Insurance licensing requirements are established by each state, which means the process for becoming an insurance agent can differ depending on where you live. Some states require approved pre-licensing education, others allow applicants to proceed directly to the licensing exam, and individual application and fingerprinting requirements also vary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This guide compares insurance license requirements by state and helps you find the complete licensing process for California, Florida, Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For a general overview of the steps involved in becoming licensed, review our Insurance License Requirements<\/a> guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no single national process for obtaining a resident insurance license. Each state insurance department determines the requirements applicants must satisfy before a license can be issued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on the state and license type, requirements may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The order of these steps can also differ by state. This is why applicants should review the requirements for their state rather than relying on a general licensing checklist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pre-licensing education is one of the largest differences between states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Florida, Georgia, and New York require approved pre-licensing education for the Life and Health licenses covered by National Online Insurance School under their standard licensing paths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pennsylvania and Texas do not require applicants to complete a state-mandated pre-licensing education course before taking their applicable Life or Health licensing exams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n California changed its requirements on January 1, 2026. The former product-specific pre-licensing education requirement was eliminated for Life and Accident and Health or Sickness applicants, but the required 12-hour Ethics and California Insurance Code course remains and must be completed before the license can be issued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n California no longer requires the former product-specific pre-licensing education for Life or Accident and Health or Sickness applicants. Applicants must still complete the 12-hour Ethics and California Insurance Code course before their license can be issued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 12-hour course does not have to be completed before scheduling or taking the licensing exam. Applicants must also satisfy California’s examination, fingerprinting, and application requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Review the complete California Insurance License Requirements<\/a> for the current licensing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are deciding which California license to pursue, compare the California Insurance License Types<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Florida requires approved pre-licensing education under the standard qualification path for the primary Life and Health licenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The standard education requirements are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Applicants must also pass the applicable Florida licensing exam and complete the state’s application, fingerprinting, and other licensing requirements. Florida recognizes alternative qualification paths for certain applicants, so not every applicant qualifies through pre-licensing education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Review the complete Florida Insurance License Requirements<\/a> for the current licensing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To compare the 2-15, 2-14, and 2-40 options, review Florida Insurance License Types<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Georgia requires approved pre-licensing education under the standard qualification path for its Life and Accident and Sickness lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Georgia requires 8 hours of approved pre-licensing education for each major line. Applicants pursuing both Life and Accident and Sickness complete 16 hours of combined pre-licensing education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Applicants must then pass the applicable Georgia licensing examination and complete the state’s application, Citizenship Affidavit, fingerprinting, and other licensing requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Review the complete Georgia Insurance License Requirements<\/a> for the current licensing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To compare the available Life and Health options, review Georgia Insurance License Types<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New York requires approved pre-licensing education for applicants pursuing Life and Accident & Health licensing under the standard qualification path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Applicants must complete the education required for the line or lines they are pursuing, pass the applicable New York licensing examination, and submit the required license application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because New York recognizes Life and Accident & Health as separate lines, applicants can pursue either line individually or pursue both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Review the complete New York Insurance License Requirements<\/a> for the current licensing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To compare the available options before choosing a course or exam, review New York Insurance License Types<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pennsylvania does not require state-mandated pre-licensing education before applicants take the Life, Accident and Health, or combined Life, Accident and Health licensing examinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Applicants can choose an exam preparation program without satisfying a specific state-required number of education hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After passing the applicable examination, new resident applicants submit their license application and then complete the required fingerprinting process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Review the complete Pennsylvania Insurance License Requirements<\/a> for the current licensing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To compare Pennsylvania’s Life, Health, and combined licensing options, review Pennsylvania Insurance License Types<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texas does not require state-mandated pre-licensing education for applicants pursuing the standard permanent Life Agent or General Lines \u2013 Life, Accident, Health and HMO license.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Applicants can prepare for the appropriate state licensing exam without completing a required number of education hours. After passing the exam, applicants complete Texas’s fingerprinting, application, and other licensing requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texas differs from many states because it does not offer a separate general Health-only agent license. Applicants seeking broad Life and Health authority typically pursue the General Lines \u2013 Life, Accident, Health and HMO license.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Review the complete Texas Insurance License Requirements<\/a> for the current licensing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To compare the Life Agent and General Lines options, review Texas Insurance License Types<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before beginning exam preparation, determine which line or lines of insurance you plan to sell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Life insurance licenses generally provide authority for life insurance and annuity products, while Health or Accident and Health licenses provide authority for health-related insurance products. Applicants who plan to work in both markets may be able to pursue both lines together, depending on the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n License names also differ between states. For example, what consumers commonly call a Life and Health license may be identified as separate Life and Accident and Sickness authorities in Georgia, Life and Accident & Health authorities in Pennsylvania, or the General Lines \u2013 Life, Accident, Health and HMO license in Texas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reviewing both the licensing requirements and available license types before enrolling can help you choose the correct path from the beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No. Pre-licensing education requirements vary by state. Florida, Georgia, and New York require approved education under their standard Life and Health licensing paths, while Pennsylvania and Texas do not require state-mandated pre-licensing education for the licenses discussed here. California requires a 12-hour Ethics and California Insurance Code course but eliminated its former product-specific pre-licensing requirement for Life and Accident and Health or Sickness applicants beginning January 1, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No. Each state establishes its own requirements for education, examinations, fingerprinting, applications, fees, and licensing procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes. States can use different official names for similar lines of authority. This is why applicants should review both their state’s requirements and the specific license type they intend to obtain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Removing a pre-licensing education requirement does not eliminate the applicable licensing examination. For example, Pennsylvania and Texas do not require state-mandated Life and Health pre-licensing education, but applicants must still pass the applicable licensing examination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use the state sections above to open the permanent National Online Insurance School License Requirements page for your state. Those pages provide the complete licensing sequence, application requirements, fees, fingerprinting information, and state-specific instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you know which license you need and understand your state’s requirements, the next step is preparing for the state licensing exam and completing any required pre-licensing education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n National Online Insurance School offers state-specific Life and Health insurance courses and exam preparation designed around each state’s licensing requirements, helping you prepare for the correct exam and move through the licensing process with a clear path.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow Insurance Licensing Requirements Differ by State<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Which States Require Pre-Licensing Education?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
California Insurance License Requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Florida Insurance License Requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Georgia Insurance License Requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
New York Insurance License Requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Pennsylvania Insurance License Requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Texas Insurance License Requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Choosing the Right Insurance License<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Do all states require insurance pre-licensing education?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Are insurance license requirements the same in every state?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Do insurance license names differ by state?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Is an insurance exam required in states without pre-licensing education?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Where can I find the complete requirements for my state?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Start the Insurance Licensing Process<\/h2>\n\n\n\n