Louisiana P&C Producer Licensing Requirements

Louisiana has structured licensing requirements designed to ensure producers have adequate knowledge of insurance principles and Louisiana-specific laws before serving Louisiana consumers.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for a Louisiana P&C license, you must:

Basic Requirements

Disqualifying Factors

The LDI may deny licenses for:

• Felony convictions (especially fraud, embezzlement, theft, forgery)
• Insurance license revocations in other states
• Misrepresentation on license application
• Failure to pay child support obligations
• Financial irresponsibility (bankruptcy within 5 years, case-by-case review)
• Prior disciplinary actions by insurance regulators

Pre-License Education Requirements

Mandatory 40-Hour Requirement

Louisiana requires 40 hours of approved pre-licensing education for Property & Casualty insurance:

Education Requirements:

• Total Hours: 40 hours
• Approved Provider: Must complete with LDI-approved education provider
• Topics Covered: Insurance principles, property insurance, casualty insurance, Louisiana law
• Format: Classroom, online, or combination
• Completion Certificate: Must submit with license application
• Validity: Certificate valid for 12 months after completion

Course Content Breakdown:

• General insurance principles (15%)
• Property insurance coverages (30%)
• Casualty insurance coverages (30%)
• Louisiana insurance laws and regulations (15%)
• Ethics and professional standards (10%)

Exam Tip: Louisiana REQUIRES 40 hours of pre-licensing education for P&C. You cannot take the exam without completing approved education and obtaining a certificate. This differs from states like Oklahoma and Nevada that have no pre-license requirement.

Approved Education Providers

Louisiana-approved providers include:

• National insurance education companies (examfx, Kaplan, AD Banker)
• Louisiana-based insurance schools
• Community colleges offering insurance programs
• Professional insurance associations

Finding Approved Providers:

• Visit www.ldi.la.gov
• Navigate to "Industry" > "Producer/Adjuster" > "Education"
• View list of approved pre-licensing providers

Examination Requirements

The Louisiana Property & Casualty examination consists of two separate exams administered by Pearson VUE:

National Property & Casualty Exam

First Requirement: National Exam

Louisiana State P&C Exam

Second Requirement: Louisiana State Exam

Combined Exam Option

• Combined National & State: Take both exams in one session
• Total Cost: $101 ($52 + $49)
• Total Time: Approximately 3.5 hours
• Requirement: Must pass BOTH sections at 70%+ independently
• Important: Scores are NOT averaged—you must score 70% on each exam independently

Louisiana State Exam Content

Louisiana-Specific Topics:

• Louisiana Department of Insurance structure and authority
• Louisiana Insurance Commissioner powers
• Producer licensing and continuing education requirements
• Louisiana auto insurance minimums (15/30/25)
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage requirements
• Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance
• Hurricane and flood insurance requirements
• Louisiana-specific policy provisions
• Direct action statute
• No Pay, No Play law
• Ethics and Louisiana insurance law

Exam Tip: You must pass BOTH the national P&C exam and the Louisiana state exam. The exams are scored separately—a combined average does not count. You must achieve 70% on each exam independently.

Testing Provider and Scheduling

• Testing Provider: Pearson VUE
• Schedule Online: www.pearsonvue.com/la/insurance
• Phone: 1-888-204-6272
• Testing Centers: Located throughout Louisiana (Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Shreveport, Lafayette, Lake Charles)
• Testing Days: Monday-Saturday
• Appointment Required: Schedule in advance

Exam Day Requirements

What to Bring:

• Valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, state ID)
• Pearson VUE confirmation number
• Pre-licensing education certificate (proof of 40-hour completion)

What's Prohibited:

• Cell phones and electronic devices
• Study materials, notes, books
• Calculators (basic calculator provided by test center)
• Food and beverages
• Bags and personal items (lockers provided)

Arrive 30 minutes early for check-in procedures.

Retake Policy

• Wait Time: 24 hours after failed attempt
• Retake Fee: Full exam fee ($52 national, $49 state) for each retake
• Attempt Limit: No limit on number of attempts
• Study Between: Use score report to identify weak areas and focus studying
• Retake One Section: If you pass one exam but fail the other, you only retake the failed exam

Exam Results

• Immediate Results: Score provided at test center
• Pass: Receive passing score report for license application
• Fail: Receive diagnostic report showing areas of weakness
• Validity: Exam scores valid for 12 months for licensing
• Score Report: Official score report sent to LDI automatically

License Application Process

After passing both exams and completing pre-licensing education:

Step 1: Complete Pre-Licensing Education (40 Hours)

• Enroll with LDI-approved education provider
• Complete 40 hours of approved coursework
• Pass provider's final exam (if required)
• Receive pre-licensing certificate
• Certificate valid for 12 months

Step 2: Pass National and Louisiana Exams

• Pass national P&C exam with 70%+
• Pass Louisiana state exam with 70%+
• Receive passing score reports from Pearson VUE
• Exam scores valid for 12 months

Step 3: Fingerprinting and Background Check (REQUIRED)

Louisiana requires fingerprinting for all insurance license applicants:

Background Check Reviews:

