How Do I Get an Insurance License in Minnesota?

Depending on what type of insurance agent you want to be or what types of policies you need to sell, you will need to choose what type or types of insurance licenses you need to get. After you’ve determined which licenses you need, you must now take your insurance pre-license education courses. The next step after completing all of your pre-license coursework or self-study is to take the insurance exam. You will take one exam for each line of insurance you wish to carry. Life, Health, & Accident (LH&A) and Property & Casualty (P&C) lines are combined exams in Minnesota, so you only have to take two tests if you wish to attain all of these lines of authority. Minnesota requires that all insurance license applications provide fingerprints prior to licensing. Giving your fingerprints will initiate a background check. If you have any prior misdemeanors or felonies, this may affect the outcome of your licensing efforts. After you have completed your exams and fingerprinting, the next step is to apply for your license. If you have more than one line of authority that you have passed the exam for, be sure to apply for all of those lines. Once you have submitted your application and passed your exams, your license application will be reviewed by the state. Your background check will also be reviewed. For more information, call the Minnesota Department of Insurance at (651) 539-1600 or email the department.

How Do I Get a State Adjuster License in Minnesota?

Your first step is to take and pass the Minnesota Insurance Adjuster License exams. Depending on the lines of authority you wish to carry, you may need to take more than one exam. The State of Minnesota requires that all insurance license applications provide fingerprints prior to licensing. Giving your fingerprints will initiate a background check. If you have any prior misdemeanors or felonies, this may affect the outcome of your licensing application. If you have specific questions regarding things that may come up on your background check you may call the Minnesota Department of Commerce at (651) 539-1600 or send them an email. Once you have completed your exams, fingerprinting, and have submitted your application and have completed all the other requirements, your license application will be reviewed by the state. This process generally takes about ten (10) business days. Depending on the results of your background check, the Department of Insurance may request more information or documentation.

How do I renew my insurance license in Minnesota?

The state of Minnesota requires that resident individual licensees complete twenty-four (24) credit hours of continuing education every two-year renewal period. Three (3) of those hours must be in the subject of ethics. At least twelve (12) hours of the courses must be completed in a classroom or an equivalent course type. After you have completed your continuing education and you are within sixty (60) days of your license expiration, you may renew your Minnesota insurance license online. The CE transcript must show that you are CE compliant on or before your expiration date before the renewal will be approved. Producer license renewal fees are $50 per line of authority plus any third-party filing fees. Renewals may be submitted online. <a href="https://agentsync.io">AgentSync</a> can also help with the renewal process.

How do I renew my nonresident insurance license in Minnesota?

Applicants must appear on <a href="https://content.naic.org/">NAIC </a>Producer Database with an active resident license in good standing in another state for each line of authority applied for on their nonresident application. Individuals can obtain a producer license before being appointed by an insurance company, but an appointment is required in order to transact business in the state of Minnesota. Producer license renewal fees are $50 per line of authority plus any third-party filing fees. Renewals may be submitted online. Additionally, the Minnesota nonresident license terminates immediately if the resident license terminates. <a href="https://agentsync.io">AgentSync</a> can also help with the renewal process.

How Do I renew My Non-Resident Adjuster License in Minnesota?

Minnesota adjuster license renewal is required of all license-holders every two (2) years before the expiration date. The expiration date of your license is set as the last day of your birth month. Minnesota grants licensure to nonresident applicants holding their resident adjuster license or, if hailing from a state with no licensing requirements, a license from another state (e.g. a resident of holding a designated home state Texas adjuster license). There is a fee of $50 to renew your Minnesota license with a $30 technology surcharge. All renewals must be completed via an application on NIPRs website. For more information, contact the Minnesota Commerce Department – Insurance Division.

How Do I Renew My Adjuster License In Minnesota?

Minnesota adjuster license renewal is required of all license-holders every two (2) years before the expiration date. The expiration date of your license is set as the last day of your birth month. Minnesota adjusters must complete 24 hours of insurance continuing education before their license renewal deadline, including three (3) hours of ethics coursework, to upkeep your adjuster license. At least twelve (12) hours of the courses must be completed in a classroom or an equivalent course type. At least 12 of those hours must not be sponsored by, offered by, or affiliated with an insurance company or its agents. There is a fee of $50 to renew your Minnesota license with a $30 technology surcharge. All renewals must be completed via an application on NIPRs website. For more information, contact the Minnesota Commerce Department – Insurance Division.

