New York insurancelicense requirements
New York insurance license at a glance
- Prelicensing course
- 20 to 90 hours by line
- Exam provider
- PSI
- Passing score
- 70%
- Exam fee
- $40 per exam
- License fee
- $80 for a 2-year license
- Continuing education
- 15 credits every 2 years
How to become an insurance agent in New York
Below, you'll find the steps to a New York insurance license, the exams for each line, and what it takes to keep your license active.
Requirements for New York insurance producers
Contact the New York insurance department
How much do insurance agents make in New York?
New York average insurance agent salary (all lines): $101,750
That is the mean annual wage for insurance sales agents in New York 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: $97,334
- Health insurance agent: $60,337
- Property and casualty insurance agent: $52,260
Please note that salaries will vary based on experience level and local demand.
Does New York require prelicensing education?
New York requires producer licensing candidates to take and complete a state-approved prelicensing course (20 hours for Life or Accident & Health, 40 hours for Life and Accident & Health combined or Personal Lines, 90 hours for Property/Casualty). You will also need to apply for 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 New York?
Becoming an insurance producer in New York 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 prelicensing course approved by the NY Department of Financial Services. After finishing the course, download and print your certificate of completion from your Achievable account. This certificate, which does not expire, is required when you submit your license application to the New York Department of Financial Services.
- Step 2: Schedule your exam with PSI Services LLC. The fastest way is online at https://candidate.psiexams.com/ or call (855) 579-4637. Exams can be taken at a PSI center or remotely. To cancel or reschedule, contact PSI at least 48 hours in advance. Voicemails or emails are not accepted—use the PSI website or speak directly to a Customer Service Representative. Important Note: Ensure the name used for your Achievable courses, exam registration, and license application matches the name on your ID. Strict security measures apply during exams, including restrictions on what you can bring and wear. Review the Candidate Bulletin on the PSI website for details.
- Step 3: On exam day, bring two valid forms of government-issued ID, one with a photo. Without proper ID, you will not be allowed to take the exam. After the exam, you will receive a printed score report with your results.
- Step 4: Apply online through NY LINX within two years of passing the exam. Visit https://www.dfs.ny.gov/apps_and_licensing/agents_and_brokers/apply_individual_original_tba for detailed application instructions.
If you need assistance with any of these steps or have questions about specific requirements, contact the New York insurance department for the most current information.
New York insurance exam information
New York Life Insurance Agent/Broker Examination
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 100 Total Questions |
| Time limit | 2 Hours |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Pass rate | 54.8% (2,954 of 5,392 first-time test takers, 2025) |
New York Accident and Health Insurance Agent/Broker Examination
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 100 Total Questions |
| Time limit | 2 Hours |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Pass rate | 55.5% (889 of 1,602 first-time test takers, 2025) |
New York Life, Accident and Health Insurance Agent/Broker Examination
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 150 Total Questions |
| Time limit | 2.5 Hours |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Pass rate | 55.8% (4,464 of 7,993 first-time test takers, 2025) |
New York Property and Casualty Insurance Agent/Broker Examination
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 150 Total Questions |
| Time limit | 2.5 Hours |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Pass rate | 62.7% (1,424 of 2,272 first-time test takers, 2025) |
New York Personal Lines Insurance Agent/Broker Examination
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 100 Total Questions |
| Time limit | 2 Hours |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Pass rate | 67.8% (598 of 882 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
New York insurance licensing fees
- Initial license fees: Resident P&C/Life and Health Agent or Broker: $80 for a two-year license ($40 if issued for one year or less); Resident/Nonresident Excess Lines: $25–$400 depending on county/population and duration
- CE fee: $10 if required
- Renewal fees: Resident P&C/Life and Health Agent/Broker $80; Resident/Nonresident Excess Lines $50/$400
New York insurance license citizenship requirements
Fingerprints not required. Non-U.S. citizenship not explicitly restricted, but general DFS licensing rules apply.
Where can I apply for a resident insurance license in New York?
Apply through NY LINX
How can I apply for a non-resident insurance license in New York?
- 1. Must be at least 18 years old.
- 2. Must provide a residence and/or business address that is not in New York.
- 3. Variable requires FINRA CRD number; Excess lines requires P&C broker authority.
- 4. Requires fingerprinting. Must answer background questions.
- 5. Apply via NIPR.
New York carrier appointments and insurance license terminations
- Required to report appointments: Yes
- Permits JIT appointments: Yes
- Initial appointment deadlines: Within 15 days of contract execution or first business submission
- Can be processed via NIPR: Yes (many appointments offline via DFS portal: https://myportal.dfs.ny.gov/)
- Fees for appointing resident/nonresident agency or individual: No fee
- Appoint agencies: Yes
- Adjuster appointments via NIPR: No
- Appointment effective date can be specified: No
New York insurance license termination details
- Terminations processed via NIPR: No
- Termination date can be specified: No
- Termination fee: None
- State terminates appointment if license expires: Yes
- Not-for-cause notices must be mailed
New York insurance license renewals
Resident/Nonresident renewal: Birth date every 2 years based on year of birth ; Renewal period begins 180 days before expiration ; Late renewal up to 60 days after expiration with $10 fee
New York insurance license continuing education (CE) requirements
- CE total hours: 15 per 2-year period
- Ethics: 1 hour; Insurance Law: 1 hour
- Flood-specific: 3 hours NFIP course
- LTC-specific: one-time 6-hour course
- Includes 1 hour of diversity and inclusion instruction; the ethics hour covers professionalism
- CE transcripts: https://www.dfs.ny.gov/apps_and_licensing/agents_and_brokers/continuing_education
New York 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 to 90 hours by line. After you pass, you have 2 years to apply.
Expect to pay $40 per exam for the exam and $80 for a 2-year license for the license. Any exam prep is extra.
Yes. New York sets this requirement: 20 to 90 hours by line.
The passing score is 70%. In 2025, 55.8% of first-time test takers passed the New York life and health exam, according to the NAIC.
Apply through NY LINX after you pass your exam.
New York requires 15 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: dfs.ny.gov
- Exam provider, exam fee and passing score: test-takers.psiexams.com
- License fee: dfs.ny.gov
- Continuing education: dfs.ny.gov
- Where to apply and time to apply after passing: dfs.ny.gov
- Pass rates: NAIC state exam reports
- Average salary: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
Compiled from official New York and exam provider sources as of . Licensing rules and fees change, so confirm them with the New York insurance department before you apply.
Conclusion
If you're ready to start your journey toward becoming a licensed insurance agent in New York, 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?
