You must first acquire a North Carolina (NC) insurance license in order to work as an insurance agent there. You will learn everything you need to know in this article to start selling health, life, property, and casualty insurance, individually or in combination. From applying for a license to studying for your insurance exam to taking the North Carolina insurance exam, we will guide you through every step of the procedure.
You will learn everything you need to know from this manual so that you can easily and quickly get your NC insurance license.
NC Insurance License
A “license” for insurance or reinsurance business operation, ownership, or transaction refers to any government-issued license, certificate of authority, permit, or other authorization. The most general and inclusive license type is fire and casualty, which entitles the agent to sell insurance for things like cars, homes, and floods. You will need this license if you want to start an insurance company. Although there are different requirements for insurance licenses in each state, studying for the state exam is usually the first step.
How to Obtain an Insurance License in North Carolina(NC)
North Carolina (NC) makes it simple to obtain your insurance license. Adhere to the steps in our manual.
#1. Choose the Insurance Licenses You Need
The initial step in obtaining an insurance license is deciding which licenses you require. The licenses given to new insurance agents most frequently are those for property and casualty, life and health, and health insurance.
Which licenses you need will depend on the kinds of insurance policies and products you plan to sell. Here are a few examples of the different types of insurance you can promote with each license:
- Auto, home, business, and other types of insurance are covered by a property and casualty insurance license
- License for Life and Health Insurance – Medicare, Annuities, Health Insurance, etc.
Although the majority of insurance producers and agents opt to obtain both P&C and L&H licenses, you do not need both if you only intend to focus on one of the two categories.
#2. North Carolina (NC) Insurance Pre-License Education
You must now complete your pre-license education requirements for NC insurance after determining which licenses you require.
The majority of people opt to complete their insurance pre-license course online. These classes were made especially to equip you with the knowledge and abilities required to succeed on the exam. Which classes you take will depend on the types of licenses (also referred to as “lines of authority”) that you select.
North Carolina mandates a twenty-hour pre-licensing education requirement for each line of authority. This means that you must complete forty (40) hours of pre-licensing in order to obtain a Property and Casualty license, as well as forty (40) hours in order to obtain a Life, Accident, and Health license.
After finishing the course, you will be given a certificate. You will require this certificate when taking your exam, so keep it safe.
The NC insurance license exam must be passed within ninety (90) days of the end of your pre-license training. You must retake the pre-license course if it has been longer than ninety (90) days.
#3. North Carolina Insurance License Application
You can now submit an application for your license after finishing your pre-licensing coursework. As soon as you pass the exam, be sure to apply for all of the lines of authority.
An online application costs $50 per line plus an additional $138 in fees ($44 for the application, $38 for fingerprinting, and $6 for NIPR).
Apply online by completing the form on the NIPR North Carolina page.
#4. Complete an Insurance Prelicensing Course
Candidates for insurance licenses in North Carolina are required to complete prelicensing before taking the state licensing examination. Your chances of getting your license are greatest if you take prelicensing classes.
- Live Class Requirements
Exam taken in class: In order to gauge your readiness for the state exam, a graded exam taken in class is administered in North Carolina’s Life & Health course. Obtaining a certificate of completion requires passing the test with a score of at least 70%.
- Criteria for Online Courses
Online study time must be tracked according to North Carolina law. A single day of instruction may only last a maximum of 8 hours. You must put in the necessary amount of study time while working through the online course’s Course Contents Units in order to pass. You can check the time spent in the course is being tracked by looking at the online course tracker that will be visible in the top right corner of your page.
Forced progression: the online course requires that each page be completed successfully before moving on to the next.
#5. Pass Your North Carolina Licensing Exam
You must pass a state licensing exam following completion of your prelicensing course requirement.
- Certificate of Completion Requirements
The applicant must hand the Prelicensing Examination Admission Ticket, also known as the original certificate, to the test administrator on test day. A maximum of five exam retakes are allowed before the certificate expires, whichever comes first, is valid for 90 days following the course’s completion.
Pearson VUE is a test vendor. Before booking the test with Pearson VUE, candidates must complete the online NIPR license application at nipr.com. Exam scheduling is not permitted until this is finished and the student receives an email from Pearson VUE.
#6. Fingerprint and Background Check
All applicants for insurance licenses in North Carolina must submit fingerprints before receiving their license. You can start a background check by providing your fingerprints. Your efforts to obtain a license may be hampered if you have ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor.
Call your local law enforcement to find out the days and times they are open for taking fingerprints. Be sure to ask if they will take live scan fingerprints for non-criminal purposes
Bring the entire form package, including the cover page, to your neighborhood police department for digital fingerprinting.
- You need a photo ID to apply.
- Fills out pages 1 and 3 of the packet for the application.
- Page 2 of the packet requires the local law enforcement official who took the prints to sign it.
It might cost money to get your fingerprints taken by the local law enforcement agency. Send pages 1 through 3 of the SBI form that has been completed to Pearson VUE’s North Carolina Licensing Office. The cost of taking fingerprints is $38 (you should have paid this cost when you submitted your application).