Minnesota

state commissioner

Grace Arnold

STATE email

licensing.commerce@state.mn.us

STATE phone

(651) 539-1600

STATE LICENSE DIVISION ADDRESS

Consumer & External Affairs Attn: Licensing Minnesota Department of Commerce

Address

85 7th Place East

Suite 600

Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55101

Visit State Website

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?

$30

Fees for appointing a nonresident agency or individual?

$30

Appoint agencies?

Adjuster appointments via NIPR?

Appointment effective date can be specified?

Yes

Appointment effective date rule

Required and is the date supplied on transaction. Must not be in the future and must be less than 30 days old.

State requires appointment renewal?

Yes

Appointment renewals via

Minnesota portal

Appointment renewal fee

No fees

Licenses require appointment or affiliation?

Terminations processed via NIPR?

Yes

Termination reasons

Cancelled by general agent

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 30 days old.

Termination fee

No fee

Allows carriers to terminate the appointment if license has expired?

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

Notices must be mailed

Licensing

Initial individual new license fee

Resident New License Insurance Producer: $50 (per LOA)
Resident New License Surplus Lines Producer: $500
Nonresident New License Insurance Producer: $50 (per LOA)
Nonresident New License Surplus Lines Producer: $500

License renewal fee

Resident Renewal Insurance Producer: $50 Resident Renewal Surplus Lines Producer: $500 Nonresident Renewal Insurance Producer: $50 Nonresident Renewal Surplus Lines Producer: $500

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 birth month every 2 years based on year of first state license issue

Late renewal or reinstatement period for resident individual producer license?

Late renewal allowed up to one year after expiration

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 birth 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?

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

What addresses are required for individual license maintenance?

Residence, Business, and Mailing

State individual licenses include

Managing General Agent, Third Party Administrator, Temporary Resident Insurance Producer, Surplus Lines, Property & Casualty, Life, Insurance Producer, Resident Public Adjuster, Catastrophe Adjuster, Nonresident Reinsurance Intermediary Managers, Nonresident Reinsurance Intermediary Brokers, Resident Reinsurance Intermediary Managers, Resident Reinsurance Intermediary Brokers, Nonresident Independent Adjuster, Nonresident Public Adjuster, Resident Independent Adjuster, Nonresident Indep Adjuster Agency, Resident Crop Hail Adjuster, Nonresident Crop Hail Adjuster, Nonresident Portable Elect Insurance Vnd, Resident Insurance Producer, Resident Surplus Lines, Resident Travel Insurance Producer, Risk Retention, Pharmacy Benefit Manager

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

Yes

State broker license rule

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

Broker license notes

An agent licensed in Minnesota may solicit insurance applications on behalf of an insurer who has not appointed the agent. This is allowed only when the it is in response to the needs of a customer and is done so through an appointed agent of the insurer

Requires pre licensing courses?

Yes

Study method requirements

Classroom study, verifiable self-study or combination of both

Submission of completion certificate rule

The applicant must present a course completion certificate at the test center each time before being allowed to take the license exam.

How long is the pre licensing certification valid?

Not specified

Exemptions to pre licensing requirements

Pre-license education requirements do not apply to: a. an applicant for limited lines farm property liability line of authority or the variable life and annuity line of authority; b. an applicant with a 2-year insurance degree from a Minnesota vocational school; c. an applicant with a 4-year college degree in business with an emphasis on insurance; d. an applicant for the life line of authority who holds any of the following designations: I. CEBS; II. ChFC; III. CIC; IV. CFP; V. CLU; VI. FLMI; or VII. LUTCF; e. an applicant for the health line of authority who holds any of the following designations: I. RHU; II. CEBS; III. REBC; or IV. HIA; or f. an applicant for the property, casualty, or personal lines P & C line of authority who holds any of the following designations: I. AAI; II. ARM; III. CIC; or IV. CPCU.

Prelicense education requirement

First-time applicants must complete 20 hours of classroom study, verifiable self-study, or a combination of both, per major line of authority. a. The course must include an introduction to insurance and insurance related concepts covering all major lines of authority except variable life and annuities. b. Courses must cover a specific major line of authority

Fingerprints Required?

Yes, for Resident Licensing

Fingerprint Submission Details

Taken at exam site via IdentGO. If the fingerprints are submitted manually the background check consent form must be signed.

