Florida Seal

Florida

state commissioner

Michael Yaworsky

STATE phone
(850) 413-3140
STATE LICENSE DIVISION ADDRESS

Department of Financial Services Bureau of Licensing

Address

200 East Gaines Street

Room 419

Tallahassee, Florida, 32399

Appointments & Terminations

Required to report appointments?

Yes

Permits Just-in-time (JIT) appointments?

Yes

Initial appointment deadlines

Within 45 days of appointment effective date

Initial appointment deadline rule

Appointments must be submitted within 45 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?

$60

Fees for appointing a nonresident agency or individual?

$60 additional per county and a $6 fee must be paid for every county in which a nonresident agent intends to physically transact insurance. Nonresident Adjusters do not pay a county fee.

Appoint agencies?

No

Adjuster appointments via NIPR?

No

Appointment effective date can be specified?

Yes

Appointment effective date rule

Required. Date effective is the date supplied on transaction. Effective date must not precede effective date of appointee license. Effective date must not precede effective date of appointer license. Effective date must not be in the future.

State requires appointment renewal?

Yes

Appointment renewals via

Florida portal

When is the state renewal period?

Every 24 months during the appointee's birth month

Appointment renewal fee

$60 per appointment

Licenses require appointment or affiliation?

Yes

State terminates appointment if license expires?

Yes

Terminations processed via NIPR?

Yes

Termination reasons

Voluntary termination; death; request regulatory review

Termination date can be specified by carrier?

Yes

Termination Effective date rule

Required and is the date supplied on transaction. Must be 33 days old or less and precede the effective date of the appointment. Must not be in the future

Termination notes

Although Florida licenses are perpetual, operating without an appointment can cause your license to be placed inactive. Additionally, failure to complete CE can cause a license to go inactive, which in turn will cancel appointments If there is a contract between the producer and the carrier, and the contract states the notification can be via email, then email is permissible.

Termination fee

No fee

Allows carriers to terminate the appointment if license has expired?

No

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

Email notices are permitted

If email is allowed, can notice be in body text?

Within the email body text

Licensing

Initial individual new license fee

Resident New License Insurance Producer: $50 (all lines except Title) Nonresident New License Insurance Producer: $50 (all lines except Title)

What is the resident individual producer license renewal date?

Florida licenses are perpetual and do not require renewal. However, if a producer doesn't complete required CE by the deadline (last day of the producer birth month every 2 years based on year of first state license issue), then the state will place the license into inactive status.

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?

No

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

Yes

What addresses are required for individual license maintenance?

Residence, Business, and Mailing

State individual licenses include

Agent, Managing General Agent, Third Party Administrator, Donor Annuity, Home Warranty Association, Life and Health Insurer, Motor Vehicle Service Agreement Company, Property/Casualty Insurer, Rating Organization, Risk Retention Group, Broker, Risk Purchasing Group, Public Adjuster, Adjuster, Service Representative, Manager, Miscellaneous, Designated Home State Adjuster

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

No

State broker license rule

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

Broker license notes

While the Florida Department of Financial Services Bureau of Licensing said “Florida does not differentiate between brokers and producers,” the state allows agents to have an “unaffiliated” status if they are “self-appointed.” In this capacity, Florida recognizes that self-appointed agents are acting as independent insurance consultants – they can’t have an affiliation or appointment with any other agency or carrier. Further, they are forbidden from receiving any commissions or incentives from the carriers on products they negotiate during the period they are unaffiliated

Requires pre licensing courses?

Yes

Study method requirements

Classroom / monitored self study

Submission of completion certificate rule

The provider submits proof of completion. The individual must submit transcript for college credit with application.

How long is the pre licensing certification valid?

Course completion certificate is valid for 4 years

Exemptions to pre licensing requirements

An individual who was or became qualified to sit for the agent's or adjuster's examination while he/she was employed by the Department or Office and who had responsible insurance duties as a full-time employee may take an examination if application for the examination is made within 4 years after employment termination. Individuals holding a limited license for travel, motor vehicle rental, credit, in-transit and storage personal property, or portable electronics are not subject to the pre-licensing education requirements.

