California
Ricardo Lara
California Department of Insurance Producer Licensing Bureau
Appointments & Terminations
Yes
Yes
Within 14 days of first business submission (L/H)Within 15 days of appointment effective date (P/C)
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
Yes
$32
$58
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Required and is the date supplied on transaction.
No, perpetual
No fees
Yes
Yes
Voluntary termination; inadequate production; cancelled by general agent; death; company defunct or liquidation; company indebtedness; poor policyholder service; agent moved
Yes
Required and is the date supplied on transaction. Must not be in the future
There is no grace period on license expiration. If license expires, appointments must be renewed with appropriate forms and fees
$32
Licensing
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
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
90 days before expiration
Last day of license anniversary month every 2 years based on year of first state license issue
90 days before expiration
Last day of license anniversary month every 2 years based on year of first state license issue
Late renewal allowed up to one year after expiration
No
No
Residence, Business, and Mailing
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
Yes
Included in Producer License Class. Insurers are not required to appoint Brokers per NAIC PLMA
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
Yes
Classroom / monitored self study
Must be submitted upon request
Pre-licensing certificates of completion expire 3 years from the course completion date whether or not license is issued.
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.
Yes, for both Residents and Non Residents
NIPR Gateway
None
Yes
Yes
A licensee must immediately notify the Commissioner electronically of any change in his/her email, residence, principal business, or mailing address. Contact Change Request supported via NIPR Gateway.
Agency
No
Yes
Yes
90 days prior to expiration date until the license expiration date. Late renewal ends one year past expiration date.
Yes
Yes
License not required but branch must be registered
Adjuster
Yes
No
N/A
AK, AR, AZ, CT, DE, GA, ID, KY, LA, ME, MI, MN, MS, MT, NC, NH, NM, NV, SC, UT, VT, WA
AL, FL, HI, IN, NY, OK, OR, PR, RI, TX, WV, WY
No LOA required
Licensing Fee (Two year term): $311 per qualified manager. Examination Fee: $79
Yes
Biennially on the last day of that same calendar month the license was issued.
Fingerprints required
Biennially, on the last day of that same calendar month the license was issued.
No LOA required
$264
No Exam Required
1 Year
Those that complete the apprentice license term of 12 months will meet the experience requirement of 2 years for the California Adjuster license.
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
24
2 years
Yes
Last day of license anniversary month
Year of first license issuance
Prior to license expiration.
90 days prior to expiration date
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].
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.
Yes
3
3 hours of NFIP course
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
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 Added Examination Language Requirements
On September 19, 2023, California communicated additional language requirements for examinations. Examinations must be provided in certain languages as discussed below. a. From 1/1/2018 to 1/1/2024, the life agent and accident and health or sickness agent license examinations will be provided in English and Spanish. b. Beginning 1/1/2024, the life agent, accident and health or sickness agent, property broker-agent, and casualty broker-agent examinations must be provided in English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean. c. On or after 7/1/2024, the life agent, accident and health or sickness agent, property broker-agent, and casualty broker-agent examinations must be provided in Tagalog.
California License Exam Requirement Changes
Effective January 1, 2024, California is making license exam requirement changes. See attachment for full details.
California Will Hold Public Hearing Concerning Renewal of Export List in Surplus Lines Area
California Will Hold Public Hearing Concerning Renewal of Export List in Surplus Lines Area
California Bulletin – No Changes to Surplus Lines Export List
Pursuant to California Insurance Code §1763.1, I, by order, may declare eligible for placement with a non-admitted insurer, exempt from all of the requirements of California Insurance Code §1763, (except the filing of a confidential written report), any type of insurance coverage or risk for which, after a public hearing, I find that there is not a reasonable or adequate market among admitted insurers or that the type of coverage is for new, innovative products for which a reasonable or adequate market among admitted insurers has not had time to develop. In 2022, as required by law, my Department held a public hearing and comment period regarding the annual renewal of the list. After the public hearing and receiving comments, I decided to not make any changes to the Export List. See attachment for full details.
California Announces New Online Services for Bail License
The Bail Fugitive Recovery Persons Act will take effect July 1, 2023 (Assembly Bill 2043, Jones-Sawyer, Chapter 768, Statutes of 2022). This Act requires all individuals who are currently or would like to be a Bail Fugitive Recovery Person to be licensed by the California Department of Insurance (Department). See attachment for full details.
California New Electronic Funds Transfer Bank Account and Routing Numbers
Effective May 31, 2023, US Bank will be replacing Union Bank for all Automated Clearing House Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) transactions with California Department of Insurance (Department). First Data and Fiserv services will not be impacted and will continue to work with US Bank. The EFT bank account and routing numbers will change for ACH credit method. No change is expected on ACH debit method. See attachment for full details.
California LOA Description Updates
Effective May 11, 2023, California will update several LOA descriptions for Life Settlement Broker and Reinsurance Intermediary Broker license classes. Additionally, they will add a new License Class called Fugitive Recovery Agent on the PDB for display only
California Background Check Disclosure Reminder
California sent a reminder for background check disclosures. California Insurance Code (Cal. Ins. Code) section 1729.2 requires all licensees and applicants to report any changes in background information to the California Department of Insurance (CDI) within 30 days of the date the licensee or applicant learns of the change in background information. See attachment for full details.
California Announces New Coverage Codes
California announced new coverage codes for Surplus Lines filers. See attachment for details.
California Course Provider Update
Effective March 1, 2023, CA 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 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.
California Publishes Surplus Lines Export List
California released their surplus lines export list. They noted that, after review, the list has not changed.
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.
FAQs
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How do I Get an Insurance License in California?
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