How to Get a South Dakota Insurance License

After doing some research and reviewing the basics, you’ve decided to become an insurance agent in South Dakota. Here are the 5 steps for earning your license.

Step 1: Familiarize Yourself with the Licensing information Handbook

What does an insurance career in South Dakota entail? What education do you need? Do you have to be a college graduate? Are you an insurance agent in another state and would also like to be licensed in South Dakota? Are you moving to South Dakota soon and want to be licensed when you arrive? Can other coursework count toward your prelicensing? Is it possible to take exams for more than one line of insurance at one time?

The Licensing Information Handbook from the South Dakota Division of Insurance has answers to these questions and more. You’ll find a wealth of information on the specifics of insurance licensure in South Dakota, including the different lines. Of note are bail bondsman and crop—these types of insurance aren’t found in every state.

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Step 2: Take a Prelicensing Course

There are no set prelicensing education requirements in the state of South Dakota. However, you have a better chance of passing the licensing exam if you take a course. The Division of Insurance has a list of approved vendors for training courses on their website.

Step 3: Register for Your Exam and Study

Pearson Vue is the exam provider for South Dakota, and you can take the exam in any of their locations in the US. To register for the line or lines of authority you have chosen, and to find out the exam fee, visit the the Pearson Vue registration page for South Dakota. Create an account and follow the step-by-step instructions to make your exam reservation. More details about the different ways to register are available in the Licensing Information Handbook. When you register, be sure you use the same name that’s on the official government-issued ID (with photo and signature) that you’ll use for identification when you arrive at the testing center.

In preparation for the exam, you should study and practice. The Licensing Information Handbook has content outlines for each test that you can study, along with with information about the format of the test. You can also purchase more in-depth study materials from approved vendors, such as Kaplan Financial Education.

Step 4: Take the Exam and Pass

On the day of the exam, report to the exam center 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. Be sure to have your prelicensing education certificate of completion and a government ID with a photo and signature, such as a driver’s license, passport, military ID, state-issued ID card, and so on. After you show your ID and get settled, the exam will start.

At the end of the exam, you will see a completion notice on screen. A copy of your score report will be sent to your email address. The report indicates your overall score and grade, including the percentage of questions you answered correctly, and whether you passed or failed. If you failed, you can take the exam again, but you’ll have to pay the fee again.

Step 5: Apply for Your License

After passing your exam, you can apply for your license online at Sircon or at National Insurance Producers Registry. After the Division of Insurance has verified that you passed, and there’s nothing in your background to prevent you from being licensed, you’ll be issued your license. After that, you can print the license from the Sircon website.

As You Pursue Your New Career

As you follow these 5 steps for successfully earning your South Dakota insurance license, keep in mind that you will also have continuing education requirements. You’ll need to renew your license every two years, so keep up with the latest information at the South Dakota Division of Insurance.