New York Seal

New York

state commissioner

Adrienne Harris

STATE email

licensing@dfs.ny.gov

STATE phone
(518) 474-6630
STATE LICENSE DIVISION ADDRESS

New York State Department of Financial Services

Address

One State Street

New York, New York, 10004

Appointments & Terminations

Required to report appointments?

Yes

Permits Just-in-time (JIT) appointments?

Yes

Appointment exemptions and notes

Many New York appointments are processed offline not via NIPR: https://myportal.dfs.ny.gov/

Initial appointment deadlines

Within 15 days of contract execution or first business submission

Initial appointment deadline rule

JIT appointments permitted. 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?

No fee

Fees for appointing a nonresident agency or individual?

No fee

Appoint agencies?

Yes

Agency appointment covers affiliated producers?

No

Agency appointment notes

Agencies that are designated to receive commissions from the carrier need to be appointed.

Adjuster appointments via NIPR?

No

Appointment effective date can be specified?

No

Appointment effective date rule

Date is the date transaction is processed by the state.

State requires appointment renewal?

Yes

Appointment renewals via

Carriers can pay the invoice posted by the state on the NIPR portal.

Appointment renewal fee

No fees

Licenses require appointment or affiliation?

Yes

State terminates appointment if license expires?

Yes

Terminations processed via NIPR?

No

Termination date can be specified by carrier?

No

Termination Effective date rule

Required (but ignored) and is the date transaction is processed by the state. Must not be in the future

Termination notes

After initial renewal period, a producer must have an appointment or won’t be eligible for renewal

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 Property and Casualty Broker (duration is less than 1 year) $40,
Resident Property and Casualty Broker (duration is greater than 1 year) $80,
Resident Life/Accident & Health Broker (duration is less than 1 year) $40,
Resident Life/Accident & Health Broker (duration is greater than 1 year) $80,
Resident Life/Accident & Health Agent (duration is less than 1 year) $40,
Resident Life/Accident & Health Agent (duration is greater than 1 year) $80,
Resident Property and Casualty Agent (duration is less than 1 year) $40,
Resident Property and Casualty Agent (duration is greater than 1 year) $80.
If CE is required, an additional $10 fee is charged at the license level. New York doesn't charge an applicant to add a line of authority to an existing active license.
Resident Excess Lines: $50 (county population of less than 100,000/Issued for greater than one year)
Resident Excess Lines: $400 (county population of over 100,000/Issued for greater than one year)
Nonresident Excess Lines: $25 (county population of less than 100,000/Issued for less than one year)
Nonresident Excess Lines: $200 (county population of more than 100,000/Issued for less than one year)
Nonresident New Producer License fee varies by Resident State.

License renewal fee

Resident Renewal Property and Casualty Broker $80, Resident Renewal Life/Accident & Health Broker $80, Resident Renewal Life/Accident & Health Agent $80, Resident Renewal Property and Casualty Agent $80 If CE is required, an additional $10 fee is charged at the license level. If the renewal is submitted within 60 days of license expiration date, then an additional $10 fee is assessed. Nonresident Renewal Fee varies by Resident State. Resident Renewal Excess Lines: $50 Nonresident Renewal Excess Lines: $400

When does the resident individual producer license renewal period begin?

180 days before expiration

What is the resident individual producer license renewal date?

Birth date every 2 years based on year of birth

Late renewal or reinstatement period for resident individual producer license?

Applicants are exempt from exams if submitting within two years of a license expiration date

When does the nonresident individual producer license renewal period begin?

180 days before expiration

What is the nonresident individual producer license renewal date?

Birth date every 2 years based on year of birth

Late renewal or reinstatement period for nonresident individual producer license?

Late renewal allowed up to 60 days after expiration with a $10 late fee

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

Property and Casualty Broker, Life/Accident & Health Broker, Property and Casualty Agent, Life/Accident & Health Agent, Excess Line, Title Insurance Agent, Life Consultant, General Consultant, Limited Rental, Life Settlement Broker, Bail Bondsman, Service Contract Registration, Independent Adjuster, Life Settlement Provider, Public Adjuster, Life Broker, Sublicensee, Reinsurance Intermediary, Viatical Broker

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

Yes

State broker license rule

Resident A license is required to act as a broker in New York. A license grants authority for all lines of authority except bail bond, life insurance, variable life, and variable annuity products. Nonresident may obtain a license to act as a broker in New York. A license grants authority for all lines of authority except bail bond, life insurance, variable life, and variable annuity products. NY allows carriers the option of appointing brokers but does not require them to be appointed.

