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Insurance Agent
Training: 0 hours | Exam: Yes
Governing Authority
South Dakota Division of Insurance (within the Department of Labor and Regulation)
Official website →Some details on this page are not yet confirmed against an official source. See sources below or contact the licensing board to verify.
Not required
P&C Education
Not required
L&H Education
Biennial (based on producer's birth month)
Renewal Cycle
$258.25
Gov. Fees (Both)
Insurance Producer (Resident 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.
Compare top-rated insurance pre-licensing schools in South Dakota.
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
Not sure if you need a insurance agent license? Check whether your state requires one.
South Dakota Life, Accident & Health or Sickness Producer Exam
Questions
145 questions
Time Limit
150 minutes
Passing Score
70%
Administered By
Pearson VUE
Cost of failing
Retake fee: $95Invest in preparation to pass the first time.
How long should you study? Most candidates study 2–4 weeks before taking the South Dakota Life, Accident & Health or Sickness Producer Exam.
Study Materials & Exam Prep — Life & Health Insurance License Exam
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Complete Your Pre-Licensing Education in South Dakota
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| 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.
Use our licensing cost calculator to estimate your total investment including education and exam fees.
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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
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare South Dakota with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
Renewal Cycle
Biennial (based on producer's birth month)
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.
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.
Insurance Agent requirements in nearby states
Other professional licenses in South Dakota
See how South Dakota compares: Insurance Agent License Fees by State — Cheapest to Most Expensive →
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Explore requirements for other professional licenses in South Dakota.
Insurance Agent Schools in South Dakota
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Official Sources
Insurance Agent requirements in South Dakota verified against South Dakota Division of Insurance (within the Department of Labor and Regulation), April 2026.
Moving to South Dakota? Use our free Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Already licensed elsewhere? See how to transfer your Insurance Agent license to South Dakota →
Transfer your Insurance Agent license from South Dakota to: Iowa → | Minnesota → | Montana → | Nebraska → | North Dakota → | Wyoming →
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