Iowa insurancelicense requirements
Iowa insurance license at a glance
- Prelicensing course
- None required
- Exam provider
- Pearson VUE
- Exam fee
- $44 per exam
- License fee
- $50
- Fingerprints
- Required, through Fieldprint
- Continuing education
- 36 credits every 2 years
How to become an insurance agent in Iowa
Below, you'll find the steps to a Iowa insurance license, the exams for each line, and what it takes to keep your license active.
Requirements for Iowa insurance producers
Contact the Iowa insurance department
How much do insurance agents make in Iowa?
Iowa average insurance agent salary (all lines): $75,460
That is the mean annual wage for insurance sales agents in Iowa 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: $108,311
- Health insurance agent: $51,801
- Property and casualty insurance agent: $44,867
Please note that salaries will vary based on experience level and local demand.
Does Iowa require prelicensing education?
No, Iowa does not require any insurance pre-licensing education. We highly recommend taking a course on your own to prepare for the state's licensing exam.
How do I get my insurance license in Iowa?
Becoming an insurance producer in Iowa 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 (optional): Consider taking a prelicensing course to aid your preparation for the licensing exam.
- Step 2: Schedule your exam with Pearson Vue at least 24 hours in advance. You can do this online at www.pearsonvue.com or by calling (877) 540-5825. Exams are available at Pearson Vue centers or via remote proctoring. Pay the exam fee at the time of booking. To change or cancel your appointment, contact Pearson Vue at least 48 hours prior or 3 days in advance for cancellations. For more details, visit https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/ia/insurance.html.
- Step 3: On exam day, arrive 30 minutes early. Bring two forms of ID (one with a photo and both with your signature). Without these, you cannot take the exam. Scores for the computerized exam are available immediately upon completion.
- Step 4: Allow up to 3 business days for your exam results to be transferred to the NIPR Online System. Results are valid for 90 days. Apply for your license through NIPR. After you submit your application, get fingerprinted through Fieldprint using the code in your NIPR confirmation. For more information, visit https://iid.iowa.gov/regulated-individuals/new-license.
If you need assistance with any of these steps or have questions about specific requirements, contact the Iowa insurance department for the most current information.
Iowa insurance exam information
Iowa Life Insurance Examination
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 87 Total Questions (77 Scored Questions, 10 Pretest) |
| Time limit | 2 hours |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Pass rate | 60.1% (1,470 of 2,447 first-time test takers, 2025) |
Iowa Accident and Health Insurance Examination
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 90 Total Questions (80 scored, 10 pretest) |
| Time limit | 2 hours |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Pass rate | 54.1% (915 of 1,692 first-time test takers, 2025) |
Iowa Property Insurance Examination
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 91 Total Questions (81 scored, 10 pretest) |
| Time limit | 2 hours |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Pass rate | 65.0% (532 of 818 first-time test takers, 2025) |
Iowa Casualty Insurance Examination
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 93 Total Questions (83 scored, 10 pretest) |
| Time limit | 2 hours |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Pass rate | 67.7% (545 of 805 first-time test takers, 2025) |
Iowa Personal Lines Insurance Examination
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 122 Total Questions (112 scored, 10 pretest) |
| Time limit | 2 hours |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Pass rate | 51.7% (109 of 211 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
Iowa insurance licensing fees
- Initial fees: Resident Producer $50, Surplus Lines $50; Nonresident Producer $50, Surplus Lines $50
- Renewal fees: Resident Producer $50, Surplus Lines $50; Nonresident Producer $50, Surplus Lines $50
Iowa insurance license citizenship requirements
Non-Citizens must provide a copy of a work permit issued by the Department of Immigration
Where can I apply for a resident insurance license in Iowa?
Apply through NIPR
How can I apply for a non-resident insurance license in Iowa?
- 1. Must be at least 18 years old.
- 2. Fingerprinting may be required. Must answer background questions.
- 3. Must hold equivalent license in resident state. Reciprocity generally applies.
- 4. Must provide a valid country code. P.O. Boxes are only allowed for mailing addresses.
- 5. Apply via NIPR and pay $50 plus NIPR processing fees.
Iowa carrier appointments and insurance license terminations
- Required to report appointments: Yes
- Permits JIT appointments: Yes
- Initial appointment deadlines: Within 30 days
- Can be processed via NIPR: Yes
- Fees for appointing resident agency/individual: $5
- Fees for appointing nonresident: Retaliatory fee based on appointer’s state of domicile
- Agencies appointed: No
- Adjuster appointments via NIPR: No
- Appointment effective date can be specified: Yes
- State requires appointment renewal: Yes via NIPR portal
- Renewal period: Jan 6 – Mar 17
Iowa insurance license termination details
- Termination reasons: Voluntary; inadequate production; death; agent moved; appointed in error; cancelled for cause; company merger; request regulatory review
- Termination processed via NIPR: Yes
- Termination effective date can be specified: Yes, must be ≤30 days old
- Termination fee: None
- Allows carriers to terminate if license expired: No
- Not-for-cause notice via email: Notices must be mailed (body text allowed)
Iowa insurance license renewals
Resident renewal period begins: 90 days before expiration ; Resident renewal date: Last day of birth month every 3 years based on year of first state license ; Nonresident renewal period: 90 days before expiration ; Nonresident renewal date: Last day of birth month every 3 years based on year of first state license ; Late renewal: Allowed up to one year after expiration
Iowa insurance license continuing education (CE) requirements
- Total CE hours per renewal period: 36
- Renewal period: 2 years
- CE due before license renewal: Yes
- License renewal date: Last day of birth month
- Ethics: 3 hours
- Flood: 3 hours NFIP
- LTC: 8-hour initial, 4-hour per cycle
- Annuity: one-time 4-hour course
- Adjusters: 24 hours (2 ethics) biennially
- Exemptions: Producers licensed only for credit, surety, or attorneys current on legal CE; crop-only producers reduced requirements
- CE instructors get credit
- Additional LOB: Viatical, crop insurance, indexed products one-time or specialized CE as required
- CE transcript lookup: NAIC SOLAR Lookup
Iowa 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. Iowa requires no prelicensing course, so you can book your exam as soon as you are ready. Allow time for your fingerprint appointment too. After you pass, you have 90 days to apply. The state gives this processing time: 15 to 22 business days.
Yes. Iowa candidates can test online with a remote proctor through Pearson VUE, or in person at a test center.
Expect to pay $44 per exam for the exam and $50 for the license. Fingerprinting and any exam prep are extra.
No. Iowa does not require a prelicensing course, though a course helps you prepare for the exam.
Yes. Resident applicants in Iowa are fingerprinted through Fieldprint.
Apply through NIPR after you pass your exam.
Iowa requires 36 credits 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, exam provider, license fee, online exams, where to apply, time to apply after passing and processing time: iid.iowa.gov
- Exam fee: pearsonvue.com
- Fingerprints: iid.iowa.gov
- Continuing education: legis.iowa.gov
- Pass rates: NAIC state exam reports
- Average salary: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
Compiled from official Iowa and exam provider sources as of . Licensing rules and fees change, so confirm them with the Iowa insurance department before you apply.
Conclusion
If you're ready to start your journey toward becoming a licensed insurance agent in Iowa, 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?
