Washington Insurance License Requirements

InsuranceLicenseExpress.com

State Licensing Information
Mailing address:
Agents and Brokers
Office of the Insurance Commissioner
PO Box 40257
Olympia, WA 98504-0257
(360) 725-7146
Email: joem@oic.wa.gov

Prelicensing Education Requirements

Before you can sign-up for an exam, pre-licensing education (PLE) must be completed. If you want a resident license you must complete 20 hours of PLE for each major line of authority (LOA) you wish to obtain. Major lines include: life, disability, property, casualty or personal lines.

1. You are allowed 12 months from the purchase date of your courses to complete your PLE. The PLE provider will issue a certificate of completion for each 20 hour course completed.
2. The certificate is used to take your exam(s) up to 12 months from the date the course was completed. The certificate must be presented at the exam testing location for you to sit for a licensing exam.

When you have completed the required PLE classes and your certificate of completion has been issued, you may schedule your exam with PearsonVue. You may also contact PearsonVue directly at 1-800-274-8949.

Washington Candidate Handbook provides additional information regarding the examination procedures.

License Eligibility

Washington state residents desiring any type of insurance license must be:

• Eighteen (18) years of age;
• Residents of and actually residing in the state of Washington; and
• Trustworthy and competent.

Apply for a license.

After passing the examination, apply for your license by contacting the Washington Insurance Commissioner's Office.

For more information regarding obtaining a license, go to www.insurance.wa.gov.

Initial Licensing

Candidates who receive a passing score on the appropriate tests must forward the following materials to the Office of Insurance commissioner: completed insurance license application, one (1) fingerprint card, score reports, and the appropriate license fee, filing fee, and fingerprint processing fee. Applicants for a Surplus Line Broker License must provide a bond in the amount of $100,000 in favor of the people of the state of Washington, executed by an authorized corporate surety approved by the Commissioner after the license is issued.

Licensing

Candidates who are not licensed within 180 days after passing an examination must be reexamined.

Exam Fees

Securities License Requirements

Any securities professional associated with a member firm-including partners, officers, directors, branch managers, department supervisors, and salespersons-must register with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The registration application requires information about the individual's prior employment and disciplinary history. FINRA prescribes two levels of qualification and registration:

• Registered representatives, generally sales personnel
• Principals, generally officers of the firm and other management personnel involved in the day-to-day operation of the firm's investment banking or securities business

As part of the registration process, securities professionals must pass examinations administered by FINRA to demonstrate competence in the areas in which they will work. These mandatory qualification examinations cover a broad range of subjects on the markets, as well as the securities industry and its regulatory structure, ensuring a minimum level of understanding and expertise. For additional information, you should consult with your broker-dealer management team. You may also visit FINRA's website for detailed information.