Questions & Answers
- How do I become a licensed Florida Insurance Agent?
- What is a 2-15 Insurance Agent License?
- What is a 2-14 Insurance Agent License?
- What is a 2-40 Insurance Agent License?
- After I get my Florida Insurance License, how do I go to work for an insurance company?
- Can you describe the Florida Insurance Pre-Licensing Online Course?
- Do I need to be a resident of Florida to get my Florida Insurance Agent License?
- Are there any exceptions to completing the Pre-Licensing Education?
- Does Florida have license reciprocity with any states?
- If I hold an insurance license in another state, can I "transfer" the license to Florida?
- Are members of the US Armed Forces exempt from any part of the insurance agent licensing process?
- When I submit my Florida insurance license application, what are they looking for to be able to approve me to get the license?
- If I have a criminal history, what might keep me from getting a Florida insurance license?
- What are my license renewal and continuing education requirements?
How do I become a licensed Florida Insurance Agent?
The basics of obtaining a Florida Insurance License are:
- Complete a pre-licensing course (hours and costs vary)
- Pass the state licensing exam ($42 fee)
- Get fingerprinted for a criminal background check ($48.55 fee)
- Submit the license application ($55 fee)
We provide online education for the following Florida Insurance Licenses:
- Florida 2-15 Health & Life Insurance Agent: You must successfully complete the Florida 60 Hour Health & Life (Including Annuities & Variable Contracts) Agent License Course
- Florida 2-14 Life Only Insurance Agent: You must successfully complete the Florida 40 Hour Life (Including Annuities & Variable Contracts) Agent License Course
- Florida 2-40 Health Only Insurance Agent: You must successfully complete the Florida 40 Hour Health Agent License Course
What is a 2-15 Insurance Agent License?
What is a 2-14 Insurance Agent License?
What is a 2-40 Insurance Agent License?
After I get my Florida Insurance License, how do I go to work for an insurance company?
Section 626.112 of the Florida Statutes states that no person may be, act as, or advertise or hold himself or herself out to be an insurance agent, unless he or she is currently licensed by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) and has an "appointment" with an appropriate entity or person.
An "appointment" is a formal work authorization made by an insurance company to the DFS. It authorizes the licensee to write business for that insurance company or conduct business for that employer. Appointment fees are $60.
Can you describe the Florida Insurance Pre-Licensing Online Course?
We understand that "going back to school" is not at the top of your to-do list, so we make sure you have a comfortable learning environment, and our interactive and engaging online platform (powered by Kaplan University) makes sure you have an enjoyable experience. Our reputation for high-quality experiences is the reason why we are the market leader in Florida insurance education.
Online courses can be a very convenient way to complete the required education. You have access to the course 24/7, you can go at your own pace, and the courses start with the very basics and progress into more difficult topics in a way that is conducive for how adults learn. You also have access to a fantastic technical support team should you encounter any technological issues with your program of study.
Please call us at 239-344-7510 if you have further questions our online insurance education courses.
Do I need to be a resident of Florida to get my Florida Insurance Agent License?
Yes, residency is required. You are a resident if you do one of the following:
- Enroll your children in a Florida public school
- Accept employment
- Register to Vote
- File for a homestead exemption
- Reside in Florida for more than six consecutive months
Are there any exceptions to completing the Pre-Licensing Education?
Yes. Each license has exceptions to completing the Pre-Licensing Education. If you meet the requirements, you are not required to complete any education to obtain the license. However, you will still need to get fingerprinted and submit a license application.
2-15 Health & Life Agent
You are exempt from pre-licensing education if you:
- Apply through reciprocity from a recognized state. Must still complete State Examination.
- Taught a 60 hour DFS approved Health & Life Agent pre-licensing course in the four (4) years prior to application.
- Earned a degree which includes at least 9 semester hours of health insurance, life insurance, annuities, and variable contracts from an accredited college or university. An official transcript is required. Also exempt from State Examination.
