Kentucky insurancelicense requirements
Kentucky insurance license at a glance
- Prelicensing course
- 20 hours per line
- Exam fee
- $50 per exam
- License fee
- $40 + $40 per line
- Continuing education
- 24 hours per compliance period
How to become an insurance agent in Kentucky
Below, you'll find the steps to a Kentucky insurance license, the exams for each line, and what it takes to keep your license active.
Requirements for Kentucky insurance producers
Contact the Kentucky insurance department
How much do insurance agents make in Kentucky?
Kentucky average insurance agent salary (all lines): $92,780
That is the mean annual wage for insurance sales agents in Kentucky 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: $80,006
- Health insurance agent: $47,900
- Property and casualty insurance agent: $41,488
Please note that salaries will vary based on experience level and local demand.
Does Kentucky require prelicensing education?
Kentucky requires producer licensing candidates to take and complete a state-approved prelicensing course. 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 Kentucky?
Becoming an insurance producer in Kentucky 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: Finish a prelicensing course approved by the Department of Insurance. Once you pass the course exam, Achievable will issue your completion certificate within 2 business days, which you can download and print from your Achievable account. Make sure to sign and date the certificate, which is valid for 1 year. Your education will be reported electronically to the state DOI.
- Step 2: Submit your license application online at www.nipr.com. Kentucky applicants also need to request a Criminal Background Report.
- Step 3: Book your exam through the Kentucky Department of Insurance eServices account after your application is processed. Note that the exam fee is separate from NIPR fees and remote testing is not offered in Kentucky.
- Step 4: On the exam day, arrive with one government-issued ID (with photo) and your Certificate of Completion. These are necessary for taking the exam.
If you need assistance with any of these steps or have questions about specific requirements, contact the Kentucky insurance department for the most current information.
Kentucky insurance exam information
Kentucky Life Insurance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 150 Total Questions |
| Time limit | 190 minutes |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Pass rate | 55.3% (913 of 1,652 first-time test takers, 2020) |
Kentucky Health Insurance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 150 Total Questions |
| Time limit | 190 minutes |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Pass rate | 49.0% (803 of 1,640 first-time test takers, 2020) |
Kentucky Property Insurance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 150 Total Questions |
| Time limit | 190 minutes |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Pass rate | 54.4% (425 of 781 first-time test takers, 2020) |
Kentucky Casualty Insurance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 150 Total Questions |
| Time limit | 190 minutes |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Pass rate | 53.3% (419 of 786 first-time test takers, 2020) |
Kentucky Personal Lines Insurance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 150 Total Questions |
| Time limit | 190 minutes |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Pass rate | 44.4% (4 of 9 first-time test takers, 2020) |
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
Kentucky insurance licensing fees
- Initial license fees: Resident Producer $40 + $40 per LOA + $50 exam fee; Resident Surplus Lines Broker $100; Nonresident Producer $50 + $50 per LOA; Nonresident Surplus Lines Broker $100
- Renewal fees: Resident - no state fee; Nonresident Producer $50; Nonresident Surplus Lines Broker $100
Kentucky insurance license citizenship requirements
Applicants who are non-citizens must submit copy of work authorization or green card
Where can I apply for a resident insurance license in Kentucky?
Apply through NIPR
How can I apply for a non-resident insurance license in Kentucky?
- 1. Must hold a valid, equivalent resident license in your home state.
- 2. Reciprocity generally applies.
- 3. Variable requires FINRA CRD number.
- 4. Must answer background questions.
- 5. Apply via NIPR and pay $50 plus NIPR processing fees.
Kentucky carrier appointments and insurance license terminations
- Required to report appointments: Yes
- Permits Just-in-time appointments: Yes
- Initial appointment deadline: Within 15 days of contract execution or first business submission
- Can be processed via NIPR: Yes
- Fees for appointing: Resident Individual Producer $40; Resident Business Entity $100; Nonresident Individual Producer $50; Nonresident Business Entity $120
- Appoint agencies: Yes
- Agency appointment covers affiliated producers: Yes
- Appointment effective date can be specified: Yes, must be less than 15 days old
- State requires appointment renewal: Yes, via NIPR portal; renewal window January 7 – March 31; late renewal April 1 – June 30 (renewal fees are doubled during late period)
Kentucky insurance license termination details
- Termination reasons: Voluntary termination; death; request regulatory review
- Terminations processed via NIPR: Yes
- Termination date can be specified: Yes, must be less than 15 days old
- Termination fee: None
- After license expiration, licensees have 60 days to obtain new appointment or be terminated
Kentucky insurance license renewals
Resident renewal period begins 90 days before expiration ; Renewal date: Last day of birth month every 2 years based on year of first license ; Late renewal permitted up to 60 days after expiration
Kentucky insurance license continuing education (CE) requirements
- Total CE hours: 24 per 2-year cycle
- Ethics requirement: 3 hours
- Flood (NFIP): 3 hours
- LTC-specific (if applicable): 8-hour initial + 4-hour each cycle
- Annuity-specific: one-time 4-hour course
- Adjusters: Unless exempt, 24 hours biennially including 3 hours ethics
- Rollover allowed: up to 12 hours
- CE exemptions for limited-line, certain license types (e.g. consultants, surplus-lines only, etc.)
Kentucky 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. The state gives this processing time: up to 5 business days.
Expect to pay $50 per exam for the exam and $40 + $40 per line for the license. Any exam prep is extra.
Yes. Kentucky sets this requirement: 20 hours per line.
Apply through NIPR after you pass your exam.
Kentucky requires 24 hours per compliance period 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, continuing education, where to apply and processing time: insurance.ky.gov
- Exam fee and license fee: insurance.ky.gov
- Pass rates: NAIC state exam reports
- Average salary: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
Compiled from official Kentucky and exam provider sources as of . Licensing rules and fees change, so confirm them with the Kentucky insurance department before you apply.
Conclusion
If you're ready to start your journey toward becoming a licensed insurance agent in Kentucky, 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?
