How to get an Insurance Agent (Producer) license in Kentucky
Kentucky licenses insurance agents statewide through the Kentucky Department of Insurance (DOI).1 For the Insurance Agent (Producer) license you need at least 20 clock hours2 of education, a passing score on the Kentucky DOI agent examination per line: life, health, property, casualty, or P&C personal lines2 and a criminal background check1. The board lists $40 for the initial license (Per license class)3, $40 for the initial license (Each line of authority)3 and $50 for the exam3, each a separate charge. You renew every 2 years3 and complete at least 24 hours of continuing education1.
Who issues it
Kentucky Department of Insurance (DOI)
Training and experience
Training: at least 20 clock hours2
Exam
Kentucky DOI agent examination per line: life, health, property, casualty, or P&C personal lines2
On this page
- Kentucky insurance agent licenses
- Applies to every license level
- Who needs an Insurance Agent (Producer) license
- Requirements for an Insurance Agent (Producer) license
- How much an Insurance Agent (Producer) license costs
- How to apply
- Renewal and continuing education
- Moving to Kentucky with a license from another state
- Consultant
- Check a license or report a problem
- Laws and rules
- Common questions
- Insurance agent licenses in other states
Kentucky insurance agent licenses
Kentucky issues 2 insurance agent credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.
| License | What it covers | Training or experience | Exam | Application or license fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consultant | Licensed insurance consultant in property & casualty and/or life & health (each category qualified and licensed separately).5 | Experience 5 years5 | Yes2 | $1003 |
| Insurance Agent (Producer) | Sells, solicits or negotiates insurance in the lines held: life, health, property, casualty, variable life & variable annuity, personal lines (limited lines are in ky-limited-lines-agent).1 | Training 20 clock hours2 | Yes1 | $403 |
Applies to every license level
These rules are the same for every Kentucky insurance agent license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.
Requirements
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam fee | $503 | DOI | Not refundable |
Renewal
- How often
- Every 2 years3
- Renew online
- insurance.ky.gov6
Who needs an Insurance Agent (Producer) license
Sells, solicits or negotiates insurance in the lines held: life, health, property, casualty, variable life & variable annuity, personal lines (limited lines are in ky-limited-lines-agent).1
Requirements for an Insurance Agent (Producer) license
The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.
- Education or training
- At least 20 clock hours2
DOI-approved prelicensing course (classroom or self-study): 40 hours for life & health, 40 hours for property & casualty, or 20 hours per line; certificate valid 1 year. Not required for variable life/annuity or limited lines.2 - Experience
- License you must hold first: Variable life & variable annuity line requires an active life line of authority (no exam for the variable line).1
- Exam
- Kentucky DOI agent examination per line: life, health, property, casualty, or P&C personal lines2
Passing score: 70 percent correct2
When you can take it: Application, prelicensing certificate, AOC report and fees must be filed before an exam can be scheduled.2
Life, Health, Property, Casualty, Personal Lines (P&C taken at the same time is one combined exam fee).6
Retakes: Failed or missed exams: file Form 8304 and pay the $50 fee again; may reschedule through eServices from the next business day.7
Exam waived: No prelicensing or exam for lines currently held in another state (or within 90 days of cancellation), Kentucky licenses held within the past 12 months, or new residents applying within 90 days.1 - Residency or citizenship
- Resident applicants must be able to designate Kentucky as home state; non-citizens attach their work authorization document.1
- Also required
- Must maintain financial responsibility while licensed: E&O coverage of at least $20,000 per occurrence / $100,000 aggregate, a $20,000 cash surety bond, or an exclusive insurer's agreement to assume liability.1
- Also required
- Each insurer must appoint the agent (insurer files and pays); the agent may act for an insurer for 15 days before approval.1
- Also required
- Life agents selling annuities need 4 hours of initial annuity training; LTC Partnership sellers 8 hours initial + 4 per biennium; NFIP flood sellers 3 hours.2
How much an Insurance Agent (Producer) license costs
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial license fee | $403 | DOI | Per license class. Not refundable |
| Initial license fee | $403 | DOI | Each line of authority (e.g. life, health, property, casualty). Not refundable |
| Resident individual appointment, for each form filed | $403 | DOI | Per insurer appointment (life/health/variable one fee; P&C one fee); filed and paid by the insurer; biennial appointment renewal $40 |
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
- Complete a DOI-approved prelicensing course (40 hours L&H or P&C, or 20 per line); the provider reports completion (Form CPL-01).2
- Order a Kentucky AOC criminal background report (AOCFastCheck; valid 60 days).4 kcoj.kycourts.net8
- Apply through NIPR (or paper Form 8301) and pay the license and line fees.4 nipr.com8
- Create an eServices account (24 hours after applying), then schedule the DOI exam at a Kentucky testing site and pass with 70%.7 insurance.ky.gov6
- Put E&O coverage or a bond in place and get appointed by each insurer you will represent.1
- Temporary or provisional license
- Temporary license up to 180 days without exam or prelicensing (death/disability of an agent, entity designee, military designee, public interest); fee $20, nonrenewable.3
- Processing time
- Online (NIPR) applications: about 3 business days once complete; paper: 5 business days; longer with background issues.4
Renewal and continuing education
- When it expires
- Individuals renew biennially by the last day of the birth month (even-year births in even years, odd-year births in odd years), together with CE proof; renew through eServices even if no fee is due.4
- Renewal fee
- $403 ($40 only if no active insurer appointment; $0 with one or more active appointments)
- Continuing education
- At least 24 hours each renewal period1
- Late renewal
- Late renewal fee: $401 (renewal received within 60 days after expiration (nonresident $50))
- If it expires
- Unrenewed licenses expire at midnight on the last day of the birth month; a late renewal within 60 days keeps the license with a penalty; CE done even one day late terminates the license. Reinstatement within 12 months needs no new prelicensing course or exam (new application, fees, AOC report; insurers must re-appoint).4
Renewal planner
Enter the expiration date printed on your Kentucky Insurance Agent (Producer) license. The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.
