Loading...
Loading...
How to get an insurance license in South Dakota. P&C: 0 pre-licensing hours. L&H: 0 hours. Government fees: $258.25 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
Not required
P&C Education
Not required
L&H Education
2 years
Renewal Cycle
$258.25
Gov. Fees (Both)
Insurance Producer
South Dakota licenses insurance producers by lines of authority. Available lines include Life, Accident & Health/Sickness, Property, Casualty, Personal Lines, and combined lines (Life & Accident/Health, Property & Casualty). CE requirements vary based on which lines are held.
Other Available Lines of Authority
No pre-licensing education required
Not required.
South Dakota Property & Casualty Producer Exam
Administered by Pearson VUE
145
Questions
70%
Passing Score
150 minutes
Time Limit
$95
Exam Fee
Combined Property & Casualty exam: 145 questions (130 scored, 15 pretest), 2.5 hours, $95. Single-line exams (Property only or Casualty only): 85 questions (75 scored, 10 pretest), 2 hours, $85. Both in-person and remote (OnVUE) testing available through Pearson VUE.
No pre-licensing education required
Not required.
South Dakota Life, Accident & Health or Sickness Producer Exam
Administered by Pearson VUE
145
Questions
70%
Passing Score
150 minutes
Time Limit
$95
Exam Fee
Combined Life, Accident & Health or Sickness exam: 145 questions (130 scored, 15 pretest), 2.5 hours, $95. Single-line exams (Life only or Accident & Health only): 85 questions (75 scored, 10 pretest), 2 hours, $85.
Minimum Age
18 years old
Education
No formal education requirement specified beyond passing the licensing exam
Residency
Must apply as resident producer if domiciled in South Dakota. Non-resident licenses available through NIPR or Sircon.
Background Check
Criminal background check with fingerprinting required. Fingerprints must be submitted through a Livescan machine located in South Dakota.
Fingerprinting
Not required
Citizenship
US citizen or authorized to work in the US
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee Licensing fee through NIPR or Sircon. Plus small transaction fee. | $25 |
P&C Exam Fee Combined Property & Casualty exam fee. Single-line (Property only or Casualty only) is $85. | $95 |
L&H Exam Fee Combined Life, Accident & Health or Sickness exam fee. Single-line is $85. | $95 |
Fingerprinting Fee Agency/State and FBI background check fee ($43.25). Personal/State only is $26.75. Additional vendor fees may apply for Livescan fingerprinting. | $43.25 |
Total Gov. Fees (Single Line) Application ($25) + one combo exam ($95) + fingerprint/background ($43.25) = $163.25. Does not include NIPR transaction fee. | $163.25 |
Total Gov. Fees (Both Lines) Application ($25) + P&C combo exam ($95) + L&H combo exam ($95) + fingerprint/background ($43.25) = $258.25. Does not include NIPR transaction fee. | $258.25 |
Pre-Licensing Course Cost: $0 (not required)(per line)
Pre-licensing education is not required. Voluntary study courses typically cost $150-$400 per line.
Register and schedule your Property & Casualty exam through Pearson VUE. Pay the $95 exam fee.
Pass the Property & Casualty exam with a score of 70% or higher.
Complete fingerprinting at an approved Livescan location in South Dakota. Pay the $43.25 background check fee.
Submit your license application through NIPR or Sircon with the $25 licensing fee.
Receive your license from the South Dakota Division of Insurance.
Register and schedule your Life, Accident & Health or Sickness exam through Pearson VUE. Pay the $95 exam fee.
Pass the Life, Accident & Health or Sickness exam with a score of 70% or higher.
Complete fingerprinting at an approved Livescan location in South Dakota. Pay the $43.25 background check fee.
Submit your license application through NIPR or Sircon with the $25 licensing fee.
Receive your license from the South Dakota Division of Insurance.
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.
Appointment fee: Paid by carrier
Non-resident licenses available through NIPR or Sircon. Non-resident applicants must hold a valid resident license in their home state.
Additional requirements: Non-resident applicants must submit application through NIPR with home state license in good standing
Renewal Cycle
2 years
Renewal Fee
$25
CE Required
24 hours per cycle
Ethics Hours
3 hours (included in CE total)
CE requirements vary by lines held: 10 hours for agents holding only Life/Health OR only Property/Casualty; 20 hours for agents holding BOTH Life/Health AND Property/Casualty. Effective October 1, 2025, SD removed the limit on CE credits from insurance company-sponsored courses.
Regulatory Board
Unique to South Dakota: South Dakota has a unique tiered CE system: agents holding only one major line (Life/Health OR Property/Casualty) need only 10 hours, while those holding both need 20 hours. The state also transitioned to State-Based Systems (SBS) from NIPR in July 2025. South Dakota is one of the most affordable states with only a $25 application and renewal fee.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in South Dakota.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#17 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
$54,060
25th percentile
Median
$61,630
+2% vs. national avg ($60,370)Experienced
$98,610
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
2,010 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
$61,630
Pre-licensing education + state exam
You are here
Insurance Agent
Pre-licensing education + state exam
$61,630
Adjuster licensing + claims experience
$73,810
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: South Dakota Division of Insurance, Department of Labor and Regulation — Licensing Requirements
Estimated total: 4–10 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: South Dakota Division of Insurance, Department of Labor and Regulation — Licensing Requirements
1–4 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: South Dakota Division of Insurance, Department of Labor and Regulation — Licensing Requirements
Study guides for P&C, life & health, and other insurance licensing exams.
Browse Study Guides on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Shop essential tools and supplies to get started in your career.
South Dakota does not require pre-licensing education, but you still need to pass the licensing exam. Exam prep courses can significantly improve your pass rate.
We may earn a commission if you enroll through links on our site. This does not affect our recommendations or the price you pay.