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CA Department of Insurance
CA Department of Insurance
CA Department of Insurance

Personal Lines

Applicable Forms

Table of Contents

Authorizing Act with definitions

Qualifications

Authorizing Act California Insurance Code section 1625.5 reads, in part:

  • A personal lines licensee is a person authorized to transact automobile insurance, residential property insurance, including earthquake and flood insurance, personal watercraft insurance and umbrella or excess liability insurance providing coverage when written over one or more underlying automobile or residential property insurance policies. Personal Lines Agent license authority is determined by what documents are submitted.

Qualifications:

  • Minimum Age: 18 years.
  • Residency: California residency is not required.
  • Entity Types: Individual and Business Entity.
 

12 Hours of Study on Ethics and Insurance Code

Continuing Education:

  1. Personal Lines Agents shall satisfactorily complete approved courses or programs of instruction or attend seminars equivalent to 24 hours of instruction during each two-year license period, including at least 3 hours of ethics training, which must include one hour of study on insurance fraud, before their license may be renewed.
     
  2. Effective January 1, 1998, any person who is 70 years of age or older and who has been licensed for 30 continuous years in California as a licensee in good standing in this state, may be exempt from the continuing education requirement (California Insurance Code section 1749.3(c)). 

    Important Note: This continuing education exemption does not apply to those individuals licensed for the first time on or after January 1, 2010.

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Application Procedures-Individual Residents

License Information
 

Follow the steps noted below to schedule your license examination and complete an application online:

Step 1 – Study the Personal Lines License Examination Objectives and Complete the Required 12 Hours of Study on Ethics and California Insurance Code

Step 2 - Schedule and take license examination

  • PSI Services LLC (PSI) provides license examination services for the California Department of Insurance (Department). Instructions for scheduling examinations can be found at PSI's Examination Scheduling Service. Individuals may schedule their examinations with PSI either online or by telephone at (833) 518-7456. 

Step 3 - License Application

California Department of Insurance
Attn: Licensing Processing Section
300 Capitol Mall, 16th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

Step 4 - Fingerprinting

Step 5 - Check License Application Status Service

  • License applicants can check the status of a license application by going to the Department’s Check License Application Status Service (CLASS). Please have your business address zip code from your license application to be able to retrieve your application record using CLASS.

Documents Determining Authority to Act:

  • A $10,000 Bond of Insurance Broker, form LIC 417-5, authorizes the licensee to act as an insurance broker. An insurance broker is a person who, for compensation and on behalf of another person transacts insurance other than commercial lines and life with, but not on behalf of an insurer.
  • Action Notice of Appointment, LIC 447-54A, with $32 filing fee, completed and submitted by the sponsoring insurance company admitted to California authorizes the person to act as an agent of an insurer. Pursuant to the California Code of Regulations Title 10, section 2190.22, the Action Notice of Appointment must be submitted electronically.

    To submit appointments electronically contact the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) and its authorized business partners for a list of approved partners. An insurance agent is a person authorized by and on behalf of an insurer to transact all classes of insurance, except commercial lines and life insurance.
     
  • The sponsoring business entity licensed in California completes a Business Entity Endorsement, LIC 411-8A, which must be submitted through Sircon online services - Maintain Agency Associations (i.e., adding or removing individual licensees who are to transact insurance under authority of its license) (California Insurance Code section 1661).
  • An Action Notice of Solicitor*, LIC 417-31, authorizes the licensee to act as an insurance solicitor. An insurance solicitor is a natural person employed to aid an insurance agent or insurance broker in transacting insurance other than life, disability or health.

Fees - Individual Residents:

  • License filing - two-year term: $188
  • Fingerprint: Review the Fingerprint Processing link for fees.
  • Renewal - two-year term: $188

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Filing Requirements: Individual -- Residents

  • Examination: Applicants must pass the Personal Lines Agent license examination. The California Department of Insurance (the Department) requires California resident applicants to first pass the qualifying license examination prior to submitting their license application.
  • Application: Application for Insurance License, Sircon online services, must be completed by applicants who do not hold an active California Personal Lines Agent license.
  • Fingerprint Impressions: Fingerprint impressions are required for unlicensed applicants. If an examination is required, fingerprint impressions can be taken at the California examination sites.
  • Additional Documents: The Insurance Commissioner may require such other documents as will aid in determining whether the applicant meets the qualifications for a license.
  • A Personal Lines Agent is not required to have an appointment to have the license issued. Upon application approval the license can be downloaded or printed by using the Department's Print or Download Your License service. However, the licensee may not transact, solicit, or negotiate the sale of insurance until after one of the following documents are completed and submitted to the California Department of Insurance.

