Arizona Insurance Continuing Education Centers in Phoenix or Tucson
Getting your Arizona life insurance license is the first step toward becoming alife insurance agent. If you want to market and sell life insurance policies, follow this step-by-step guide for obtaining alife insurance license in Arizona.
The Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions requires you to complete a six-step process to obtain your life insurance license — from taking the life insurance exam to applying for a license.
These steps will take a few weeks to complete so we recommend you bookmark this page so you can use it as a reference throughout the process.
How to Get Your Arizona Life Insurance License – Quick Version
- Complete an Arizona Insurance Pre-license Course (WebCE – $149+)
- Take the Arizona Life Insurance Licensing Exam (Prometric – $38)
- Get a Fingerprint-Based Background Check (Prometric – $20 + Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions FBI processing fee – $22 )
- Complete an Arizona Life Insurance License Application (National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) – $120 application fee + $5.60 transaction fee)
- Mail Your Fingerprint Card and Form L-152
- Watch for Your Application Results
Steps to Get an Arizona Life Insurance License
Obtaining your Arkansas life insurance license isn't difficult. Just follow these five steps to start your journey toward becoming a life insurance agent. Once you earn this license, check out our guide on how to get your Arizona property and casualty (P&C) license as well.
Step 1: Complete an Arizona Insurance Pre-license Course
Before you take the Arizona life insurance licensing exam, it's important to make time to acquire the knowledge you'll need to pass this exam on your first attempt. Completing a pre-license education course will equip you with the necessary information and tools you'll need to prepare for your exam.
While Arizona doesn't have any formal pre-license education requirements, most insurance professionals opt to take a pre-license education course online. Others purchase books or self-study materials to prepare themselves for the exam.
A pre-license education course provides very specific industry knowledge that will be tested during the exam. There is very little information on the test that could be considered "common sense". Pre-license education courses are self-paced and include study materials like practice exams and flashcards.
Beyond helping you effectively prepare for and pass the life insurance licensing exam on your first try, taking a pre-license education course also will give you a solid understanding of your duties as a life insurance agent.
Recommended Course
For Arizona insurance pre-license education courses and exam prep, StateRequirement recommends:
WebCE
Step 2: Take the Arizona Life Insurance Licensing Exam
After you complete a prep course and your own independent studying, it's time to take the Arizona life insurance exam.
Arizona uses Prometric as its official testing service for delivering licensure exams.
TheArizona life insurance exam outline contains a total of 100 scored questionsthat includes seven sections. Those sections cover basic life insurance knowledge, insurance concepts, and terms, rules, state and federal regulations, and practices specific to Arizona.
You'll have 120 minutes to complete the exam.The Arizona life insurance exam fee is $38, which you must pay at the time of reservation by credit card, debit card, or voucher. The exam is a proctored test, meaning an official proctor will closely monitor you in a controlled environment.
Prometric will electronically notify the Arizona DIFI of your exam results within 48 hours of you passing the exam.
Tip:
Check out our in-depth insurance exam guide for tips to help you pass on the first attempt.
Step 3: Get a Fingerprint-Based Background Check
After you take the Arizona life insurance exam, you must get a fingerprint-based background check from Prometric. Prometric offers a fingerprinting service at its Arizona test centers.The total cost of fingerprinting services is $42, which includes a $20 fee charged by Prometric plus a $22 fee for FBI fingerprint processing.
At your fingerprinting appointment, you'll receive a receipt. Don't throw it away! Keep the original receipt for your records because you'll need to mail it in during a later step.
After completing your fingerprint-based background check, you mustsubmit your license application within one year of passing the licensing exam. If you fail to do so, you'll need to retake the exam.
Step 4: Complete an Arizona Life Insurance License Application
Once you pass the life insurance exam and complete the background check, you can apply for your Arizona life insurance license.The application fee is $120, and the NIPR will charge a $5.60 transaction fee for a total of $125.60. You must submit a completed Form L-FPV as part of your insurance license application. The form includes instructions you need to follow so the Arizona DIFI will accept your fingerprints.