#7. NC Insurance License Exam
After applying and taking your fingerprints, you can take the insurance exam. Each line of insurance that you want to carry requires a separate exam. As soon as Pearson VUE receives your application, they should send you an email with a “reservation number” for the exams.
When you finish your pre-licensing course and submit your exam application, you have 90 days to complete the process. If you do not pass the test within that time frame, you must retake the pre-licensing course for that line. Additionally, you can only pass a maximum of five (5) tests before having to retake the course.
It is a proctored exam, so you will be in a setting with strict rules and someone watching you the entire time. Those who have not taken the test in a similar setting, should be aware of this and work on controlling their nerves before taking the test.
The cost to take the tests is $45 per attempt. You must have a photo ID on hand when you arrive, along with any other identification that Pearson VUE may require. There are 55 questions of different types on each exam.
#8. Apply for North Carolina Insurance License
After passing the state licensing test, you must submit an online application at www.nipr.com. After submitting the license application, fingerprints must be provided if necessary.
An NPN will be given to you. This distinctive identifier, which is given out as part of the licensing application procedure, is used to track people and corporate entities across the country. Many states substitute the NPN for a producer license number.
#9. Application Review
The state will examine your license application after you have submitted it and met all the other requirements. They will also examine and carry out a background investigation on you.
You should receive your license in three to five (3-5) business days if you satisfy all the conditions. The issuance process might take longer if your background check revealed any information that needs to be reviewed. If so, the state might get in touch with you to explain the circumstances surrounding the problems they have encountered.
Pearson Vue will communicate the acceptance of your license via email.
NC Commissioner of Insurance
North Carolina, a state in the United States, has a commissioner of insurance who is elected at large. The state’s Department of Insurance is run by a constitutional officer- a commissioner. Additionally, the commissioner serves on the North Carolina Council of State and is in charge of the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
The head of the North Carolina Department of Insurance is the Commissioner of Insurance. The department issues licenses to motor clubs premium financing companies, bail bondsmen, and collection agencies in addition to regulating the sale of insurance in the state.
The department is of three groups: Public Services, which responds to consumer inquiries and looks into insurance fraud; Company Services, which assesses insurance companies’ financial standing and performs actuarial studies; and Technical Services, which keeps an eye on rates and business standards.
What NC Commissioner of Insurance Does
The Department of Insurance is in charge of overseeing the insurance industry, resolving client grievances, and issuing insurance agent licenses. The department houses the Office of the State Fire Marshall, which clarifies building codes, educates firefighters, and finances the purchase of equipment by fire and rescue departments.
With the exception of years when a presidential election is held, the commissioner is chosen by the entire state and holds office for four years. The incumbent is a Republican named Mike Causey. He was chosen for his new position in 2016, and he started serving in it on January 1st. Causey was re-elected to office in 2020 for a second term.
The following are just a few of the office’s additional responsibilities:
- Fixing the costs of the services provided by code enforcement officers and collecting the mileage payments due to those officers;
- Reporting to the attorney general any infractions of the regulations governing insurance organizations, groups, and bureaus;
- Giving residents of the state a summary of the terms of any insurance agreement after receiving the necessary application from the resident;
- Insurance fraud investigation; and
- Raising awareness of injury prevention and fire safety among the general public.
What Is the Largest Health Insurance Company in North Carolina?
In North Carolina, BCBSNC is the biggest supplier of medical services. Plans from BCBSNC are available through its HMO and PPO networks, both of which give access to a sizable network of medical professionals and facilities across the state. As part of its overall package, BCBSNC also includes vision and dental insurance. As a result, it is a fantastic option for those seeking thorough protection.
How Do I Contact the NC Department of Insurance?
The North Carolina Department of Insurance promises to work toward treating everyone fairly when conducting insurance business. We are available to help you. Contact us at any time by dialing 855-408-1212.
How Do I Report an Insurance Company in NC?
Get in touch with the insurance department in North Carolina. Call (855) 408-1212 if you have any general inquiries about insurance. For more details on all other insurance-related consumer services, go to the consumer services page of the NC Department of Insurance.
What Major Car Insurance Companies Are in NC?
State Farm, Geico, Erie, Nationwide, and North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance are among the top North Carolina auto insurance companies.
Who Regulates Auto Insurance in North Carolina?
The North Carolina Insurance Department’s responsibilities include overseeing insurance industry regulation. resolves complaints relating to insurance. permits bail bondsmen, adjusters, and insurance agents.
Conclusion
A license from an insurance company enables the holder to buy and sell insurance products. To obtain and sell insurance, individuals must obtain a license from the state insurance commissioner. This license is specific to each type of insurance, such as life and disability, health, auto, and workers’ compensation
After passing the exam for your particular state, you will receive a license that entitles you to solicit and develop a book of business for health and life insurance within that state.
This implies that you have the option of working for an insurance company and exclusively selling their line of goods or operating independently as a broker and having access to a variety of product lines.
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