Documents Determining Authority to Act:

  • A $10,000 Bond of Insurance Broker, form LIC 417-5, authorizes the licensee to act as an insurance broker. An insurance broker is a person who, for compensation and on behalf of another person transacts insurance other than commercial lines and life with, but not on behalf of an insurer.
  • Action Notice of Appointment, with $32 filing fee, completed by the sponsoring insurance company admitted to California authorizes the person to act as an insurance agent. Pursuant to Section 2190.22 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations, the Action Notice of Appointment must be submitted electronically. To submit appointments electronically contact the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) and its authorized business partners for a list of approved partners. An insurance agent is a person authorized by and on behalf of an insurer to transact all classes of insurance, except commercial lines and life insurance. 
  • The sponsoring business entity licensed in California completes a Business Entity Endorsement , which must be submitted through Sircon online services - Maintain Agency Associations - (i.e., adding or removing individual licensees who are to transact insurance under authority of its license) (California Insurance Code section 1661)).
  • An Action Notice of Solicitor*, form LIC 417-31, authorizes the licensee to act as an insurance solicitor. An insurance solicitor is a natural person employed to aid an insurance agent or insurance broker in transacting insurance other than commercial lines and life.

Fees - Individual Residents:

  • License filing - two-year term: $188
  • Fingerprint: Review the Fingerprint Processing link for fees.
  • Renewal - two-year term: $188

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Filing Requirements: Business Entity -- Residents

  • Business Entity Application: Any legal entity, other than an individual, may qualify for a business entity license. Applicants must submit the Application for Business Entity license, form LIC 441-11.
  • Natural Person Named on Business Entity:
  • Endorsees should be named on the Business Entity Application during the initial business entity application filing. Subsequent agent endorsements must be submitted online at Sircon online services - Maintain Agency Associations - (i.e., adding or removing individual licensees who are to transact insurance under authority of its license) (California Insurance Code section 1661).
  • Application for Insurance License, using Sircon online services, must be completed by each natural person who does not hold an active California Personal Lines Agent license (individual filing requirements must be met).
  • Note: The business entity must have at least one California resident Personal Lines Agent endorsee to establish and maintain the license.

Additional Documents: The Insurance Commissioner may require such other documents as will aid in determining whether the applicant meets the qualifications for a license.

A Personal Lines Agent is not required to have an appointment to have the license issued. Upon application approval the license can be downloaded or printed by using the Department's Print or Download Your License service. However, the licensee may not transact, solicit, or negotiate the sale of insurance until after one of the following documents are completed and submitted to the California Department of Insurance.

Documents Determining Authority to Act:

  • A $10,000 Bond of Insurance Broker, form LIC 417-5, authorizes the licensee to act as an insurance broker. An insurance broker is a person who, for compensation and on behalf of another person transacts insurance other than commercial lines and life with, but not on behalf of an insurer.
  • Action Notice of Appointment, with $32 filing fee, completed by the sponsoring insurance company admitted to California authorizes the person to act as an insurance agent. Pursuant to Section 2190.22 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations, the Action Notice of Appointment must be submitted electronically. To submit appointments electronically contact the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) and its authorized business partners for a list of approved partners. An insurance agent is a person authorized by and on behalf of an insurer to transact all classes of insurance, except commercial lines and life insurance.

Fees - Business Entity Residents:

  • License filing - two-year term: $188
  • Business Entity Endorsement: $32
  • Renewal fee - two-year term: $188. Must have one natural person currently named on business entity.

Note: Natural persons filing use Sircon online services, refer to individual filing fees.

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Filing Requirements: Individual -- Non-Residents

The Department does not require fingerprints from applicants who were previously fingerprinted as a condition of obtaining an insurance producer license in their resident state. This exemption applies to individuals who currently hold a resident license in the following states: Alabama (effective January 1, 2015), Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, District of Columbia (effective August 9, 2010), Florida, Georgia, Hawaii (effective November 1, 2010), Idaho, Kansas (effective February 1, 2018), Louisiana, Minnesota (effective July 1, 2010), Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico (effective January 1, 2014), Nevada, North Carolina (effective October 1, 2010), North Dakota (effective September 1, 2013), Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina (effective January 1, 2017), Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin (effective July 6, 2010). 