The Arizona DIFI will issue a life insurance license to individuals who are at least 18 years old and have passed the proper licensing exam. You should submit your completed license application within 12 months of passing the exam.
To apply for a life insurance license in Arizona, make sure you comply with the insurance licensing requirements as defined under the Arizona Insurance Code and Arizona Administrative Code.
Send any questions or supporting documents to licensing@azinsurance.gov.
Step 5: Mail Your Fingerprint Card and Form L-152
After completing and submitting your license application to the NIPR, you will now mail in your fingerprint card. You will send this card to the Arizona DIFI (address below).
Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions
100 North 15th Avenue, Suite 261
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2630
Arizona also requires you to submit a completed Form L-152 with your application to verify your identity. You must fill it out and attach a copy of one of the 13 forms of identification listed, such as your driver's license, passport, birth certificate, etc.
Once you complete this document, email it to licensing@azinsurance.gov. Do not send this document until you have passed the exam and sent in your application.
Step 6: Watch for Your Application Results
After you complete the previous five steps, the Arizona DIFI will review your application and background check. It reviews filings in the order it receives them, andthis process usually takes up to one month.
Your license will appear within the Arizona DIFI's License Search tool as soon as the department verifies you meet all license requirements
You can also print your license from the NIPR website. There's no charge to create an account or print a license. You can also manage and search for your license by using the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) State Based Systems (SBS) Arizona Lookup tool.
Congratulations!
You're now ready to get started as a life insurance agent in Arizona.
Next Steps After Securing Your Arizona Life Insurance License
Once you complete the above steps and have your Arizona life insurance license, here's what you should pursue next.
Get Your FINRA Securities Licenses
Overview
Individuals planning to market and sell market-based life insurance products also must obtain the proper securities licenses. As a securities license holder, you can offer securities as part of your services. That'll make you a credible authority in addressing all of your clients' financial needs.
SIE Exam
To obtain these licenses, you'll first need to take and pass the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam. Professionals in the securities industry are required to take the SIE and a series of examinations administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
The SIE exam ensures every life insurance professional has a basic understanding of securities. While taking the SIE exam isn't a requirement for all insurance professionals, those who don't obtain at least one securities license limit their ability to work with clients. With a securities license, you can give your clients the option to invest in securities-related products as part of their life insurance plans.
Tip:
To help you start preparing for the SIE exam, check out our full guide on How to Pass the SIE Exam.
Obtaining a license to sell securities also requires sponsorship from a firm, company, or organization regulated by FINRA. The sponsor will pay the testing fees required for your SIE exams and submit your personal information to FINRA's Central Registration Depository (CRD). The Series 6 and Series 7 licenses require a FINRA exam sponsorship before you can take the exam. The exam for a Series 63 license doesn't require any sponsoring entity.
Once you get your securities license(s), FINRA will list you as a "registered representative." By achieving the securities licensee designation, you'll become a highly sought-after professional and set yourself up for a successful career in the insurance industry.
Series 6, 7, and 63 Licenses
Some of the most common securities licenses for insurance agents include the Series 6, 7, and 63 licenses because they allow licensees to sell almost every type of individual security.
The Series 6 (Investment Company and Variable Contracts Products Representative) Securities License is the primary license sought by insurance sales professionals and financial advisors, allowing them to sell grouped securities related to insurance products.
Series 6 works together with Series 63 because they are the two partner licenses required to sell insurance policies tied to investments. The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) oversees regulation of the Series 63 (Uniform Securities Agent State Law) license.
The Series 7 license allows you to buy and sell securities (e.g., stocks, bonds, and mutual funds) as part of an investment plan for your clients. To get a Series 7 license, you will first need to register as a new candidate with FINRA and pass the Series 7 exam. The Series 7 exam is commonly known as the General Securities Representative Qualification Exam, but is sometimes referred to as the "Series 7 Top-Off Exam."
