California PreLicensing Requirements 

Individual Resident Producer Requirements

To qualify for a resident California state insurance producer license, the applicant must satisfy the following requirements:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Complete an approved prelicensing course of study
• Pass a written examination
• File an application and submit a set of fingerprints

PreLicense Education Requirements (PLE)

Applicants must complete 20 hours of PLE for each major line of authority (LOA) being sought, plus 12 hours of Ethics and California Insurance Code education. [For example, an applicant who wishes to obtain a life-only license or an accident and health license must complete 32 hours of PLE.  An applicant who wishes to obtain, a life and accident & health license must complete 52 hours of PLE.]

Note:  Applicants who hold one or more industry designations (e.g., CFP, CLU, ChFC, FLMI, LUTCF, RHU, CPCU, others) are exempt from the basic PLE requirement but must still complete the 12-hour Ethics and California Insurance Code course. A complete list of designation exemptions is provided on the California Department of Insurance Web site here.

State Candidate Handbook

Before making an exam reservation Applicants should thoroughly review the California Department of Insurance Insurance Producers Candidate Information Bulletin  which contains links to the Prelicensing Educational Objectives in Appendix A, and important information regarding eligibility and the examination and licensing application process.

PLE Course Delivery

• Prelicense education providers are required to record the actual time the applicant spends in the course and not allow access to the certificate of completion until the applicant's time equals the number of required hours for the LOA.
• Applicants must pass quizzes at the end of major lessons with a 70% or higher to proceed on to the next lesson.

PLE Course Exam

• Passing Score:  While it is not required to pass final exam at the end of the course, Prelicense.com recommends that the applicant pass the PLE final exam with a 70% or higher for practice purposes.
• Exam Proctor Requirements:  The final exam does not require a proctor. 

Certificate of Completion

PreLicense.com provides online, printable certificates of completion in California.  An applicant must meet the course delivery requirements before a certificate of completion is issued.  Certificates of completion are valid for 3 years from the date of completion.

State Reporting Requirements 

Prelicense.com reports PLE course completions electronically to the California Department of Insurance daily.

State Licensing Exam

The California Department of Insurance (CDI) requires that candidates must first pass the licensing exam before submitting their license application.  When applying through CDI's online license application service, individuals will be required to enter an identification number that will be provided upon passing the examination.

After passing the licensing exam candidates may apply online using the California Department of Insurance Fast Licensing Application Service is Here (FLASH) service, through which candidates complete the license application and pay the application and examination fees. The California Department of Insurance will send an e-mail to the applicant confirming receipt of the application and providing instructions for the applicant to schedule, through the Internet, his or her license examination.  After completing the FLASH online application, the application may be saved on the applicant's computer.  It is recommended that applicants print the completed application and retain that copy for their records.  Please click here for more information concerning steps to follow after submitting the FLASH application.

Methods of Registration

• Register Online:  Candidates must register for the California state licensing exam online through PSI Services.
• Register by Phone: 877-392-6422 or 800-733-9267
• Register by Fax:  Fax registration form to PSI at 702-932-2666.
• On-site registration is not allowed

Materials Needed to Present at Exam Site

• Candidates must present a valid form of identification at check in.  The identification must be government issued, such as a deliver’s license, California identification card, passport, or military identification card which bears the applicant’s signature and photograph.  The identification must also match the applicant’s name on the proctor’s exam roster.
• Applicants who used the FLASH online application service may be required to bring additional documents with them to the exam site.  If additional documents are needed, applicants should bring the FLASH checklist and additional documents requested to the exam site in a sealed envelope with their name written clearly on the outside.  If the applicant fails the examination, they will need to keep the documents until another examination is scheduled and passed.

Exams and Testing Sites

• Testing Sites: Click here to view a list of testing centers in California
• Insurance License Exams: Click here to view a list of California insurance license exams.  Click on the corresponding exam you wish to take to view.

State Exam Passing Score

Applicants will receive their exam results immediately after the examination.  Applicants must pass the state licensing exam with a 70% or higher to file a license application.  The percentage score will not be given unless the applicant fails the exam.

Exam Retakes

Candidates may retake the license examination as many times as necessary but the examination must be passed within one (1) year from the date the license application was received at the California Department of Insurance.

License Application Process

Ways to Apply

• Apply Online: License candidates must apply online using the California Department of Insurance Fast Licensing Application Service is Here (FLASH) service, through which candidates complete the license application and pay the application and examination fees. Click here to view the current license application fees.  The California Department of Insurance will send an e-mail to the applicant confirming receipt of the application and providing instructions on how to schedule a licensing exam.  After completing the FLASH online application, the application may be saved on the applicant's computer. It is recommended that applicants print the completed application and retain that copy for their records.
• Apply by Mail:  License candidates are required to use the online FLASH service.  If for some reason you are unable to use this service you may send a request to the Producer Licensing Bureau to obtain licensing forms by mail.  You may also contact the Toll-Free Producer Licensing Hotline at 800-967-9931 for assistance.

Materials Needed to Apply

Applicants who used the FLASH online application service may be required to bring additional documents with them to the exam site.  If additional documents are needed, applicants should bring the FLASH checklist and additional documents requested to the exam site in a sealed envelope with their name written clearly on the outside. If you do not bring the required documents listed on the checklist to the examination site, you will need to mail the checklist and the required documents to the following address:

California Department of Insurance
Attention:  Passed Examination Processing
320 Capitol Mall
Sacramento, CA 95814

Fingerprinting Process

All applicants are required to submit fingerprint impressions prior to taking the examination. Applicants can have fingerprint impressions made at the designated exam site prior to taking the license exam.  However, it is recommended that they have the fingerprint impressions taken before the day of the license exam.  Obtaining the fingerprint impressions beforehand will minimize the risk that the license issuance will be delayed while awaiting the results from both the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  Click here for complete instructions on how to obtain fingerprints, including fees.

New Resident Producer Requirements

Licensed agents who move to California, and are in good standing with their former home state, are exempt from the license examination requirement when applying for a new resident agent or broker license. To qualify for the waiver, the agent or broker must currently hold an active non-resident license in California. However, agents and brokers currently licensed as non-residents who move to California must still complete the 12-hour Ethics and California Insurance Code prelicense education course before the license can be issued. The agent must apply for the resident license within 90 days of canceling the license in their previous home state.

Application Process

Ways to Apply

• Apply Online: New residents must apply online using the California Department of Insurance Fast Licensing Application Service is Here (FLASH) service.  Click here to view the current license application fees.  After completing the FLASH online application, the application may be saved on the applicant's computer. It is recommended that applicants print the completed application and retain that copy for their records.  Please click here for more information concerning the online FLASH license application service.
• Apply by Mail: License candidates are required to use the online FLASH service.  If for some reason you are unable to use this service you may send an e-mail request to the Producer Licensing Bureau to obtain licensing forms by mail.  You may also contact the Toll-Free Producer Licensing Hotline at 800-967-9931 for assistance.

Materials Needed to Apply

Applicants who used the FLASH online application service may be required to send additional documentation to the California Department of Insurance.  If additional documentation is needed, applicants should send the required documents to the following address:

California Department of Insurance
Attention:  Passed Examination Processing
320 Capitol Mall
Sacramento, CA 95814

Fingerprinting Process

All resident applicants are required to submit fingerprint impressions.  Click here for complete instructions, including fees, on how to obtain fingerprints.

Nonresident Producer Requirements

Nonresident license candidates may obtain a California agent license, without having to complete the prelicense education requirement or take a license examination, as long as they currently hold an active resident license of a similar type and are in good standing in their home state.

Application Process

Ways to Apply

• Apply Online: New residents must apply online using the California Department of Insurance Fast Licensing Application Service is Here (FLASH) service.  Click here to view the current license application fees.  After completing the FLASH online application, the application may be saved on the applicant's computer. It is recommended that applicants print the completed application and retain that copy for their records.  Please click here for more information concerning the online FLASH license application service.
• Apply by Mail: License candidates are required to use the online FLASH service.  If for some reason you are unable to use this service you may send an e-mail request to the Producer Licensing Bureau to obtain licensing forms by mail.  You may also contact the Toll-Free Producer Licensing Hotline at 800-967-9931 for assistance.

Materials Needed to Apply

Applicants who used the FLASH online application service may be required to send additional documentation to the California Department of Insurance.  If additional documentation is needed, applicants should send the required documents to the following address:

California Department of Insurance
Attention: Nonresident FLASH Online Application
320 Capitol Mall
Sacramento, CA 95814

Fingerprinting Process

California Department of Insurance no longer requires fingerprints from applicants who were previously fingerprinted as a condition of obtaining an insurance producer license in their resident state.  This exemption applies to individuals who currently hold a resident license in the following states:  Alaska, Arizona, District of Columbia (effective August 9, 2010), Florida, Georgia, Hawaii (effective November 1, 2010), Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota (effective July 1, 2010), Montana, New Jersey, Nevada, North Carolina (effective October 1, 2010), Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin (effective July 6, 2010).   Click here for complete instructions, including fees, on how to obtain fingerprints.

State-Required Product Training

Your state has special training requirements in order for licensed agents to sell the following products:

Annuity Training: Before selling annuities in California, producers must complete an initial 8-hour, state-approved annuity training course.

Long-Term Care:  Before selling LTC insurance products in California, producers must complete an initial 8-hour, state-approved LTC training course.

• Important Notice: In order to solicit/sell long-term care insurance in California, agents need to hold a current license as: Life Accident and Health Insurance Agent, and you must comply with the LTC 8-hour training requirements.  If holding a Life-Only Agent license, agents may sell LTC only as an LTC rider on a full life policy, and must also complete the 8-hour training requirements.  In addition, Life-Only agents must contact WebCE upon completion of their LTC course in order to earn CE credits for the course.

Purchasing State-required Product Training with your exam prep course from the PreLicense.com catalog will allow you to take one of the special training requirement courses from WebCE. Additional fees for state filing, books or shipping may apply at the time you register to begin taking the product training course.

Click here for more information regarding state-specific product training.

Contact Information

California Department of Insurance 
Producer Licensing Bureau
320 Capitol Mall
Sacramento, CA 95814
Telephone: (800) 967-9331 or (916) 322-3555
Web site: www.insurance.ca.gov

PSI Services, LLC
(877) 392-6422
www.psiexams.com