Vermont P&C Producer Licensing Requirements

Pre-License Education

Vermont requires 40 hours of approved pre-licensing education before taking the P&C exam:

Approved Education Providers

Vermont approves education providers who meet quality standards:

• Kaplan Financial Education
• ExamFX (Kaplan company)
• AD Banker & Company
• Success CE
• The CE Shop
• Other approved providers (check dfr.vermont.gov for current list)

Education Content

Pre-licensing courses must cover:

1. Property Insurance Fundamentals (20 hours)

   • Homeowners insurance
   • Dwelling policies
   • Commercial property insurance
   • Inland marine
   • Policy provisions and exclusions

2. Casualty Insurance Fundamentals (20 hours)

   • Auto insurance
   • General liability
   • Workers' compensation
   • Commercial liability
   • Professional liability

3. Vermont State Law (integrated throughout)

   • Vermont insurance regulations
   • Department of Financial Regulation authority
   • Vermont-specific coverage requirements
   • Ethics and professional conduct

Exam Tip: Vermont requires completion of 40 hours BEFORE scheduling the exam. You cannot take the exam without a valid certificate of completion from an approved provider.

Examination Requirements

Exam Details

Exam Content Breakdown

The 155-question exam covers:

Scheduling Your Exam

1. Complete Pre-Licensing: Finish 40-hour course and obtain certificate
2. Apply for License: Submit application through NIPR (National Insurance Producer Registry)
3. Receive Authorization: Vermont DFR approves your application and provides authorization to test
4. Register with Pearson VUE: Create account at pearsonvue.com
5. Select Exam: Choose "Vermont Property & Casualty Producer"
6. Choose Date/Location: Select testing center or online proctored option
7. Pay Fee: $52 exam fee

Exam Day Requirements

Required:

• Two forms of valid identification (one must be government-issued photo ID)
• Confirmation number from Pearson VUE
• Pre-licensing certificate number

Not Allowed:

• Cell phones, smartwatches, or electronic devices
• Notes, books, or reference materials
• Calculators (basic on-screen calculator provided)
• Food or beverages

Provided:

• Scratch paper or dry-erase board
• Basic on-screen calculator
• Tutorial before exam begins

Receiving Your Results

• Instant Results: Pass/fail determination immediately after completing exam
• Score Report: Detailed breakdown of performance by content area
• Passing: Receive instructions for completing license application
• Failing: May retake exam after 24 hours; full $52 fee required for each attempt

Exam Tip: Vermont has no limit on the number of times you can retake the exam, but each attempt requires the full $52 fee. Study thoroughly to pass on your first attempt.

License Application Process

Step-by-Step Application

Step 1: Pre-Licensing Education

• Complete 40 hours from approved provider
• Receive certificate of completion
• Certificate remains valid for application

Step 2: Create NIPR Account

• Register at nipr.com (National Insurance Producer Registry)
• Create username and password
• Verify email address

Step 3: Submit License Application

• Apply for Vermont resident or non-resident P&C license
• Provide personal information (SSN, address, employment history)
• Disclose criminal history and regulatory actions (if any)
• Upload pre-licensing certificate
• Pay application fee

Step 4: Background Check

• Vermont reviews criminal history
• Some applicants may need fingerprinting
• Background check typically takes 1-2 weeks

Step 5: Receive Authorization to Test

• Vermont DFR approves application
• Authorization sent via email
• Schedule exam with Pearson VUE

Step 6: Pass Exam

• Take and pass exam with 70%+
• Results transmitted to Vermont DFR automatically

Step 7: Receive License

• License issued electronically through NIPR
• Download license from NIPR portal
• License valid for 2 years from date of issuance

Application Fees

License Renewal

Vermont P&C licenses must be renewed every 2 years:

Renewal Deadline

• All Vermont producer licenses expire on March 31st of odd-numbered years
• Example: Licenses issued in 2026 expire March 31, 2027
• Renewal period opens 60-90 days before expiration
• Late renewals subject to penalties

Renewal Requirements

Exam Tip: Vermont's March 31st odd-year expiration is unique. If you get licensed in November 2026, your license expires March 31, 2027—only about 4 months later. Plan your CE accordingly.

