Illinois insurancelicense requirements
Illinois insurance license at a glance
- Prelicensing course
- 20 hours per line
- Exam provider
- Pearson VUE
- Passing score
- 70 (scaled score)
- Exam fee
- $92 per General + State pair
- License fee
- $215
- Fingerprints
- Not required
- Continuing education
- 24 hours every 2 years
How to become an insurance agent in Illinois
Below, you'll find the steps to a Illinois insurance license, the exams for each line, and what it takes to keep your license active.
Requirements for Illinois insurance producers
Contact the Illinois insurance department
How much do insurance agents make in Illinois?
Illinois average insurance agent salary (all lines): $84,680
That is the mean annual wage for insurance sales agents in Illinois in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 survey.
Estimates by line, from Achievable's May 2026 salary research (not BLS figures):
- Life insurance agent: $86,212
- Health insurance agent: $52,606
- Property and casualty insurance agent: $46,289
Please note that salaries will vary based on experience level and local demand.
Does Illinois require prelicensing education?
Illinois requires producer licensing candidates to take and complete a state-approved prelicensing course. Potential agents must complete 20 hours of education and 7.5 of those hours must be completed in a classroom or web class. You will also need to apply to your license with the state insurance department and register for the state licensing exam. Make sure to register for all 3 (prelicensing course, license application, state exam) using the personally identifiable information exactly as it appears on your government-issued ID. Discrepancies will delay the licensing process.
How do I get my insurance license in Illinois?
Becoming an insurance producer in Illinois requires passing a state-mandated insurance exam in the specific line or lines you wish to specialize in, as well as completing the following steps:
- Step 1: Complete a Department of Insurance-approved prelicensing course. After finishing, Achievable will confirm your completion of the required classroom portion and exam. The Certificate of Completion is valid for 1 year, so it’s advisable to complete the licensing process within 6-9 months.
- Step 2: Schedule your exam with Pearson VUE. You can book online at [https://www.pearsonvue.com/il/insurance/] or call (800) 274-0402. Register separately for the General exam and the State exam for your line of authority; you must pass both within 90 days of each other. Exams are taken at a Pearson VUE test center.
- Step 3: On exam day, bring two valid government-issued IDs (e.g., driver’s license, passport), including one with a photo. Also, carry your signed Certificate of Completion. Without these, you won't be allowed to take the exam. You’ll get your score report at the test center.
- Step 4: Apply for your license at least 5 days after passing your exam. Submit your application online at https://nipr.com/.
If you need assistance with any of these steps or have questions about specific requirements, contact the Illinois insurance department for the most current information.
Illinois insurance exam information
Illinois Life Insurance Examination
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 91 Total Questions (81 scored, 10 pretest): General exam 55 and State exam 36 |
| Time limit | 75 minutes General plus 50 minutes State (125 minutes total) |
| Passing score | 70 (scaled score) |
| Pass rate | 77.2% (6,881 of 8,910 first-time test takers, 2025) |
Illinois Accident and Health Insurance Examination
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 99 Total Questions (89 scored, 10 pretest): General exam 55 and State exam 44 |
| Time limit | 75 minutes General plus 55 minutes State (130 minutes total) |
| Passing score | 70 (scaled score) |
| Pass rate | 91.2% (4,517 of 4,953 first-time test takers, 2025) |
Illinois Property Insurance Examination
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 90 Total Questions (80 scored, 10 pretest): General exam 55 and State exam 35 |
| Time limit | 75 minutes General plus 50 minutes State (125 minutes total) |
| Passing score | 70 (scaled score) |
| Pass rate | 59.8% (1,970 of 3,292 first-time test takers, 2025) |
Illinois Casualty Insurance Examination
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 97 Total Questions (87 scored, 10 pretest): General exam 55 and State exam 42 |
| Time limit | 75 minutes General plus 55 minutes State (130 minutes total) |
| Passing score | 70 (scaled score) |
| Pass rate | 82.0% (2,659 of 3,244 first-time test takers, 2025) |
Pass rates are for first-time test takers, from the NAIC's state exam reports. Each rate shows its year, and it is the most recent NAIC figure we have for that exam.
