The state of Georgia offers different licensing education/procedures depending on the type of insurance license sought. Insurance agents may select from the following categories:
- Life, Accident & Sickness
- Commercial Property and Casualty
- Personal Lines
- Variable Products
- Non Resident Insurance Agent
Georgia Pre-licensing Education Requirements
Each license type requires pre-licensing education. For example, Life, Accident & Sickness and Commercial Property/Casualty agents must complete 40 hours of pre-licensing courses. Personal lines on the other hand only requires 30 course hours. Candidates seeking the variable product license must take 8 hours of pre-licensing courses and must hold or apply for a life insurance license. Non residents are not subject to education requirements.
State Insurance Licensing Exam
After taking the required courses, those seeking a Georgia insurance agent's license must schedule to take the state exam. The exam is administered through an organization called Pearson Vue. Candidates can schedule the exam by calling Pearson Vue at 1-800-274-0488 or visiting their website at PearsonVue.com.
The current listing of exam center locations can be found on The Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner website. There is an alphabetical listing of exam centers from Albany to Savannah.
Georgia Licensing Forms and Applications
After taking the necessary courses and passing the state exam, candidates must download and print the Resident Insurance License application. The application is available on the Department website.
Although the state of Georgia does not require fingerprinting or a complete background check as do other states such as New Jersey, there are questions on the Resident Insurance License application that if answered 'yes,' additional background and criminal information must accompany the completed application.
As of this writing, the fee for filing the application is $75. However, since fees change from time to time, its visit the Georgia Department of Insurance website for the latest fee schedule.
Pre-licensing Course and Exam Exemptions
Applicants can forgo the pre-licensing education requirements and sitting for the stat exam if they hold certain insurance designations. For example, an individual applying for a life insurance license that holds a CLU or FLMI need not sit for the licensing course. Similarly, commercial property and casualty or personal lines candidates holding a CPCU designation do not have to sit for the pre-licensing classes or exam. All the applicant has to do is submit a copy of the designation along with the licensing application.
Residents new to the state of Georgia that hold a valid insurance producer's license from their prior home state are also exempt from taking the pre-licensing courses and exam. The caveat is the new residents must apply for the Georgia license within 90 days of moving to Georgia and the old license must still be valid.
Non Residents Licensing
The state of George or accepts electronic applications which expedites the licensing process for nonresident agents. The electronic application can be found at the Sircon website. Although they do still except the old-fashioned paper application, the electronic method is recommended. For those looking to file the paper application, download the Nonresident Uniform Application Individual Producer form located at the Department of Insurance website, complete it and mail it to the Department.
Georgia Continuing Education Requirements
Once licensed, Georgia insurance agents must take continuing education credits. The number of education credits required varies depending on the number of years the agent has been license. For example, an agent that has been license for 20 years or more must take 10 continuing education hours and three hours of ethics training. An agent licensed for 20 years or less must take 15 continuing education hours and three hours of ethics training. Requirements also vary by type of license.
Related Reading:
- Agent or Broker What is the Difference
- Insurance Customer Service Representative: Skills and Qualities of a Successful CSR
- How to Become a Licensed Insurance Producer in the United States
Felicia A. Williams - Felicia A. Williams is a full time freelance writer with over 20 years of business writing experience.
