be eligible to apply for the license also varies from state to state as well as the amount of time within which the individual needs to complete their courses.

The Licensing Exam:

The licensing exam is the next step once the candidate has completed their training and met all the other prerequisites. The candidate is required to sign up for the licensing exam and pay the required fee. Study material and other relevant information can be found on websites such as the department of insurance website of the state. The exam usually tests an individual’s knowledge of insurance basics along with the rules and regulations that one is required to follow.

If a person fails the exam then they can check the rules of the state to see when they can retake the exam and the procedure to follow. If the person passes then they are a licensed insurance agent but they still need to keep up with the continuing education and renew their license after the allowed period of time.

Insurance can be a tricky subject, especially for those who are new to the field. Getting the help of a professional is recommended if anyone is facing problems with obtaining their license.