Ohio PreLicensing Requirements
Individual Resident Producer Requirements
To qualify for a resident Ohio state insurance producer license, the applicant must satisfy the following requirements:
- Be a resident of Ohio
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Complete an approved prelicensing course of study (see prelicense requirements below)
- Pass a written examination and file a license application
- Complete and pass a criminal background check
PreLicense Education Requirements (PLE)
Applicants must complete prelicense education (PLE) for each major line of authority (LOA), as follows:
Applicants must complete 20-hours of prelicense education (PLE) for each major line of authority (LOA). An applicant who wishes to obtain a Life, Accident & Health license must complete 40 hours of PLE, and will receive a separate certificate of completion for each LOA.
- 20 hours Ohio Life Insurance
- 20 hours Ohio Accident & Health Insurance
State Candidate Handbook
Before Applicants may start thePrelicense.com course or makean exam reservation, Applicants should thoroughly review the Ohio Department of Insurance Licensing Information Bulletin, which contains the exam content outlines and important information regardingeligibility and the examination and licensing application process.
PLE Course Delivery
- Per Ohio PLE requirements, applicants are required to complete all of the lessons in the prelicense education course sequentially before they can be issued a certificate of completion.
- Applicants must read each lesson and pass the end-of-chapter quizzes with a 70% or higher to proceed to the next lesson.
PLE Course Exam
- Passing Score: Applicants must pass the PLE final exam with a 70% or higher to receive a certificate of completion.
- Exam Proctor Requirements: PreLicense.com final exams must be monitored by a disinterested third party. Proctors must not serve for examinations of family members, relatives, or dependents; employers or supervisors; employees or subordinates; partners, joint ventures, co-owners, or business associates; or for anyone in whom the proctor or instructor has an economic or other interest in assuring the successful outcome of the examination.
Certificate of Completion
Upon completing the PreLicense.com course and returningyour completed original Course Affidavit via USPS, UPS, or FedEX,a certificate of completion will be mailed to the applicant’s address on file within3 business days.
Per Ohio rules, certificates of completion must contain original signatures in order to be considered valid. The testing center will not accept copies of certificates. Certificates of completion are valid for 180 days from the date of course completion.
IMPORTANT: You must bring your certificate of completion with you when you arrive at the test center to take the exam.
State Reporting Requirements
Prelicense.com reports PLE course completions to the Ohio Department of Insurance weekly.
State Licensing Exam
Methods of Registration
- Register online:Click here to register for the state licensing exam online
- Register by phone: 877-346-4041
- Register by fax: Fax exam registration form to 877-341-9469
- On-site registration is not allowed
Note: Applicants must provide the prelicensing provider ID at the time of making their licensing exam reservation. The provider number for Prelicense.com is 1736.
Materials Needed to Present at Exam Site
- Candidates must present a valid form of identification. The primary identification must be government-issued or state-issued and contain both a current photo and signature. The name of the identification must match the name used to register for the exam.
- Original PLE certificate of completion
- Failing score report (if retaking the examination)
Testing Sites, Fees, and Schedules
- Testing Sites:Click here to view a list of testing centers in Ohio
- Exams and fees: A list of insurance license exams and fees can be found in the State of Ohio Licensing Information Bulletin. Currently, the exam fee is $49.50.
State Exam Passing Score
Applicants must pass the state licensing exam with a 70% or higher to file a license application. Applicants who fail to pass the exam within 180 days of course completion will be required to take pre-licensing education again.
License Application Process
Ways to Apply
- Apply online:Click here to apply online.
- Apply by paper: Click here to download or fill out the Uniform Application for Individual Producer License.
- Click here for a current fee schedule.
Materials Needed to Apply
If you answered “yes” to any of the screening questions on the online license application, you may be required to send in additional documentation to the Ohio Department of Insurance at:
50 W. Town Street, Third Floor, Suite 300
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Fingerprinting Process
Ohio requires a criminal background check for resident licensees. All applicants must submit fingerprints through National WebCheck. The cost includes a $22.00 BCI fee, a $24.00 FBI fee and WebCheck vendor transaction fee.Please click here for additional information and for a list of vendors.Be sure to request that your results be sent directly to the Ohio Department of Insurance by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification (BCI).
All Prometric test centers are WebCheck providers. If you choose to have your fingerprints taken at the Prometric test center, you will be required to pay Prometric’s fingerprint fee of $71.00 when you register for your exam.
New Resident Producer Requirements
New residents will not be required to complete prelicense education or take the insurance license examination as long as:
- Application for licensure occurs within 90 days of establishing principal place of residence or business in Ohio
- The license being applied for is the same line of authority as in the previous state and license is good standing; or
- The license application is received within 90 days after cancellation of previous home state license, and at time of cancellation, individual was in good standing
License Application Process
Ways to Apply
- Apply online:Click here to apply online.
- Apply by paper: Click here to download or fill out the Uniform Application for Individual Producer License.
- Click here for a current fee schedule.
Materials Needed to Apply
If you answered “yes” to any of the screening questions on the online license application, you may be required to send in additional documentation to the Ohio Department of Insurance at:
50 W. Town Street, Third Floor, Suite 300
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Fingerprinting Process
Ohio requires a criminal background check for resident licensees. All applicants must submit fingerprints through National WebCheck. The cost includes a $22.00 BCI fee, a $24.00 FBI fee and WebCheck vendor transaction fee. Please click here for additional information and for a list of vendors. Be sure to request that your results be sent directly to the Ohio Department of Insurance by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification (BCI).
Nonresident Producer Requirements
In most cases, nonresident license candidates may obtain a Ohio agent license, without having to complete the prelicense education requirement or take a license examination, as long as they are currently licensed as a resident and in good standing in their home state.
License Application Process
Ways to Apply
- Apply online:Click here to apply online.
- Apply by paper: Click here to download or fill out the Uniform Application for Individual Producer License.
- Click here for a current fee schedule.
Materials Needed to Apply
If you answered “yes” to any of the screening questions on the online license application, you may be required to send in additional documentation to the Ohio Department of Insurance at:
50 W. Town Street, Third Floor, Suite 300
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Fingerprinting Process
Nonresident applicants are not subject to the criminal background check requirement.
Contact Information
Ohio Department of Insurance
50 W. Town Street, Third Floor - Suite 300
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: 614-644-2665
Fax: 614-644-3475
Email:
Website:
Prometric
Phone: 877-346-4041
Web Site:
The licensing information presented here is a brief summary only and is not intended to be comprehensive or complete. We urge you to check with your state's insurance department for complete and current information about its licensing rules and requirements.