Insurance Agent/Producer Licensing FAQ
(All the answers will cover producer and business entity producer (agency) issues as applicable.)
- What types of licenses does Insurance issue?
- Can I still get a license if I have a criminal conviction?
- How do I apply to take an examination?
- I have a license in another state. Do I still have to take an examination?
- How do I apply for a producer/business entity producer license or add lines to my current producer license?
- How does an insurance company notify Insurance of my appointment or termination as an agent?
- How do I renew my license?
- When will Insurance terminate my license?
- How can I get my license reinstated after I was terminated?
- My license got destroyed. How do I get a new copy?
- When do I need to get a certification or clearance letter? How Do I get one?
- My name or address changed. What do I need to do?
- How do I meet my continuing education requirements?
- How do I pay my fees?
- How do I contact the Licensing Section?
- Is there a specific statute or regulation that deals with how long an insurance company or agency must retain customer policy and claims' information?
What types of licenses are issued?
Insurance Licensing issues producer licenses for the following lines:
- Life
- Life, variable contract
- Accident and health
- General casualty
- Property
- Personal lines
- Title
- Prepaid legal
- Restricted to credit (No exam required)
- Restricted to travel (No exam required)
- Crop
Business entity producers must be licensed separately from its producers. A business entity producer can only solicit, negotiate or produce insurance contracts through licensed producers.
Please contact the Licensing Section for information on the following licenses:
- Bail bond agent
- General bail bond agent
- Surety recovery agent
- Surplus lines
- Public adjuster
- Public adjuster solicitor
Can I still get a license if I have a criminal conviction?
You are not automatically disqualified from obtaining a license if you have a criminal record.
On the application for a license, there are specific instructions about the information to provide about your criminal record on the conviction.
- Describe the circumstances surrounding your arrest, the charges and the conviction.
- Provide a certified copy of the Indictment or Information and the Judgment and Sentencing documents that show the disposition of each criminal charge.
- Submit complete information with your application.
How do I apply to take an examination?
Contact Pearson VUE for the Licensing Information Bulletin, which contains step-by-step instructions and the examination and license applications.
Pearson VUE
Missouri Insurance
PO Box 8588
Philadelphia, PA 19101-8588
(866) 274-4740
www.pearsonvue.com
Pearson VUE will notify Insurance of your exam results, but you must apply for your license to Insurance within one year of passing the exam. The exam scores are only valid for one year.
I have a license in another state. Do I still have to take an examination?
No. If you hold a resident agent, broker or producer license in another state, you are not required to take an examination for those lines in which you are licensed, with the exception of Title agents. This exemption applies to residents of those states that award licenses to Missouri residents on the same basis.
If you have just moved to Missouri, you will not have to take an exam if you held an agent, broker or producer license in another state and apply to Insurance within 90 days of relocating to Missouri or cancellation of your previous license.
How do I apply for a producer/business entity producer license or add lines to my current producer license?
| Producer | Business Entity Producer (Agency) | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Uniform Application for Resident Individual Insurance Producer License |
Uniform Application for Business Entity License/Registration |
| Fee | $100 | $100 |
Insurance does not accept personal checks.
How does an insurance company notify the department my appointment or termination as an producer?
Insurance does not process agent appointments and terminations. Companies are required to maintain an internally updated register of appointed and terminated producers. No fees will be assessed for appointments or terminations. The appointment must be recorded in the company register within thirty days of an insurer authorizing a producer to transact business on its behalf. Insurance must be notified within thirty days of terminations "for cause."
How do I renew my license?
Insurance will send a renewal notice to you 60 days before your producer or business entity producer license expires. Your renewal is due on or before the expiration of your license. Licenses will terminate if completed renewal documents are not received by the expiration date.
A maximum late renewal period from date of license expiration has been established at twelve months. A $25 per month penalty fee will be assessed. After twelve months, a license may not be renewed and the previous licensee must apply for a new license.
The renewal fee is $100 for your producer or business entity producer license. Insurance does not accept personal checks.
When will the department terminate my license?
Your producer and business entity producer license will be terminated if your license is not renewed on or before your expiration date.
How can I get my license reinstated after I was terminated?