Continuing Education Requirements

Vermont requires 24 hours of CE every 2 years for P&C license renewal:

CE Requirements Breakdown

One-Time Flood Insurance Requirement

All P&C producers must complete:

• 3 hours of flood insurance CE (one-time only)
• Must be completed during first renewal cycle
• Covers National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
• Counts toward the 24-hour CE requirement

Approved CE Topics

CE courses must be approved by Vermont DFR and cover:

Acceptable Topics:

• Property insurance updates and trends
• Casualty and liability insurance
• Commercial insurance
• Ethics and professional conduct
• Vermont insurance law changes
• Risk management
• Claims handling
• Flood insurance (NFIP)

Classroom vs. Self-Study:

• Classroom/Webinar: Interactive courses with instructor
• Self-Study: Online courses taken at your own pace
• Both count equally toward CE requirement
• Must be from Vermont-approved CE provider

CE Compliance

• Certificates: Keep copies of all CE certificates
• Reporting: Providers report completion to Vermont DFR automatically through NIPR
• Verification: Check your CE credits in NIPR portal
• Deadline: Must complete all 24 hours before March 31st renewal deadline

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Exam Tip: Vermont requires 24 CE hours every 2 years including 3 ethics hours. This is slightly higher than some states but lower than others like New York (15/year) or California (30/2 years for insurance agents).

License Maintenance

Active License Requirements

To maintain an active Vermont P&C license, producers must:

1. Company Appointments: Maintain at least one active company appointment
2. Continuing Education: Complete 24 hours CE (including 3 ethics) every 2 years
3. Renewal Fee: Pay $100 renewal fee before March 31st deadline
4. Compliance: Maintain good standing (no regulatory actions or violations)
5. Address Updates: Report address changes within 30 days

Company Appointments

Producers must be appointed by insurers to sell their products:

Name and Address Changes

Producers must report changes within 30 days:

• Name changes: Update through NIPR with supporting documentation
• Address changes: Update through NIPR portal
• Email changes: Update contact information in NIPR
• Failure to update: May result in missed communications and license suspension

Non-Resident Licensing

Vermont participates in reciprocity for non-resident licenses:

Non-Resident License Requirements

If you hold an active P&C license in your home state, you can obtain a Vermont non-resident license:

Requirements:

• Active resident license in your home state
• Submit non-resident application through NIPR
• Pay $300 non-resident license fee
• No exam required (reciprocity)
• No pre-licensing education required (reciprocity)

Vermont grants reciprocity if:

• Your home state grants reciprocity to Vermont residents
• Your home state license is in good standing
• You meet Vermont's character and fitness requirements

Non-Resident License Renewal

• Renewal: Every 2 years on March 31st of odd-numbered years (same as residents)
• CE Requirement: Must meet YOUR HOME STATE's CE requirements (not Vermont's 24 hours)
• Fee: $100 renewal fee
• Appointments: Must maintain at least one Vermont company appointment

Exam Tip: Non-resident producers follow their home state's CE requirements, not Vermont's. A California non-resident in Vermont must complete California's CE requirements (24 hours/2 years for P&C), not Vermont's.

Summary

Vermont's P&C licensing process requires:

1. 40 hours pre-licensing education (20 property + 20 casualty)
2. Pass 155-question exam with 70% score
3. Submit application through NIPR
4. Background check approval
5. Maintain license with 24 CE hours every 2 years (including 3 ethics)
6. Renew every 2 years by March 31st of odd-numbered years
7. Complete one-time 3-hour flood insurance course

Next, we'll explore Vermont producer responsibilities and ethics in section 1.3.