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How to get an insurance license in Illinois. P&C: 20 pre-licensing hours. L&H: 20 hours. Government fees: $399+ for both lines. 2 years renewal cycle. Verified 2026-03-22. Data verified 2026-03-22. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Insurance Agent
Most information on this page has been verified.
83% of data points are verified against official sources. 2 fields based on preliminary research. 2 fields need verification. We recommend confirming details with your state's licensing authority. See sources below · Report incorrect data
20 hrs
P&C Education
20 hrs
L&H Education
2 years
Renewal Cycle
$399+
Gov. Fees (Both)
Insurance Producer
Illinois licenses producers by major lines: Fire (Property), Casualty, Life, and Accident and Health. The state uses a unique two-part exam structure: candidates must pass both a general exam and a state-specific exam for each line, within a 90-day period. Pre-licensing education of 20 hours per line is required, with 7.5 hours in a classroom or webinar setting. Exams are administered by Pearson VUE.
Other Available Lines of Authority
20 hours of approved pre-licensing education required
20 hours per line of authority. 7.5 of the 20 hours must be classroom.
Online courses: Allowed
Illinois Fire (Property) and Casualty Insurance Examinations
Administered by Pearson VUE
160
Questions
Scaled score of 70
Passing Score
Approximately 135-140 minutes total (general + state exams)
Time Limit
$92
Exam Fee
Illinois uses a unique two-part exam structure. For each line (Fire/Casualty), candidates must pass both a general exam (80-85 minutes) and a state-specific exam (50-55 minutes) within a 90-day period. Each exam costs $92, but a $92 discount applies when two exams for the same line are purchased on the same order (effectively one exam is free). The scaled passing score is 70 — this is not the percentage correct but a scaled score. The Casualty exam has approximately 80 questions total (general + state).
20 hours of approved pre-licensing education required
20 hours per line of authority. 7.5 of the 20 hours must be classroom.
Online courses: Allowed
Illinois Life and Accident and Health Insurance Examinations
Administered by Pearson VUE
170
Questions
Scaled score of 70
Passing Score
Approximately 135-140 minutes total (general + state exams)
Time Limit
$92
Exam Fee
Two-part exam structure: general exam + state-specific exam, must pass both within 90 days. Life exam has approximately 81 total questions; Accident & Health has approximately 89 questions. Each part costs $92, with a $92 discount when both parts are ordered together. Scaled passing score of 70. General exams are 80-85 minutes; state exams are 50-55 minutes.
Minimum Age
18 years old
Education
No specific education requirement beyond pre-licensing course (20 hours per line)
Residency
Must apply as resident producer if domiciled in Illinois. Non-residents must hold active license in home state.
Background Check
Fingerprinting is required for Illinois insurance licenses. After submitting the license application, applicants must mail in their fingerprint card to the Illinois Department of Insurance.
Fingerprinting
Not required
Citizenship
US citizen or authorized to work in the US
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee Per application. This is the same as the renewal fee amount. | $215 |
P&C Exam Fee Per exam part. Two parts required per line (general + state). $92 discount when both parts ordered together, effectively $92 total per line. | $92 |
L&H Exam Fee Per exam part. Two parts required per line (general + state). $92 discount when both parts ordered together, effectively $92 total per line. | $92 |
Fingerprinting Fee Fingerprint cards mailed to IDOI. Fee depends on fingerprinting vendor used. UNVERIFIED exact amount. | Varies |
Total Gov. Fees (Single Line) Application ($215) + exam ($92 with discount) + fingerprinting (varies) for one line | $307+ |
Total Gov. Fees (Both Lines) Application ($215) + P&C exam ($92) + L&H exam ($92) + fingerprinting (varies). One application fee may cover multiple lines. | $399+ |
Pre-Licensing Course Cost: $100-$400(per line)
20-hour pre-licensing course per line. Varies by provider. NOT a government fee.
Complete 20 hours of approved pre-licensing education for Fire and Casualty (7.5 hours must be classroom/webinar)
Schedule both the general and state-specific exams through Pearson VUE (800-274-0455)
Pass both the general and state-specific Fire/Casualty exams within 90 days (scaled score of 70)
Complete fingerprinting and mail fingerprint card to IDOI
Apply through NIPR or Sircon
Pay the $215 application fee
Complete 20 hours of approved pre-licensing education for Life and Accident & Health (7.5 hours must be classroom/webinar)
Schedule both the general and state-specific exams through Pearson VUE
Pass both the general and state-specific Life/A&H exams within 90 days (scaled score of 70)
Complete fingerprinting if not already on file
Apply through NIPR or Sircon
Pay the $215 application fee
Important: A license alone does not allow you to sell insurance
After obtaining your license, you must be appointed by at least one insurance company to sell their products. The carrier files the appointment with IDOI.
Appointment fee: Paid by carrier
Illinois has reciprocity arrangements with most states and issues non-resident licenses in the same line(s) of authority. Non-resident agents must complete CE requirements at least one month before the expiration date. Non-resident renewal fee is $380.
Additional requirements: Must hold active license in good standing in home state. Non-resident renewal fee ($380) is higher than resident fee ($215).
Renewal Cycle
2 years
Renewal Fee
$215
CE Required
30 hours per cycle
Ethics Hours
3 hours (included in CE total)
Producers with Major Lines licenses must complete 24 hours of CE every 2 years, including 3 hours of Ethics. The 3 hours of ethics MUST be completed in a live training format (classroom or webinar). CE must be completed at least 30 days prior to license expiration to avoid penalty. Up to 12 hours of excess CE may be carried over to the subsequent license term. Renewal is by the last day of the birth month every 2 years.
Regulatory Board
Unique to Illinois: Illinois stands out with its two-part exam structure requiring passage of both a general and state-specific exam within 90 days for each line. The state uses 'Fire' instead of 'Property' for the property line. The $215 application fee and $380 non-resident renewal fee are among the highest in the nation. The ethics CE requirement must be completed in a live format, unlike most states that allow online completion.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Illinois.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#31 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021)
Entry Level
$47,850
25th percentile
Median
$59,340
-2% vs. national avg ($60,370)Experienced
$97,690
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
17,640 employed in this state
Note: Insurance agent compensation is heavily commission-based. BLS OEWS data may not fully reflect total earnings including commissions and bonuses.
Source: BLS OEWS – Insurance Sales Agents (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
+4.7%
Average GrowthNew Jobs
+26,200
over 10 years
Annual Openings
41,200
per year (avg.)
555,200 currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Insurance Career Ladder+25% salary growth potential
You are here
Insurance Agent
$59,340
Pre-licensing education + state exam
You are here
Insurance Agent
Pre-licensing education + state exam
$59,340
Adjuster licensing + claims experience
$74,410
Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024 for this state. Career paths represent common advancement routes — actual progression may vary. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Source: Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) — Licensing Requirements
Estimated total: 4–10 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) — Licensing Requirements
1–4 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) — Licensing Requirements
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