On this page, you'll find a comprehensive guide for becoming a licensed insurance agent in Pennsylvania and the state requirements. We'll walk you through the process, and we'll be here to answer any questions along the way.

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department requires each person selling insurance in the state to hold an insurance producer license. You will choose which line of authority you want to be licensed in: health insurance, life insurance, property and casualty insurance, or any combination of those lines.

Once you know which license you need, you're ready to begin. In Pennsylvania, there are 4 steps to getting your insurance license.

1. Complete a Prelicensing Course

Pennsylvania is one of the several states that has prelicensing education requirements, so you will have to complete an approved prelicensing course that aligns with the license type you choose. Advantage Education Group offers prelicensing courses that will prepare you to successfully pass the state exam on your first attempt. Our courses can be supplemented with web classes and learning tools like flashcards and study manuals.

Pennsylvania requires potential agents to complete 24 hours of prelicensing education for each line of authority before attempting the state exam. The specific hour requirements are as follows:

Life - 24 hours

Accident and Health - 24 hours

Life, Accident and Health - 24 hours

Property - 24 hours

Casualty - 24 hours

Property and Casualty - 24 hours

Personal Lines - 24 hours

After completing your course content, you will need to pass a Certification Exam. This demonstrates completion of the prelicensing requirement. The Certification Exam is not monitored. After passing the Certification Exam with a 70% or greater, you will receive a Certificate of Completion. Keep this certificate—you will be required to bring a copy of it to be admitted to the state exam. The Certificate of Completion is valid for 1 year. You will need to take and pass the state exam within this time period.

2. Pass a Licensing Exam

After you finish your prelicensing course, you are now ready to take the state licensing exam. The exam is provided by PSI. You must score 70% or higher to pass your state licensing exam. You will be required to pay an additional exam fee for each retake, so it is important to pass the exam the first time.

3. Apply for License and Get Fingerprinted

The State of Pennsylvania requires fingerprint impressions from all unlicensed applicants. These will be submitted for a background check. After passing the exam, you can submit your license application online with Sircon or the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR), or you may apply at the kiosk in the testing center. Register for fingerprinting with Indentogo immediately after applying for your license.

4. Print Your License

The status of your license application can be checked any time with the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance. Once the application is approved, you can also print off your Pennsylvania insurance license from the Department of Insurance.

5. Plan for Continuing Education

Continuing education (CE) is required for all Pennsylvania insurance agents and adjusters for license renewal. The CE requirements for agents and ajusters are generally 24 hours every 2 years. There are additional requirements to sell certain products, such as annuities, long-term care, and flood insurance.

Nonresident license holders are currently required to adhere to their home state's continuing education requirements.

Pennsylvania Licensing Exam FAQ

What is PSI?

PSI exams is the testing provider for all Pennsylvania insurance licensing exams. You can visit their website to find more information about the exam, testing location, exam fees, and more. PSI also provides a content outline for each licensing exam.

Where can I find more information about licensure?

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department will have more information about the licensing process and license applications.

Where can I take the state exam?

Remote exams are available to ensure accessibility and safety. These exams require you to have a computer or laptop that is compatible with the PSI Bridge remote testing platform. If you do not have a compatible computer, you must schedule an in-person exam.

Exams may also be taken in-person at a PSI testing site. Exams taken at a PSI location may include an additional provider fee.

How do I schedule my state exam?

Every insurance licensing exam is accompanied by an exam fee that must be paid at the time of reservation by a credit or debit card, voucher, or electronic check. You can schedule your state exam through PSI.

How should I prepare for my remote state exam?

Before scheduling your remote licensing exam, test the compatibility of your computer, webcam, and microphone. PSI Bridge requires a Google Chrome Browser. Exams must be scheduled at least two days in advance, and you are allowed to cancel or reschedule your exam up to 48 hours before your reservation time.

Next, download PSI Bridge. Please note that the download can take up to 30 minutes, so we recommend you do this before the day of your test to prevent any last-minute technical problems.

Login to the testing platform 30 minutes before your exam reservation time. A state or government ID is required to be presented to verify your identity. For remote exams, a military ID is not accepted as a valid form of identification.

Your remote test requires you to be alone in a private room for the duration of the exam. The surface you have your computer on must be clear of all objects. You cannot have a phone, headphones, or a wristwatch on while you are taking the exam. Food and drink are also prohibited.

All exams are monitored by a third-party to ensure all testing requirements are followed. The monitors are able to answer questions that do not pertain to the content of the exam via live chat.

If you experience any technical issues while downloading PSI Bridge or during your exam, you can call PSI's Technical Support at (844) 267-1017.

How should I prepare for my in-person state exam?

Report to the testing center 30 minutes before your exam time for the check-in process. You will be required to present a valid government ID. If you arrive late, you will not be admitted to the test center and will forfeit the exam fee.

No personal items are allowed to be taken into the testing center. All personal items, including bags and wallets, will have to remain in your vehicle or be checked into provided storage space. Cell phones, calculators, electronic devices, and wrist watches are not allowed into the testing center. Food and drink are also prohibited. You must stay in the testing center for the duration of the exam. No breaks are allowed.

If you have any questions about the exam process, testing locations, or security measures, please contact PSI or Pennsylvania Department of Insurance.

What is the format of the state exam?

All licensing exams are taken on a computer and are multiple choice. The exam will cover both a general section with basic insurance product knowledge and a state section with specific insurance laws, rules, regulations, and practices that are unique to Pennsylvania. A good prelicensing training course will feature practice exams that simulate the format of the state exams, so you should know exactly what to expect on the actual state licensing exam.

How long is the state exam?

Depending on which line of insurance you are testing on, the amount of time and number of questions on the exam vary. Exams will last 2 hours or 2 hours and 50 minutes and can have 100-150 questions. Each exam is accompanied by its own exam code

16-01 - Producer’s Life Insurance exam is 2 hours with 100 questions

16-02 - Producer’s Accident and Health Insurance exam is 2 hours with 100 questions

16-03 - Producer’s Life, Accident and Health Insurance exam is 2 hours and 50 minutes with 150 questions

16-04 - Producer’s Property Insurance exam is 2 hours with 100 questions

16-05 - Producer’s Casualty Insurance exam is 2 hours with 100 questions

16-06 - Producer’s Property and Casualty exam is 2 hours and 50 minutes with 150 questions

16-16 - Producer’s Personal Lines exam is 2 hours with 100 questions

16-09 - Surplus Lines exam is 1 hour with 60 questions

16-10 - Title Agent exam is 1 hour with 60 questions

16-19 - Public Adjuster exam is 1 hour with 60 questions

16-20 - Motor Vehicle Physical Damage Appraiser exam is 3 hours with 100 questions

What score do I need to pass my state exam?

For all insurance exams, you need a score of 70% or higher to pass. Immediately after your exam, you will receive a pass or fail notification.