1.2 Minnesota P&C Producer Licensing Requirements

To become a licensed Property & Casualty insurance producer in Minnesota, you must meet specific education, examination, and application requirements.

Step-by-Step Licensing Process

Step 1: Complete Pre-License Education

Education Requirements:

• 40 hours total of Minnesota-approved pre-license education
  • 20 hours for Property Line
  • 20 hours for Casualty Line
• Available in classroom or online formats
• Must be completed before taking the exam

Note: If you only want one line (Property OR Casualty), you only need to complete 20 hours for that specific line.

Step 2: Pass the Licensing Exam

Exam Details:

Scheduling Your Exam:

• Register at PSI Exams website
• Can take at testing center or via remote proctoring
• Bring government-issued photo ID

Retake Policy:

• No waiting period between attempts
• Can retake exam immediately if you fail

Step 3: Complete Background Check

After passing the exam, you must complete a fingerprint-based criminal background check:

• Required for all license applicants
• Cost: $63.75, paid at the test site on the day of testing
• Electronic fingerprinting at a PSI Minnesota site on exam day is strongly recommended
• Results sent directly to Minnesota Department of Commerce

Step 4: Submit License Application

Application Process:

• Apply online through Sircon
• Must apply within 3 years of passing exam

License Fees:

• Initial license fee: $50 per line of authority (Minn. Stat. 60K.55, subd. 2)
• There is no separate state base or application fee
• Total state fee for Property & Casualty: $100
• NIPR and Sircon charge their own transaction fee on top, which varies

Age Requirement

Applicants must be at least 18 years old to obtain a Minnesota insurance producer license.

Resident vs. Non-Resident Licenses

Resident License

• For individuals who reside in Minnesota
• Must complete Minnesota pre-license education
• Must pass Minnesota state exam

Non-Resident License

• For individuals licensed in another state
• If your home state has reciprocity with Minnesota, you may not need to take the Minnesota exam
• Must hold an active resident license in your home state

License Duration and Renewal

License Term:

• Valid for 2 years
• Expires on the last day of the licensee's birth month

Continuing Education (CE):

• 24 hours of CE required every 2 years
• Must include 3 hours of ethics
• Must be completed before license expiration

Appointment Requirements

After receiving your license, you must be appointed by an insurance company to sell their products:

• Insurance companies submit appointment on your behalf
• Appointment fee: $50 per company
• Must be renewed every 2 years with license

Producer License Lines of Authority

Minnesota offers these P&C lines of authority:

Exam Tip: Most producers obtain both Property AND Casualty lines to sell the full range of P&C insurance products.

Minnesota Producer Licensing Specifics

To sell P&C in Minnesota a producer must pass the licensing exam, apply through the Department of Commerce/NIPR, and be appointed by an authorized insurer to transact for that company. Resident licenses require completing prelicensing requirements and the state exam; nonresident licenses are issued by reciprocity when the home-state license is in good standing. Licenses are issued by line of authority (e.g., property, casualty) — selling outside your authority is a violation.

Continuing Education and Renewal

Minnesota requires 24 hours of continuing education per two-year licensing period, including a mandatory ethics component (commonly 3 hours). Failure to complete CE blocks renewal.

The exam also tests reporting duties: a producer must notify the Commissioner of an address change and of any administrative action or criminal conviction within 30 days. Appointments are filed by the insurer; when the relationship ends the insurer files a termination notice, and a producer with no active appointment may hold a license but cannot transact for an unappointed insurer. Letting a license lapse beyond the grace period requires reinstatement or re-examination.

License Types and Limited Lines

Minnesota issues full property and casualty lines of authority plus limited-lines licenses (e.g., crop, travel, or specific limited credentials) that authorize only the named product. Selling outside the held line of authority is grounds for discipline. A business entity (agency) also holds a license and must designate a responsible licensed producer.

Background, Fingerprinting, and Discipline

Applicants undergo a background check (and fingerprinting where required); a felony or insurance-related conviction can bar or revoke a license. The Commissioner may deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a license and impose civil penalties for violations such as fraud, misrepresentation, fiduciary breaches, or failing to report a required change within the 30-day window.

Temporary Licenses and Continuing Authority

Minnesota allows a temporary license in limited circumstances — for example, to a surviving spouse, designee, or personal representative to continue a deceased or disabled producer's business for a defined period without examination. The exam also tests that an inactive appointment does not erase the license itself: a licensed producer with no current appointment retains the license but may not transact for an unappointed insurer until a new appointment is filed.