State Pre-Licensing Exam Website

PSI Exams

How Long are State Pre-Licensing Exams Active?

Three Years

Where to apply for resident license?

NIPR Gateway

Other licensing notes

Applicant is not required to pass the exam prior to submitting the license application.

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.)

Licensed agents must notify the Commissioner within 10 days of a change of name or address. Adjusters must notify the Commissioner within 30 days of a change in name or home/business address. Contact Change Request supported via NIPR Gateway.

Name Change Form

Individual and Business Entity

Agency

Can a sole proprietor be licensed as an entity?

Yes

DRLP must have active state license

Yes

DRLPs must cumulatively cover all LOAs in application

Agency Licensing renewals

90 days prior to expiration until October 31st.

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

Branch office

License not required but branch must be registered

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

Licensed agents must notify the Commissioner within 10 days of a change of name or address. Business Entities make address changes the "Business Entities" page of the state's website.

Adjuster

Requires adjuster license?

Yes

Offers designated home state?

Yes

Reciprocity states

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

Which states require an exam for reciprocity?

CA, HI, NY, PR

Independent adjuster LOAS

Property & Casualty, Crop, Workers' Compensation

Independent adjuster fees

Licensing Fee: $50 Amendment Fee: $50 Renewal Fee: $50 Late Renewal Fee: $100

Independent adjuster exam required?

Yes

Speciality adjuster renewal date

Biennially, on October 31st.

Apprentice adjuster license details

There is no apprentice license, but MN does let someone undergo training under the supervision of a licensed adjuster. This training period cannot exceed 12 months.

Public Adjuster Renewal Period

90 days prior to expiration until October 31st.

Public Adjuster LOAs

Property & Casualty, Crop, Workers' Compensation

Public adjuster fees

Licensing Fee: $50 Amendment Fee: $50 Renewal Fee: $50 Late Renewal Fee: $100

Public adjuster exam required?

Yes

Emergency adjuster details

MN offers a catastrophe adjuster license. The Lines of Authority are Property & Casualty, Crop, and Workers' Compensation.

Specialty Adjuster

Crop/Hail Adjuster

Specialty Adjuster Fees

Licensing Fee: $50 Renewal Fee: $50

Specialty Adjuster Exam Required?

Yes

Specialty Adjuster Renewal Period

Biennially, on October 31st.

DHS Exam Required?

Yes

Address change request through NIPR?

Yes

Continuing Education

Total hours per renewal period

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 first license issuance

When is the CE due?

Prior to license expiration.

How long before expiration does state send CE reminder?

60 days prior to expiration date

How long before expiration does state send CE reminder?

60 days prior to expiration date

Exemptions to CE

What if a producer missed the renewal date?

You have up to 12 months to reinstate your license for a penalty of double the unpaid renewal fee. After that 12-month period, you’ll be reapplying as if you were a totally new producer or adjuster.

Ethics requirements

Flood-specific CE requirements

3 hours of NFIP course

LTC-specific CE requirements

8-hour initial certification, with 5 hours of LTC-specific training each renewal cycle thereafter, must be specific to Minnesota Medicaid and Minnesota Partnership plans

Annuity-specific CE requirements

One-time, 4-hour course

Adjusters

Adjusters must complete 24 CE hours, including 3 hours of ethics per license period.

Check CE transcripts

https://mn.gov/commerce/licensing/list/education-licensees/licensees/

Additional line of business requirements

At least 12 hours have to be outside of carrier seminars Anyone selling or providing support staff for MNsure products must have MNsure-specific training

For more from agentsync

https://agentsync.io/blog/individual-producers/insurance-continuing-education-michigan

Regulatory Updates

Minnesota Technology Fee Update

Effective May 1, 2023 Minnesota updated the technology fees from $15 to $10.

New Website Design for Minnesota

Minnesota has announced a new website design for a modern look and efficiency.

Minnesota Updates Annuity Training Requirements

Producers with a Life line of authority on December 31, 2022, and wish to sell annuities will be required to complete a training course no later than 7/1/23. This training must be a four hour course, or a 1-time, 1-credit course. If the license is obtained on or after January 1, 2023, is not eligible to sell until the course work is complete. The course title is "Best Interest Standards of Conduct for Annuity Sales".

Minnesota Reduces Technology Surcharge Fee

Effective May 2, 2022, The technology surcharge fee is to be reduced from $20 to $15 for producer license applications, renewals, and reinstatements.