Requires pre licensing courses?

Yes

Study method requirements

Classroom or online The Department eliminated the requirement that a monitor be present to complete producer CE and pre-licensing course exams.

Submission of completion certificate rule

The certificate must be presented to the exam administrator and must be filed with the application.

How long is the pre licensing certification valid?

No expiration

Exemptions to pre licensing requirements

An applicant is exempt from pre-license education if the applicant: a. is applying for a life agent or life settlement broker license and holds 1 of the following designations: I. Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU); or II. Chartered Life Underwriter Associate (CLUA); b. is applying for a life broker license and holds 1 of the following designations: I. Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU); II. Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC); or III. Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS); or c. is applying for a property/casualty agent or broker license and holds a CPCU designation.

Prelicense education requirement

Broker Pre-licensing education is required for all applicants. The pre-licensing education requirement can be met by: a. completing 90 hours of approved courses in property and casualty insurance; b. completing 40 hours of classroom or correspondence work in life insurance; or c. claiming any of the following exemptions: I. filing a "Statement of Employer" documenting regular employment by a licensed insurer, broker, or agent for at least 1 year in the previous 3 years relating to underwriting or adjusting losses or a demonstration of responsible insurance duties in any of the following lines: (1) fire; (2) marine; (3) liability; (4) workers' comp; (5) fidelity and surety; (6) estate conservation and distribution in the lines of life, accident and health, or annuity contracts; (7) employee benefits; or (8) business continuation; II. filing documentation of regular employment by a licensed insurer, broker, or agent for at least 1 year in the previous 3 years before serving in the U.S. military; or III. submitting a clearance letter from former home state showing that he or the business entity was licensed in good standing in the Producer Database records, and the application must be submitted within 90 days after the cancellation of the previous license. Pre-licensing education is not required of individuals designated as a: a. Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU); b. Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU); c. Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC); or d. Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS). Agent Before taking the written examination, an applicant for an agent license must complete pre-licensing education: a. a life agent or an accident and health agent must complete 40 hours of classroom or correspondence work in life insurance, annuity contracts, disability insurance, accident and health insurance, and related insurance; b. a property and casualty agent must complete 90 hours of classroom work or correspondence work (a course offered over the internet or a similar situation) in property and casualty insurance; c. a personal lines agent must complete 40 hours of classroom work or correspondence work (a course offered over the internet or a similar situation) in personal coverage insurance

Fingerprints Required?

Not Required

State Pre-Licensing Exam Website

PSI Exams

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?

Resident Licensing

What Determines the Retaliatory Fee?

Producer Home State

Submit Partial License Renewals through NIPR?

No

Has Personal Lines LOA?

Yes

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

A licensee must give notice to the Superintendent within 30 days of a change of address. Contact Change Request supported via NIPR Gateway.

Name Change Form

Individual and Business Entities can process via NIPR

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

Yes

DRLP Notes

DRLP must be an owner, partner, officer, director. DRLP must hold broker license or sublicensee of broker license for property and casualty if applying to excess lines.

Agency Licensing renewals

Businesses renew June 30 in odd years. Renewal starts 120 days prior to license expiration date until expiration date. No late renewal.

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

Only officers/directors/partners/members are affiliated.

Branch office

License not required but branch must be registered

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

A licensee must file notice within 10 days of: a. a change of address of a satellite office; b. establishing an additional location of business; or c. replacement of the designated person at the additional location. A licensee must give notice to the Superintendent within 30 days of a change of address. Business Entities must submit address changes via the state's website.

Adjuster

Requires adjuster license?

Yes

Offers designated home state?

No

Reciprocity states

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

Which states require an exam for reciprocity?

AL, CA, DE, FL, IN, OK, OR, PR, RI, TX, WA, WV, WY

Independent adjuster LOAS

Independent Adjuster

Independent adjuster fees

Licensing Fee (More than one year): $100 Licensing Fee (Less than one year): $50

Independent adjuster exam required?

Yes

Public Adjuster Renewal Period

Biennially, on Dec. 31st on even numbered years.

Public Adjuster Details

The candidate must submit a bond in the amount of $1000 to cover the licensing period.

