Maine Seal

Maine

state commissioner

Robert L. Carey

STATE phone
(207) 624-8475
STATE LICENSE DIVISION ADDRESS

Maine Bureau of Insurance

Address

34 State House Station

Augusta, Maine, 04333

Appointments & Terminations

Required to report appointments?

Yes

Permits Just-in-time (JIT) appointments?

Yes

Initial appointment deadlines

Within 15 days of contract execution or first business submission

Initial appointment deadline rule

Appointments must be submitted within 15 days of the date the agent/agency contract is executed or the first piece of business is submitted to the carrier

Can be processed via nipr?

Yes

Fees for appointing a resident agency or individual?

Individual: $30, Firm: $0

Fees for appointing a nonresident agency or individual?

Individual: $45, Firm: $0

Appoint agencies?

Yes

Agency appointment covers affiliated producers?

No

Adjuster appointments via NIPR?

No

Appointment effective date can be specified?

Yes

Appointment effective date rule

Required and is date supplied on transaction. Must not be in the future or precede appointee/appointer's licensure. Must be less than 20 days old.

State requires appointment renewal?

Yes

Appointment renewals via

Appointment renewals in Maine are handled through an invoice mailed to the Producer Licensing Contact on file with the state.

When is the state renewal period?

Maine renewals are due every two years based on the date of your company’s anniversary month. If your company was first licensed in Maine between January and June, your producer appointment renewals will be in even years. If your company was first licensed July through December, renewals are due in odd years

Appointment renewal fee

$30

Licenses require appointment or affiliation?

No

State terminates appointment if license expires?

Yes

Terminations processed via NIPR?

Yes

Termination reasons

Termination reason code is not required

Termination date can be specified by carrier?

Yes

Termination Effective date rule

Required and is the date supplied on transaction. Must not be in the future and must be less than 20 days old and must not precede the effective date of the appointment

Termination notes

ME does perpetual licenses, but if a license is canceled or suspended or CE is not met in 60 days of license renewal period end, appointments are canceled

Termination fee

No fee

Allows carriers to terminate the appointment if license has expired?

No

Can a not-for-cause termination notice be emailed?

Notices must be mailed

Licensing

Initial individual new license fee

Resident New License Insurance Producer: $40 (All LOAs excluding Surplus Lines)
Resident New License Insurance Producer: $180 (Surplus Lines)
Resident New License Producer Limited: $40
Nonresident New License Insurance Producer: $70 (All lines of authority except Surplus Lines)
Nonresident New License Insurance Producer: $180 (Surplus Lines)
Nonresident New License Producer Limited $70.00

What is the resident individual producer license renewal date?

Licenses in Maine are considered perpetual, but CE is due on or before the last day of birth month every 2 years based on year of birth

When does the nonresident individual producer license renewal period begin?

N/A

What is the nonresident individual producer license renewal date?

None, perpetual

Can a producer use a P.O. Box in their resident or business address?

For individual's business address only

Are individuals required to list their county as part of the address?

No

What addresses are required for individual license maintenance?

Residence, Business, and Mailing

State individual licenses include

Intermediary Insurer Domestic, LHF Insurance Company Foreign, PCF Insurance Company Foreign, Risk Retention Group Foreign, Viaticle Provider Foreign, Temporary Resident, Employee Leasing Foreign, Managing General Agent Nonresident, Med Utilization Review Serv Foreign, Preferred Provider Foreign, Third Party Administrator Foreign, Advisory Organization Domestic, Reinsurance Intermediary Broker Nonresident, Reinsurance Intermediary Manager Nonresident, Risk Purchasing Group Foreign, Producer (Resident), Producer (Nonresident), Consultant (Resident), Consultant (Nonresident), Adjuster (Resident), Adjuster (Nonresident), Producer - Limited Nonresident, Producer Limited Resident, Service Contract Admin Foreign, Service Contract Provider Foreign, Pharmacy Benefits Manager Foreign

State recognizes a licensing exemption for nonresident commercial lines producers with multistate contracts?

