How to get a Texas property & casualty license

The Texas Department of Insurance sets out the steps for a resident general lines property and casualty agent license. Everything below comes from its own application page.

Short version

Pass the licensing exam · Check whether you are exempt from the exam · Get a fingerprint background check · Complete fingerprints, then apply within a year of passing · Pay the application fee
  1. 1

    Pass the licensing exam

    TDI lists taking the exam as the first step, and states that you must pass the state licensing exam before applying for a resident agent license. The exam is delivered by Pearson VUE. Applying first does not save you time: TDI states that if you apply before passing, you must submit a new application after you pass and pay the application fee again.

  2. 2

    Check whether you are exempt from the exam

    TDI lists three situations in which you do not need to take an exam: your license has been expired for more than 90 days but less than one year; you do not live in Texas but hold a license in good standing in a reciprocal state; or you hold the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter designation.

  3. 3

    Get a fingerprint background check

    TDI states that you must begin the application process on its online initial application and fingerprint portal to receive your fingerprint service code and instructions. Most people who apply for a license must get a fingerprint background check from IdentoGO and send TDI a copy of the IdentoGO receipt showing their fingerprints were sent to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

  4. 4

    Complete fingerprints, then apply within a year of passing

    TDI's order is explicit: pass the exam, complete your fingerprints, then use the Sircon or National Insurance Producer Registry website to apply. The application must be submitted within one year of passing the exam, or you will need to retake it.

  5. 5

    Pay the application fee

    TDI gives the application fee for a resident agent license as $50. It gives the same $50 fee for a resident agency license and for a non-resident agent or agency license.

Common questions

Do I take the exam before or after applying for the license?

Before. The Texas Department of Insurance states that you must pass the state licensing exam before applying for a resident agent license, and that the application must follow within one year of passing. If you apply before passing, TDI states you will have to submit a new application after you pass and pay the $50 application fee again.

Is there any way to skip the exam?

The Texas Department of Insurance lists three. You do not need to take an exam if your license has been expired for more than 90 days but less than one year; if you do not live in Texas but hold a license in good standing in a reciprocal state; or if you hold the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter designation.

How much is the license application fee?

The Texas Department of Insurance gives the application fee as $50. This is separate from the fee charged for sitting the exam itself. A temporary license application costs $150 instead, and that single fee covers both the temporary and the permanent license application.

Can I get my exam fee back if I am a veteran?

The Texas Department of Insurance states that veterans can be reimbursed the fees for exams taken on or after February 1, 2019, and that veterans who have passed Texas insurance exams can apply to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to get the exam fee reimbursed.

Do I need a background check?

The Texas Department of Insurance states that most applicants must get a fingerprint background check from IdentoGO and send TDI a copy of the receipt showing the fingerprints reached the Texas Department of Public Safety. TDI also states that some people can ask for an exemption, and points to the Texas Administrative Code for the detail.

Where do I submit the application?

Resident agents apply through either the Sircon website or the National Insurance Producer Registry, according to the Texas Department of Insurance. The fingerprint step starts separately, on TDI's own online initial application and fingerprint portal.

What happens if I wait too long after passing the exam?

The Texas Department of Insurance states that the application must be submitted within one year of passing the exam, otherwise the exam must be retaken.

Which laws govern this license?

The Texas Department of Insurance states that the laws about the general lines property and casualty license are in Texas Insurance Code Sections 4051.051, 4001.160, 4051.054 and 4001.151.

What this page does not tell you

  • TDI's application page does not state a minimum age or a residency requirement for a resident agent license, so we do not list one.
  • It does not state how long the license lasts or what continuing education applies after licensing, so we do not either.
  • The fee charged for sitting the exam is set by the testing vendor and is not given on TDI's application page. Check the current candidate handbook before budgeting.
  • TDI states that some people can ask for an exemption from the fingerprint background check and refers to the Texas Administrative Code rather than listing the grounds on this page, so we do not list them.

Sources

Licensing rules change. Always confirm against the official pages above before acting. This is exam preparation, not legal or licensing advice.