How to Get Your Insurance License in California
Look at You, Future California Producer
Aceable Insurance California pre-licensing fits how working adults actually study, with mobile lessons that make the 12 hours feel quick.
- California requires a 12-hour Ethics and California Insurance Code pre-licensing course for most producer license types, per Assembly Bill 943, Chapter 566, Statutes of 2025, effective January 1, 2026. The previous 20-hour-per-line-of-authority requirement was repealed.
- PSI Services administers California's licensing exams on behalf of the California Department of Insurance (CDI). Producer exams require a 60% passing score; adjuster and bail exams require 70%. Exams are available in English, Spanish, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.
- Most prepared candidates move from starting pre-licensing to receiving the license in 2 to 4 weeks. CDI processing begins approximately 4 weeks after a complete application is submitted, including passing exam results, fingerprints, and the filing fee.
California's licensing process is one of the most accessible large-market paths in the country. The 12-hour pre-licensing course replaced the previous 20-hour-per-line structure under AB 943, the passing score is among the lower thresholds nationally, and the exam is offered in six languages. This guide covers every step in order, with the regulatory requirements sourced directly to CDI.
For the broader CA path, the CA pre-licensing requirementsPre License What Are The Pre Licensing Education Requirements For A California Insurance License Resources guide covers the 12-hour course in depth. If you're earlier in the path, the Aceable Insurance California pre-licensingCalifornia Pre License track is where most California producer careers start.
What changed for California pre-licensing under AB 943?
The new 12-hour total requirement
Per the CDI 12 Hours of Ethics and California Insurance Code FAQ0030 Seek Pre Lic 0400 Prelicensing Faq 0100 12 Hours Of Ethics California Insurance Code Frequent Questions 0200 Industry, the previous 20-hour-per-line pre-licensing requirement was repealed effective January 1, 2026, under AB 943. For most major producer license types, the new requirement is a single 12-hour Ethics and California Insurance Code course that includes one hour of insurance fraud training. The certificate of completion remains valid for three years.
What the 12-hour Ethics course covers
The course content centers on California-specific topics: the Insurance Code, CDI regulations, producer conduct standards, anti-fraud requirements, and the ethical framework that governs producer practice in California. This is the same content tested in the state-specific section of the licensing exam (approximately 30% of any producer exam).
Why multi-line candidates benefit most
Under the previous structure, candidates pursuing multiple lines completed separate 20-hour courses for each line of authority. Under AB 943, the same 12-hour Ethics course satisfies the regulatory requirement for every applicable license type. A candidate pursuing Property and Casualty plus Life, Accident, and Health completes the 12-hour course once and is then eligible to sit for both exams.
This change does not reduce the content tested by CDI. The exam still covers comprehensive product knowledge across the chosen license type, so candidates still need substantive exam preparation beyond the 12-hour Ethics course.
What types of insurance licenses does California offer?
Property and Casualty Broker-Agent
The most common license among California producers entering the market. Authorizes the sale of homeowners, renters, auto, commercial property, general liability, commercial auto, workers' compensation, and most other P&C products. California's wildfire, earthquake, and high-net-worth property markets create significant demand for P&C producers. The P&C licensePre License What Can You Do With A Property And Casualty Insurance License Resources guide covers the product set in detail.
Life, Accident, and Health Agent
Authorizes the sale of life insurance, health insurance, disability income coverage, long-term care, annuities, and related products. California offers three variants: Life-Only Agent, Accident and Health Agent, and the combined Life, Accident, and Health Agent license. The combined license is the most common starting point for producers focused on financial protection and senior market products.
Personal Lines Broker-Agent
A narrower license covering personal auto, homeowners, and related personal coverage. Best suited for producers focused exclusively on personal lines without commercial exposure.
Specialty licenses
California also issues Limited Lines Automobile, Bail, Insurance Adjuster, and Public Insurance Adjuster licenses, each with its own exam and (for adjusters and bail) a higher 70% passing score. Specialty licenses typically follow producer licensure as career specialization paths.
Who's eligible for a California insurance license?
Age, residency, and education requirements
Applicants must be at least 18 years old. California residents apply for resident licenses; out-of-state applicants apply for non-resident licenses. No college degree is required. Insurance is one of the most accessible professional credentials in the state, which is why it draws candidates from every background, including career changersPre License How To Become An Insurance Agent With No Experience Resources with no prior industry experience.
Background and 1033 considerations
All applicants undergo a fingerprint-based background check. Felony convictions involving dishonesty or breach of trust may affect eligibility under California Insurance Code Section 1729.2. Applicants with a "prohibited person" status under 18 U.S.C. Section 1033 must apply for and receive written consent before obtaining a California license. The CDI reviews each case individually, so applicants with concerns should contact CDI's Background Section before investing in pre-licensing education.
How do you register for and pass the California insurance exam?
