How to obtain your insurance license in Florida and start a successful career 💙
Are you looking for a career with stability, high income, and professional growth? Obtaining an insurance license in Florida is the first step to entering a constantly in-demand industry.
At EducUp, we prepare you with approved pre-licensing courses. We provide support for the steps that require an insurance agency.
Follow this guide and become a licensed agent. Let’s get started!
1️⃣ Meet the Eligibility Requirements
Before starting the process, make sure you meet the basic requirements set by the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS).
General Requirements:
Age: Minimum of 18 years old.
Residency: U.S. citizen or legal resident.
Florida Address: You must provide a physical address in Florida (P.O. Box is not accepted).
Criminal Background: The DFS reviews the criminal history of applicants. Check your eligibility here.
2️⃣ Complete Pre-Licensing Education
Florida requires all applicants to complete an approved pre-licensing course before taking the state exam.
Course Duration:
2-15 (Life, Health, and Annuities): 60 hours
2-20 (Property and Casualty): 200 hours
2-40 (Health Only): 40 hours
2-14 (Life Only): 30 hours
Course Options:
Online: Flexibility to study at your own pace. At EducUp, we offer approved courses with practice exams and progress tracking to ensure you meet the required hours.
In-Person: Classes with structured schedules.
3️⃣ Pass the State Licensing Exam
Once you have completed the course, you must take and pass the official exam with Pearson VUE.
Exam Details:
Format: Multiple-choice questions.
Number of Questions: Approximately 100.
Time: 2 hours.
Passing Score: 70% or higher.
Cost: Approximately $44.
How to Schedule Your Exam?
Create an account.
Select the date, time, and location.
Pay the fee.
4️⃣ Take Your Fingerprints for Background Verification
This step is mandatory and must be completed before obtaining your license.
How to Do It?
Schedule an appointment with IdentoGO or another approved provider.
Pay the fee (between $50 and $80).
Provide your Originating Agency Identifier (ORI) number.
Wait 48-72 hours for processing.
5️⃣ Submit Your License Application
Once you pass the exam and complete the background check, you must apply for your license online.
How to Apply?
Go to the "My Profile" portal on MyFloridaCFO.
Create an account.
Complete the application according to the desired license.
Pay the fee (usually $50).
Wait 5 to 10 business days for approval.
💡 Tip: Regularly check the status of your application on the portal.
6️⃣ Obtain an “Appointment” with an Insurance Company
Your license will not be valid until an insurer grants you an official appointment or sponsorship.
How to Get an Appointment?
Apply for jobs at insurance companies.
Once hired, the company will submit the application to the DFS.
Pay the appointment fee (between $30 and $150, depending on the insurer).
7️⃣ Maintain Your License with Continuing Education (CE)
To keep your license active, you must complete continuing education every 2 years.
Requirements:
24 hours of continuing education (CE).
4 hours of a mandatory course on ethics and Florida laws.
20 hours of elective courses related to your license type.
How to Fulfill CE Requirements?
- Take online courses with approved providers like EducUp.
💡 Important: If you do not complete continuing education, your license will become inactive. However, you can reinstate it within 4 years without having to retake the exam.
Final Checklist
✅ Meet the eligibility requirements.
✅ Complete the pre-licensing course.
✅ Pass the state exam.
✅ Get fingerprinted and pass the background check.
✅ Submit the license application.
✅ Obtain an appointment with an insurance company.
✅ Maintain your license with continuing education.
With these steps completed, you will be ready to enter the insurance industry in Florida.
