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How to get an insurance license in Kentucky. P&C: 20 pre-licensing hours. L&H: 20 hours. Government fees: $207.50 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.
91% of data points are verified against official sources. 2 fields based on preliminary research. 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
$207.50
Gov. Fees (Both)
Insurance Agent (Producer)
Kentucky issues separate lines of authority including Life, Health, Property, Casualty, and Personal Lines. Each line requires 20 hours of pre-licensing education and a separate exam. Kentucky requires the application, fees, pre-licensing certification, and criminal background report to be completed PRIOR to scheduling an exam.
Other Available Lines of Authority
20 hours of approved pre-licensing education required
20 hours per major line of authority.
Online courses: Allowed
Kentucky Property & Casualty Insurance Exam
Administered by State-administered (various government offices, community colleges, technical schools)
50 per line
Questions
70%
Passing Score
1 hour per line (Personal Lines: 2 hours)
Time Limit
$50
Exam Fee
50 questions with a 1-hour time limit per line. 70% passing score required. Kentucky does not offer remote testing — exams must be taken in person. Application, fees, pre-licensing certificate, and background check must be completed BEFORE scheduling the exam.
20 hours of approved pre-licensing education required
20 hours per major line of authority.
Online courses: Allowed
Kentucky Life & Health Insurance Exam
Administered by State-administered (various government offices, community colleges, technical schools)
50 per line
Questions
70%
Passing Score
1 hour per line
Time Limit
$50
Exam Fee
50 questions with a 1-hour time limit per line. 70% passing score required. Kentucky does not offer remote testing. Must bring valid government-issued photo ID and signed certificate of completion to exam.
Minimum Age
18 years old
Education
No formal education requirement beyond pre-licensing course
Residency
Must apply as resident agent if domiciled in Kentucky. Non-residents apply through NIPR with active home state license.
Background Check
Kentucky requires a Criminal Background Report submitted through the KY Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) AOCFastCheck portal. Kentucky does NOT require fingerprinting — it uses name-based checks only. Background check must be completed BEFORE scheduling the exam.
Fingerprinting
Required
Citizenship
US citizen or authorized to work in the US
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee Application fee is $40 per line of authority. Plus $5.60 NIPR transaction fee. | $130 |
P&C Exam Fee Exam fee paid through NIPR | $50 |
L&H Exam Fee Exam fee paid through NIPR | $50 |
Fingerprinting Fee Fingerprinting is not required in Kentucky. Background check is name-based through AOCFastCheck ($25 + ~$2.50 transaction fee). | $0 |
Total Gov. Fees (Single Line) Application ($40) + exam ($50) + background check ($25 + $2.50 transaction) = $117.50. Add $5.60 NIPR transaction fee if applicable. | $117.50 |
Total Gov. Fees (Both Lines) Application ($80 for 2 lines) + P&C exam ($50) + L&H exam ($50) + background check ($25 + $2.50) = $207.50. Add $5.60 NIPR transaction fee if applicable. | $207.50 |
Pre-Licensing Course Cost: $100-$300(per line)
Varies by provider. Per line. NOT a government fee. Kentucky requires 20 hours per line.
Complete 20 hours of approved pre-licensing education for Property and 20 hours for Casualty
Pass the pre-licensing certificate exam with 70% or better
Apply for a Criminal Background Report through AOCFastCheck ($25 + transaction fee)
Apply for your license through NIPR (nipr.com) and pay the $40 per line application fee
Wait for application processing — exam scheduling is only available after application approval
Schedule and take the exam at a Kentucky testing site (no remote testing)
Pass each exam with 70% or better (50 questions, 1 hour per line)
Receive license approval from Kentucky Department of Insurance
Obtain appointment from at least one insurance carrier
Complete 20 hours of approved pre-licensing education for Life and 20 hours for Health
Pass the pre-licensing certificate exam with 70% or better
Apply for a Criminal Background Report through AOCFastCheck ($25 + transaction fee)
Apply for your license through NIPR (nipr.com) and pay the $40 per line application fee
Wait for application processing — exam scheduling is only available after application approval
Schedule and take the exam at a Kentucky testing site (no remote testing)
Pass each exam with 70% or better (50 questions, 1 hour per line)
Receive license approval from Kentucky Department of Insurance
Obtain appointment from at least one insurance carrier
Important: A license alone does not allow you to sell insurance
After obtaining your agent license, you must be appointed by at least one insurance company. Agents with at least one active appointment are not charged a renewal fee.
Appointment fee: Paid by carrier
Kentucky participates in NIPR. Non-resident producers with active home state licenses can obtain Kentucky licenses. Non-resident agents are not required to file CE in Kentucky but must be compliant in their home state.
Additional requirements: Must hold same class of license and line of authority in home state.
Renewal Cycle
2 years
Renewal Fee
$0 if appointed
CE Required
24 hours per cycle
Ethics Hours
3 hours (included in CE total)
24 hours of CE per 2-year renewal cycle. 3 hours must be in ethics. Non-resident agents are not required to file CE in Kentucky but must comply with home state requirements.
Regulatory Board
Unique to Kentucky: Kentucky has a unique licensing workflow: the application, fees, pre-licensing certificate, and background check must all be completed BEFORE the exam can even be scheduled. Most states allow exam completion first. Kentucky is also one of only 3 states (with Arkansas and Iowa) that do not require fingerprinting. Exams are notably shorter than most states (50 questions/1 hour vs. typical 100-150 questions/2-3 hours). No renewal fee if you have an active carrier appointment.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Kentucky.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#28 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
$38,460
25th percentile
Median
$59,590
-1% vs. national avg ($60,370)Experienced
$77,200
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
6,310 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+20% salary growth potential
You are here
Insurance Agent
$59,590
Pre-licensing education + state exam
You are here
Insurance Agent
Pre-licensing education + state exam
$59,590
Adjuster licensing + claims experience
$71,770
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: Kentucky Department of Insurance — Licensing Requirements
Estimated total: 4–10 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: Kentucky Department of Insurance — Licensing Requirements
1–4 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: Kentucky Department of Insurance — Licensing Requirements
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