Additional requirements
Illinois insurance licensing fees
- Initial individual fees: Resident Producer $215, Resident Limited Lines $0, Resident Surplus Lines $400; Nonresident Producer $380, Nonresident Limited Lines $0, Nonresident Surplus Lines $400
- Renewal fees: Resident Producer $215, Surplus Lines $400; Nonresident Producer $380, Surplus Lines $400, Nonresident Limited Lines $200
Illinois insurance license citizenship requirements
Pre-license education required; fingerprints not required; US citizenship not explicitly required
Where can I apply for a resident insurance license in Illinois?
Apply through NIPR
How can I apply for a non-resident insurance license in Illinois?
- 1. Must have a valid, same license in your home state.
- 2. Reciprocity generally applies.
- 3. Surplus requires active Insurance Producer license with equivalent Property and Casualty.
- 4. Must answer background questions.
- 5. Apply via NIPR and pay $380 plus NIPR processing fees.
Illinois carrier appointments and insurance license terminations
- Required to report appointments: No, Registry (except limited lines and travel producers)
- Can be processed via NIPR: No
- Fees for appointing resident agency or individual: $0
- State requires appointment renewal: No – Registry
- Registry renewal period for limited lines: Nov 3 – Jan 2
- Appointment renewal fee: Limited Lines Producer $50
- Email notices permitted for not-for-cause terminations
Illinois insurance license termination details
- Termination reasons: Cancelled, cancelled for cause
- Allows carriers to terminate if license expired: No
- Not-for-cause notices: Email permitted
Illinois insurance license renewals
Resident renewal period begins: 90 days before expiration ; Resident renewal date: Last day of birth month every 2 years based on year of first state license ; Nonresident renewal period: 90 days before expiration ; Nonresident renewal date: Last day of birth month every 2 years based on year of first state license
Illinois insurance license continuing education (CE) requirements
- Total CE hours per renewal period: 24
- Renewal period: 2 years
- CE due before license renewal: Yes
- License renewal date: Last day of birth month
- Ethics: 3 hours classroom
- Flood: 3 hours NFIP (one-time)
- LTC: 8-hour initial, 4-hour per cycle
- Annuity: one-time 4-hour course
- Rollover allowed: 12 non-ethics credits
- CE exemptions: Certain limited and surplus lines agents, first renewal may vary
- Check CE transcripts: NAIC CE Lookup
Illinois insurance license FAQs
There is no set timeline: most of it depends on how long you study and how soon you can book an exam. Start with the prelicensing requirement: 20 hours per line.
No. Illinois insurance exams are taken in person at Pearson VUE test centers.
Expect to pay $92 per General + State pair for the exam and $215 for the license. Any exam prep is extra.
Yes. Illinois sets this requirement: 20 hours per line.
The passing score is 70 (scaled score). In 2025, 77.2% of first-time test takers passed the Illinois life exam, according to the NAIC.
No. Illinois does not require fingerprints for a resident producer license.
Apply through NIPR after you pass your exam.
Illinois requires 24 hours every 2 years to keep your license active.
For what an agent does, the types of insurance and how multi-state licensing works, see our guide to insurance licensing by state.
Sources
- Prelicensing: idoi.illinois.gov
- Exam provider and online exams: pearsonvue.com
- Exam fee and passing score: pearsonvue.com
- License fee and where to apply: nipr.com
- Fingerprints: budget.illinois.gov
- Continuing education: idoi.illinois.gov
- Pass rates: NAIC state exam reports
- Average salary: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
Compiled from official Illinois and exam provider sources as of . Licensing rules and fees change, so confirm them with the Illinois insurance department before you apply.
Conclusion
If you're ready to start your journey toward becoming a licensed insurance agent in Illinois, Achievable's license exam prep covers each major line: Life & Health insurance license exam prep, Property & Casualty license exam prep, and Personal Lines license exam prep. Our comprehensive study materials and practice exams are designed to help you pass your licensing exam on the first attempt.
Interested in insurance licensing in other states?