You must fill out a new producer license application and fulfill all the examination requirements.There is a $100 fee for a producer license.
If your license has terminated due to nonrenewal within the past 12 months, you may late renew your license. See "How do I renew my license?"
If your business entity producer license is terminated, you must request reinstatement by filing a new application and $100 fee. Insurance does not accept personal checks.
My license got destroyed. How do I get a new copy?
If your license is lost or destroyed, or if you need a corrected license, you must make a written request (please include your name, residential address, SSN or producer license number, signature and a postage-paid envelope) and submit a $10 fee. Insurance does not accept personal checks.
When do I need to get a certification or clearance letter? How do I get one?
Clearance letters may be required if you are moving to another state and wish to be licensed in that state. Certification letters may also be required by another state if you apply for a non-resident license in that state. Before requesting a certification or clearance letter from our insurance department, please check with the requesting state insurance department to verify if a letter of certification or clearance is required or if they will verify your licensure in Missouri through the Producer Data Base. Missouri currently participates in the Producer Data Base through the NAIC along with the majority of other state insurance departments. To obtain a certification or clearance letter from Insurance, please send a written request (include your complete name and SSN or producer license number) and a $10 fee. Insurance does not accept personal checks. You must also return your current Missouri license for cancellation if you are requesting a clearance letter.
My name or address changed. What do I need to do?
All changes or corrections to your name, address or SSN must be submitted by the producer in writing. Address changes for producers must be made (in writing) within 30 days on the proper form (Form 375-0085). If failure to notify Insurance of your producer address change prevents Insurance from serving you with a complaint, your license may be immediately revoked.
All changes or corrections to your business entity producer address must be made (in writing) within 20 days on the proper form (Form 375-0087). If failure to notify Insurance of your business entity producer address change prevents Insurance from serving you with a complaint, your license may be immediately revoked.
How do I meet my continuing education requirements?
All resident and non-resident producers are required to meet the continuing education requirements for Missouri. Non-residents are exempt if their state has a mandatory continuing education law.
Your continuing education summary is due biennially at your license renewal.
| Type of License | Minimum C.E. Requirement |
|---|---|
| Life and/or health | 16 hours every two years |
| Property/casualty/personal lines | 16 hours every two years |
| Title | 8 hours every two years |
*** Licensed producers selling Long-term Care Partnership policies must complete four hours of Partnership CE every two years as part of the above required sixteen hours.***
A list of courses is available.
These requirements may be waived if you:
- Have suffered a serious physical injury or illness.
- Are on active duty in the Armed Forces for an extended time.
- Reside outside the US.
- Are 70 years old or older.
How do I pay my fees?
You may pay your fees with either:
- A company check,
- business entity producer check,
- a money order, or
- a cashier's check.
All fees must be made payable to the DIFP-Insurance.
Insurance does not accept personal checks.
How do I contact the Licensing Section?
We can be reached at:
Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions & Professional Registration
License Section
301 West High Street Room 530
PO Box 690 (or PO Box 4001 for correspondence with fees)
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0690
(573) 751-3518
Is there a specific statute or regulation that deals with how long an insurance company or agency must retain customer policy and claims' information?
The regulations that govern record retention are 20 CSR 300-2.100 and 20 CSR 300-2.200. The subsection dealing with policy records is 20 CSR 300-2.200(3)(A), which states that a policy record file must be maintained for each policy issued for the duration of the current policy term plus two (2) calendar years. That subsection also outlines what documents are considered "policy forms." The subsection for claims files is 20 CSR 300-2.200(3)(B), which states that the entity must maintain its claims documentation for the calendar year in which the claim was closed plus three (3) years. Subsection 20 CSR 300-2.200(3)(C) covers records relating to the insurer's compliance with licensing requirements, and subsection 20 CSR 300-2.200(3)(D) discusses complaint records.
In any event, records must be kept in such detail that pertinent events and the dates of the events can be reconstructed by the Department and must be maintained in such a manner to that the claims handling and payment, complaint handling, termination, rating, underwriting, and marketing of the insurer can be readily ascertained by the Department.
For a more detailed explanation of the regulation, please read the full regulation. It can be accessed at the following web address:
http://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/csr/current/20csr/20c300-2.pdf