California Seal

California

state commissioner

Ricardo Lara

STATE phone
(800) 967-9331
STATE LICENSE DIVISION ADDRESS

California Department of Insurance Producer Licensing Bureau

Appointments & Terminations

Required to report appointments?

Yes

Permits Just-in-time (JIT) appointments?

Yes

Initial appointment deadlines

Within 14 days of first business submission (L/H)Within 15 days of appointment effective date (P/C)

Initial appointment deadline rule

Life/Health/Annuity lines permit JIT appointments; appoinments must be submitted within 14 days of the date the first piece of business is submitted to the carrier. Property/Casualty lines DO NOT permit JIT appointments; Property/Casualty appointments must be submitted prior to the solicitation of business. The appointment must be submitted to the DOI within 15 days of the appointment effective date, which is determined by the carrier and listed on the appointment form

Can be processed via nipr?

Yes

Fees for appointing a resident agency or individual?

$32

Fees for appointing a non resident agency or individual?

$58

Appoint agencies?

Yes

Agency appointment covers affiliated producers?

No

Adjuster appointments via NIPR?

Yes, P&C adjusters

Appointment effective date can be specified?

Yes

Appointment effective date rule

Required and is the date supplied on transaction.

State requires appointment renewal?

No, perpetual

Appointment renewal fee

No fees

Appointment Terminated if license expires?

Yes

Terminations processed via NIPR?

Yes

Termination reasons

Voluntary termination; inadequate production; cancelled by general agent; death; company defunct or liquidation; company indebtedness; poor policyholder service; agent moved

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

Termination notes

There is no grace period on license expiration. If license expires, appointments must be renewed with appropriate forms and fees

Termination fee

$32

Licensing

Initial individual new license fee

Resident New License Insurance Producer: $188 (all LOAs other than those specified) Resident New License Insurance Producer: $188 (Life-Only Agent and/or Accident and Health Agent) Resident New License Insurance Producer: $188 (Property Broker Agent and/or Casualty Broker Agent) Resident New License Insurance Producer: $188 (Personal Lines Broker Agent) Resident New License Insurance Producer: $646 (Surplus Lines Broker, Special Lines SL Broker) Resident New License Personal Lines Broker: $188 Non Resident New License Insurance Producer: $188 (all LOAs other than those specified) Non Resident New License Insurance Producer: $188 ( Life-Only Agent and/or Accident and Health Agent) Non Resident New License Insurance Producer: $188 (Property Broker Agent and/or Casualty Broker Agent) Non Resident New License Personal Lines Broker: $188

License renewal fee

Resident Renewal Insurance Producer: $188 Resident Renewal Insurance Producer: $188 Resident Renewal Insurance Producer: $188 Resident Renewal Insurance Producer: $188 Resident Renewal Personal Lines Broker: $188 Non Resident Renewal Insurance Producer: $188 Non Resident Renewal Insurance Producer: $188 Non Resident Renewal Insurance Producer: $188 Non Resident Renewal Personal Lines Broker: $188

When does the resident individual producer license renewal period begin?

90 days before expiration

What is the resident individual producer license renewal date?

Last day of license anniversary month every 2 years based on year of first state license issue

When does the nonresident individual producer license renewal period begin?

90 days before expiration

What is the nonresident individual producer license renewal date?

Last day of license anniversary month every 2 years based on year of first state license issue

Late renewal or reinstatement period for nonresident individual producer license?

Late renewal allowed up to one year after expiration

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

No

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

Resident Vehicle Service Contract Provider-Agency, Non-Resident Vehicle Service Contract Provider-Agency, Life/Disability, Independent Adjuster, Property & Casualty, Public Adjuster, Resident Title Marketing Representative, Reinsurance Intermediary Broker, Reinsurance Intermediary Manager, Adjuster, Crop Adjuster, Resident Insurance Producer, Resident Per Lines Broker-Agent, Non-Resident Per Lines Broker-Agent, Resident Credit Insurance Agent, Non Resident Credit Insurance Agent, Resident Life Settlement Broker, Bail, Apprentice Public Adjuster, Non Resident Life Settlement Broker, Non Resident Insurance Producer

Appointment Terminated if license expires?

Yes

State broker license rule

Included in Producer License Class. Insurers are not required to appoint Brokers per NAIC PLMA

Broker license notes

Following the California update to the uniform Producer Licensing Model Act on 5/27/2022, California will include broker licensing under LC 3 Insurance Producer for both residents and non-residents

Requires pre licensing courses?

Yes

Study method requirements

Classroom / monitored self study

Submission of completion certificate rule

Must be submitted upon request

How long is the pre licensing certification valid?

Pre-licensing certificates of completion expire 3 years from the course completion date whether or not license is issued.

Exemptions to pre licensing requirements

Applicants holding one or more of the following designations are exempt from general insurance course requirements: a. Life Underwriting Training Council Fellow (LUTCF); b. Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU); c. Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI); d. Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU); e. Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC); f. Certified Employee Benefit Specialists (CEBS); g. Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC); h. Certified Financial Planner (CFP); i. Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI); j. Health Insurance Associate (HIA); k. Registered Employee Benefits Consultant (REBC); l. Registered Health Underwriter (RHU); or m. Associate in Risk Management (ARM). Applicants completing the following course requirements are exempt from general insurance course requirements: a. an approved insurance-related course taught by an accredited college or university totaling 15 credit hours; b. an approved course or instruction program created or sponsored by an authorized insurer, recognized agents' association or insurance trade association, or any independent instruction program may qualify for the number of classroom hours assigned by the curriculum board or the Commissioner; or c. an approved correspondence course may qualify for the number of classroom hours assigned by the Commissioner. Life agents are exempt if they are appointed to sell only life insurance or annuities: a. with a face amount of $20,000 or less; and b. designated for the payment of funeral or burial expenses.