FAQs

How Do I Get an Insurance License in Minnesota?

Depending on what type of insurance agent you want to be or what types of policies you need to sell, you will need to choose what type or types of insurance licenses you need to get. After you’ve determined which licenses you need, you must now take your insurance pre-license education courses. The next step after completing all of your pre-license coursework or self-study is to take the insurance exam. You will take one exam for each line of insurance you wish to carry. Life, Health, & Accident (LH&A) and Property & Casualty (P&C) lines are combined exams in Minnesota, so you only have to take two tests if you wish to attain all of these lines of authority.

Minnesota requires that all insurance license applications provide fingerprints prior to licensing. Giving your fingerprints will initiate a background check. If you have any prior misdemeanors or felonies, this may affect the outcome of your licensing efforts.

After you have completed your exams and fingerprinting, the next step is to apply for your license. If you have more than one line of authority that you have passed the exam for, be sure to apply for all of those lines. Once you have submitted your application and passed your exams, your license application will be reviewed by the state. Your background check will also be reviewed.

For more information, call the Minnesota Department of Insurance at (651) 539-1600 or email the department.
How Do I Get a State Adjuster License in Minnesota?

Your first step is to take and pass the Minnesota Insurance Adjuster License exams. Depending on the lines of authority you wish to carry, you may need to take more than one exam. The State of Minnesota requires that all insurance license applications provide fingerprints prior to licensing. Giving your fingerprints will initiate a background check. If you have any prior misdemeanors or felonies, this may affect the outcome of your licensing application. If you have specific questions regarding things that may come up on your background check you may call the Minnesota Department of Commerce at (651) 539-1600 or send them an email.

Once you have completed your exams, fingerprinting, and have submitted your application and have completed all the other requirements, your license application will be reviewed by the state. This process generally takes about ten (10) business days. Depending on the results of your background check, the Department of Insurance may request more information or documentation.
How do I renew my insurance license in Minnesota?

The state of Minnesota requires that resident individual licensees complete twenty-four (24) credit hours of continuing education every two-year renewal period. Three (3) of those hours must be in the subject of ethics. At least twelve (12) hours of the courses must be completed in a classroom or an equivalent course type. After you have completed your continuing education and you are within sixty (60) days of your license expiration, you may renew your Minnesota insurance license online.

The CE transcript must show that you are CE compliant on or before your expiration date before the renewal will be approved. Producer license renewal fees are $50 per line of authority plus any third-party filing fees.

Renewals may be submitted online. AgentSync can also help with the renewal process.
How do I renew my nonresident insurance license in Minnesota?

Applicants must appear on NAIC Producer Database with an active resident license in good standing in another state for each line of authority applied for on their nonresident application. Individuals can obtain a producer license before being appointed by an insurance company, but an appointment is required in order to transact business in the state of Minnesota.

Producer license renewal fees are $50 per line of authority plus any third-party filing fees.

Renewals may be submitted online. Additionally, the Minnesota nonresident license terminates immediately if the resident license terminates. AgentSync can also help with the renewal process.
How Do I renew My Non-Resident Adjuster License in Minnesota?

Minnesota adjuster license renewal is required of all license-holders every two (2) years before the expiration date. The expiration date of your license is set as the last day of your birth month.

Minnesota grants licensure to nonresident applicants holding their resident adjuster license or, if hailing from a state with no licensing requirements, a license from another state (e.g. a resident of holding a designated home state Texas adjuster license).

There is a fee of $50 to renew your Minnesota license with a $30 technology surcharge. All renewals must be completed via an application on NIPRs website.

For more information, contact the Minnesota Commerce Department – Insurance Division.
How Do I Renew My Adjuster License In Minnesota?

Minnesota adjuster license renewal is required of all license-holders every two (2) years before the expiration date. The expiration date of your license is set as the last day of your birth month.

Minnesota adjusters must complete 24 hours of insurance continuing education before their license renewal deadline, including three (3) hours of ethics coursework, to upkeep your adjuster license. At least twelve (12) hours of the courses must be completed in a classroom or an equivalent course type. At least 12 of those hours must not be sponsored by, offered by, or affiliated with an insurance company or its agents.

There is a fee of $50 to renew your Minnesota license with a $30 technology surcharge. All renewals must be completed via an application on NIPRs website.

For more information, contact the Minnesota Commerce Department – Insurance Division.