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How to get an insurance license in New Mexico. P&C: 0 pre-licensing hours. L&H: 0 hours. Government fees: $189 for both lines. 2 years renewal cycle. Verified 2026-03-22. Data verified 2026-03-22. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Insurance Agent
Some information on this page has not been fully verified.
70% of data points are verified against official sources. 3 fields based on preliminary research. 4 fields need verification. We recommend confirming details with your state's licensing authority. See sources below · Report incorrect data
Not required
P&C Education
Not required
L&H Education
2 years
Renewal Cycle
$189
Gov. Fees (Both)
Insurance Producer
New Mexico licenses insurance producers by lines of authority. The state does NOT require pre-licensing education. Exams are administered by PSI. Applications are processed through NIPR. Fingerprinting is required through the NM Department of Public Safety and FBI.
Other Available Lines of Authority
No pre-licensing education required
Not required.
New Mexico Property & Casualty Insurance Exam
Administered by Pearson VUE
150
Questions
70%
Passing Score
2.5 hours
Time Limit
$50
Exam Fee
P&C combined exam: 150 total questions, 2.5 hours. Individual Property or Casualty exams: 100 questions each, 2 hours each. Exams available in-person or remote proctored through PSI. Score displayed on screen immediately. UNVERIFIED exam fee - check PSI bulletin.
No pre-licensing education required
Not required.
New Mexico Life & Health Insurance Exam
Administered by Pearson VUE
150
Questions
70%
Passing Score
2.5 hours
Time Limit
$50
Exam Fee
L&H combined exam: 150 total questions, 2.5 hours. Individual Life or Health exams: 100 questions each, 2 hours each. UNVERIFIED exam fee - check PSI bulletin for current pricing.
Minimum Age
18 years old
Education
No formal education requirement specified
Residency
Must provide proof of residency within the state of New Mexico for resident licenses
Background Check
New Mexico requires resident applicants to submit fingerprints electronically for a background check run through both the NM Department of Public Safety and the national FBI database. Fingerprinting must be completed BEFORE submitting the license application.
Fingerprinting
Required
Citizenship
Must have a valid SSN or FEIN
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee State license fee of $30 plus $20 per affiliation, plus any additional fees | $50 |
P&C Exam Fee UNVERIFIED - PSI exam fee. Check PSI NM Candidate Bulletin for current pricing. | $50 |
L&H Exam Fee UNVERIFIED - PSI exam fee. Check PSI NM Candidate Bulletin for current pricing. | $50 |
Fingerprinting Fee Fingerprinting fee for NM Department of Public Safety and FBI background check | $59 |
Total Gov. Fees (Single Line) Application ($30) + one exam (~$50) + fingerprinting ($59) for one line of authority. Exam fee is approximate. | $139 |
Total Gov. Fees (Both Lines) Application ($30) + P&C exam (~$50) + L&H exam (~$50) + fingerprinting ($59). Exam fees are approximate. | $189 |
Pre-Licensing Course Cost: $0 (not required)(per line)
New Mexico does not require pre-licensing education. Optional exam prep courses typically cost $150-$400.
Schedule and pass the Property & Casualty exam through PSI (psiexams.com or 855-560-3714)
Complete electronic fingerprinting through the NM Department of Public Safety (must be done BEFORE applying)
Wait 3-5 days after fingerprinting for processing
Apply for your license through NIPR (nipr.com)
Pay the $30 state license fee plus $20 per affiliation and any additional fees
Obtain appointment from at least one insurance carrier
Schedule and pass the Life & Health exam through PSI
Complete electronic fingerprinting through the NM Department of Public Safety
Wait 3-5 days after fingerprinting for processing
Apply for your license through NIPR
Pay the $30 state license fee plus $20 per affiliation
Obtain appointment from at least one insurance carrier
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. There is a $20 fee per affiliation/appointment.
Appointment fee: $20 per affiliation
Non-resident producers apply through NIPR. New Mexico participates in the NIPR electronic licensing system. Effective February 20, 2025, name changes are only accepted online through NIPR.
Additional requirements: Non-resident applicants must hold a valid resident license in their home state
Renewal Cycle
2 years
Renewal Fee
$30
CE Required
24 hours per cycle
Ethics Hours
3 hours (included in CE total)
24 hours of CE every 2-year renewal period (21 General, 3 Ethics). Applies to Life, Accident and Health or Sickness, Property, Casualty, Personal Lines, Title, Escrow.
Regulatory Board
Unique to New Mexico: New Mexico's governing authority has a unique name: the Office of Superintendent of Insurance (OSI). The state charges a $20 per affiliation fee on top of the $30 license fee, which is unusual. Fingerprinting must be completed before applying (not after), with a 3-5 day processing wait between fingerprinting and application submission.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in New Mexico.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#48 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
$36,900
25th percentile
Median
$46,990
-22% vs. national avg ($60,370)Experienced
$74,480
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
1,930 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+41% salary growth potential
You are here
Insurance Agent
$46,990
Pre-licensing education + state exam
You are here
Insurance Agent
Pre-licensing education + state exam
$46,990
Adjuster licensing + claims experience
$66,120
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: New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance — Licensing Requirements
Estimated total: 4–10 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance — Licensing Requirements
1–4 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance — Licensing Requirements
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