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

Yes

Agency Licensing renewals

90 days prior to expiration date until the license expiration date. Late renewal ends one year past expiration date.

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

Yes

Branch office

License not required but branch must be registered

Adjuster

Requires adjuster license?

Yes

Offers designated home state?

No

DHS exam required?

N/A

Reciprocity states

AK, AR, AZ, CT, DE, GA, ID, KY, LA, ME, MI, MN, MS, MT, NC, NH, NM, NV, SC, UT, VT, WA

Which states require an exam for reciprocity?

AL, FL, HI, IN, NY, OK, OR, PR, RI, TX, WV, WY

Independent adjuster LOAS

No LOA required

Independent adjuster fees

Licensing Fee (Two year term): $311 per qualified manager.  Examination Fee: $79

Independent adjuster exam required?

Yes

Independent adjuster renewal date

Biennially on the last day of that same calendar month the license was issued.

Independent adjuster details

Fingerprints required

Speciality adjuster renewal date

Biennially, on the last day of that same calendar month the license was issued.

Apprentice adjuster license LOAS

No LOA required

Apprentice adjuster license fees

$264

Apprentice adjuster license exam required?

No Exam Required

Apprentice adjuster license duration

1 Year

Apprentice adjuster license details

Those that complete the apprentice license term of 12 months will meet the experience requirement of 2 years for the California Adjuster license.

Emergency adjuster details

After an emergency is declared, the qualified licensed adjusters are required to read and understand the CDI’s most recent Notice and guide within 15 calendar days of when that individual began adjusting claims.

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 license anniversary month

License renewal year based on...

Year of first license issuance

When is the CE due?

Prior to license expiration.

How long before expiration does state send CE reminder?

90 days prior to expiration date

Exemptions to CE

Any person who is 70 years of age or older, and has been licensed in good standing for 30 continuous years is exempt from completing continuing education to renew Life and/or Fire & Casualty licenses. However, the licensee must still satisfy the California LTC requirement to sell long-term care insurance, as well as the annuities training in order to sell annuity products. [This exemption will no longer be available after the California full adoption of the NAIC Producer Licensing Model Act goes into effect in May 2022].

What if a producer missed the renewal date?

Licensee has one year to apply for reinstatement under your original license (as well as paying a 50% late fee). Until reinstatement, one can’t transact any insurance business. This doesn't apply to bail agents, who have to reapply as a new applicant if their license is not renewed prior to expiration.

CE instructors get credit for teaching courses?

Yes

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; must be specific to California laws, no state equivalents accepted

Annuity-specific CE requirements

8-hour initial certification, with 4 hours of annuity-specific training each renewal cycle thereafter; must be specific to California laws, no other state-equivalents accepted

Regulatory Updates

California Announces New Coverage Codes

California announced new coverage codes for Surplus Lines filers.

California Course Provider Update

Effective 3/1/2023 Educational Objectives will include a required one hour study on insurance fraud.

California Requires License Numbers on Emails

Beginning on 1/1/2023, California will have in place a new law requiring license numbers on emails regarding any activity for the several listed license types.

California Publishes Surplus Lines Export List

California released their surplus lines export list. They noted that, after review, the list has not changed.

California Announces their Stance on the Roe v. Wade Overturning

California has shared information on how California law protects insurance coverage for abortion. They have made it clear that they protect reproduction freedom and insurance coverage for abortion and that defending people's right to healthcare is a top priority.

PLMA Update: California Changes Initial and Renewal Applications

California will turn off the initial and renewal applications starting at 1PM CST. The application turn on time has not changed. This update relates to previous updates on the conversion to PLMA standards.

Updates to California Converts to PLMA Standards

The conversion to PLMA standards is now to take effect on May 27th. Appointments and terminations applications will be turned off on May 20, 2022, at 6:00 pm central. See the original post for more details on the impact of this conversion.

Update to California Converts to PLMA Standards

This update calls out that with this conversion, specific licenses and license qualifications will be converted to comply with PLMA standards. Current licenses will become inactive on May 27, 2022 and new license types will be added to the record.

Update to California Moving to PLMA Standards

The turn-off date has been updated to 8AM CST on May 6, 2022.

California Converts to PLMA Standards

May 12, 2022, California will be converting existing Producer license class descriptions to meet PLMA standards. This will impact licensing, termination, and renewals for both residents and non-residents, entities and individuals.

California to Remove Non-Uniform Questions Related to Surplus and Special Lines

California is removing Non-Uniform questions related to Surplus and Special lines. This will apply to the individual entity type. A business rule is being added stating the required bond needing to be on file with the state in order for the license request to be approved. The questions to be removed asked about the bonds existence. Effective Date not yet announced.

California – Adding Non-Uniform Questions

California is adding new Non-Uniform (State specific) questions on March 25th, 2022 that will impact initial and renewal applicants for both individual and business entities and residents and non-residents.

California Issues a Reminder to Update Background Information and Report Changes

California requires all licensees (residents and non-residents) to report any changes in background information to CDI within 30 days of learning of the change.

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