- Held a valid resident license with the equivalent line of authority for at least one (1) continuous year prior to submitting the Florida Health & Life License application. Application must be submitted within 90 days of becoming a resident of Florida. Also exempt from State Examination.
- Have an original letter from the American College of Financial Services certifying the licensee was awarded the Chartered Life Underwriters (CLU) designation. Also exempt from State Examination.
2-14 Life Agent
You are exempt from pre-licensing education if you:
- Apply through reciprocity from a recognized state. Must still complete State Examination.
- Taught a 40 hour DFS approved Life Agent pre-licensing course in the four (4) years prior to application.
- Earned a degree which includes at least 9 semester hours of life insurance, annuities, and variable contracts from an accredited college or university. An official transcript is required. Also exempt from State Examination.
- Held a valid resident license with the equivalent line of authority for at least one (1) continuous year prior to submitting the Florida Life License application. Application must be submitted within 90 days of becoming a resident of Florida. Also exempt from State Examination.
- Have an original letter from the American College of Financial Services certifying the licensee was awarded the Chartered Life Underwriters (CLU) designation. Also exempt from State Examination.
2-40 Health Only Agent
You are exempt from pre-licensing education if you:
- Apply through reciprocity from a recognized state. Must still complete State Examination.
- Taught a 40 hour DFS approved Health Agent pre-licensing course in the four (4) years prior to application.
- Earned a degree which includes at least 9 semester hours of health insurance from an accredited college or university. An official transcript is required. Also exempt from State Examination.
- Held a valid resident license with the equivalent line of authority for at least one (1) continuous year prior to submitting the Florida Health License application. Application must be submitted within 90 days of becoming a resident of Florida. Also exempt from State Examination.
- Have an original letter from the American College of Financial Services certifying the licensee was awarded the Chartered Life Underwriters (CLU) designation. Also exempt from State Examination.
Does Florida have license reciprocity with any states?
Yes. Since 1992 Florida has permitted an applicant for licensure as a Florida resident health & life, life only or health only agent to be exempt from Florida's pre-licensing education requirement as long as the applicant was licensed in a qualifying state within the four (year) period prior to applying in Florida. An applicant using reciprocity is NOT EXEMPT from the Florida licensing examination.
States with Full Reciprocity
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Utah
- Wyoming
States with Conditional Reciprocity
Alabama, Montana, North Dakota
The application for a resident life, health and variable annuity license in Florida must be received within 12 months of the date they were last licensed in their former state of residence.
Maryland, Massachusetts
The application for a resident life, health and variable annuity license in Florida must be received within 3 years of the date they were last licensed in their former state of residence.
Nevada
The applicant must have been licensed as an agent for the type and class applied for in 10 of the last 15 years or has been employed by an insurer for at least 10 years.
New Hampshire
The applicant must have been licensed for the type and class applied for in 3 out of the last 5 years preceding the application for resident licensure.
Oregon
The applicant must have held an active license for a period of 3 years ending within 2 years of the date of application to Florida.
Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont
The application for a resident life, health and variable annuity license in Florida must be received within 24 months of the date they were last licensed in their former state of residence.
Virginia
The application for a resident life, health and variable annuity license in Florida must be received within 12 months of the date they were last licensed in their former state of residence. The Virginia license must have been held for 1 year. Documentation of 1 year of licensure in Virginia must accompany the Florida application.
Washington
The application for a resident life, health and variable annuity license in Florida must be received within 90 days of the date they were last licensed in their former state of residence. The Washington license must have been held for at least 2 years.
States with No Reciprocity
- Arkansas
- District of Columbia (DC)
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- New Mexico
- New York
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
If I hold an insurance license in another state, can I "transfer" the license to Florida?
Yes. If you are licensed and in good standing for one (1) continuous year in one of the participating reciprocal states, you can apply to the Department of Financial Services (DFS) to "transfer" your license from the other state. This means you are giving up your license in the other state and transferring it to Florida. You can only transfer it as the same insurance license type. You must submit your application AFTER becoming a Florida resident, but within 90 days of becoming a resident.
