Washington Seal

Washington

state commissioner

Mike Kreidler

STATE email

licinfo@oic.wa.gov

STATE phone
(360) 725-7144
STATE LICENSE DIVISION ADDRESS

Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner

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; Earlier of the two

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. The appointment submission deadline is the earlier of the two dates

Can be processed via nipr?

Yes

Fees for appointing a resident agency or individual?

$20

Fees for appointing a non resident agency or individual?

$20

Appoint agencies?

Yes

Agency appointment covers affiliated producers?

Yes

Adjuster appointments via NIPR?

No

Appointment effective date can be specified?

No

Appointment effective date rule

Not required and is the date the transaction is processed by the state.

State requires appointment renewal?

Yes

Appointment renewals via

Washington portal

Appointment renewal fee

$20 per appointment

Terminations processed via NIPR?

Yes

Termination reasons

Termination reason code is not required

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 15 days old

Termination fee

No fee

Licensing

Initial individual new license fee

Resident New License Insurance Producer: $60 Resident New License Surplus Lines Broker: $205 Non Resident New License Insurance Producer: $60 Non Resident New License Surplus Lines Broker: $205

License renewal fee

Resident: Insurance Producer Renewal Fee: $55 Surplus Line Broker Renewal Fee: $200 Nonresident: Insurance Producer Renewal Fee: $55 Surplus Line Broker Renewal Fee: $200

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 60 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 up to 60 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?

No

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

No

What addresses are required for individual license maintenance?

Residence, Business, and Mailing

State individual licenses include

Agent, Property & Casualty Company, Life Company, HCSC Company, Independent Adjuster, Public Adjuster, Title, Risk Retention Company, Insurance Producer, Life Settlements Broker, Crop Adjuster, Surplus Line Broker

State broker license rule

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

Requires pre licensing courses?

Yes

Study method requirements

Applicants taking home self-study to complete the pre-licensing education requirements must contact approved pre-licensing education providers to purchase the required course material. a. A list of approved providers is available at https://bit.ly/3vEhPIa b. After completing the home self-study program, the applicant must provide verification to the pre-licensing education provider before the provider can issue a certificate of completion. c. The certification of completion is required before the applicant will be admitted to the exam.

Submission of completion certificate rule

The applicant will receive a certificate of completion after completing each pre-license course. The applicant must present the certificates at the testing site on the examination date before being admitted to take the exam.

How long is the pre licensing certification valid?

The coursework must be completed within the 12 months before the examination date, unless an extension is granted

Exemptions to pre licensing requirements

An applicant may petition the Commissioner for a waiver of the pre-licensing education requirement upon completion of equivalent education. a. To obtain a waiver based on education, the petitioner must have completed the education within the 12 months before the petition date. The petitioner must demonstrate that the education meets or exceeds the coursework required for the applicable line of authority. b. Applicants completing the following insurance designations will be issued a waiver: I. life insurance: CEBS, ChFC, CIC, CFP, FLMI, and LUTCF; II. disability insurance: RHU, CEBS, REBC, and HIA; and III. property or casualty insurance: AAI, ARM, CIC, and CPCU. c. The waiver must be issued before the applicant takes the written examination. An individual who applies for an application in Washington who was previously licensed for the same lines of authority in another state is not required to complete pre-license education or examination, if: a. the person is currently licensed in that state or the application is received within 90 days of the cancellation of the applicant's previous license; and b. the prior state certifies that the licensee was in good standing at the time of cancellation.

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

No

Agency Licensing renewals

Applicants cannot submit non resident renewal application through NIPR for business entities.

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

Yes

Branch office

License not required but branch must be registered

Adjuster

Requires adjuster license?

Yes

Offers designated home state?

No

DHS exam required?

N/A

Reciprocity states

None

Independent adjuster LOAS

No LOA required

Independent adjuster fees

Individual Licensing Fee: $55 Individual Renewal Fee: $50 Individual Late Renewal Fee (Up to 30 days): $75 Individual Late Renewal Fee (31-60 days): $100 Individual Reinstatement Fee: $150 Business Entity Licensing Fee: $50 per location + $20 for each affiliation Business Entity Renewal Fee (Up to 30 days): $75 and $20 for each affiliation Business Entity Late Renewal Fee(31-60 days): $100 and $20 for each affiliation Business Entity Reinstatement Fee: $150 + $50 per additional location. Affiliations are $20 each when the license is active.

Independent adjuster exam required?

Yes

Independent adjuster renewal date

Biennially, on expiration date.

Independent adjuster details

If one works 12 months as a salaried, full time agent at an insurance company or is a MGA, the individual will not have to take the exam. Fingerprint background check required.

Speciality adjuster renewal date

Biennially, on the expiration date.

Apprentice adjuster license details

One can be enrolled in the Adjuster-trainee program. In this program, it is required to be supervised by a resident licensed adjuster, include all loss adjustment activities, be 6-9 months in length totally 960 hours. One can apply for a license after the trainee program is complete and the exam is passed.

Emergency adjuster details

In the event of an emergency, an Emergency Adjuster registration is required for all non resident independent adjusters not licensed in Washington. The form has to be completed after the emergency is declared and is then valid for 180 days from the date of the Governor’s declaration. If the disaster is extended, re-registration is required.

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

When is the CE due?

Prior to license expiration.

How long before expiration does state send CE reminder?

60 days prior to expiration date

Exemptions to CE

Licensees who are at least 65 years old, are retired from actively selling insurance products, and don’t represent any insurer or insurance agency won’t need to maintain CE requirements. On top of that, those with good cause may request a waiver and apply for a CE exemption. Similarly, those holding a limited license for credit life and disability, credit casualty, travel, vehicle, or surety are exempt from CE.

What if a producer missed the renewal date?

A license may be reinstated within 12 months of the date the license was canceled or expired, as long as they get current on their CE and pay a reinstatement fee.

Ethics requirements

3 hours ethics and consumer protection

Flood-specific CE requirements

3 hours of NFIP course

LTC-specific CE requirements

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

Annuity-specific CE requirements

One-time, 4-hour course

FAQs

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