How Do I Get an Insurance License in Rhode Island?

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, it’s time to begin studying for the Rhode Island insurance exams. 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. Pearson Vue does offer a “back-to-back” discount for these tests. This means that if you attempt two of the exams in the same sitting that you will get a two-for-one discount. Rhode Island requires that all insurance license applicants submit a background check prior to licensing. If you have any prior misdemeanors or felonies, this may affect the outcome of your licensing efforts. Once you have completed your exams and fingerprinting, you are now ready 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. After submitting your license application to the state, you will receive an email from the licensing department requesting your background check information and your exam score report. Once you have submitted your application and have filled all the other requirements, your license application will be reviewed by the state. Your background check will also be reviewed. For more information, call the Department of Insurance at (401) 462-9520 or email the Insurance Department.

How do I renew my insurance license in Rhode Island?

In Rhode Island, insurance licenses expire every two years on the last day of your birth month. Rhode Island requires that resident individual licensees complete Applicant must be in continuing education (CE) compliance prior to submitting a renewal application. If CE has been completed, please allow two (2) to three (3) business days for it to post on PDB. If you have taken more credit hours than the required twelve (24), up to twelve (12) hours may carry over to the next renewal period. After you have completed your continuing education and you are within 90 days of your license expiration, you may renew your Rhode Island insurance license online via the <a href="https://www.nipr.com/license_form.htm">National Insurance Producer Registry</a>. <a href="https://agentsync.io">AgentSync</a> can also help with the renewal process. There is a fee of $120 to renew your producer license.

How do I renew my nonresident insurance license in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island issues nonresident adjuster licenses to individuals for two (2) years. A letter of certification or letter of good standing is not required. Rhode Island will verify home state license information. All nonresident licensing is verified on the State Producer Licensing Database (“SPLD”). Public and Company/Independent Adjuster licenses cannot be held simultaneously. Renewal applicants who currently have Rhode Island as a home state (adjuster DHS) must renew through the Non-Resident Renewal (No Home State) application. <a href="https://agentsync.io">AgentSync</a> can also help with the renewal process. There is a fee of $130 to renew your producer license.

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

Rhode Island license renewal is required of all license-holders every two (2) years before the expiration date. Non-Resident Adjuster licenses will be reciprocal with all states. Individual licenses will be issued based on reciprocity of the licensee’s “DHS” (DesignatedHome State). The licensee will be issued a Rhode Island license based on the type of adjuster license and “LOA” (Lines of Authority) held in the DHS. Applicants are exempt from taking the Rhode Island exam only if they are licensed in their home state and their home state is one of the following reciprocal states: Connecticut, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, or Wyoming. Non-Resident Adjusters in Rhode Island are only required to complete the Continuing Education (CE) requirements of their DHS. Additionally, a Non-Resident who is licensed as a public insurance adjuster in another state that has reciprocity agreement with Rhode Island is exempt from additional examination. In Rhode Island, there is a license renewal fee of $250 – your Rhode Island adjuster license can be renewed online through an application on NIPR’s website. For more information, contact the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation.

How Do I Renew My Adjuster License In Rhode Island?

Rhode Island adjuster license renewal is required of all license-holders every two (2) years before the expiration date. Resident Rhode Island adjusters are required to complete a total of twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education (CE), including three (3) hours of ethics coursework, to upkeep your adjuster license. In Rhode Island, there is a license renewal fee of $150 – your Rhode Island adjuster license can be renewed online through an application on NIPR’s website. For more information, contact the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation.

Rhode Island

state commissioner

Beth Dwyer

STATE email

dbr.inslic@dbr.ri.gov

STATE phone

(401) 462-9520

STATE LICENSE DIVISION ADDRESS

Rhode Island Division of Business Regulation Insurance Division

Visit State Website

Appointments & Terminations

Required to report appointments?

No, Registry

Initial appointment deadline rule

Registry state: the carrier must submit a report to Rhode Island's DOI every March 1 of all producers who received at least $100 in commissions during the previous calendar year

Can be processed via nipr?

Fees for appointing a resident agency or individual?

No initial fees but A $30 fee is due for each individualappointed producer who was paid $100 or more in commission in the prior calendar year (upon audit)

Fees for appointing a nonresident agency or individual?

No initial fees but A $30 fee is due for each individual appointed producer who was paid $100 or more in commission in the prior calendar year (upon audit)

When is the state renewal period?

