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How to get a Resident insurance producer license, life and health group of lines in District of Columbia

District of Columbia licenses insurance agents statewide through the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB).1 For the Resident insurance producer license, life and health group of lines (life; accident and health or sickness; variable life and variable annuity) you need a passing score on the District of Columbia insurance producer licensing examination for the line(s) of authority applied for (life; accident and health; variable contracts), given by Pearson VUE2 and a criminal background check3. The board lists $100 for the initial license4 and $25 for the registration5, each a separate charge. You renew every 2 years2 and complete at least 24 hours of continuing education6.

Last checked · 20 official sources

Who issues it

Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB)

Exam

District of Columbia insurance producer licensing examination for the line(s) of authority applied for (life; accident and health; variable contracts), given by Pearson VUE2

Fees the board lists

Initial license fee: $1004
Registration fee: $255

Renewal

Every 2 years2, at least 24 hours of continuing education6

From another state

Reciprocity agreements, Exam waiver and Temporary license or permit27 Details

On this page
  1. District of Columbia insurance agent licenses
  2. Applies to every license level
  3. Who needs a Resident insurance producer license, life and health group of lines
  4. Requirements for a Resident insurance producer license, life and health group of lines
  5. How much a Resident insurance producer license, life and health group of lines costs
  6. How to apply
  7. Renewal and continuing education
  8. Resident insurance producer license, property and casualty group of lines
  9. Check a license or report a problem
  10. Laws and rules
  11. Common questions
  12. Insurance agent licenses in other states

District of Columbia insurance agent licenses

District of Columbia issues 2 insurance agent credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

LicenseWhat it coversExamApplication or license fee
Resident insurance producer license, life and health group of lines (life; accident and health or sickness; variable life and variable annuity)Sell, solicit or negotiate insurance in the line(s) of authority on the license. The license alone does not authorize you to bind an insurer; you need that insurer's appointment.1Yes8$1004
Resident insurance producer license, property and casualty group of lines (property; casualty; personal lines)Sell, solicit or negotiate insurance in the line(s) of authority on the license. The license alone does not authorize you to bind an insurer; you need that insurer's appointment.1Yes8$1004

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every District of Columbia insurance agent license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

What it covers

Sell, solicit or negotiate insurance in the line(s) of authority on the license. The license alone does not authorize you to bind an insurer; you need that insurer's appointment.1

Requirements

Minimum age
18 years old3
Background check
Background check required3
The Commissioner may refuse a license for grounds that include a felony conviction, fraud or misrepresentation on the application, a producer license revoked elsewhere, or failure to meet child-support or District income-tax orders.9
Residency or citizenship
Apply for the resident license if your principal residence and principal place of business are both in DC (or one is in DC and you hold no resident license elsewhere). If both are outside DC, apply for a nonresident license. No citizenship requirement is stated.1
Business requirements
An agency (business entity) needs its own producer license, a Designated Responsible Licensed Producer (DRLP) with the same lines of authority, and an individual license for every officer, director, employee and shareholder who sells. After licensing it must register with DLCP Corporations Division.2
Also required
Appointment: if you act as an agent of an insurer you must be appointed by that insurer (the insurer files the appointment through NIPR and renews it each year by April 30). Brokers not acting for an insurer need no appointment.2

Fees

FeeAmountPaid toNotes
A processing fee of one hundred dollars$1004DISBOnly applications filed on paper; DISB says applications are filed online at nipr.com
Registration fee$255DISBEach insurer appointment of a producer who acts as that insurer's agent; paid by the insurer and renewed each year

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee.

