How to Get an Insurance License in Arkansas: A Step-by-Step Guide

Selling insurance in Arkansas requires an insurance license from the Arkansas Insurance Department. This comprehensive guide covers all the steps to get licensed, from pre-licensing education to passing the exam and maintaining your license.

Insurance License Types in Arkansas

There are several common license types for selling insurance in Arkansas:

• Life Insurance Producer License – Required to sell life insurance and annuity products.

• Accident & Health Insurance Producer License – Needed to sell health insurance, disability, and long-term care insurance.

• Property Insurance Producer License – For selling property insurance including home, auto, commercial policies.

• Casualty Insurance Producer License – Required for liability insurance policies.

• Personal Lines Insurance License – Provides ability to sell property/casualty insurance for individuals and families.

• Surplus Lines License – Needed if selling unique or high-risk insurance coverage.

Some producers choose to get a combined Life, Accident & Health license to sell all types of life and health policies. Others start with a limited Personal Lines license if focusing on auto and home insurance.

Arkansas Insurance License Requirements

To qualify for an insurance license in Arkansas, you must meet these requirements:

• Age 18 – Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

• Residency – Residents and non-residents can apply. Non-residents typically need a license in their home state first.

• Background check – All applicants undergo a background check for criminal history.

• No felony convictions – Insurance applicants with a felony in the past 10 years are generally disqualified.

• Education – 20 hours of pre-licensing education is required in the license type you are seeking.

• Exam – Must pass the Pearson VUE exam for the specific license with a score of 70% or higher.

• Fees – License application fee of $50 plus exam fee of around $90 must be paid.

The education and exam are covered in more detail in the following steps.

Step 1: Complete Pre-Licensing Education

Before taking the insurance exam, you must complete an approved 20-hour pre-licensing course for the license type you want. For example, take a 20-hour life insurance course before the life producer exam.

Insurance pre-licensing education covers topics like ethics, regulations, policies and provisions, and sales. The course is available in classroom format at approved locations or online through self-study.

Some top insurance pre-licensing education providers in Arkansas include:

• Kaplan Financial Education
• Americas Professor
• 360training.com
• CompuCram Insurance Exam Prep

Check state-approved course listings to ensure the provider you choose offers approved 20-hour courses for your license type. Costs range from $50 to $300+ depending on classroom or online format.

Step 2: Schedule Your Insurance Exam in Arkansas

After completing education, candidates can schedule to take the insurance licensing exam through Pearson VUE test centers located throughout Arkansas.

• Create an account on PearsonVUE.com and register for your exam. Select your license type.

• Pick a test date at one of their locations in Little Rock, Fayetteville, Jonesboro or other cities.

• You will receive an authorization number to schedule a time.

• The exam fee is around $90 payable during registration.

Arrive on exam day with your ID and authorization info. Life and health insurance exams have 150 questions and a 2.5 hour time limit. Property and casualty exams have 200 questions in a 2.5 hour timeframe.

Results are provided immediately after completing the exam. If you don’t pass on the first try, you must wait 14 days before retesting.

Step 3: Submit Your Arkansas Insurance License Application

After passing the exam, apply for your license through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR):

1. Set up an account on www.NIPR.com.

2. Select the License Application Wizard and apply for your Arkansas license electronically.

3. Upload any required documents. Pay the $50 license application fee.

4. Register for E-Signature authorization to sign application forms electronically.

Within 5-7 business days, NIPR will process your application and submit it to the Arkansas Insurance Department on your behalf.

You can also print paper applications from the Arkansas Insurance Department website to mail in. But NIPR electronic submission is faster.

Step 4: Complete Fingerprint Background Check

All insurance license applicants in Arkansas must undergo a fingerprint criminal background check:

• After applying for your license, the state will mail you a Fingerprint Card and Instructions.

• Take the card to a local law enforcement office to get your fingerprints taken.

• Mail the completed Fingerprint Card back to the Arkansas State Identification Bureau.

• The background check fee of $39.25 is paid when submitting fingerprints.

This completes the application process. If your background check is clear, Arkansas will finalize approval of your insurance license.

Expect to receive your license in the mail within 4-6 weeks of passing the exam and meeting all requirements. You can also check your license status on the Insurance Department license lookup site.

Step 5: Find an Insurance Appointment

Newly licensed insurance producers must find an appointment with an insurance company before selling policies:

• Research insurers and select products you want to represent.

• Reach out to companies to inquire about applying for an appointment.

• Complete any background checks or training required by the carrier.

• Get appointed by the insurer to contract with them and sell their insurance products.

Having active appointments with multiple insurance carriers gives you authority to sell a range of policies from different providers.

Step 6: Maintain Your AR Insurance License

Once licensed, you must complete continuing education and renew your license to remain in good standing:

• Renewal – Individual licenses must be renewed every 2 years by the end of your birth month. Submit renewal fees to the state.

• Continuing Education – Complete 24 hours of CE courses every 2 years including 3 hours of ethics training. Report your education when renewing your license.

• Maintain E&O Insurance – Arkansas requires producers to carry active errors and omissions insurance coverage.

• Stay Compliant – Follow state regulations at all times to avoid disciplinary action on your license.

Let your license lapse and you’ll need to start over with pre-licensing education and retaking the exam. Stay up to date on CE and renewal fees.

Conclusion: How Long Does It Take to Get an Arkansas Insurance License?

Obtaining an insurance license in Arkansas takes 2-8 weeks on average depending on your pace through the required steps:

• Pre-licensing Education: 1-3 Weeks

• Insurance Exam: Schedule within 2 weeks of completing education

• Apply for License: 1-2 weeks for application processing and background check

• Get Appointed: 1-4 weeks once licensed

Overall, budget 4-8 weeks to study, pass the exam, have your license approved, and get appointed by an insurer.

With a valid insurance license, you can begin selling policies and start your new career helping clients with insurance needs. Maintain your license in good standing by following state renewal and CE requirements.