  • Fingerprint Processing: For those non-resident applicants who do not meet the fingerprint exemption noted above and who file for a license will be required to file fingerprint impressions prior to submitting their application to the Department. The Non-Resident Applicants to File Fingerprint Impressions web page lists the procedures on how to submit the Fingerprint impressions.
  • Examination: Not required except if the applicant's state, commonwealth or Canadian province of residence has no reciprocal agreement for waiving of examination.
  • Additional Documents: The Insurance Commissioner may require such other documents as will aid in determining whether the applicant meets the qualifications for a license.

A Personal Lines Agent is not required to have an appointment to have the license issued. Upon application approval the license can be downloaded or printed by using the Department's Print or Download Your License service. However, the licensee may not transact, solicit, or negotiate the sale of insurance until after one of the following documents are completed and submitted to the California Department of Insurance.

Documents Determining Authority to Act:

  • A $10,000 Bond of Insurance Broker, form LIC 417-5, authorizes the licensee to act as an insurance broker. An insurance broker is a person who, for compensation and on behalf of another person transacts insurance other than commercial lines and life with, but not on behalf of an insurer.
  • Action Notice of Appointment, with $32 filing fee, completed by the sponsoring insurance company admitted to California authorizes the person to act as an insurance agent. Pursuant to Section 2190.22 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations, the Action Notice of Appointment must be submitted electronically. To submit appointments electronically contact the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) and its authorized business partners for a list of approved partners. An insurance agent is a person authorized by and on behalf of an insurer to transact all classes of insurance, except commercial lines and life insurance.
  • The sponsoring business entity licensed in California completes a Business Entity Endorsement, which must be submitted through Sircon online services - Maintain Agency Associations.

Limited Lines:

  • Non-resident applicants will be issued a license that provides for the same line(s) of authority that he or she holds in the home state.
  • Note: Licensed non-resident agents whose state of residence does not have continuing education must meet the same requirements as a California resident in order to renew their licenses. Licensed non-resident agents who comply with the continuing education requirements of their state of residence are exempt from California continuing education requirements.

Fees - Individual Non-residents:

California's licensing fee for non-residents is the same as the fee to become licensed as a resident producer when applying for the same type of license regardless of which state the individual holds a resident license.

  • License filing - two-year term: $188
  • Fingerprint Processing fee: Review the Fingerprint Processing link for fees. 
  • Renewal Fee - two-year term: $188

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Filing Requirements: Business Entity -- Non-Residents

Business Entity Application:

  • Any legal entity, other than an individual, may qualify for a business entity license. Applicants must submit the Application for Business Entity license using Sircon online services.
  • Non-resident business entities can endorse California resident individuals on their license. Also, non-resident business entities will not be required to endorse an individual from the business entity's resident state. They do though need to endorse at least one individual from a state other than California. (California Insurance Code 1656).

Natural Person named on Business Entity:

  • Endorsees should be named on the Business Entity Application during the initial business entity application filing. Subsequent agent(s) endorsements must be submitted online to Sircon online services - Maintain Agency Associations (i.e., adding or removing individual licensees who are to transact insurance under authority of its license)(California Insurance Code section 1661).
  • Application for Insurance License, Sircon online services must be filed for each natural person who does not hold an active California non-resident Personal Lines Agent license (individual filing requirements must be met).

Additional Documents: The Insurance Commissioner may require such other documents as will aid in determining whether the applicant meets the qualifications for a license.

A Personal Lines Agent is not required to have an appointment to have the license issued. Upon application approval the license can be downloaded or printed by using the Department's Print or Download Your License service. However, the licensee may not transact, solicit, or negotiate the sale of insurance until after one of the following documents are completed and submitted to the California Department of Insurance.

Documents Determining Authority to Act:

  • A Bond of Insurance Broker, form LIC 417-5, in the penal sum of $10,000, by a California admitted surety, completed in the name of the business
    entity and signed by the business entity authorizes the business entity to act as an insurance broker.
  • Action Notice of Appointment, with $32 filing fee, completed by the sponsoring insurance company admitted to California authorizes the person to act as an insurance agent. Pursuant to Section 2190.22 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations, the Action Notice of Appointment must be submitted electronically. To submit appointments electronically contact the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) and its authorized business partners for a list of approved partners. An insurance agent is a person authorized by and on behalf of an insurer to transact all classes of insurance, except commercial lines and life insurance.