Get a Job in the Insurance Field
Once you earn your license, you can start applying for jobs in the insurance field. With a life insurance license, you can provide advice and recommend insurance products to clients, sell life insurance policies that pay a beneficiary upon an insured person's death, and sell annuities that pay a set income at retirement.
Find life insurance job postings on our Insurance Jobs Board.
When applying for an insurance-related job, potential employers will request your license number and National Producer Number (NPN).
Complete Continuing Education and Renew Your License
In Arizona, you must take 48 hours of continuing education (CE) credits to maintain your license in good standing. You must complete at least six hours of ethics training. You can search for Arizona-approved courses and course providers on the Prometric Arizona Licensees page.
If you have a non-resident license and have good standing in your home state, you don't need to take CE courses in Arizona. In Arizona, you must also renew and manage your life insurance license every four years. To avoid delays in renewing your license, you must complete continuing education hours within 90 days before your license expires. The continuing education provider will report the successful completion of the course to the Arizona DIFI.The renewal fee is $120 and the late fee is $100.
Mailing Address
Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions
100 North 15th Avenue, Suite 261
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2630
Phone: (602) 364-4457
Email:insurancelicensing@difi.az.gov
Website:https://insurance.az.gov/
License Search: Arizona Insurance License Lookup
Arizona Life Insurance License FAQ
How much does it cost to get a life insurance license in Arizona?
Obtaining a life insurance license in Arizona requires these fees:
- Insurance Pre-license Education Course Fee: $149+ via WebCE
- Exam Fee: $38 via Prometric
- Fingerprint-Based Background Check Fee: $20 via Prometric + $22 via the Arizona DIFI for FBI processing
- Application Fee: $120 application fee + $5.60 transaction fee via the NIPR
How long does it take to process a life insurance license application in Arizona?
This process typicallytakes a monthafter the Arizona DIFI receives your application and required supporting materials.
Can I get a temporary life insurance agent license in Arizona?
Yes. Arizona provides a 180-day, temporary life insurance license. The application fee is$142 (to cover the$120 license fee and the$22 FBI fingerprint card processing fee).
Can I get an emergency life insurance agent license in Arizona?
No. An emergency license isn't available for life insurance producers in Arizona.
Do I need to get my securities license on top of a life insurance license in Arizona?
Probably. While you can sell certain basic life insurance products with just a life insurance license, a securities license removes the limits on what you can sell and puts you in a much better career position. As a securities license holder, you can provide your clients with products tied to the securities market as part of their retirement and life insurance plans. But, you'll need FINRA accreditation to obtain your securities license.
What can I sell with a life insurance license in Arizona?
With an Arizona life insurance license, you can sell life insurance policies that pay a designated beneficiary when the insured person dies. You also can sell annuities that pay a set income at retirement.
How much can you make with a life insurance license in Arizona?
According to ZipRecruiter, life insurance agents earn an average of $79,730 per year.
What are the limitations of an Arizona life insurance license?
Unless you have multiple licenses to sell various types of insurance products (e.g., the combined life and health insurance license), having an Arizona life insurance license only qualifies you to sell life insurance policies as well as retirement plans and annuities. You can't sell other types of insurance. A securities license on top of your life insurance license removes that limitation and enables you to offer securities, including stocks and bonds.
Can I cancel my life insurance license in Arizona?
Yes. To cancel your license, email a completed Form L-SURR for voluntary surrender of your insurance license to the Arizona DIFI at Licensing@azinsurance.gov.
How hard is it to get a life insurance license in Arizona?
The process is quite simple! Follow the steps above and get started today!
Information on this page has been gathered by a multitude of sources and was most recently updated in October 2022.
Any Information on this site is not guaranteed or warranted to be correct, accurate, or up to date. StateRequirement and its members and affiliates are not responsible for any losses, monetary or otherwise. StateRequirement is not affiliated with any state, government, or licensing body. For more information, please contact your state's authority on insurance.
When readers purchase services discussed on our site, we often earn affiliate commissions that support our work. Learn More
Source: https://staterequirement.com/arizona-life-insurance-license/