How to get an Insurance Producer license in Delaware
Delaware licenses insurance agents statewide through the Delaware Department of Insurance.1 For the Insurance Producer license you need a passing score on the Delaware insurance producer examination (per line of authority)1 and a criminal background check1. The board lists $125 for the initial license2. You renew every 2 years2 and complete 24 hours of continuing education3.
Who issues it
Delaware Department of Insurance
Exam
Delaware insurance producer examination (per line of authority)1
Fees the board lists
Initial license fee: $1252
On this page
- Delaware insurance agent licenses
- Applies to every license level
- Who needs an Insurance Producer license
- Requirements for an Insurance Producer license
- How much an Insurance Producer license costs
- How to apply
- Renewal and continuing education
- Moving to Delaware with a license from another state
- Fraternal Producer
- Limited Lines Producer
- Surplus Lines Broker
- Check a license or report a problem
- Laws and rules
- Common questions
- Insurance agent licenses in other states
Delaware insurance agent licenses
Delaware issues 4 insurance agent credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.
| License | What it covers | Exam | Application or license fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fraternal Producer | Sells life, accident or health insurance or annuities for a fraternal society that appoints the representative.1 | Yes1 | $1254 |
| Insurance Producer | Sells, solicits or negotiates insurance or annuities in the licensed lines (major lines: life, accident & health or sickness, property, casualty, variable, personal lines; also fidelity & surety, marine, title). Delaware uses "insurance agent", "broker" and "consultant" interchangeably with "insurance producer".2 | Yes1 | $1252 |
| Limited Lines Producer | – | No5 | $1254 |
| Surplus Lines Broker | Places property, casualty, surety, marine & transportation and personal lines risks with surplus lines (non-admitted) insurers; requires an active producer license for the same lines.5 | – | $2754 |
Applies to every license level
These rules are the same for several of the Delaware insurance agent licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.
1. Every license level (all 4)
Requirements
- Minimum age
- 18 years old1
How to apply
Renewal
2. Every license level except Surplus Lines Broker
Requirements
3. Every license level except Insurance Producer
Renewal
- When it expires
- Residents: February 28 of even years; nonresidents: February 28 of odd years.2
4. Insurance Producer and Fraternal Producer
Fees
The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee; check it with the exam provider, Pearson VUE5, when you schedule.
Renewal
- If it expires
- Failure to pay the fee or meet CE by the due date lapses the license by operation of law, without notice.1
A lapsed license may be reinstated without re-examination within 12 months; renewal fees paid in the first 6-month grace period carry a penalty of double the unpaid renewal fee, and a civil fine of $200–$1,000 may apply in the second 6 months.1
From another state
Military service members, veterans and spouses: Licensees unable to comply with renewal procedures because of military service may request a waiver of those procedures (and of any exam requirement or fine for not complying); temporary license possible for the designee of a licensee entering active service.1
5. Fraternal Producer and Limited Lines Producer
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Initial license fee | $1254 | Delaware Department of Insurance |
Renewal
- Renewal fee
- $1254
6. Limited Lines Producer and Surplus Lines Broker
Renewal
- If it expires
- Failure to pay the fee or meet CE by the due date lapses the license by operation of law, without notice.1
Who needs an Insurance Producer license
Sells, solicits or negotiates insurance or annuities in the licensed lines (major lines: life, accident & health or sickness, property, casualty, variable, personal lines; also fidelity & surety, marine, title). Delaware uses "insurance agent", "broker" and "consultant" interchangeably with "insurance producer".2
Requirements for an Insurance Producer license
More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2 and group 4 under Applies to every license level.
- Experience
- License you must hold first: Variable annuity line requires a life license and securities (NASD/FINRA) registration.1
- Exam
- Delaware insurance producer examination (per line of authority)1
Given by: Pearson VUE5
Lines of authority applied for, producer duties, general insurance knowledge, ethics and Delaware law; resident crop producers also take the Delaware Crop Exam.1
Retakes: No limit on attempts; after failing or missing an exam you reapply and pay the fees again.1
Time limit: Exam score reports are valid for 12 months.1
Exam waived: No exam for lines previously held in another state if currently licensed there or applying within 90 days of cancellation, with the former state certifying good standing (or NAIC Producer Database records showing it).1 - Residency or citizenship
- Resident license requires Delaware residence, or work for a Delaware-licensed business entity with a public physical location in Delaware (registered agents and PO boxes do not count).1
- Also required
- Insurer appointments are filed through NIPR; new appointment fee $50, appointments do not renew annually.2
How much an Insurance Producer license costs
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial license fee | $1252 | Delaware Department of Insurance | Not refundable |
| Amendments to license issued under Chapter 17 | $504 | Delaware Department of Insurance | – |
| One-time appointment: each insurer | $504 | Delaware Department of Insurance | Paid per insurer appointment (normally by the insurer) |
Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.