PSI Services and testing options
California's licensing exams are administered by PSI Services LLC through the PSI California Department of Insurance test-taker portalCadi Test Takers.psiexams.com. Three testing options are available:
- The CDI's Los Angeles testing center, which charges only the base exam fee with no PSI convenience fee added
- Over 20 PSI testing centers throughout California, which add a state-set convenience fee per exam
- Remote online proctoring through PSI Bridge, which requires a compatible computer with webcam, microphone, and stable internet connection, also subject to the PSI convenience fee
Question count and time by license type
Per the CDI Exam Times and Questions0010 Producer Online Services 0200 Exam Info Examtimesandquestion.cfm 0250 Insurers page:
- Life-Only Agent: 75 questions, 105 minutes
- Accident and Health Agent: 75 questions, 105 minutes
- Life, Accident, and Health Agent (combined): 150 questions, 195 minutes
- Personal Lines Broker-Agent: 90 questions, 135 minutes
- Property Broker-Agent: 150 questions, 3 hours
- Casualty Broker-Agent: 150 questions, 3 hours
- Limited Lines Automobile: 50 questions, 75 minutes
- Insurance Adjuster: 150 questions, 3 hours (70% passing score)
- Public Insurance Adjuster: 150 questions, 3 hours (70% passing score)
- Bail License: 75 questions, 105 minutes (70% passing score)
Languages and accessibility
California offers exams in English, Spanish, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese, and Tagalog. This is among the broadest language availability of any state and reflects California's diverse producer population.
Passing score
Producer license exams (Life, Health, P&C, Personal Lines, Commercial) require a 60% passing score. Adjuster and bail license exams require 70%. The 60% threshold is lower than the 70% standard in many states, but California's exam emphasizes scenario-based questions that require applying multiple concepts simultaneously rather than recalling isolated facts.
Retake policy
Candidates who don't pass can reschedule immediately with no waiting period. Each retake requires a new exam fee. Candidates who fail 10 times within 12 months are barred from that exam type for one year under California Insurance Code section 1682. The diagnostic report emailed within 24 hours of the exam is the most valuable tool for targeting study time on a retake. The CA study planPre License How To Study For The California Insurance Exam Resources guide covers the prep approach that works.
Choose a State and Course
Yes, California Producers Make That Much
The Aceable Insurance Salary Guide shows what California agents really earn across every line and metro. (Pleasant surprises throughout.)
How do you complete fingerprinting and apply for the license?
Capital Live Scan as the resident vendor
California resident applicants complete fingerprinting through Capital Live Scan (CLS), CDI's contracted Live Scan vendor. Schedule the appointment through the CLS online portal after submitting the license application to CDI. Resident applicants pay a $74 fee through CLS's rolling fee structure, which includes the FBI fingerprint processing fee, the California Department of Justice fee, and the CLS rolling fee, per the CDI fingerprint requirements page.
Sircon or NIPR application
After passing the exam, apply for the license through Sircon or the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). Both platforms accept California license applications electronically. Paper applications are generally not accepted. The application requires confirmation of pre-licensing education completion, exam pass status, fingerprint submission, and payment of the CDI filing fee ($188 for most producer license types per the CDI Schedule of Fees and Charges effective March 3, 2019).
CDI processing timeline
CDI typically processes complete applications in approximately 4 weeks. Application status can be tracked through CDI's Check License Application Status Service (CLASS). Once approved, the license can be downloaded or printed through Sircon's Compliance Express. The producer cannot transact insurance business until they receive a carrier appointment (for agents) or file the required surety bond (for broker-agents).
What continuing education does California require?
24-hour CE cycle
California licenses run on two-year terms. Resident producers complete 24 hours of continuing education each two-year cycle, with at least 3 hours dedicated to ethics training. Limited Lines Automobile agents complete 20 hours. CE should be completed at least 60 days before the license expiration date to allow providers to report completion to CDI.
Ethics and anti-fraud training under SB 1242
Per Senate Bill 1242, Chapter 424, Statutes of 2022, effective March 1, 2023, one of the three required ethics hours must be the CDI's Anti-Fraud Awareness training. This is part of (not in addition to) the 3-hour ethics requirement. Excess credits up to 24 hours can carry over to the next renewal cycle as general credits, but ethics excess does not carry over toward future ethics requirements.
Are there any pre-licensing exemptions?
Professional designation exemptions
Certain professional designations exempt holders from product-specific pre-licensing under the prior structure, though that structure has now been replaced by the 12-hour Ethics requirement. Designations recognized by CDI include:
- Life, Accident, and Health: Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) or Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (LUTCF)
- Property and Casualty: Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), or Accredited Adviser in Insurance (AAI)
The 12-hour Ethics requirement still applies
Even with these designations, all applicants must complete the 12-hour Ethics and California Insurance Code course before the license can be issued. The designation exemption removed product-specific hours under the old structure; the 12-hour Ethics course is the current baseline for all candidates regardless of prior credentials.
What can slow down the California licensing process?
- Fingerprint delays: Not scheduling Capital Live Scan promptly after submitting the application extends the timeline by one to three weeks
- Incomplete ethics course reporting: The license cannot be issued until CDI receives confirmation that the 12-hour Ethics course is complete
- Name mismatches: Discrepancies between government ID, exam registration, and application cause processing delays and may require additional documentation
- Background issues: Criminal history, regulatory actions, or 1033 prohibited person status require additional CDI review
- Missing broker bond: Broker-agents must file a $10,000 surety bond per California Insurance Code sections 1662-1665 using form LIC 417-5 before broker authority is issued
- Waiting too long after the exam: Exam results remain valid only one year under California Insurance Code section 1676(a), so application submission within that window is essential
The California licensing process moves quickly for prepared candidates. The 12-hour Ethics course is now the lightest pre-licensing requirement among major insurance markets, the passing score is among the more accessible nationally, and the exam is offered in six languages. The producers who complete the path most efficiently treat the 12-hour course seriously, build exam prep around the CDI Educational Objectives for their chosen license type, and submit fingerprints and applications in parallel rather than sequentially.
The Golden State of Insurance Careers
Aceable Insurance California pre-licensing is the entry point to the biggest single insurance market in the country.