• Criminal convictions (especially fraud, theft, embezzlement)
• License revocations or suspensions in other states
• Regulatory actions by insurance departments
• Financial responsibility (bankruptcy, child support)

Step 4: Submit License Application

NIPR Application Process:

1. Create account at www.nipr.com
2. Select "Louisiana" and "Producer License Application"
3. Complete application form (personal info, background questions, employment history)
4. Upload pre-licensing certificate
5. Provide exam confirmation (scores sent automatically by Pearson VUE)
6. Provide fingerprint confirmation
7. Pay $100 application fee
8. Submit application

Step 5: Company Appointment

After receiving your Louisiana license:

• Appointment Required: To represent an insurance company
• Company Submits: Insurer appoints you through NIPR
• Appointment Fee: Varies by company (typically $20-$40)
• Multiple Appointments: Can represent multiple companies
• Renewal: Appointments renew with license every 2 years

License Types and Authority

Producer License Lines of Authority

Producer Types in Louisiana

Louisiana law recognizes several producer types:

Insurance Producer (Agent)

• Represents one or more insurance companies
• Must be appointed by insurers to sell their products
• Has binding authority (can commit insurer to coverage)
• Owes duty to both insurer and client

Insurance Broker

• Represents the insurance consumer
• Places business with multiple insurers
• Does NOT have binding authority in Louisiana
• Owes primary fiduciary duty to client

Limited Lines Producer

• Authorized to sell specific products only
• Examples: Credit insurance, travel insurance, rental car insurance
• Lower licensing requirements (no 40-hour education)

Managing General Agent (MGA)

• Authorized to underwrite and bind coverage
• May appoint sub-agents
• Extended authority from insurer
• Higher regulatory scrutiny

Continuing Education Requirements

To renew your Louisiana P&C license every 2 years:

CE Requirements

Exam Tip: Louisiana has a UNIQUE requirement for 3 hours of flood insurance continuing education every 2 years. This is in addition to 3 hours of ethics. Total requirement: 24 hours (3 ethics + 3 flood + 18 general).

Louisiana's Unique Flood Insurance CE Requirement

Why Louisiana Requires Flood CE:

• Louisiana faces severe flood risk
• Many properties in flood zones
• Flood insurance confusion is common
• National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) complexity
• Hurricane-related flood vs. wind damage issues

Flood CE Topics:

• NFIP requirements and coverage
• Flood zone determination
• Flood insurance requirements for mortgages
• Flood vs. wind damage determination
• Louisiana-specific flood risks
• Claims handling after floods

CE Exemptions

Licensees exempt from CE:

• First renewal period: Between initial license and first renewal
• License held less than 6 months: In the current renewal period
• Inactive status: No CE required while inactive
• Military deployment: Active duty military may receive extensions

CE Topic Areas

CE courses must cover relevant insurance topics:

• Property and casualty insurance products
• Louisiana insurance law and regulations
• Ethics and professional responsibility (3 hours required)
• Flood insurance (3 hours required)
• Industry developments and trends
• Risk management and underwriting
• Claims handling and customer service
• Hurricane preparedness and recovery

CE Compliance

• Track Hours: Keep CE certificates for your records
• Electronic Reporting: CE providers report completion to LDI
• LDI Verification: Department tracks CE compliance electronically
• Renewal Requirement: Must complete 24 hours before license expires
• Late Renewal: License lapses if CE not completed by expiration
• Reinstatement: May require retaking exam if lapsed over 12 months

Exam Tip: Louisiana requires 24 hours of CE every 2 years: 3 hours ethics + 3 hours flood insurance + 18 hours general. First renewal is exempt from CE. Excess hours do NOT carry over to next cycle.

Non-Resident Licensing

Non-Resident License Requirements

If you hold an active P&C license in your home state:

1. Home State License: Must have active license in good standing
2. Application: Apply through NIPR as non-resident
3. Reciprocity: Louisiana grants reciprocity for most states
4. Louisiana Exam: May be required if home state doesn't grant Louisiana residents reciprocity
5. Background Check: Required for all applicants
6. Fee: $100 non-resident license fee

Reciprocity

Louisiana grants reciprocity to non-residents if:

• Home state grants Louisiana residents reciprocity
• Applicant has active home state license in good standing
• No disciplinary actions in any state
• Completes fingerprinting and background check
• Appoints Louisiana resident as registered agent (for service of process)

License Maintenance

License Renewal

Example: If your birthday is July 15th, your license expires July 31st every 2 years. You can renew starting May 1st (90 days before).

License Reinstatement

If license lapses:

License Status Changes

Active Status:

• Can sell insurance
• Requires company appointments
• Must complete CE for renewal

Inactive Status:

• Cannot sell insurance
• No CE required
• Lower or no renewal fee ($25 typically)
• Can reactivate later with CE
• Useful for producers taking break from industry

Suspended Status:

• LDI enforcement action
• Cannot sell insurance
• Must resolve issues to reinstate
• May require CE, fines, or other corrective action

Revoked Status:

• Permanent loss of license for serious violations
• Cannot reapply for specified period (typically 3-5 years)
• Requires showing rehabilitation and good character to reapply