Public Adjuster LOAs

No LOA Required

Public adjuster fees

Licensing Fee (More than one year): $100 Licensing Fee (Less than one year): $50

Public adjuster exam required?

Yes

Emergency adjuster details

A temporary permit for 120 days max can be issued to a resident or nonresident adjuster to act as an independent adjuster on behalf of an authorized insurer for claims related to the emergency.

DHS Exam Required?

N/A

Appraiser Details

There are no Appraiser license in New York, however, all salaried employees of an authorized insurer or adjustment bureau maintained by insurers who writes any motor vehicle body repair estimate in this state to estimate motor vehicle repair costs or procedures can act as appraisers. Public Adjusters cannot participate in Motor Vehicle claims.

Address change request through NIPR?

Yes

Continuing Education

Total hours per renewal period

15-30

Renewal period

2 years

CE due before license renewal date?

Yes

License renewal date is

Birth date

License renewal year based on...

Year of birth

When is the CE due?

Prior to license expiration.

How long before expiration does state send CE reminder?

180 days prior to expiration date.

How long before expiration does state send CE reminder?

180 days prior to expiration date.

Exemptions to CE

What if a producer missed the renewal date?

A license in expired status can be reinstated by submitting a relicensing application. If the license has been expired for less than 2 years, you must meet all Continuing Education (CE) requirements to relicense. If the license has been expired for more than 2 years, you must re-qualify for the license.

CE instructors get credit for teaching courses?

Yes

Ethics requirements

1 hour ethics, 1 hour insurance law

Credits must be specific to major LOAs?

Yes

Major lines requirements

15 CE per LOA up to 30 hours At least one hour of insurance law instruction At least one hour of ethics and professionalism instruction At least one hour of diversity, inclusion, and elimination-of-bias instruction At least one hour of flood instruction, if the licensee is licensed to sell one or more lines of property/casualty

Flood-specific CE requirements

3 hours of NFIP course

LTC-specific CE requirements

Onetime 6-hour course

Adjusters

No

Regulatory Updates

New York Zero Premium Tax Statements Filing For Surplus Lines

Posted January 9, 2025, The Excess Line Association of New York (ELANY)  posted a bulletin providing information on the filing of "ZERO" premium tax statements through the Department of Financial Services (DFS) portal if they meet ALL of the following criteria: - No surplus lines business was written in New York for the year 2024 - No transactions were reported to Excess Line Association of New York (ELANY) for any endorsements/cancellations - No premium taxes or credits are due for 2024 and prior years. Please see the attachment for more information.

New York Business Entity Renewal Cycle

Effective January 3, 2025, New York will turn off the ability to renew business entities electronically. New York is making an update on the renewal window from 180 days before the license expiration date to 120 days before the license expiration date.

New York Added A New Company For Excess & Surplus Lines Insurers

Posted December 24, 2024, New York added a new company to the list of Excess & Surplus lines (E&S) insurers, maintained by the Excess Line Association of New York (ELANY). Please see the attachment for more information.

New York Foreign E&S Minimum Updates

Effective January 1, 2025, New York will require all foreign Excess and Surplus (E&S) insurers writing business in New York are required to maintain a minimum surplus to policyholders of $49,000,000. Please take a look at the attachment for more information. 

New York License Status “Cancelled” Renewal Updates

Effective December 13, 2024, New York applicants with a Status Reason of “Cancelled” with a future expiration date will not be able to submit electronically. They will need to contact the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) for additional information. New York applicants with a Status Reason of “Cancelled” and an expiration date in the past will still be able to be processed electronically.

Excess Lines Association of New York General Guidance With Reporting Fees

Posted November 5, 2024, Excess Lines Association of New York (ELANY) posted a bulletin going over general guidance regarding insurer and broker fees based on questions being sent to the department. Please see the attachment for more information.

New York Implements New Transaction Type for Primary Name Changes

Effective June 14, 2024, New York will implement a new transaction type to support primary name changes for individuals and business entities.

The National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) Issues a Flier Announcing Additional Licensing through NIPR for New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) for Brokers and Agents

The National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) Issues a Flier Announcing Additional Licensing through NIPR for New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) for Brokers and Agents. NIPR is now processing NY resident and nonresident licensing and renewals for all major lines / core limited lines license offerings for Individuals. Additionally, NIPR also plans to expand NYDFS business entity licensing services, please see attached flier for more detailed information.

