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How to get an insurance license in Ohio. P&C: 20 pre-licensing hours. L&H: 20 hours. Government fees: $190 for both lines. 2 years renewal cycle. Verified 2026-03-22. Data verified 2026-03-22. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Insurance Agent
20 hrs
P&C Education
20 hrs
L&H Education
2 years
Renewal Cycle
$190
Gov. Fees (Both)
Insurance Producer
Ohio licenses insurance producers with lines of authority including Property, Casualty, Life, Health (Accident & Sickness), and Personal Lines. Each line requires 20 hours of pre-licensing education and passage of a state exam administered by PSI. Combined exams are available (Property & Casualty combined: 150 questions; Life & Health combined: 150 questions). Individual line exams are 100 questions each.
Other Available Lines of Authority
20 hours of approved pre-licensing education required
20 hours per major line.
Online courses: Allowed
Ohio Property and Casualty Insurance Examination
Administered by PSI
150
Questions
70%
Passing Score
150 minutes (2.5 hours)
Time Limit
$49
Exam Fee
The combined Property and Casualty exam has 150 questions with a 2.5-hour time limit. Individual Property or Casualty exams are 100 questions each with a 2-hour time limit. A 70% passing score is required. Exams include scored questions plus experimental questions that don't affect the final score. Score is displayed on screen at the end and emailed as a report.
20 hours of approved pre-licensing education required
20 hours per major line.
Online courses: Allowed
Ohio Life and Health Insurance Examination
Administered by PSI
150
Questions
70%
Passing Score
150 minutes (2.5 hours)
Time Limit
$49
Exam Fee
The combined Life and Health exam has 150 questions with a 2.5-hour time limit. Individual Life or Health exams are 100 questions each with a 2-hour time limit. A 70% passing score is required.
Minimum Age
18 years old
Education
No specific education requirement beyond 20-hour pre-licensing course per line
Residency
Must apply as resident producer if domiciled in Ohio. Non-residents apply through NIPR.
Background Check
Fingerprint-based background check required via a National WebCheck vendor. The fingerprinting fee is $72.25.
Fingerprinting
Not required
Citizenship
US citizen or authorized to work in the US
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee Per line of authority | $50 |
P&C Exam Fee Property and Casualty exam fee paid to PSI | $49 |
L&H Exam Fee Life and Health exam fee paid to PSI | $49 |
Fingerprinting Fee Fingerprint-based background check via National WebCheck vendor | $72.25 |
Total Gov. Fees (Single Line) Application ($10) + exam ($49) + fingerprinting ($72.25) for one line of authority | $131 |
Total Gov. Fees (Both Lines) Application ($10 x 2 = $20) + P&C exam ($49) + L&H exam ($49) + fingerprinting ($72.25, one-time) | $190 |
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 Property and Casualty
Obtain certificate of completion (valid for 180 days)
Schedule the P&C exam through PSI (call 855-807-3995 or visit PSI online)
Pass the Property and Casualty exam (150 questions, 70% passing score, 2.5 hours)
Complete fingerprint-based background check via National WebCheck vendor ($72.25)
Apply for your license through NIPR
Pay the $10 per line application fee
Complete 20 hours of approved pre-licensing education for Life and Health
Obtain certificate of completion (valid for 180 days)
Schedule the L&H exam through PSI
Pass the Life and Health exam (150 questions, 70% passing score, 2.5 hours)
Complete fingerprint-based background check if not already on file
Apply for your license through NIPR
Pay the $10 per line 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 ODI.
Appointment fee: Paid by carrier
Ohio has reciprocity arrangements with most states and issues non-resident licenses in the same line(s) of authority. Non-resident agents completing CE in their resident state are exempt from Ohio CE requirements. Applications processed through NIPR.
Additional requirements: Must hold active license in good standing in home state.
Renewal Cycle
2 years
Renewal Fee
$70
CE Required
24 hours per cycle
Ethics Hours
3 hours (included in CE total)
Producers must complete 24 hours of CE every 2 years, including 3 hours of Ethics. Renewal is by the last day of the birth month every 2 years. Late renewal: 1-month grace period with $50 late fee; 1 month to 1 year with $100 late fee. Non-resident agents completing CE in their resident state are exempt from Ohio CE requirements.
Regulatory Board
Unique to Ohio: Ohio offers one of the most affordable licensing processes with just a $10 per-line application fee, but has a relatively high fingerprint fee of $72.25. The 180-day validity window for pre-licensing certificates creates urgency to pass the exam quickly. The tiered late renewal penalty system ($50 for first month, $100 after) provides a structured grace period.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Ohio.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#24 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
$46,650
25th percentile
Median
$59,990
-1% vs. national avg ($60,370)Experienced
$82,270
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
15,750 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
You are here
Insurance Agent
$59,990
Pre-licensing education + state exam
You are here
Insurance Agent
Pre-licensing education + state exam
$59,990
Adjuster licensing + claims experience
$60,250
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: Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) — Licensing Requirements
Estimated total: 4–10 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) — Licensing Requirements
1–4 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) — Licensing Requirements
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