Yes

State broker license rule

ME Offers a Consultant license class to Nonresidents but does not include, "A licensed insurance producer who receives a fee in lieu of a commission pursuant to section 1450 if the insurance producer receives a fee for the insurance transaction and not for other services provided;" Therefore, brokers are included in Insurance Producer license in Maine. Insurers are not required to appoint Brokers per NAIC PLMA

Broker license notes

Consultant. "Consultant" means any individual who, for a fee, advises or offers to advise any person insured or seeking insurance or named or to be named as beneficiary, or having or to have any interest in or insured under any property and casualty or life and health insurance contract or annuity contract, existing or proposed. A. "To advise" means to provide information relative to coverage, rights or interests under insurance or annuity contracts, or relative to the retention, exchange, surrender, exercise of rights or other disposition of insurance or annuity contracts. "Consultant" does not include: (1) An attorney licensed to practice who is actively practicing law in this State; (2) An insurance actuary and member or associate of the Society of Actuaries or American Academy of Actuaries; (3) A public accountant certified under Title 32, chapter 113 or a certified public accountant who is certified under Title 32, chapter 113 and in active public practice; (4) A licensed insurance producer who receives a fee in lieu of a commission pursuant to section 1450 if the insurance producer receives a fee for the insurance transaction and not for other services provided; (5) A financial institution or a financial institution holding company if the insurance advice is given as part of its trust department rendering insurance advice in a fiduciary capacity; or (6) A person authorized to act as or on behalf of an investment advisor in accordance with Title 32, section 16403 and 16404 to the extent such activities entail providing insurance advice incidental to financial planning advice

Requires pre licensing courses?

No

Prelicense education requirement

Fingerprints Required?

Not Required

State Pre-Licensing Exam Website

Pearson VUE

How Long are State Pre-Licensing Exams Active?

Two Years

Where to apply for resident license?

NIPR Gateway

What Transactions are Retaliatory Fees Applied to?

None

Submit Partial License Renewals through NIPR?

Yes

Has Personal Lines LOA?

Yes

Deadline to report personal data changes (address, name change, phone number, etc.)

A licensee must notify the Superintendent within 30 days of any change in address, phone number, email address, name, or other material conditions or qualifications set forth in the original license application. Contact Change Request supported via NIPR Gateway.

Name Change Form

- Individual
- Under Licensee Services
- Business Entity
- Under Licensee Services

Penalty for failure to timely report personal data changes

Failure to report a material change in the conditions or qualifications set forth in the original application may result in a late fee or discipline under ME ST T. 24-A § 2188(6) and ME ST T. 24-A § 1420-K.

Agency

Can a sole proprietor be licensed as an entity?

No

DRLP must have active state license

Yes

DRLPs must cumulatively cover all LOAs in application

No

Agency Licensing renewals

90 days prior to license expiration date until expiration date. Late renewal period ends 90 days after expiration. After late renewal period, applicant must submit through initial licensing application.

Agency License required?

Yes

Affiliations: Indicates if producers selling on behalf of/through an entity must be formally affiliated with that entity and if the entity must notify the department of changes

Producers must be formally affiliated when selling on behalf of entity & changes must be reported.

Branch office

Branch office must be licensed

Deadline to report key business entity changes (address, dba, phone, email, etc.)

The business entity must notify the Superintendent of: a. any change in the list of individuals designated to act for the agency within 30 days of such change; b. its members, directors, officers, or partners within 14 days of a request for the information; and c. any change in address, phone number, email address, name, or other material conditions or qualifications set forth in the original license application within 30 days. Business Entities must submit changes on the "Business Entity License Changes" page of the state's website.

Other Agency Requirements

A travel retailer and its employees can offer travel insurance without a license as long as the business is properly licensed as a travel retailer and they limit their insurance activities to the business of travel insurance.

Adjuster

Requires adjuster license?

Yes

Offers designated home state?

Yes

Reciprocity states

AK, AL, AR, AZ, CT, DE, FL, GA, ID, IN, KY, LA, MI, MN, MS, MT, NC, NH, NM, NV, OK, OR, RI, SC, TX, UT, VT, WA, WV

Which states require an exam for reciprocity?