March 1st, annually

Termination reasons

Registry State - Cancelled; cancelled for cause

Licensing

Initial individual new license fee

Resident New License Insurance Producer: $120 Resident New License Surplus Lines Broker: $100 Non Resident New License Insurance Producer: $130 Non Resident New License Surplus Lines Broker: $100

License renewal fee

Resident: Insurance Producer Renewal Fee: $120.00 Late Renewal Fee: $170.00 Surplus Lines Broker Renewal Fee: $100.00 Late Renewal Fee: $150.00 Motor Vehicle Damage Appraiser Renewal Fee: $150.00 Late Renewal Fee: $200.00 Title Renewal Fee: $120.00 Late Renewal Fee: $170.00 Reinsurance Intermediary Broker Renewal Fee: $200.00 Late Renewal Fee: $250.00 Reinsurance Intermediary Manager Renewal Fee: $200.00 Late Renewal Fee: $250.00 Company/ Independent Adjuster Renewal Fee: $250.00 Late Renewal Fee: $300.00 Public Adjuster Renewal Fee: $250.00 Late Renewal Fee: $300.00 Nonresident: Insurance Producer Renewal Fee: $130.00 Late Renewal Fee: $180.00 Surplus Lines Broker Renewal Fee: $100.00 Late Renewal Fee: $150.00 Title Renewal Fee: $130.00 Late Renewal Fee: $180.00 Motor Vehicle Damage Appraiser Renewal Fee: $150.00 Late Renewal Fee: $200.00 Reinsurance Intermediary Broker Renewal Fee: $200.00 Late Renewal Fee: $250.00 Reinsurance Intermediary Manager Renewal Fee: $200.00 Late Renewal Fee: $250.00

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 for 30 days after expiration; reinstatement 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 for 30 days after expiration; reinstatement 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

Claim Adjuster, Company Life, Company P&C, Company/Independent Adjuster, Surplus Lines Broker, Public Adjuster, Title, Emergency Adjuster, Insurance Producer, Reinsurance Intermediary Broker, Reinsurance Intermediary Manager, Motor Vehicle Damage Appraiser, Life Settlement Broker, Temporary Insurance Producer, Emergency Motor Vehicle Damage Appraiser

State broker license rule

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

Requires pre licensing courses?

Exam requirements

Exam required before license application

Background Check Required?

Yes – General background check

Fingerprints Required?

Not Required

Citizenship requirement details

Non-citizens of the U.S. must e-mail proof of eligibility to work in the U.S to the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation to dbr.inslic@dbr.ri.gov.

State-specific license requirements

Errors and omissions insurance coverage

Where to apply for resident license?

NIPR Gateway

Other licensing notes

It takes 3-5 days for the exam results to be reported to NIPR and when those results are reported, you will be able to apply for the applicable LOA.

What Transactions are Retaliatory Fees Applied to?

None

Submit Partial License Renewals through NIPR?

Has Personal Lines LOA?

Yes

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

A licensee must notify the Director of any change in legal name or address within 30 days. Contact Change Request supported via NIPR Gateway.

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 date until expiration date. Grace period ends 30 days after expiration date with no fee. Late renewal period ends until 30 days after expiration date.

Agency License required?

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

Branch office must be licensed

Adjuster

Requires adjuster license?

Yes

Offers designated home state?

Yes

DHS exam required?

Yes

Reciprocity states

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

Which states require an exam for reciprocity?

CA, HI, NY, PR, WY

Independent adjuster LOAS

Property/Casualty Crop Workers' Compensation, Crop

Independent adjuster fees

Licensing Fee: $250 Reinstatement Fee: $300 Renewal Fee: $250 Late Renewal Fee: $300

Independent adjuster exam required?

Yes

Independent adjuster renewal date

Biennially, on the last day of the individuals birth month. Business entities should refer to the expiration date as the renewal due date.

Emergency adjuster details

An emergency adjuster license may be issued that lasts 120 days. Emergency adjusters must be employed by an adjusting entity or an insurer licensed in Rhode Island. Public Adjusters cannot be emergency adjusters.

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?

90 days prior to expiration date

Exemptions to CE

Resident producers over the age of 60 that have held a license for at least 20 consecutive years are exempt. Resident producers over the age of 55 that held your license for at least 25 consecutive years are exempt. A Resident Adjuster may bypass the written examination if they pass a proctored exam and fulfill any other requirements for the Department of Business Regulation.

What if a producer missed the renewal date?

The reinstatement period for a producer license is 30 after the expiration date of the license up to one year after the expiration date, plus fees and a requirement to get current on CE.

CE instructors get credit for teaching courses?

Yes

Ethics requirements

Flood-specific CE requirements

3 hours of NFIP course

LTC-specific CE requirements

8-hour initial certification, with 4 hours of LTC-specific training every two years

Annuity-specific CE requirements

One-time, 4-hour course

For more from agentsync

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

Regulatory Updates

Rhode Island Issues Bulletin Insurers Regarding Expected Courtesies

On February 6, 2024, Rhode Island issued a bulletin to inform property and casualty insurers that certain courtesies are expected of adjusters and insurers while interacting with claimants or their legal representative during the claims process. See attachment for full details.

Rhode Island Clarifies the Charging of Fees Added to Insurance Policies by Insurers

On October 31, 2023, Rhode Island clarified changes to fees and policy premium on Property and Casualty for admitted insurers. Please see attachment for more information.

Rhode Island to Update Business Rule for Applying For Adjuster License

Effective September 13, 2023, Rhode Island is updating business rules related to applying for an adjuster license as follows: - Applicants that have an active resident producer (non-adjuster) license and no active resident adjuster may not apply for an adjuster (non-public adjuster) license using the resident producer (non-adjuster) license. \*Note: Public Adjusters will be treated as Producers - Adjuster Designated Home State applicants cannot submit both a residence and business address in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island to Add an Update to Non-Uniform Question Requirement

Effective July 13, 2023, Rhode Island Non-Uniform Question for veteran status has been updated for the Resident Licensing Renewal application.

