New York PreLicensing Requirements 

Individual Resident Producer Requirements

To qualify for a resident New York state insurance agent license, the applicant must satisfy the following requirements:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Maintain principal place of residency or business in New York
• Complete an approved prelicensing course of study (see prelicense requirements below)
• Pass a written examination
• File a license application within two years of passing the examination

PreLicense Education Requirements (PLE)

Applicants must complete prelicense education (PLE) for each major line of authority (LOA), as follows:

• 20-hours New York Life Insurance
• 20-hours New York Accident & Health Insurance
• 40-hours New York Life, Accident and Health Insurance

Note:  Individuals who hold certain designations are exempt from the prelicensing education requirements for agents and brokers. Applicants with a CLU or CLUA designation may waive the education requirement for the Life Agent or Life Settlement Broker license.  These individuals need only take examination 17-73 Life and Health Laws and Regulations.

State Candidate Handbook

Before making an exam reservation applicants should thoroughly review the New York State Insurance Department Candidate Information Bulletin which contains the exam content outlines and important information regarding eligibility and the examination and licensing application process.

PLE Course Delivery

• Per New York PLE requirements, applicants are required to complete all of the lessons in the prelicense education course sequentially before they can be issued a certificate of completion.
• Applicants must read each lesson and pass the end-of-chapter quizzes with a 70% or higher to proceed to the next lesson.

PLE Course Exam

• Passing Score:  Applicants must pass the PLE final exam with a 70% or higher to receive a certificate of completion.
• Exam Proctor Requirements:  PreLicense.com final exams must be taken without assistance or reference material and under the supervision of a Department-approved monitor. Click here for a complete list of NY Insurance Department-approved monitors. Students are responsible for contacting an approved monitor and scheduling the course Final Exam with that person.

Certificate of Completion

Upon successful completion of the course and Final Exam, PreLicense.com will e-mail your certificate of completion to you.  An applicant must meet New York’s PLE requirements before a certificate of completion is issued.  The certificate is good for a lifetime and evidence that you successfully completed the course.  Evidence that you possess a school certificate must be presented when you submit a license application.

State Reporting Requirements

Currently, New York State Insurance Department does not require prelicense education providers to report course completions.

State Licensing Exam

Please note that the NY provider school code for WebCE, Inc. is 73875.

Methods of Registration
Register Online: Click here to register for the state licensing exam online
Register by Phone: (800) 324-7147
Register by Fax:  fax registration form to 800-347-9242

Materials Needed to Present at Exam Site

Candidates must present 2 forms of identification.  One must be government issued which bears your signature and photo.  The second form of identification must have your signature and preprinted legal name.  All identification must match the name provided at registration.

Testing Sites, Fees & Schedules

• Testing Sites:  Click here to view a list of testing sites.
• Exams and Fees:  A list of Insurance License Exams and exam fees can be found on page 93 of the New York State Insurance Department Candidate Information Bulletin.  The current fee for exams is $40.00.

State Exam Passing Score

Applicants must pass the state licensing exam with a 70% or higher to file a license application.  Applicants must apply for their license within 2 years from the date of passing the examination.

License Application Process

Important:  Applications must be received within 2 years from the date of passing the examination. Incomplete applications or applications without the required fee will not be accepted or placed on file.

Ways to Apply

• Apply Online: Click here to submit your license application online –
• Apply by paper:  Click here to download the Individual Life/Accident and Health Application.

Materials Needed to Apply

• Application for Individual Resident License
• PLE Certificate of Completion (note: if submitting license application electronically, you must attest to completing the PLE requirements and provide the school code number listed on the certificate)
• Original passing exam score report, dated within 2 years prior to applying (paper applications only)
• Company appointment submitted electronically to the Department.  Applicants can be submitted without an appointment, but an appointment must be made 15 days from either the date an agency contract is executed with the insurance company or the first insurance application is submitted to the company.
• Appropriate licensing fees

Fingerprinting Process

There are no fingerprint requirements in New York for agents.

New Resident Producer Requirements

New residents currently licensed in another state or have been licensed in another state may waive the education and exam requirements by submitting the New York resident license application with a currently dated Letter of Certification or letter of Clearance from the former home state.  The Letter of Certification or Letter of Clearance must indicate that the applicant has been licensed in the areas of insurance that is being applied for in New York and that the license has been in good standing within the last 90 days.

New residents who move to New York from another state who hold a New York nonresident license will only be required to change their address on the New York State Insurance Department website and select New York as their home state.  Or applicants may submit an address change form along with a written statement to switch the home state to New York.

Application Process

• Apply Online: Click here to submit your license application online 
• Apply by paper:  Click here to download the Individual Life/Accident and Health Application.

Materials Needed to Apply

Application for Individual Resident License and appropriate fees

Nonresident Producer Requirements

Nonresident license candidates may obtain a New York producer license, without having to complete the prelicense education requirement as long as they are currently licensed as a resident and in good standing in their home state and hold an equivalent license for same line of authority.

Application Process

• Apply Online: Click here to submit your license application online –
• Apply by paper:  Click here to download the Individual Life/Accident and Health Application.

Materials Needed to Apply

Application for Individual Resident License and appropriate fees

Certification from home state if license information is not included in the National Producer Database

Fingerprinting Process

There are no fingerprint requirements in New York for agents.

Contact Information

New York State Insurance Department
One Commerce Plaza
Albany, NY 12257
Phone: (518) 474-6630
Email: licensing@ins.state.ny.us
Website:  http://www.dfs.ny.gov/insurance/dfs_insurance.htm

Prometric
Phone:  (800) 324-7147
Web Site: https://www.prometric.com/en-us/clients/insurance/Pages/newyork.aspx