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How to get an Individual Insurance Producer license in Massachusetts

Massachusetts licenses insurance agents statewide through the Division of Insurance (DOI).1 For the Individual Insurance Producer license (one license with lines of authority: life; accident and health or sickness; property; casualty; variable life and variable annuity; personal lines; limited credit; travel) you need a passing score on the Massachusetts insurance producer licensing examination for each line of authority (life; accident and health; property; casualty; personal lines; limited credit), given in person by Pearson2 and a criminal background check2. The board lists $225 for the initial license (Individual producer license with life and/or accident and health lines only)3 and $300 for the initial license (Individual producer license that includes property, casualty or personal lines)3, each a separate charge. You renew every 3 years3 and complete at least 45 hours of continuing education2.

Last checked · 9 official sources

Who issues it

Division of Insurance (DOI)

Exam

Massachusetts insurance producer licensing examination for each line of authority (life; accident and health; property; casualty; personal lines; limited credit), given in person by Pearson2

Fees the board lists

Initial license fee (Individual producer license with life and/or accident and health lines only): $2253
Initial license fee (Individual producer license that includes property, casualty or personal lines): $3003

Renewal

Every 3 years3, at least 45 hours of continuing education2

From another state

Reciprocity agreements and Exam waiver42 Details

On this page
  1. Who needs an Individual Insurance Producer license
  2. Requirements for an Individual Insurance Producer license
  3. How much an Individual Insurance Producer license costs
  4. How to apply
  5. Renewal and continuing education
  6. Moving to Massachusetts with a license from another state
  7. Check a license or report a problem
  8. Laws and rules
  9. Common questions
  10. Insurance agent licenses in other states

Who needs an Individual Insurance Producer license

Sell, solicit or negotiate insurance in the line(s) of authority on your license.2

Requirements for an Individual Insurance Producer license

Minimum age
18 years old5
Exam
Massachusetts insurance producer licensing examination for each line of authority (life; accident and health; property; casualty; personal lines; limited credit), given in person by Pearson2
When you can take it: Pass the exam(s) first, then apply through NIPR.2
Retakes: If you fail or miss the exam, you must re-register and pay all fees again before you are rescheduled. The exam fee is non-refundable.6
Exam waived: No exam for the travel limited line, or for personal lines if you already hold property and casualty. Nonresidents add lines through NIPR without a Massachusetts exam once NIPR verifies the home-state license.2
Background check
Background check required2
Background answers on the application are reviewed. People with certain felony convictions need the Commissioner's written consent under federal law (18 U.S.C. 1033) to work in insurance; Massachusetts residents apply to the DOI.2
Residency or citizenship
Massachusetts residents get a resident license by exam. Others get a nonresident license based on their home-state license. If the DOI asks, upload proof of U.S. citizenship to the NIPR Attachment Warehouse.2
Business requirements
An agency (corporation, LLC or LLP) needs a DOI business-entity license ($75 per member per year): apply on NIPR, get DOI name approval, register with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, then email certified documents. It must designate a licensed producer responsible for compliance. Registering with the Secretary does not by itself allow insurance business.7
Also required
Appointments: insurers appoint producers through NIPR. All appointments expire each June 30 and the insurer renews them.2
Also required
Variable life and variable annuity line: you must hold the life line and give a valid FINRA/CRD number.2

How much an Individual Insurance Producer license costs

FeeAmountPaid toNotes
Initial license fee$2253DOIIndividual producer license with life and/or accident and health lines only (3-year term)
Initial license fee$3003DOIIndividual producer license that includes property, casualty or personal lines (3-year term)
Other fee$752DOIApplying for or renewing property, casualty or personal lines; waived for Massachusetts residents who are veterans or legally blind
License verification to another state$202DOILetter of Clearance when moving to a state that requires one (request by mail). Not refundable

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. Choose your line(s) of authority (life; accident and health; property; casualty; personal lines; limited credit; travel; variable life and annuity).2
  2. Schedule and pass the exam(s) in person with Pearson (property and casualty are two separate exams).2
  3. Apply through NIPR and pay the license fee ($225 for 3 years; $300 with property, casualty or personal lines, plus the $75 lead paint surcharge for those lines). Upload any supporting documents (DD-214 for the veteran fee waiver, background explanations) to the NIPR Attachment Warehouse and email the DOI after uploading.2
  4. Track your application status in State Based Systems (SBS).2
  5. Get appointed by each insurer you will sell for (filed by the insurer through NIPR). Report address changes within 30 days.2
Apply online
nipr.com2

