Getting an Insurance License in Your State

You know how to sell just about anything. And, you think you can make good money selling insurance policies. You're ready to apply for an insurance license in your state.

Every state's regulations are different. And, in every state, a different regulatory body handles the issuing of insurance licenses. For instance, in Illinois, you'll have to work through the Department of Insurance to get your license. In Florida, you'll have to apply with the Florida Department of Financial Services.

What's the first step, then, to nabbing an insurance license in your state? You'll have to determine with whom you'll have to apply.

Once you do that, you'll have to decide which kind of insurance license you'd like. You'll apply for a resident license if you live and work in the same state. If you want to sell insurance in a state in which you don't live, you'll have to apply for a non-resident license. You'll have to check with each individual state to find the procedures that you must follow to sell insurance in it.

You'll also have to take continuing education classes in many states before you can earn your insurance license. For instance, in Texas, you must take 30 hours of classes on insurance topics before you can earn your license.

You'll probably have to take an exam, too, to earn your insurance license. These exams will cover a wide range of topics everything from insurance codes to ethics to marketing. Once you have your license, you'll usually have to take a certain number of continuing-education classes each year to retain it.

If you are a true salesman, the insurance field offers you the chance to make a significant yearly income. In fact, this income is limited only by your ability. This income should make jumping through the regulatory hoops more than worthwhile.