Limited Lines:

  • Non-resident applicants will be issued a license that provides for the same line(s) of authority that he or she holds in the home state.
  • The fee for limited lines licenses will be the same as the California resident Property Agent and/or Casualty Agent license fee and are subject to retaliatory provisions.

Fees - Business Entity Non-residents:

California's licensing fee for non-residents is the same as the fee to become licensed as a resident producer when applying for the same type of license regardless of which state the individual holds a resident license.

  • License filing - two-year term: $188
  • Business Entity Endorsement: $32
  • Fingerprint Processing fee: Review the Fingerprint Processing link for fees. 
  • Renewal Fee - two-year term: $188 Must have one natural person currently named on business entity. 

Note: Natural persons filing use Sircon online services, refer to individual filing fees.

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Term:

Pursuant to California Insurance Code section 1630, licenses are issued for two-year terms. Specifically, the term of the first license begins the date the license is issued and expires the last day of that same calendar month two-years later. Any additional licenses issued at a later date will expire at the same time as the initial license. 

Renewal of License:

  • The Department emails licensees a renewal notification to their email address on record. The email notification includes the license number, license term, license type, and information regarding any continuing education requirements. You can update your e-mail address using Sircon online services.
  • Individuals and business entities who do not receive the email notification will still be able to renew their license online by following the prompts in Sircon online services. 
  • Sircon online services is available to insurance agents, brokers, and adjusters who want to renew their licenses after the license expiration date has passed. Additionally, the online renewal service is available to insurance agents, brokers, and adjusters who previously used the online renewal service as an on-time renewal but were not able to renew their license because not all of the requirements to renew were met prior to the license expiration date. The online renewal service allows these licensees, once their requirements have been met, to complete the renewal of their license by paying the 50 percent late penalty fee.
  • The online renewal service for late renewals is not available to bail agents, who by law must reapply as a new applicant if their license is not renewed prior to the expiration date.
  • Any licensees that renew their licenses late will be required to pay a 50 percent penalty fee and file new company appointments and/or business entity endorsements or solicitor appointment (if applicable). "Late" is defined as any renewal for which the requirements to renew (this includes completing the ethics and continuing education hours) are not met until after the expiration date of the previous license term. Use Sircon online services to find out how to late renew your license

Additional Information:

  • Federal law (Title 18 United States Code Section 1033) prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a felony involving dishonesty or a breach of trust from conducting the business of insurance unless they have obtained the written consent of the Insurance Commissioner. It is a violation of this statute to conduct business of insurance without the Commissioners written consent. If you have been convicted of a felony involving dishonesty or a breach of trust then you must attach a copy of this consent. If you have not obtained this written consent you must do so by filing a 1033 Short Form Application for Written Consent prior to filing your application.
  • Pursuant to California Insurance Code section 1640, a person authorized to act as an insurance solicitor is not eligible at the same time to act as an insurance agent or broker, and a person authorized to act as either an insurance agent or broker is not eligible at the same time to act as an insurance solicitor.
  • Note: Licensees who hold an active California personal lines license are not required to file an Application for Insurance License or pay additional licensing fees each time they change authority. Appropriate document filing fees are required when filing an Action Notice or Business Entity Endorsement.

Financial Security Requirements for Limited Liability Companies Notice:

  • Limited Liability Companies (LLC's) are to provide proof of satisfying the security requirements of California Insurance Code section 1647.5 when applying for an insurance license and once licensed, must also file with the Commissioner an annual confirmation of coverage demonstrating continued compliance with the financial security requirements.
  • For additional LLC application filing information, annual certification of coverage information, and links to forms that can be used as proof of fulfilling the security requirements please go to the following link: Business Entity Limited Liability Company Requirements

Contact Information 

  • To obtain insurance licensing information, you may phone the Licensing Hotline at (800) 967-9331.
  • To obtain insurance licensing forms by mail, send an e-mail request to: Licensing Services Division Request for Licensing Information 
  • All fees mailed to the Department must be addressed to: Department of Insurance, P.O. Box 1139, Sacramento CA 95812-1139.
  • All filing fees submitted are not refundable, whether or not the application is acted upon or the examination taken.

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