Prelicense education requirement

Life agent license applicants must complete 1 of the following methods of prelicense education within 4 years before application: a. 30 hours of coursework in life insurance, annuities, and variable contracts, including 3 hours of ethics (courses must include instruction on unauthorized entities engaging in the business of insurance); b. 60 hours of approved coursework covering multiple areas of insurance, including life insurance, annuities, variable contracts, and 3 hours of ethics (courses must include instruction on unauthorized entities engaging in the business of insurance); c. an active ChFC, FMLI, or CLU designation; d. hold an active life insurance license in a reciprocal state; or e. at least 1 year of employment with the Department or Office, if: I. the employment was full time in life insurance regulatory matters; II. was not terminated for cause; and III. application for examination is made within 4 years after termination of this employment. Health agent license applicants must complete 1 of the following methods of pre-license education within 4 years before application: a. 40 hours of approved coursework in health insurance, including 3 hours of ethics (courses must include instruction on unauthorized entities engaging in the business of insurance and the Florida Nonprofit Multiple-Employer Welfare Arrangement Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, as it relates to the provision of health insurance by employers to their employees and the regulation thereof); b. 60 hours of approved coursework covering multiple areas of insurance, including health insurance, and 3 hours of ethics (courses must include instruction on unauthorized entities engaging in the business of insurance); c. an active CLU, RHU, ChHC, REBC, CEBS, or HIA designation; d. hold an active health insurance license in a reciprocal state; or e. at least 1 year of employment with the Department or Office, if: I. the employment was full time in health insurance regulatory matters; II. was not terminated for cause; and III. application for examination is made within 4 years after termination of this employment. An applicant for a general lines agent's license may not be licensed unless, within the 4 years immediately before application, the applicant has: a. taught or successfully completed 200 hours of courses covering property, casualty, surety, health, and marine insurance, including 3 hours of ethics; b. completed at least 1 year as a full-time employee in all lines of property and casualty insurance, without the education requirement in (a) above; or c. completed 1 year as a licensed and appointed customer representative, service representative, or personal lines agent and 40 hours of Department-approved coursework covering property, casualty, surety, health, and marine insurance. An applicant for a personal lines agent license may not be licensed unless, within the 4 years immediately before application, the applicant has: a. taught or completed 60 hours of coursework in property, casualty, and inland marine insurance, including 3 hours of ethics; b. completed at least 6 months as a full-time employee in of property and casualty insurance sold to individuals or families for noncommercial purposes, without the education requirement in (a) above; or c. completed at least 6 months as a licensed and appointed customer representative, limited customer representative, or service representative in property and casualty insurance

Fingerprints Required?

Yes, for both Residents and Nonresidents

Fingerprint Submission Details

Florida applicants must be fingerprinted by MorphoTrust USA. To register and pay for fingerprinting, go to www.L1enrollment.com/FLInsurance. Additional information can be found on Florida's website at http://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/Agents. If you submitted fingerprints to Florida in the last 12 months, you're not required to submit fingerprints. If you currently hold a valid Florida license and submitted fingerprints within the last 48 months, you're not required to submit fingerprints.

State Pre-Licensing Exam Website

Pearson VUE

How Long are State Pre-Licensing Exams Active?

One Year

Citizenship requirement details

Non-citizens must submit a copy of your work authorization documentation to agentlicensing@myfloridacfo.com

Where to apply for resident license?

NIPR Gateway

Other licensing notes

After license application submission, please setup a MyProfile account at the state of Florida in order to monitor the status of the transaction. MyProfile account can be setup at: https://DICE.fldfs.com

What Transactions are Retaliatory Fees Applied to?

None

Submit Partial License Renewals through NIPR?

No Renewals

Has Personal Lines LOA?

Yes

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

Licensees and navigator registrants must notify the Department in writing within 30 days after a change in name, residence address, principal business street address, mailing address, contact telephone numbers (including business numbers), or e-mail address. Contact Change Request supported via NIPR Gateway or an be completed on FL MyProfile portal.