Rhode Island to Add Defer Rule for Emergency Class for No Home State Applicants

Effective June 9, 2023, Rhode Island will defer all Emergency Class applications. All No Home State applications containing Emergency Adjuster and Emergency Motor Vehicle Appraisers will be deferred to the state for review.

Rhode Island to Remove requirement for Bond Filing

Effective May 12, 2023, Rhode Island will remove a requirement for bond filing. Surplus Line Broker will no longer require submitting a certificate from the General treasurer that the resident Broker has filed the required bond.

New Process for Rhode Island Primary Name Updates

Beginning on 12/9/2022 Rhode Island will offer a new transaction type for individual and business entity primary name updates.

Rhode Island Updates Licensing Rules for Self-Service Storage Agents

Effective 8/3/2022 Rhode Island updated licensing rules for resident and non-resident self-service storage agents.

RI Updates General Requirements for Adjuster License

Rhode Island added conditions to which a Resident or Non-resident may obtain an Adjuster License, and bypass the written examination effective 1/1/2023.

FAQs

How Do I Get an Insurance License in Rhode Island?

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, it’s time to begin studying for the Rhode Island insurance exams. 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. Pearson Vue does offer a “back-to-back” discount for these tests. This means that if you attempt two of the exams in the same sitting that you will get a two-for-one discount.

Rhode Island requires that all insurance license applicants submit a background check prior to licensing. If you have any prior misdemeanors or felonies, this may affect the outcome of your licensing efforts. Once you have completed your exams and fingerprinting, you are now ready 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.

After submitting your license application to the state, you will receive an email from the licensing department requesting your background check information and your exam score report. Once you have submitted your application and have filled all the other requirements, your license application will be reviewed by the state. Your background check will also be reviewed.

For more information, call the Department of Insurance at (401) 462-9520 or email the Insurance Department.
How Do I Get a State Adjuster License in Rhode Island?

Depending on the lines of authority you wish to carry, you may need to take more than one insurance license exam. The State of Rhode Island requires that all insurance license applications provide background check report from the Attorney General’s office prior to licensing. If you have any prior misdemeanors or felonies, this may affect the outcome of your licensing efforts. If you have specific questions regarding things that may come up on your background check you may call the Rhode Island Division of Business Regulation Insurance Division at (401) 462-9520 or send them an email. Once you have passed the examinations and submitted the background check report, you are now ready to apply for your license. Once you 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 Rhode Island?

In Rhode Island, insurance licenses expire every two years on the last day of your birth month. Rhode Island requires that resident individual licensees complete Applicant must be in continuing education (CE) compliance prior to submitting a renewal application. If CE has been completed, please allow two (2) to three (3) business days for it to post on PDB.

If you have taken more credit hours than the required twelve (24), up to twelve (12) hours may carry over to the next renewal period.

After you have completed your continuing education and you are within 90 days of your license expiration, you may renew your Rhode Island insurance license online via the National Insurance Producer Registry. AgentSync can also help with the renewal process.

There is a fee of $120 to renew your producer license.
How do I renew my nonresident insurance license in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island issues nonresident adjuster licenses to individuals for two (2) years. A letter of certification or letter of good standing is not required. Rhode Island will verify home state license information. All nonresident licensing is verified on the State Producer Licensing Database (“SPLD”).

Public and Company/Independent Adjuster licenses cannot be held simultaneously. Renewal applicants who currently have Rhode Island as a home state (adjuster DHS) must renew through the Non-Resident Renewal (No Home State) application. AgentSync can also help with the renewal process.

There is a fee of $130 to renew your producer license.
How Do I renew My Non-Resident Adjuster License in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island license renewal is required of all license-holders every two (2) years before the expiration date.

Non-Resident Adjuster licenses will be reciprocal with all states. Individual licenses will be issued based on reciprocity of the licensee’s “DHS” (DesignatedHome State). The licensee will be issued a Rhode Island license based on the type of adjuster license and “LOA” (Lines of Authority) held in the DHS.

Applicants are exempt from taking the Rhode Island exam only if they are licensed in their home state and their home state is one of the following reciprocal states: Connecticut, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, or Wyoming.

Non-Resident Adjusters in Rhode Island are only required to complete the Continuing Education (CE) requirements of their DHS. Additionally, a Non-Resident who is licensed as a public insurance adjuster in another state that has reciprocity agreement with Rhode Island is exempt from additional examination.

In Rhode Island, there is a license renewal fee of $250 – your Rhode Island adjuster license can be renewed online through an application on NIPR’s website.

For more information, contact the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation.
How Do I Renew My Adjuster License In Rhode Island?

Rhode Island adjuster license renewal is required of all license-holders every two (2) years before the expiration date. Resident Rhode Island adjusters are required to complete a total of twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education (CE), including three (3) hours of ethics coursework, to upkeep your adjuster license.

In Rhode Island, there is a license renewal fee of $150 – your Rhode Island adjuster license can be renewed online through an application on NIPR’s website.

For more information, contact the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation.