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How to get an insurance license in New York. P&C: 90 pre-licensing hours. L&H: 90 hours. Government fees: $166+ for both lines. 2 years renewal cycle. Verified 2026-03-22. Data verified 2026-03-22. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Insurance Agent
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83% of data points are verified against official sources. 3 fields based on preliminary research. 1 field needs verification. We recommend confirming details with your state's licensing authority. See sources below · Report incorrect data
90 hrs
P&C Education
90 hrs
L&H Education
2 years
Renewal Cycle
$166+
Gov. Fees (Both)
Insurance Agent or Broker
New York uniquely distinguishes between Insurance Agents (appointed by carriers) and Insurance Brokers (independent, representing consumers). Both require licensing through DFS. Lines of authority include Property & Casualty, Life, Accident & Health, and Personal Lines. New York requires substantial pre-licensing education: 96 hours for P&C (at least 90 classroom hours) and 40 hours for combined Life/Accident & Health. Exams are administered by PSI Services.
Other Available Lines of Authority
90 hours of approved pre-licensing education required
90 hours (P&C); 40 hours (Personal Lines or Life/Accident & Health); 20 hours (Accident & Health only).
Online courses: Not allowed
New York Property and Casualty Insurance Examination
Administered by Pearson VUE
150
Questions
70%
Passing Score
150 minutes (2.5 hours)
Time Limit
$33
Exam Fee
The exam has 150 total questions covering both general and New York state-specific knowledge. A 70% overall score is required to pass (no minimum per section). Candidates can schedule through PSI online or by calling (855) 579-4637. The exam must be passed within 2 years of applying for the license.
90 hours of approved pre-licensing education required
90 hours (P&C); 40 hours (Personal Lines or Life/Accident & Health); 20 hours (Accident & Health only).
Online courses: Not allowed
New York Life, Accident and Health Insurance Examination
Administered by Pearson VUE
150
Questions
70%
Passing Score
150 minutes (2.5 hours)
Time Limit
$33
Exam Fee
The combined Life, Accident and Health exam has 150 total questions (2.5 hours). Individual Life-Only or Accident & Health exams are 100 questions each (2 hours). A 70% overall score is required. No minimum per-section score needed.
Minimum Age
18 years old
Education
No specific education requirement beyond pre-licensing course
Residency
Must apply as resident agent if domiciled in New York. Non-residents apply through NIPR.
Background Check
Fingerprinting is required for first-time applicants and applicants who are applying two or more years past their license expiration date. Fingerprinting is done through IdentoGO Live Scan. If fingerprinting is done at a New York authorized IdentoGO Center outside of New York State, an additional fee will be charged.
Fingerprinting
Required
Citizenship
US citizen or authorized to work in the US
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee State license fee for initial application | $50 |
P&C Exam Fee Property and Casualty exam fee paid to PSI | $33 |
L&H Exam Fee Life, Accident and Health exam fee paid to PSI (same fee for combined or individual line exams) | $33 |
Fingerprinting Fee Fingerprint fee is set by IdentoGO, not a fixed state fee. Additional fee charged if done at an out-of-state IdentoGO Center. Contact IdentoGO at (877) 472-6915 for current pricing. | Varies (set by IdentoGO) |
Total Gov. Fees (Single Line) Application ($50) + exam ($33) + fingerprinting (varies) for one line of authority | $83+ |
Total Gov. Fees (Both Lines) Two applications ($50 x 2 = $100) + P&C exam ($33) + L&H exam ($33) + fingerprinting (varies, one-time) | $166+ |
Pre-Licensing Course Cost: $300-$700(per line)
96-hour P&C course or 40-hour L&H course. Significant because most hours must be classroom/live. NOT a government fee.
Complete the approved 96-hour Property & Casualty pre-licensing course (at least 90 classroom hours)
Pass the course Certification Exam with 70% or higher to receive Certificate of Completion
Schedule the NY P&C licensing exam through PSI (online or call 855-579-4637)
Pass the P&C exam (150 questions, 70% passing score, 2.5 hours)
Complete fingerprinting through IdentoGO Live Scan
Apply for your license through DFS within 2 years of exam passage
Submit Certificate of Completion, fingerprint receipt, and application
Pay the $50 application fee
Complete the approved 40-hour Life, Accident & Health pre-licensing course (at least 20 classroom hours)
Pass the course Certification Exam with 70% or higher to receive Certificate of Completion
Schedule the NY Life, Accident & Health licensing exam through PSI
Pass the exam (150 questions, 70% passing score, 2.5 hours)
Complete fingerprinting through IdentoGO if not already on file
Apply for your license through DFS within 2 years of exam passage
Submit Certificate of Completion, fingerprint receipt, and application
Pay the $50 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. New York distinguishes between Agents (appointed by carriers) and Brokers (independent). Agents must be appointed; Brokers do not need carrier appointments but must have a surety bond.
Appointment fee: Paid by carrier
New York participates in NIPR for non-resident producer licensing. Non-resident applicants must hold equivalent lines of authority in their home state. Fingerprinting is required for first-time applicants.
Additional requirements: Must hold active license in good standing in home state.
Renewal Cycle
2 years
Renewal Fee
$80
CE Required
15 hours per cycle
Ethics Hours
1 hours (included in CE total)
Single-line licensed agents/brokers (Life/Health OR Property/Casualty) must complete 15 credits every 2 years in courses approved for their line of authority. Multi-line licensed agents/brokers (Life/Health AND Property/Casualty) must complete 30 credits every 2 years: 15 in Property and/or Casualty and 15 in Life and/or Health. CE is required once the license has been in effect for more than 2 years. Renewal is on the licensee's birthday every 2 years.
Regulatory Board
Unique to New York: New York is one of the most demanding states for insurance licensing due to its 96-hour P&C pre-licensing requirement with 90 hours mandated as classroom/live instruction (no fully online self-study). The state also uniquely distinguishes between Agents and Brokers as separate license types. The pre-licensing Certificate of Completion never expires, which is unusual. Multi-line agents face 30 credits of CE every 2 years (15 per line). New York uses DFS rather than a traditional Department of Insurance.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in New York.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#5 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
$49,320
25th percentile
Median
$75,860
+26% vs. national avg ($60,370)Experienced
$116,460
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
20,990 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+8% salary growth potential
You are here
Insurance Agent
$75,860
Pre-licensing education + state exam
You are here
Insurance Agent
Pre-licensing education + state exam
$75,860
Adjuster licensing + claims experience
$82,140
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 York Department of Financial Services (DFS) — Licensing Requirements
Estimated total: 4–10 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) — Licensing Requirements
1–4 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) — Licensing Requirements
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