Name Change Form

Licensees must mail or email the request to change your name, date of birth, or social security number. You must attach LEGIBLE supporting documentation (marriage certificate, articles of incorporation, driver's license, social security card, etc.) to one of the locations below.
- Florida Department of Financial Services
- Bureau of Agent and Agency Licensing
- 200 E. Gaines Street, Room 419
- Tallahassee, FL 32399-0319
- AgentLicensing@MyFloridaCFO.com

Penalty for failure to timely report personal data changes

Failure to report a change will result in a maximum fine of $250 for the first offense. A fine of at least $500 will be imposed, or suspension or revocation of the license, for any subsequent offenses.

Agency

Can a sole proprietor be licensed as an entity?

Optional

DRLP must have active state license

Yes

DRLPs must cumulatively cover all LOAs in application

No

DRLP Notes

DRLP must have active appointment for at least one major LOA (life, health, general lines, life & variable annuities, personal lines).

Agency Licensing renewals

License is perpetual as long as agent in charge is licensed.

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

Not required, but the agency can only transact business for the lines of authority their agents are licensed and appointed for.

Branch office

License not required but branch must be registered

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

Licensees and navigator registrants must notify the Department in writing within 30 days after a change in name, residence address, principal business street address, mailing address, contact telephone numbers (including business numbers), or e-mail address. Contact Change Request supported via NIPR Gateway.

Adjuster

Requires adjuster license?

Yes

Offers designated home state?

Yes

Reciprocity states

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

Which states require an exam for reciprocity?

CA, HI, NY,

Independent adjuster LOAS

All-Lines

Independent adjuster fees

Initial Licensing & Application Fee: $50 Independent Adjuster Appointment Fee: $60 No Renewal Fee

Independent adjuster exam required?

Yes

Apprentice adjuster license LOAS

Public Adjuster Apprentice License

Apprentice adjuster license fees

Licensing Fee: $50 Appointment Fee: $60

Apprentice adjuster license duration

6 Months

Apprentice adjuster license details

6 Months minimum or 100 hours within 12 months to become licensed.

Public Adjuster Renewal Period

Perpetual. No renewal is required. The license will expire if no appointment has been held in 48 months.

Public Adjuster Details

A surety bond of $50,000 is required and one also go through an apprenticeship to become fully licensed or 12 months of equal experience.

Public Adjuster LOAs

All-Lines

Public adjuster fees

Licensing Fee: $50 Appointment Fee: $60

Public adjuster exam required?

Yes

Emergency adjuster details

Emergency licenses will last 180 days past their activation date. The individuals must be an accepted adjuster (independent or business) and pay all applicable fees. As of Aug. 2023, applications can be completed via the Florida portal via MyProfile: https://dice.fldfs.com/public/pb_index.aspx.

Requires Staff Adjuster License

Yes

Staff Adjuster Reciprocal States

CT, DE, KY, LA, NV, NH, NM, NC, OK, RI, SC, TX, VT, WV, WY

DHS Exam Required?

Yes

Requirements to Adjust a Worker's Compensation Claim

An individual will need to apply for and obtain the 6-20/7-20(R and NR) All Lines Adjuster license and then obtain the appropriate appointment.

Address change request through NIPR?

Yes

Continuing Education

Total hours per renewal period

24

Renewal period

2 years

License renewal date is

Last day of birth month

License renewal year based on...

Year of first license issuance

Perpetual license?...

Yes

When is the CE due?

On the last day of the licensee's birth month, biennially.

Exemptions to CE

Those licensed for 6 years must maintain 20 hours CE, 5 for ethics and 15 elective. Those licensed for 25 years or more, and those who are CLUs or CPCUs, or who have an insurance-specific bachelor of science degree must maintain 10 hours of CE per cycle, with 5 ethics and 5 elective.

What if a producer missed the renewal date?

Although the license is perpetual, Florida may issue a fine and terminate your carrier appointments and refuse to reinstate new appointments until you make up the CE and pay your fine.

CE instructors get credit for teaching courses?

Yes

Can rollover excess hours?

