Connecticut Producer Licensing Requirements

Connecticut requires comprehensive pre-licensing education and separate exams for Property and Casualty lines, making it a thorough licensing process compared to many states.

Basic Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for a Connecticut P&C producer license, applicants must:

Exam Tip: Connecticut REQUIRES 40 hours of pre-license education—20 hours per line. This is strictly enforced and must be completed BEFORE scheduling exams.

The Connecticut Licensing Process

Step 1: Complete Pre-Licensing Education

Requirements:

• Property Line: 20 hours from Connecticut-approved provider
• Casualty Line: 20 hours from Connecticut-approved provider
• Total for P&C: 40 hours
• Completion Time: Must complete within 180 days before exam
• Certificate Required: Obtain completion certificate from provider

Approved Education Providers:

• Classroom or online courses accepted
• Must be Connecticut Insurance Department approved
• Check portal.ct.gov/cid/licensing for approved provider list
• Kaplan Financial Education
• AD Banker
• XCEL Solutions
• AdjusterPro
• Other CID-approved providers

Topics Covered:

• Insurance fundamentals and terminology
• Property insurance principles and coverage
• Casualty insurance concepts and liability
• Auto insurance requirements
• Workers' compensation basics
• Connecticut-specific laws and regulations
• Ethics and professional conduct

Exam Tip: Some professional designations (AAI, ARM, CIC, CPCU) may waive the exam requirement if you provide a current Letter of Designation. The pre-licensing education requirement is still waived in these cases.

Step 2: Pass the Licensing Exam(s)

Connecticut offers two exam options:

Option A: Separate Property and Casualty Exams

Option B: Combined Property & Casualty Exam

Exam Format:

• Multiple-choice questions
• National content (general insurance knowledge)
• Connecticut-specific content (state laws and regulations)
• Computer-based testing
• Results provided immediately upon completion

Exam Cost:

• Fee varies by exam type and testing provider
• Paid to Pearson VUE when scheduling
• Retake requires full fee payment

Testing Provider:

• Pearson VUE administers all Connecticut insurance exams
• Schedule online at pearsonvue.com/ct/insurance
• Call: 1-888-204-6272
• Testing centers throughout Connecticut
• Online proctoring NOT currently available for insurance exams

What to Bring to Exam:

• Valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license or passport)
• Pearson VUE confirmation number
• Proof of pre-licensing education completion

Testing Center Rules:

• No phones, calculators, or reference materials allowed
• Scratch paper and basic calculator provided by testing center
• No outside materials permitted
• Must arrive 15-30 minutes before scheduled time

Exam Tip: Most candidates take the combined P&C exam (145 questions) rather than separate exams. This requires only one testing appointment and covers both lines comprehensively.

Step 3: Apply for License

Application Process:

1. Pass Exam(s): Complete Property and/or Casualty exams with 70%+ scores
2. Complete Fingerprinting: Background check through approved vendor
3. Submit NIPR Application: Apply through National Insurance Producer Registry
4. Pay License Fee: $140 for initial license
5. Wait for Approval: Most applications processed within 7-10 business days

Application Requirements:

Application Website:

• National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR): nipr.com
• Connecticut Insurance Department: portal.ct.gov/cid/licensing

Contact for Questions:

• Email: cid.licensing@ct.gov
• Phone: (860) 297-3800

Step 4: Obtain Company Appointments

After receiving your license, you must obtain company appointments to sell insurance:

Appointment Process:

1. Find Sponsoring Company: Insurance carrier or agency willing to appoint you
2. Company Files Appointment: Carrier submits appointment to CID through NIPR
3. Background Check Completed: Additional verification if needed
4. Appointment Issued: CID approves appointment (typically 3-5 business days)
5. Begin Selling: Can now sell insurance for appointed company

Appointment Fee:

• No separate fee for appointments
• Included in license fee
• Multiple appointments allowed

Exam Tip: You cannot sell insurance until you have both a valid license AND a company appointment. The license alone is not sufficient.

License Renewal and Continuing Education

Biennial Renewal

Connecticut producer licenses renew every 2 years:

Continuing Education (CE) Requirements

Total CE Hours: 24 hours per 2-year period

Approved CE Topics:

• Property insurance updates and trends
• Casualty insurance developments
• Connecticut law and regulation changes
• Claims handling and customer service
• Risk management techniques
• Professional ethics and conduct
• Technology and insurance innovation
• Industry best practices

CE Provider Requirements:

• Must be Connecticut Insurance Department approved
• Check portal.ct.gov/cid for approved provider list
• Courses must be relevant to P&C insurance
• Ethics course must be specifically approved as ethics CE

CE Tracking:

• Connecticut Insurance Department tracks CE completion automatically
• Providers report completed courses to CID
• Verify CE credits before renewal at portal.ct.gov/cid
• Keep personal records of completion certificates

Exam Tip: The 3 hours of ethics CE must be from a course specifically approved as ethics education. General courses do not satisfy this requirement even if they discuss ethical topics.

Consequences of Not Renewing

If you fail to renew on time:

• Grace Period: 30 days after expiration to renew without penalty
• Late Fee: Additional fee required for late renewal
• Cannot Sell Insurance: License is inactive during lapse
• Reinstatement: May require retaking exams if lapse exceeds certain period
• Appointment Termination: Company appointments may be terminated

Professional Designation Exam Waivers

Connecticut waives the examination requirement for applicants holding recognized professional designations:

Recognized Designations:

• AAI (Accredited Adviser in Insurance)
• ARM (Associate in Risk Management)
• CIC (Certified Insurance Counselor)
• CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter)

Waiver Requirements:

• Current designation (not expired or lapsed)
• Letter of Designation from granting organization
• Still must complete license application
• Still must pass background check
• Pre-licensing education requirement waived
• Exam requirement waived

Exam Tip: Professional designations waive BOTH the education requirement and exam requirement, making licensing much faster for designation holders.

Non-Resident Licensing

Reciprocity

Connecticut offers reciprocal licensing for non-residents:

Requirements:

1. Home State License: Must hold valid P&C license in home state
2. Good Standing: No disciplinary actions or violations
3. NIPR Application: Apply through National Insurance Producer Registry
4. Background Check: Fingerprinting may be required
5. License Fee: $185 for non-resident license
6. CE Compliance: Must meet Connecticut or home state CE requirements

Process:

• Apply through NIPR (nipr.com)
• Submit proof of home state license
• Pay non-resident fee
• Receive Connecticut authority within 7-10 business days

Exam Tip: Non-residents with valid home state licenses can obtain Connecticut authority through reciprocity without taking Connecticut exams, but must still comply with Connecticut laws and regulations when conducting business in the state.