CA, HI, NY, PR, WY

Independent adjuster LOAS

Property & Casualty, Multi-Peril Crop, Workers' Compensation, Limited - Nonresident

Independent adjuster fees

Licensing Fee (Resident): $45. Amendment Fee (Resident): $45 Reinstatement Fee (Resident): $45 Renewal Fee (Resident): $30 Licensing Fee (NR): $75 Reinstatement Fee (NR): $75 Renewal Fee (NR): $60

Independent adjuster exam required?

Yes

Independent adjuster details

Nonresidents can only hold the Limited line of authority.

Public adjuster fees

Emergency adjuster details

An adjuster license is not required for an adjuster if sent to the state by an authorized insurer in the case of a declared catastrophe. Note the rules announced in the catastrophe announcements.

Staff Adjuster LOAs

Resident Adjusting Firm, Nonresident Adjusting Firm

Staff Adjuster Fees

Licensing Fee (Resident): $45 Reinstatement Fee( Resident): $45 Renewal Fee (Resident): $30 Licensing Fee (NR): $75 Amendment Fee (NR): $75 Reinstatement Fee (NR): $75 Renewal Fee (NR): $60

Staff Adjuster Exam Required?

Yes

Staff Adjuster Renewal Period

Biennially, on Oct. 1st in even numbered years for residents and Jan. 1st in even numbered years for nonresidents.

Staff Adjuster Details

DRLP Required.

DHS Exam Required?

Yes

Address change request through NIPR?

Yes

Continuing Education

Total hours per renewal period

24

Renewal period

2 years

CE due before license renewal date?

Yes

License renewal date is

Last day of birth month

License renewal year based on...

Year of birth

Perpetual license?...

Yes

When is the CE due?

Prior licensee birth month, biennially. Licensees born in odd-numbered years will renew in odd years, licensees born in even-numbered years will renew in even years. Licenses are perpetual but will be marked inactive if CE credits are not completed on time.

How long before expiration does state send CE reminder?

6 months before CE due date

How long before expiration does state send CE reminder?

6 months before CE due date

Exemptions to CE

Limited lines agents who don't sell annuities and surplus lines agents are exempt from CE.

What if a producer missed the renewal date?

The license will remain active 60 days after your CE due date to give you time to complete and submit your outstanding CE. If you do that, you’ll have a late penalty, but your license will remain in good standing. If you miss that 60-day period, you’ll need to retake the licensing exam and apply to reinstate your license.

CE instructors get credit for teaching courses?

Yes, once per course every four years

Ethics requirements

3

Flood-specific CE requirements

3 hours of NFIP course

LTC-specific CE requirements

8-hour initial certification, with 4 hours of LTC-specific training each renewal cycle thereafter

Annuity-specific CE requirements

One-time, 4-hour course

Adjusters

No, adjusters, both resident and nonresident, are not currently required to complete continuing education credits to maintain their license. They have a bi-annual renewal fee.

Regulatory Updates

Maine Loads Worker Compensation onto PDB for Adjuster (Nonresident) Licenses

Effective April 11, 2025, Maine will add the Worker’s Compensation line of authority to the Adjuster (Nonresident) license classes, as reflected on the Producer Database Display.

Maine Sends Notice to Verify DHS

Posted February 13, 2025, Maine sent out a notice reminding nonresident adjusters to verify their  Designated Home State (DHS) before the October renewal period. Maine will be reviewing the DHS during the renewal cycle, and if it is incorrect, your application may be rejected, and the fee will be retained.  Adjusters residing in states that do not license adjusters can select a Designated Home State (DHS). The DHS is the state in which the adjuster does not maintain their principal place of residence or business and qualifies for the license as if they were a resident.  A state whose laws permit a nonresident adjuster to designate that state as their home state will require the nonresident to qualify for the license as if the person were a resident.

Maine Adding Additional Nonresident Surplus Lines Broker Requirements

Effective December 13, 2024, Maine will require nonresident applicants applying for a Surplus Lines Broker line of authority to hold Surplus Lines in their resident state.

