How to Get Your Pennsylvania Insurance License

After doing some research and reviewing the basics, you know you want to become an insurance agent in Pennsylvania. Here are the 4 steps for earning your license.

Step 1: Complete all Pre-Licensing Education Requirements

Before you can apply for your Pennsylvania insurance license or take the exam, you need to complete prelicensing education. This education helps you prepare for the exam and your future career. The requirement is for 24 hours of prelicensing education courses, with a minimum of 3 hours of ethics. The courses you need to take will depend on the type of insurance license you want to earn. The types of insurance covered in the education include accident and health, casualty and allied lines, life, motor vehicle physical damage appraiser, personal lines, title, and more.

You can learn more about the courses, who provides them, and where you can take them at Sircon. Click on “look up education courses/credits,” select “approved courses inquiry,” choose Pennsylvania as your state, and click the “submit” button.

Next, change the education type to “prelicensing education,” select your preferred instruction method or leave blank, and click the “submit” button. When you click the provider’s name, you will get contact information and a link to the courses they provide. 

After you finish your courses, you will receive a certificate of completion from your education provider. Hang onto it—you’ll need to bring it with you when you take your licensing exam.

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Step 2: Register for Your Exam, Pay the Fee, and Prepare Yourself

You can’t take the exam without a reservation. PSI is the exam provider. After you have completed the prelicensing education requirements, register for the insurance examination for the type you have chosen at https://candidate.psiexams.com or by calling 800.733.9267.

The fees for the exam vary depending on the topic of the exam, but most are $43. In preparation for the exam, you should study and practice. The PSI Learning Academy has information and practice exams online.

Step 3: 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 to 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. You’ll also have your photograph taken at the testing site.

After you complete your exam, you’ll be given a Pass or Fail score. If you pass, your score report will include an application for your license, and you can apply for it right there. For that reason, it’s a good idea to bring checks, money orders, or a credit card with you when you take the exam. If you fail, you’ll get a report that indicates your strengths and weaknesses by exam portion.

Step 4: Apply for Your License and Get Fingerprinted

After passing the exam, you have the option to apply for your license and get fingerprinted at the testing center. You will need to pay the license application fee of $55 and a fingerprinting fee of $22.60 at this time. Completing the paper application found at https://www.insurance.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx before you take your exam and bringing it with you to use as a reference can speed along this process.

You may also choose to apply online using your own computer. You will still need a fingerprint scan, so you’ll have to register online via the IdentoGO website at https://uenroll.identogo.com, or you can call 844.321.2101. You’ll get a registration number you can take with you when you go to the IdentoGO site for fingerprinting. 

After you complete your application, you can look up its status at www.insurance.pa.gov. Once it’s been issued, you can print it right from the website.

As You Pursue Your New Career

As you follow these 4 steps for successfully earning your Pennsylvania insurance license, keep in mind that you will also have continuing education requirements. You’ll need to renew your license every two years, so be sure you keep up with the latest information at www.insurance.pa.gov.