As long as you completed the pre-licensing course and state examination in your previous home state, you are exempt from the education and examination requirement in Florida.
If you obtained your license in your previous home state through reciprocity, you are NOT EXEMPT from the education and examination requirement in Florida.
If you do not want to lose your license in the other state, you will want to apply through reciprocity, which requires you to still take the Florida licensing exam
Are members of the US Armed Forces exempt from any part of the insurance agent licensing process?
When I submit my Florida insurance license application, what are they looking for to be able to approve me to get the license?
The applicant must make it possible to immediately begin the inquiry as to whether the applicant is honest, truthful, trustworthy, of good character, and bears a good reputation for fair dealings, and will likely make transactions and conduct negotiations with safety to investors and to those with whom the applicant may undertake a relation of trust and confidence. The applicant is required to disclose:
- Whether the applicant has ever been convicted or found guilty of, or entered a guilty plea of nolo contendere or guilty to, regardless of adjudication, a crime in any jurisdiction or if applicant is currently under criminal investigation;
- Whether the applicant has ever done business under any other name, or alias, than the name signed on the application, with sufficient information to enable the Commission to investigate the circumstances;
- Whether the applicant has had any license, registration or permit to practice any requested profession, occupation, vocation or business revoked, annulled, suspended, relinquished, surrendered or otherwise disciplined in Florida or in any other jurisdiction or if any such proceeding or investigation is now pending; and
- Whether the applicant has had an application for an insurance license denied in Florida or in any other jurisdiction or if there is a pending proceeding to deny such application.
If I have a criminal history, what might keep me from getting a Florida insurance license?
Persons who have committed certain felonies are permanently barred from applying for licensure. Other felonies and certain misdemeanors require the applicant to wait for a disqualifying period to lapse prior to applying for licensure. The permanent bar and the disqualifying periods apply regardless of whether adjudication was withheld or an applicant's civil rights have been restored.
Permanent Bar
An applicant who has committed a felony of the first degree, a capital felony, a felony involving money laundering, fraud, or embezzlement, or a felony directly related to the financial services business is permanently barred from applying for a license. This bar applies to convictions, guilty pleas, or nolo contendere pleas, regardless of adjudication, by any applicant, officer, director, majority owner, partner, manager, or other person who manages or controls any applicant.
Disqualifying Periods
The following disqualifying periods must be met prior to application. The disqualifying periods begin upon the applicant’s final release from supervision or upon completion of the applicant’s criminal sentence:
- A 15-year disqualifying period exists for all felonies involving moral turpitude that are not specifically included in the permanent bar above.
- A 7-year disqualifying period exists for all felonies to which neither the permanent bar nor the 15-year disqualifying period applies.
- A 7-year disqualifying period exists for all misdemeanors directly related to the financial services business.
Click this link for a list of examples of crimes that fall within this category.
Meeting the conditions above does not automatically guarantee the applicant will be granted licensure.
NOTE: The Department does not accept faxed court documents
What are my license renewal and continuing education requirements?
There is NO INSURANCE LICENSE RENEWAL REQUIREMENT in Florida. Licenses are perpetual, meaning you can hold it forever, so long as you complete your continuing education and do not exceed a 48 month (4 year) time-period without an "appointment." An "appointment" is a formal work authorization made by an insurance company to the DFS. It authorizes the licensee to write business for that insurance company or conduct business for that employer.
Continuing education is required every two (2) years for Florida Insurance License holders. The education must be completed by the end of the licensee's birth month. The following licenses require continuing education:
- 2-15 Health & Life Agent License
- 2-14 Life Only Agent License
- 2-40 Health Only Agent License
The education requirement is twenty-four (24) hours total for agents licensed less than six (6) years, and twenty (20) hours for agents licensed more than six (6) years. The requirement is:
- 5 hours of Law & Ethics Update (must be specific to your insurance license type). If you have a Health & Life License, you only have to take one of the 5-hour Law & Ethics courses.
- 19 hours of Electives
- Courses can not be duplicated within a three (3) year window.