1.2 New York P&C Producer Licensing Requirements

New York imposes some of the heaviest pre-licensing requirements in the country, so know these numbers cold.

Pre-License Education

Key rules:

• Courses must be taken at a DFS-approved provider (classroom or online self-study).
• You must pass the course-completion exam to receive the certificate.
• The completion certificate is valid for a limited window; schedule the state exam promptly.
• Pre-licensing education may be waived for applicants holding certain designations (for example, CPCU, CIC, AAI) or an approved associate/bachelor degree in insurance — confirm waivers on the DFS site before skipping the course.

Trap: Many other states require only 40 hours for combined P&C. New York requires 90. If an answer choice says "40 hours for P&C," that is the Personal Lines figure, not the full agent license.

The Licensing Examination

The exam is administered by PSI Services LLC on behalf of DFS (older study materials may say Prometric — PSI is the current vendor).

Step-by-Step Exam Process

1. Complete pre-licensing education (90 hours for combined P&C) at a DFS-approved school and pass the course exam.
2. Register and schedule the exam through PSI (online or by phone); pay the exam fee per attempt.
3. Bring two forms of ID, including one government photo ID with signature (driver's license or passport).
4. Take the exam at a PSI test center or via approved online proctoring.
5. Receive a pass/fail score report at the test center. On a fail, you may re-register and retest after paying a new fee (no statutory long wait, but seat availability applies).

Fingerprinting and Background Check

New York requires fingerprinting of every new applicant for a criminal-history record check:

• Vendor: IdentoGO (the state's authorized fingerprint vendor)
• Cost: roughly $100–$125, paid by the applicant
• Results: transmitted electronically to DFS; the license will not issue until the check clears

Disqualifying / reviewable factors include felony convictions, any crime involving fraud, dishonesty, or breach of trust, crimes substantially related to the insurance business, and failure to disclose prior actions. Under the federal Violent Crime Control Act (18 U.S.C. §1033), a person convicted of a felony involving dishonesty or breach of trust generally cannot work in insurance without a §1033 written consent waiver.

License Application

Agent, Broker, and Consultant

New York licenses three distinct producer roles — know who each one represents:

Exam Tip: The defining test is whom the producer represents. An agent is the insurer's representative; a broker is the client's representative. This loyalty distinction drives many New York exam questions.

Other License Endorsements You Should Recognize

Beyond the core agent/broker/consultant roles, New York issues several specialty licenses tested on the P&C exam:

Note that New York does not require a separate adjuster license for staff (company) adjusters in the same way many states do — but it does license public and independent adjusters. A public adjuster works for the policyholder for a fee capped by regulation, which is a frequent exam contrast against the company adjuster who works for the insurer.

Producer Compensation and Fiduciary Duty

A New York producer who collects premium funds holds them in a fiduciary capacity and must remit them to the insurer (or refund the insured) promptly. Premiums must not be deposited into the producer's personal or operating account — doing so is commingling, a disciplinable offense covered in Section 1.3. Brokers may charge a separate, disclosed broker fee in addition to commission, but undisclosed fees and any rebate of commission to the buyer are prohibited.

Trap: A non-resident applicant generally licenses through reciprocity based on a home-state license rather than retaking New York's 90-hour course and full exam — but must still meet New York's appointment and CE rules to keep the license active.