New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) Updates Appointments Backdating Rule

Effective December 21, 2023, New York will not allow appointments to be backdated and will ignore any submissions with a backdate. Appointment Issue date will be the system date.

P&C Surplus Lines Licenses and Premium Tax – NY

On November 2, 2023, New York DFS published license fees and terms for firms and individuals.  **For Resident Individuals** For information regarding excess line broker licensure and links to forms, go to: [`https://on.ny.gov/31RTgdl`](https://on.ny.gov/31RTgdl)      a.   If the individual already holds a property/casualty           broker license, click on "Manage Your License" then           "Add-A-line".       b.   If the individual does not yet hold a property/casualty           broker license, click on "Apply for Your License" then           "Individual Original/TBA License Application".      c.   Initial and renewal license applications must be           submitted electronically through the Department of           Financial Services (DFS) Portal. **For Resident Firms** Initial entity license applications or applications to add a      sublicensee to the license can be submitted either      electronically through the DFS Portal or by mailing a paper      application to the Department.      a.   Click on "Apply for Your License" then "Entity           Original Application" for a link to the DFS Portal.      b.   Email licensing.applications@dfs.ny.gov for the           paper application. 7\.   License renewals must be submitted electronically through      the DFS Portal. **For Nonresident Individuals** 6\.   License renewals must be submitted electronically through      the DFS Portal. **For Nonresident Firms** 5\.   Initial entity license applications or applications to add a      sublicensee to the license can be submitted either      electronically through the DFS Portal or by mailing a paper      application to the Department.      a.   Click on "Apply for Your License" then "Entity           Original Application" for a link to the DFS Portal.      b.   Email licensing.applications@dfs.ny.gov for the           paper application. 6\.   License renewals must be submitted electronically through      the DFS Portal.

New York Will Begin Loading Continuing Education (CE) Compliance Data to the Producer Database (PDB)

Effective October 13, 2023, New York will begin loading Continuing Education (CE) compliance data to the Producer Database (PDB). The current value loaded to the CE compliance field on PDB does not accurately capture the licensee’s CE compliance status. With these changes, the licensee’s current CE compliance status for New York will be loaded to the PDB report. Note: The compliance indicator on PDB will only include general CE compliance. Certain license classes require ‘Flood’ courses, but PDB will only display the general compliance status.

NY Changing License Class Codes

Effective August 11, 2023, New York will be changing the following License Class Codes: License Class 2 Broker will be License Class 13233 Property and Casualty Broker License Class 622 Life Broker will be License Class 13253 Life/Accident & Health Broker License Class 167 Property/Casualty Agent will be License Class 13254 Property/Casualty Agent License Class 135 Life/Accident & Health will be License Class 13255 Life/Accident & Health Agent

New York Issues Statement Regarding Proposed Amendment to Excess Line Placements

On June 23, 2023, New York issued a statement regarding a proposed amendment to Excess Line Placements.  See attachment for full details.

New York Proposes Second Amendment to Cybersecurity Requirements

New York proposes Second Amendment to Cybersecurity requirements for financial services companies. See attachment for full details.

New York Proposes Excess Line Placements Governing Standard Changes

New York proposes Excess Line placements governing standard changes. See attachment for full details.

New York proposes amendments to its Cybersecurity Requirements

New York proposes amendments to its Cybersecurity requirements for financial services companies. See attachment for full details.

New York Proposes Changes to its Excess Line Placement Standards

New York proposes changes to its Excess Line placement standards. See attachment for full details.

New York to Remove Non-Uniform Question

Effective March 10th, 2023, New York removed the Non-Uniform Background Question previously added on January 13, 2023.

New York Excess Line Association Eliminates Parts of Excess Line Affidavits

Effective immediately the ELANY eliminates reporting elements from parts of excess line affidavits.

New York Adds Non Uniform Question for Individuals and Business Entities

~~Effective January 13th New York will be adding new non uniform questions for resident and nonresident renewal applications. ~~ Effective March 10, 2023, New York removed the NUQ previously added.

NY Reduces Stamping Fee

New York's request to reduce the stamping fee to 0.15% has been approved and will take effect on all excess lines policies that begin on or after January 1, 2023.

New York Surplus Lines Association Updates List of E&S Insurers

Please see the attached document for NY(Elany's)updated list of E&S Insurers.

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