Build Your Future In Illinois’ Booming Insurance Industry

Illinois requires 20 hours of pre-licensing education for every line of authority you want to sell. Here's the part most people miss: 7.5 of those 20 hours have to be completed in a live classroom or live webinar, not pre-recorded. The other 12.5 hours can be self-paced online.

Hours by license type:

• Life: 20 hours (7.5 live, 12.5 self-paced)
• Accident & Health: 20 hours (7.5 live, 12.5 self-paced)
• Property: 20 hours (7.5 live, 12.5 self-paced)
• Casualty: 20 hours (7.5 live, 12.5 self-paced)
• Life & Health combined: 40 hours total (15 live, 25 self-paced)
• Property & Casualty combined: 40 hours total (15 live, 25 self-paced)
• All Lines (4-in-1): 80 hours total (30 live, 50 self-paced)
• Motor Vehicle: 12.5 hours (5 live, 7.5 self-paced)

Aceable's Illinois coursesIllinois Pre License include the live webinar hours, so you don't need to register for the live portion separately.

Both are great paths into the industry. They just put you in front of different products and different clients.

Property & CasualtyIllinois Property And Casualty Pre License lets you sell:

• Auto, homeowners, and renters insurance
• Commercial property and liability coverage
• Workers' comp and business policies

P&C tends to attract agents who like fast-paced claims work and tangible products.

Life & HealthIllinois Life And Health Pre License lets you sell:

• Life insurance and annuities
• Health insurance and disability
• Medicare supplements and long-term care

L&H tends to attract agents who like consultative selling and long-term client relationships.

Each license requires its own pre-licensing course and its own exams (General plus State for each line). Many career-minded Illinois agents go dual-licensed to maximize earning potential, which is why our all-in-one bundleIllinois All In One Pre License covers all four lines in one package.

Most candidates finish the full process in 4 to 8 weeks. Your timeline depends on:

1. How fast you complete your pre-licensing hours (most students wrap up in 2 to 3 weeks)
2. How quickly can you schedule your exam at a Pearson VUE testing center
3. The mandatory 5-day waiting period after passing your exams before you can apply through NIPR
4. How fast you complete fingerprinting and the background check

Motivated career-switchers can move through the whole process in as little as 3 weeks. Our licensing timeline guidePre License How Soon Can You Start Your Career As An Insurance Agent In Illinois Resources maps out every step, including the hidden delays most first-timers don't see coming.

Each Illinois insurance exam has two separate parts that must each be passed with a 70% or higher:

1. General Knowledge section, covering national insurance concepts, terminology, and product fundamentals
2. State-specific section, covering Illinois insurance laws, regulations, and producer responsibilities

You must pass both parts of a given line within 90 days of each other. Question counts and time limits vary by line and are updated periodically by Pearson VUE. You can find the current exam content outline and question counts in the Illinois Insurance Candidate Handbook on the Pearson VUE website.

All exams are multiple choice and computer-based at a Pearson VUE testing center. As of January 17, 2025, remote online state exams are no longer offered for Illinois insurance candidates. You must test in person.

For a deeper breakdown of question types and the topics that carry the most weight on test day, see our exam mastery guidePre License How To Master The Illinois Insurance Exam Resources.

Once you've finished your pre-licensing course and received your Certificate of Completion, register through Pearson VUEIl Insurance Home.pearsonvue.com online or by phone at (800) 274-0402. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Walk-in exams are not accepted.

What to bring on exam day:

• Two valid forms of government-issued ID, one with a photo
• Your Certificate of Completion from your pre-licensing course

What to leave at home or in the locker:

• Phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, earbuds
• Notes, books, scratch paper
• Bags, wallets, snacks

Arrive 30 minutes early for check-in. If you arrive late, you forfeit the exam fee. Pearson VUE does not make exceptions for tardiness.

Illinois is one of the highest-paying states for insurance agents, ranking near the top alongside New York and New Jersey.

Earning potential is strong, with experienced agents commonly clearing six figures and top performers in metro markets earning well beyond that. Pay varies by line, structure, and effort. P&C captive agents often have steadier base income with commission on top, while L&H independent agents can hit higher peaks selling annuities, life, and final expense. Our Illinois salary guidePre License How Much Insurance Agents Make Illinois Resources breaks down pay by region and line of authority.

Your National Producer Number (NPN) is automatically assigned when you apply for your first insurance license through NIPR. It's a unique identifier that follows you throughout your entire insurance career, regardless of which states you're licensed in.

You don't need to apply separately for an NPN; it's generated as part of the licensing process. Once assigned, your NPN will appear on your license documentation and in the NIPR system.

To find your NPN after licensing:

• Log into the NIPR License Manager at sbs.naic.org
• Check your license documentation
• Download the free NIPR mobile app
• Contact the Illinois Department of Insurance

Illinois insurance licenses renew every 2 years on the last day of your birth month. To renew, you need:

• 24 hours of continuing education (CE) per renewal period
• 3 of those 24 hours must be in live ethics (a classroom session or live webinar; self-paced ethics does not count)
• The remaining 21 hours can be completed in any approved format
• Completion must be reported to IDOI at least 10 business days before your expiration date

CE must be completed and reported on time. A lapsed license can mean lost commissions, terminated carrier appointments, and (if it's expired more than 12 months) restarting pre-licensing from scratch. Browse Illinois CE coursesIllinois Continuing Education when it's time to renew.

Yes, and most Aceable students do. The self-paced portion of the course is mobile-optimized, and the live webinars are scheduled at varied times to fit working students. Most people complete their hours in 2 to 3 weeks while juggling a full-time job. Our study while workingPre License Can You Work While Studying For Your Insurance License In Illinois Resources guide breaks down a realistic week-by-week plan.

Yes. Illinois requires a fingerprint-based background check as part of your application. You'll complete this through a state-approved fingerprinting vendor after passing your exams. Fingerprints must be submitted through NIPR within 60 days of your application. Keep your receipt, since you may need to reference it later in the process.

The Illinois Department of Insurance reviews each applicant's background. Certain criminal history may require additional disclosure or could affect eligibility. If you have any concerns, contact IDOI directly before paying the course or exam fees. For more on where the background check fits into the licensing timelinePre License How Soon Can You Start Your Career As An Insurance Agent In Illinois Resources, see our step-by-step guide.