How to apply

  1. Pass the exam (minimum score 70). You must apply within one year of passing.10
  2. Apply online at nipr.com on the Uniform Individual Application and pay the license fee ($100 for each group of lines).2
  3. If you will act as an insurer's agent, the insurer files your appointment within 30 days of the agency contract or first application and pays the appointment fee.5
  4. Tell DISB about any change of address within 30 days. Report any administrative action within 30 days of its final disposition, and any criminal prosecution within 30 days of the initial pretrial hearing.11
Apply online
nipr.com2
Temporary or provisional license
Temporary producer license for up to 180 days without an exam, in limited circumstances (death or disability of a producer, military service, public interest).7

Renewal

How often
Every 2 years2
When it expires
Individual licenses expire every two years at the end of your birth month. The first license runs 18 to 29 months so that it ends in your birth month. Renew online through NIPR before the expiry date.2
Renewal fee
$1004 (Biennial renewal, per group of lines held)
Continuing education
At least 24 hours each renewal period6
Required topics
At least 3 hours of ethics6
If you renew both the life/health and the property/casualty groups: at least 6 hours in each group6
Approved courses
Courses must be approved by DISB. Independent study counts only with a sponsor-supervised exam. No more than half of the hours may come from insurer-sponsored courses. Designation courses (CLU, ChFC, CPCU, CIC, etc.) count as 24 hours per part passed.6
Exemptions
Limited-lines-only producers do not need CE.6
Waiver for good cause, e.g. long-term illness or active military duty outside the Washington area. Request in writing at least 90 days before the license period ends.6
Nonresidents: meeting your home state's CE counts for DC if your home state gives DC producers the same treatment.12
If it expires
Up to 30 days after expiry you can still renew by paying the late fee (and finishing missing CE). After that the license has lapsed and you must apply for reinstatement.13
Reinstatement is possible only within one year after expiry, without a new exam. After one year you must qualify as a new applicant.14
Renew online
nipr.com2

From another state

Route
Reciprocity agreements
What the board says
Licensed as a resident producer in good standing in your home state: apply for a DC nonresident producer license through NIPR. You can only get the same lines you hold at home, with no DC exam or education. The fee is the same as for residents.2
States on District of Columbia'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
The DC nonresident license ends if your home-state authority is terminated, suspended or revoked.15
DC waives other requirements for nonresidents whose home state treats DC residents the same way, and may waive them otherwise.12
Fee
$10016
Route
Exam waiver
What the board says
Moving to DC with a license from another state: apply for a DC resident license within 90 days of establishing residence. There is no exam or prelicensing education if you are licensed for the same line elsewhere, or if you apply within 90 days of cancelling your old license.2
Conditions
Good standing is shown by the former state's certification or by the NAIC producer database.17
Fee
$1004
Route
Temporary license or permit
What the board says
A temporary producer license for up to 180 days, without an exam, can be issued in special cases, e.g. to the surviving spouse or personal representative of a producer who died or became disabled, or to the designee of a producer called to active military service.7

Military service members, veterans and spouses: A producer who cannot follow the renewal procedures because of military service may ask for a waiver of the procedures and any related exam or penalty. CE can be waived for active duty outside the Washington area.18

Who needs a Resident insurance producer license, life and health group of lines

Work that does not need this license:

  • No license is needed for: insurer or agency staff who earn no commission and do only clerical, underwriting, claims or technical-support work; employers administering their own employee-benefit plans; employees who inspect, rate or classify risks or supervise producer training; salaried employees advising their own employer.19

Requirements for a Resident insurance producer license, life and health group of lines

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Exam
District of Columbia insurance producer licensing examination for the line(s) of authority applied for (life; accident and health; variable contracts), given by Pearson VUE2
Given by: Pearson VUE (DISB contract testing vendor). Schedule and find study material at pearsonvue.com/us/en/dc/insurance.html.2
Passing score: 10
When you can take it: Pass the exam before applying; the license application must be submitted within one year of passing or the score lapses and the exam fee is forfeited.10
Retakes: If you fail or miss the exam you may reapply; all fees and forms must be sent again before you are rescheduled.8
Exam waived: No exam (or prelicensing education) if you are currently licensed for the same line of authority in another state, or you apply within 90 days of cancelling your previous license in another state and were in good standing.17

How much a Resident insurance producer license, life and health group of lines costs

FeeAmountPaid toNotes
Initial license fee$1004DISBLife, accident and health or sickness, and variable life/variable annuity lines (one fee covers one or more lines in the group)

How to apply

  1. Choose your line(s) of authority (life; accident and health or sickness; variable life and variable annuity). Schedule the DC licensing exam with Pearson VUE, which also publishes the study material.2

Renewal and continuing education

Renewal planner

Enter the expiration date printed on your District of Columbia Resident insurance producer license, life and health group of lines (life; accident and health or sickness; variable life and variable annuity). The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.