Moving to Kentucky with a license from another state
These are the routes DOI publishes for the Insurance Agent (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 in good standing in a home state that licenses Kentuckians on the same basis; no Kentucky exam or prelicensing; nonresident agents follow home-state CE. Fee: $50 plus $50 per line of authority.4
- States on Kentucky'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 Kentucky: apply within 90 days of establishing residence for lines held in the prior home state in the last 12 months — no prelicensing course or exam; Kentucky nonresident licensees converting within 90 days pay no fee (paper Form 8301 + AOC report).1
Military service members, veterans and spouses: Renewal/exam/fine waivers for military service; deployed service members may get a CE extension or waiver (Form MLW-01); military spouses stationed in Kentucky can have license fees waived or refunded (KRS 12.357); temporary license for the designee of an agent entering active service.1
Consultant
Licensed insurance consultant in property & casualty and/or life & health (each category qualified and licensed separately).5
Requirements
- Experience
- At least 5 years5
At least 5 years of actual experience as a licensed agent in the kinds of insurance to be covered.5 - Exam
- Kentucky consultant examination (150 questions, 190 minutes)7
Given by: Kentucky Department of Insurance (call DOI to schedule)7
Passing score: 70 percent correct2
Retakes: Form 8304 plus the $50 exam fee for each retake.3 - Also required
- Must keep $20,000/$100,000 E&O coverage or a $20,000 cash surety bond.5
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial license fee | $1003 | DOI | Per category (life & health or property & casualty). Not refundable |
How to apply
- File Form 8301 (or NIPR), the AOC report (Kentucky residents) and the $100 fee, then call DOI to schedule the consultant exam.2
Renewal
- When it expires
- Biennial renewal under KRS 304.9-260 (individuals: last day of birth month).1
- Renewal fee
- $1003
- Late renewal
- Late renewal fee: $1003
- If it expires
- Unrenewed licenses expire at midnight on the last day of the birth month; a late renewal within 60 days keeps the license with a penalty ($100 late renewal penalty for consultants). Reinstatement needs a new application, license fees and the AOC report, and must be done within 12 months of the inactive date to be exempt from examination.4
From another state
- Route
- Reciprocity agreements
- What the board says
- Nonresidents must already hold a consultant license in their resident state to apply in Kentucky.4
- States on Kentucky'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.
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 Kentucky, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Kentucky is on the Kentucky license lookup page.
- Look up a license
- insurance.ky.gov8
Laws and rules
The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.
Common questions
How long does it take to get an Insurance Agent (Producer) license in Kentucky?
Can I transfer my insurance agent license to Kentucky?
DOI publishes these routes for the Insurance Agent (Producer) license: reciprocity agreements4 and exam waiver1. Conditions and forms.
Insurance agent licenses in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- 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.
- KRS 304.9 (agents) selected sections and KRS 304.4-010Kentucky Legislative Research CommissionChecked November 8, 2026
- 806 KAR 9:025 Licensing processKentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Administrative Regulations)Dated January 3, 2023Checked November 7, 2026
- 806 KAR 4:010 FeesKentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Administrative Regulations)Dated January 4, 2022Checked November 8, 2026
- KY DOI Agent Licensing FAQKentucky Department of InsuranceChecked November 8, 2026
- KRS 304.9-320, 304.9-330, 304.10-120, 304.10-140 (consultants; surplus lines brokers)Kentucky Legislative Research CommissionChecked November 8, 2026
- KY DOI Schedule of FeesKentucky Department of InsuranceChecked November 7, 2026
- KY DOI Testing Sites / SchedulesKentucky Department of InsuranceChecked November 7, 2026
- KY DOI Apply for LicenseKentucky Department of InsuranceChecked November 7, 2026
- KY DOI Pre-Licensing / Continuing EducationKentucky Department of InsuranceChecked November 7, 2026