Yes

Amount of rollover credits allowed

Up to 24 hours

Ethics requirements

5 hours Florida law and ethics

Flood-specific CE requirements

3 hours of NFIP courses

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 (in addition to any product-specific training the insurance carrier deems necessary)

Additional line of business requirements

Non-agent customer representatives and industrial fire license holders have 10 hours of CE (5 ethics, 5 elective) Bail bond agents must complete 5 hours ethics plus 9 hours electives Title agents must complete a minimum of 10 hours with 3 ethics (Florida doesn't recognize state reciprocity for nonresident title agent CE)

Regulatory Updates

Florida Go-Live SLIP+

Update: Effective December 31, 2024, Florida will be retiring the legacy SLIP platform and moving everyone to the SLIP+ platform.  Posted November 14, 2024, Florida announced starting November 18, 2024, all Surplus Lines Information Portal (SLIP) users will be redirected to SLIP+, which was launched in beta a month ago. You will use your existing SLIP credentials to log into SLIP+. Please use the link below for more information. [SLIP+ Update](https://createsend.com/t/r-DA109A4EBC79F0B52540EF23F30FEDED)

Florida Grants 60-Day CE Extension

Effective October 7, 2024, Florida has granted a 60-day continuing education extension to all licensees with continuing education due in the following months: October, November, and December 2024. Please see the attachment for more information.

Florida SLIP+ Beta Rollout Announcement

Posted October 8, 2024, Florida has announced the beta rollout of its upgraded system, SLIP+. Florida uses this system for filing surplus lines information and taxes in accordance with state law. Florida is encouraging customers to log into SLIP+ to familiarize themselves with its workflow before the legacy SLIP system is retired. Please use the link below for more information. [SLIP+ Newsletter](https://createsend.com/t/r-99B0C6E7E90321122540EF23F30FEDED) Update: All SLIP users will be redirected to SLIP+ effective November 18, 2024

Florida Branch Filling During State Of Emergency

Posted September 24, 2024, Florida declared a state of emergency due to Hurricane Helene. Florida also advised about branch filing requirements during a state of emergency regarding using a temporary location.  The registrant should use its best efforts to provide written notification to the Division of Securities no later than five days after relocating. The notice should include the following information: Office address, entities involved, names of registered personnel, and telephone number. Please see the attachment for more information.

Surplus Lines Premium Tax Discounts

Effective September 10, 2024, Florida added the following for filing of Surplus Lines forms. Each surplus lines agent subject to paying the premium tax must provide discounts for certain policies with an effective date between October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025, and must file information regarding these deductions on a quarterly basis.

Florida Implements New Rule Around Tax Identification Numbers And CE Renewal Date Display

Effective October 11, 2024, Florida will implement a new rule to decline individual applications if the Tax Identification Number begins with the number nine. Additionally, the Continuing Education Renewal Date will begin to display on the Producer Database for Florida license classes that require CE.   Update: September 24, 2024, the Continuing Education Renewal Date displaying will be pushed back to a later date. At this time, no ETA.

Florida Change to Appointment Requirement in Order to Sell for Citizens Insurance Corp

Starting July 1, Florida insurance agents must have at least three appointments with authorized carriers before they can sell policies for the state-created Citizens Property Insurance Corp. See Section 14 of the attached bill for details.  

Florida Issues Statement Regarding Online Proctored Exams

On February 15, 2024, Florida issued the following state regarding online proctored exams.

Florida Follow Up Message Relate to MyProfile Updates

On September 8, 2023, Florida issued a statement related to recent MyProfile updates.  

Florida Announced Emergency Adjuster Application is Now Available on MyProfile Page

On August 29, 2023, Florida announced that the Emergency Adjuster Application is now available on the MyProfile page.  See attachment for full details.  

Florida New Exam Content Outline

Effective January 1, 2024, Florida and Pearson VUE are releasing new exam content outline.  See attachment for full details.

Florida Has Announced Changes to MyProfile

Effective August 9, 2023 Florida strengthened the MyProfile log-in and account creation process.  See attachment for full details.

Florida Changing Pre-License Education Requirement

Effective July 1, 2023, Florida is changing Pre-License Education Requirement for Residents to reduce the number of coursework hours to be completed in life insurance, annuities, and variable contracts from "40 hours" to "30 hours."