Resident insurance producer license, property and casualty group of lines

Requirements

Exam
District of Columbia insurance producer licensing examination for the line(s) of authority applied for (property; casualty; personal lines), given by Pearson VUE2
Given by: Pearson VUE (DISB contract testing vendor). Schedule and find study material at pearsonvue.com/us/en/dc/insurance.html.2
Passing score: 10
When you can take it: Pass the exam before applying; the license application must be submitted within one year of passing or the score lapses and the exam fee is forfeited.10
Retakes: If you fail or miss the exam you may reapply; all fees and forms must be sent again before you are rescheduled.8
Exam waived: No exam (or prelicensing education) if you are currently licensed for the same line of authority in another state, or you apply within 90 days of cancelling your previous license in another state and were in good standing.17

Fees

FeeAmountPaid toNotes
Initial license fee$1004DISBProperty, casualty, personal lines and bail bonds lines (one fee covers one or more lines in the group)

How to apply

  1. Choose your line(s) of authority (property; casualty; personal lines (bail bonds and surplus lines require property or casualty authority)). Schedule the DC licensing exam with Pearson VUE, which also publishes the study material.2

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire an insurance agent in District of Columbia, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in District of Columbia is on the District of Columbia license lookup page.

Look up a license
sbs.naic.org20

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

Common questions

Can I transfer my insurance agent license to District of Columbia?

DISB publishes these routes for the Resident insurance producer license, life and health group of lines: reciprocity agreements2, exam waiver2 and temporary license or permit7. Conditions and forms.

How often do you renew a Resident insurance producer license, life and health group of lines in District of Columbia?

Every 2 years2. Continuing education: at least 24 hours6. The renewal fee is $1004.

Insurance agent licenses in other states

Sources

Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.

  1. D.C. Code 31-1131.03Council of the District of ColumbiaChecked November 7, 2026
  2. General Information for Producers / AgentsDistrict of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and BankingChecked November 7, 2026
  3. D.C. Code 31-1131.06Council of the District of ColumbiaChecked November 7, 2026
  4. 26-A DCMR 105District of Columbia Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances (DCMR)Dated January 2, 2009Checked November 7, 2026
  5. D.C. Code 31-1131.14Council of the District of ColumbiaChecked November 7, 2026
  6. 26-A DCMR 106District of Columbia Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances (DCMR)Dated January 2, 2009Checked November 8, 2026
  7. D.C. Code 31-1131.11Council of the District of ColumbiaChecked November 7, 2026
  8. D.C. Code 31-1131.05Council of the District of ColumbiaChecked November 7, 2026
  9. D.C. Code 31-1131.12Council of the District of ColumbiaChecked November 8, 2026
  10. 26-A DCMR 100District of Columbia Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances (DCMR)Dated October 4, 2013Checked November 7, 2026
  11. D.C. Code 31-1131.08aCouncil of the District of ColumbiaChecked November 7, 2026
  12. D.C. Code 31-1131.16Council of the District of ColumbiaChecked November 7, 2026
  13. 26-A DCMR 102District of Columbia Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances (DCMR)Dated January 2, 2009Checked November 7, 2026
  14. 26-A DCMR 103District of Columbia Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances (DCMR)Dated January 2, 2009Checked November 7, 2026
  15. D.C. Code 31-1131.08Council of the District of ColumbiaChecked November 7, 2026
  16. Schedule of Fees, Taxes and Deposits for Insurance Producers and CompaniesDistrict of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and BankingChecked November 7, 2026
  17. D.C. Code 31-1131.09Council of the District of ColumbiaChecked November 7, 2026
  18. D.C. Code 31-1131.07aCouncil of the District of ColumbiaChecked November 8, 2026
  19. D.C. Code 31-1131.04Council of the District of ColumbiaChecked November 8, 2026
  20. Verify That a Financial Institution or Representative Is Licensed With DISB | disbDepartment of Insurance, Securities and BankingChecked November 8, 2026