Virginia

Virginia Insurance Licensing Requirements

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On this page, you’ll find a comprehensive guide for becoming a licensed insurance agent in Virginia and the state requirements. We’ll walk you through the process, and we’ll be here to answer any questions you have along the way.

The Virginia Bureau of Insurance requires each person selling insurance in the state to hold an insurance producer license. You will choose which line of authority you want to be licensed in: health insurance, life insurance, property and casualty insurance, or any combination of those lines.

Once you know which license you need, you’re ready to begin. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, there are 5 steps to getting your insurance license.

Step 1: Complete a Prelicensing Course

If you would like to sell insurance in Virginia, you must pass a licensing exam. Because the exam will test your knowledge of industry information, insurance policies and products, and state insurance laws, the best way to prepare for the exam is to take a prelicensing education and exam prep course.

A.D. Banker offers prelicensing courses that will prepare you to successfully pass the state exam on your first attempt. Our online courses can be supplemented with web classes and learning tools like flashcards and study manuals to match your learning style.

Step 2: Pass a Licensing Exam

After you finish your prelicensing course, you are now ready to take the state licensing exam. You must score 70% or higher to pass your state licensing exam. You will be required to pay an additional exam fee to retake the test, so it is important you pass the first time.

Step 3: Apply for License

After passing the exam, you are ready to submit your license application and pay all the nonrefundable fees. You can apply at Sircon or the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). Your application fees will be electronically forwarded to the Department of Insurance. After approval of your license, you will be able to print your license from Sircon or NIPR.

Step 4: Get Fingerprinted

The Commonwealth of Virginia requires fingerprint impressions from all unlicensed applicants. Fingerprinting must be done at a Fieldprint site, using “live scan” technology, which digitally captures and transmits the fingerprints to the Virginia State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Schedule an appointment and pay to be fingerprinted at a FieldPrint location.

FieldPrint Codes:

FPVABOIProducer – Producer licenses
FPVABOIConsultant – Consultant Licenses
FPVABOISurplus – Surplus Lines Broker licenses
FPVABOIPubAdj – Public Adjuster licenses
FPVABOIViatical – Viatical Settlement Licenses

Step 5: Plan for Continuing Education

Insurance continuing education (CE) is required for all Virginia resident insurance agents for license renewal. The CE requirements in Virginia vary based on how many licenses you hold.

Producers with only a Life & Health or Property & Casualty license must complete 16 hours of CE courses, including 3 hours of ethics training.
Producers with both a Life & Health and Property & Casualty license must complete 24 hours, including 3 hours of ethics training.

There are additional requirements to sell certain products, such as annuities, long-term care, and flood insurance. These requirements must be completed before the license expiration date, which occurs every 2 years.

Nonresident license holders are currently required to adhere to their home state’s continuing education requirements.

It’s important to stay on top of any changes to Virginia laws and licensing requirements, which can be found on the State Corporation Commission (SCC) Bureau of Insurance’s website.

Virginia Licensing Exam FAQ

Where can I find additional information about the licensing exam?

Prometric provides more information about the exam, including exam content outlines, exam fees, testing locations, and a guide to register for the exam on their licensing information bulletin.

Where can I take the state exam?

Remote exams are available via the ProProctor platform. If you do not have a compatible computer, you must schedule an in-person exam at a Prometric testing site.

How do I schedule my state exam?

You can schedule your state exam through Prometric’s website. Exam fees must be paid at the time of reservation by a credit or debit card, voucher, or electronic check.

What is the format of the state exam?

All licensing exams are taken on a computer and are multiple-choice. The exam will cover general insurance knowledge and state-specific insurance laws, rules, regulations, and practices unique to Virginia.

How long is the state exam?

Exam durations and number of questions vary by license type:

Life, Annuities & Health – 2.5 hours, 150 questions
Property & Casualty – 2.5 hours, 145 questions
Life and Annuities – 2 hours, 105 questions
Health – 2 hours, 105 questions
Personal Lines – 2 hours, 105 questions
Public Adjuster – 1 hour, 55 questions
Title Insurance – 2 hours, 85 questions

What score do I need to pass?

A passing score is 70% or higher. You will receive a pass or fail notification immediately after completing the exam.

What happens if I fail my state exam?

You will receive a diagnostic report indicating your strengths and weaknesses on the exam. You can reschedule your exam with Prometric and send a copy of your score report to curriculum@adbanker.com for feedback.
If you would like more detailed information, or if you have any questions about the exam process, please visit Prometric’s website.

Disclaimer

This information is for general reference purposes only and is subject to change. For the most up-to-date requirements, always refer to the Virginia Bureau of Insurance and Prometric’s official guidelines.