Florida Rule Changes for Residents and Nonresidents

Effective May 25, 2023, Florida made specific changes to their state statutes. See attachment for high level list of changes.

Florida Added Annuity Training Requirement

Effective January 1, 2023, Florida is adding an annuity training requirement for Residents. Specific training requirements apply to agents who transact annuity products.      a.   An agent must have adequate annuity product knowledge and comply with the insurer's standards for product training.  Agents may rely on insurer-provided product-specific training standards and materials to comply with this paragraph.      b.   In addition to the insurer-provided product-specific training, agents must complete a one-time 4-hour training course.           I.   The training course is separate from the CE requirements in FL ST § 626.2815.  The course may be eligible for CE credit if the course provider submits and receives approval from the Department.          II.   Agents who hold a life line of authority and who sell annuities must complete the course: (1)   by 7/1/2024, if already licensed on 1/1/2024;                      or  (2)   prior to selling annuities, if the producer was licensed after 1/1/2024. III.   The training must cover: (1)   the types of annuities and various classifications; (2)   identification of the parties to an annuity; (3)   how product-specific annuity contract features affect consumers; (4)   the application of income taxation of qualified and non-qualified annuities; (5)   the primary uses of annuities; and (6)   appropriate standard of conduct, sales practices, replacement, and disclosure requirements. IV.   Additional topics may be offered in conjunction with the required topics. V.   The training course may not cover: (1)   marketing information; (2)   sales techniques; or (3)   specific information about a particular insurer's products. VI.   An agent who has completed an annuity training course before 1/1/2024, must, by 7/1/2024, complete either: (1)   a new 4-hour training course; or (2)   an additional 1-hour training course on appropriate sales practices, replacement, and disclosure requirements. VII.   Training may be completed by classroom or self-study methods. VIII.   Satisfaction of substantially similar requirements in another state will satisfy FL ST § 627.4554(6). IX.   Satisfaction of the training requirement components of a course with components substantially similar to FL ST § 627.4554(6) provisions will satisfy this statute's training requirements. X.   An insurer must verify that an agent has completed training before allowing the agent to sell annuity products.

Florida Updates its Emergency Adjuster Ruling

Effective May 21, 2023, Florida updates its emergency adjuster ruling. See attached.

Florida Will Add Customer Service Representative License Class

Effective immediately, Florida offers the Customer Service Rep License Class.

Florida Issues State of Emergency for Hurricane Nicole

On November 14, 2022, the Governor of Florida issued a state of emergency for the entire state of Florida. Therefore, no insurer can cancel a personal or commercial residential property insurance policy covering damaged property from both Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole for up to 90 days.

Florida to Display Emergency Adjuster License Class on PDB

Effective October 19, 2022, Florida will display the Emergency Adjuster license class on the PDB.

Florida extending Continuing Education Dates Due to Hurricane

Several Continuing Education Compliance dates will be extended about 3 months due to the impact of Hurricane Ian.

Florida Emergency Adjuster License Update

Florida has activated their application for companies and adjusting firms to apply for emergency adjuster licenses due to Hurricane Ian. Direction to apply are included in the attachement.

Florida Updates Forgot Password Process

Previously the Forgot Password process had been turned off for maintenance. The process will now include an email to the email address on record with a verification code to be entered in the MyProfile section.

Florida To Add New Firm License Classes for PDB Display

Florida is now including Resident Insurance Adjuster Firm and Nonresident Insurance Adjuster Firm business entity license classes to be displayed on the PDB.

Florida Changes Fingerprint Requirements

Florida announces that a fingerprint fee is no longer required and the fingerprints must be processed in compliance with FL ST § 624.34. This will then be used to investigate if the applicant is qualified.

Florida Adjusts where Adjusting Firm Licenses can be Verified

In November 2021, Florida began adjusting firms. These licenses are yet to be displayed in the PDB.

Florida has Changed Payment Vendors for the Online Applications and eAppoint Systems

Florida has changed payment vendors for the online application and eAppoint systems. This will result in some payment screens changing in appearance and the option to enter an email to receive payment confirmation.

Surplus Lines Alert For Several Jurisdictions

Several states have released key information on Surplus Lines and can be found in the attached document.

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