Renewal and continuing education

How often
Every 3 years3
Renewal fee
$2253 (3-year renewal; $300 if the license includes property, casualty or personal lines, plus the $75 lead paint surcharge for those lines on renewal)
Continuing education
At least 45 hours each renewal period2
Required topics
First renewal: 60 CE credits, including 3 in ethics (also for producers who move their resident license to Massachusetts: 57 general + 3 ethics, whatever the length of the first term).2
At least 3 credits of ethics in every renewal period.2
Flood insurance (NFIP) sellers: 3 hours of approved flood CE.2
Approved courses
Courses must be approved; Pearson Professional Assessments manages Massachusetts CE and lists approved courses. Check your CE transcript in State Based Systems (SBS).8
Exemptions
CE is required of Massachusetts resident producers. Some long-time producers are "grandfathered" from CE; they lose that status if they add a new line of authority.2
If it expires
Up to 12 months after the renewal due date you can reinstate the same license without a new exam. The statute charges a penalty of double the unpaid renewal fee; the DOI fee chart lists reinstatement at $450.00 or $525.00 depending on the lines held. Missing CE can also lead to non-renewal and extra penalties.9
Renew online
nipr.com3

Renewal planner

Enter the expiration date printed on your Massachusetts Individual Insurance Producer license (one license with lines of authority: life; accident and health or sickness; property; casualty; variable life and variable annuity; personal lines; limited credit; travel). The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.

Moving to Massachusetts with a license from another state

These are the routes DOI publishes for the Individual Insurance Producer license.

Route
Reciprocity agreements
What the board says
Licensed and in good standing as a resident producer in your home state: you get a Massachusetts nonresident license without the exam, if your home state licenses Massachusetts residents on the same basis. Apply and add lines through NIPR, which checks your home license in the NAIC Producer Database.4
States on Massachusetts'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
Nonresidents adding property, casualty or personal lines also pay the $75 lead paint surcharge.4
Route
Exam waiver
What the board says
Moving your resident license to Massachusetts: your old resident license must be canceled (and verifiable in the NIPR Producer Database) as part of the conversion; apply for the Massachusetts resident license with your current home address. You then need 60 CE credits (57 general + 3 ethics) before your first renewal.2
Conditions
You cannot convert your current resident license to a nonresident one before you get the Massachusetts resident license.2
Fee
$2253

Military service members, veterans and spouses: A producer who cannot meet renewal procedures because of military service may ask for a waiver of the procedures, any exam requirement and any fine. Veterans can claim a fee waiver (upload the DD-214); Massachusetts-resident veterans are also exempt from the $75 lead paint surcharge.9

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license
statebasedsystems.com3

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

Common questions

Can I transfer my insurance agent license to Massachusetts?

DOI publishes these routes for the Individual Insurance Producer license: reciprocity agreements4 and exam waiver2. Conditions and forms.

How often do you renew an Individual Insurance Producer license in Massachusetts?

Every 3 years3. Continuing education: at least 45 hours2. The renewal fee is $2253.

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. M.G.L. c.175 § 162IMassachusetts General CourtChecked November 7, 2026
  2. DOI Individual Insurance ProducerMassachusetts Division of InsuranceChecked November 8, 2026
  3. DOI Individual and Business Entity Licensing (License Terms and Fees Chart)Massachusetts Division of InsuranceChecked November 8, 2026
  4. DOI Adding a New Line of Authority to An Active Producer LicenseMassachusetts Division of InsuranceChecked November 8, 2026
  5. M.G.L. c.175 § 162LMassachusetts General CourtChecked November 7, 2026
  6. M.G.L. c.175 § 162KMassachusetts General CourtChecked November 7, 2026
  7. DOI Business Entity LicensingMassachusetts Division of InsuranceChecked November 7, 2026
  8. DOI Insurance Examinations and Continuing EducationMassachusetts Division of InsuranceChecked November 7, 2026
  9. M.G.L. c.175 § 162MMassachusetts General CourtChecked November 7, 2026