How to apply
- Schedule and pass the Pearson VUE exam for each line of authority.2
- Request state and FBI criminal history reports from Delaware State Police using service code 27S46Z (dated within 90 days); DSP sends them to the DOI.5
- Apply online through NIPR (paper only if NIPR cannot process the request); exam results arrive electronically.5 nipr.com6
- Get appointed by each insurer you represent (filed by the insurer through NIPR).2
Renewal and continuing education
- When it expires
- Residents renew by February 28 of even years, nonresidents by February 28 of odd years; anyone first licensed December 1–February 28 skips that renewal fee.2
- Renewal fee
- $1254 (Resident and nonresident (nonresident: "d. Nonresident license renewal... 125"))
- Continuing education
- 24 hours each renewal period3
- Required topics
- 3 hours ethics3
3 hours Delaware long-term-care training for health-licensed producers who sell LTC3
2-hour NFIP flood course for residents who write NFIP flood insurance (within the 21 general hours)3 - Approved courses
- Courses must be Department-approved; licensees can print their CE transcript online from the DOI Producer Licensing page.3
- Exemptions
- Nonresident producers are exempt; no CE in the biennium in which first licensed; 12 automatic credits (not ethics) after 25 years licensed or with an approved designation; max 5 carryover credits.2
Renewal planner
Enter the expiration date printed on your Delaware Insurance Producer license. The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.
Moving to Delaware with a license from another state
These are the routes the Delaware Department of Insurance publishes for the Insurance Producer license. The other insurance agent licenses have their own routes in their sections below.
- Route
- Reciprocity agreements
- What the board says
- Nonresident license for anyone licensed as a resident and in good standing in a home state that licenses Delaware residents on the same basis; DOI verifies the home license through the NAIC Producer Database (no certification needed); nonresident producers have no Delaware CE.1
- States on Delaware's list
- The pages cited here give no list of partner states for this route; the board's words above say who qualifies. Ask the board which states it has agreements with.
- Route
- Exam waiver
- What the board says
- Moving to Delaware: apply for a resident license within 90 days of establishing residence; no exam for lines held in the former state.1
Fraternal Producer
Sells life, accident or health insurance or annuities for a fraternal society that appoints the representative.1
Requirements
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| One-time appointment of fraternal representative: each society or association | $504 | Delaware Department of Insurance |
How to apply
- Pass the Pearson VUE exam and get state/FBI criminal history reports (resident).5
- Apply through NIPR.5 nipr.com6
Renewal
- Continuing education
- 12 hours each renewal period3
- Required topics
- 3 hours ethics3
- Exemptions
- Nonresident fraternal producers are exempt from Delaware CE.7
From another state
- Route
- Reciprocity agreements
- What the board says
- Nonresident license for anyone licensed as a resident and in good standing in a home state that licenses Delaware residents on the same basis; DOI verifies the home license through the NAIC Producer Database (no certification needed); nonresident producers have no Delaware CE.1
- States on Delaware's list
- The pages cited here give no list of partner states for this route; the board's words above say who qualifies. Ask the board which states it has agreements with.
- Conditions
- Nonresident renewal is due February 28 of odd years.2
More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4 and group 5 under Applies to every license level.
Limited Lines Producer
Requirements
How to apply
- Residents: obtain state/FBI criminal history reports and, for pre-need life or title, pass the Pearson VUE exam; then apply through NIPR.5 nipr.com6
From another state
- Route
- Reciprocity agreements
- What the board says
- A limited lines producer licensed in the home state receives a Delaware nonresident limited lines license with the same scope.1
- States on Delaware's list
- The pages cited here give no list of partner states for this route; the board's words above say who qualifies. Ask the board which states it has agreements with.
More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 5 and group 6 under Applies to every license level.
Surplus Lines Broker
Places property, casualty, surety, marine & transportation and personal lines risks with surplus lines (non-admitted) insurers; requires an active producer license for the same lines.5
Requirements
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Initial license fee | $2754 | Delaware Department of Insurance |
How to apply
- Hold an active Delaware producer license for the lines you want, then apply through NIPR.5 nipr.com6
- Learn the Delaware surplus lines filing procedures after licensing.6
Renewal
From another state
- Route
- Reciprocity agreements
- What the board says
- A person licensed as a surplus lines producer in the home state receives a Delaware nonresident surplus lines license.1
- States on Delaware's list
- The pages cited here give no list of partner states for this route; the board's words above say who qualifies. Ask the board which states it has agreements with.
- Conditions
- Nonresident renewal fee $225, due February 28 of odd years.4
More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 3 and group 6 under Applies to every license level.
Check a license or report a problem
Before you hire an insurance agent in Delaware, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Delaware is on the Delaware license lookup page.
- Look up a license
- insurance.delaware.gov6
Laws and rules
The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.
Common questions
Can I transfer my insurance agent license to Delaware?
The Delaware Department of Insurance publishes these routes for the Insurance Producer license: reciprocity agreements1 and exam waiver1. Conditions and forms.
Insurance agent licenses in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.
- Title 18 Chapter 17 Insurance ProducersDelaware General AssemblyChecked November 8, 2026
- Producer Licensing Laws FAQsDelaware Department of InsuranceChecked November 8, 2026
- 18 DE Admin. Code 504 Continuing Education for Insurance Agents, Brokers, Surplus Lines Brokers and…Delaware Registrar of RegulationsChecked November 8, 2026
- Title 18 Chapter 7 FeesDelaware General AssemblyChecked November 8, 2026
- Delaware Licensing ProceduresDelaware Department of InsuranceChecked November 8, 2026
- Producer Licensing - Delaware Department of InsuranceDelaware Department of InsuranceChecked November 7, 2026
- Continuing Education FAQ'sDelaware Department of InsuranceChecked November 8, 2026