Maine Cleaning-Up Nonresident Producer License Records

November 1, 2024, Maine will be “cleaning up” individual nonresident producer license records. Under Maine law, a producer must have a valid home state license to hold a Maine nonresident producer license. During the clean-up, these noncompliant licenses will be canceled. This action will occur over the next several weeks and should be completed by the end of 2024. Please see the attachment for more information. Update: November 15, 2024, 7,700 licenses were cancelled effective today Update: November 22, 2024, 15,300 licenses were cancelled effective today Update: December 6, 2024, 9,600 licenses were cancelled effective today

Maine Process Primary Name Updates

Updated November 6, 2024. The new effective date is December 13, 2024 Updated December 5, 2024. The new effective date is December 16, 2024 Effective November 15, 2024, Maine will begin offering a new transaction type to process individual and business entity primary name updates. With this change, Maine isn't allowing the following license classes to submit primary name updates. Click below for the list:

Maine Updates State-Specific Course Approval Form

Effective August 29, 2024, Maine updated the state-specific course approval form. This form is for Maine resident CE providers and providers who are requesting Maine as the courses' home state. Please see attached for more information. 

Maine Updating Rules For Address Change Requests And Allowing Business Entities To Process Address Change Requests

Effective date to be determined, Maine will allow Business Entities to process contact change requests electronically. Additionally, existing individual Contact Change Request processing rules will be updated. Update: Maine has temporarily delayed these updates. Additionally, new requirements have been added to exclude specific license types from submitting contact updates electronically. Contact changes for the license types below will need to be submitted to Maine directly.  - Workers Comp Individual Self-Insurer - Workers Comp Group Self-Insurer - Continuing Retirement Community-Domestic - Continuing care retirement community – foreign - Captive Insurer - Multiple Employer Welfare Domestic   

Maine Will Began Using CE Home State Approval letters

Maine will begin using CE Home State Approval letters. This shows if the course is approved after review by the Maine Bureau of Insurance Continuing Education Advisory Committee. Please see the attachment for more information.

Maine Posts Response to Recently Distributed Misinformation

On July 3, 2024, Maine posted a response to some recently distributed misinformation. The Maine Bureau of Insurance would like to assure all interested parties that there have been NO changes to Maine’s appointment fees, processes or renewal schedules. See attachment for more information.

Maine Updates its Response time Requirements to Superintendent and Application Inquiries

Effective October 25, 2023, Maine updates Bill to document requirements indicating applicants have 10 business days to provide application / disclosure information. Please see attachment for more information.

Maine P&C Surplus Lines Licenses and Premium Tax Changes

Effective October 25, 2023, Maine will be making changes to P&C Surplus Lines Licenses and Premium Taxes.  See attachment for full details.

Maine Updates Law Concerning Cybersecurity Events

On July 19, 2023, Maine updated the law concerning Cybersecurity Events.   See attachment for full details.

Maine Revising Pet Insurance Producer Requirements

Effective October 19, 2023, Maine has revised Pet Insurance Producer requirements for Residents and Nonresidents.

Maine Surplus Lines Premium Tax Change

Maine is retroactively changing Surplus Lines Premium Tax to 3% effective January 1, 2023. See attachment.

Maine Will Add Self Storage Provider License Class for Display

Effective March 24, 2023, Maine will add a Self Storage Provider/Self Storage license to the PDB for display purposes only.

Maine to Add Limited – Home State Line of Authority

Effective March 14th, 2023, Maine will be adding the Limited - Home State line of authority to Producer Limited Nonresident license class.

Maine Updates Requirements for Self-Service Storage Agents

The updates now require the name, address, etc. must be provided. Additionally, the license applicant must appoint the superintendent as the applicant's attorney of all legal process. This applies to both residents and nonresidents.

Maine Changes Surplus Tax Rate

The tax rate will now be 3% and, if in Canada, it will be the highest rate of taxation that applies to the non-admitted insurer. If one does not comply, it will be $25 or 10% (whichever is higher) within 60 days. If reported after this period, it is $25 or 25%. The fee increases the longer one withholds payment.

Maine Requiring Pet Insurance Training

On January 1, 2023, Maine will require Pet insurance carriers to provide training to both residents and nonresidents.

Maine Announces New Website and Procedural Changes

Maine has introduced a new website. With this introduction, they will no longer be mailing hard copy invoices to certain license prefix types.

FAQs

Request a Demo