How to get an Excess lines broker license in New York
New York licenses insurance agents statewide through the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS).1 You renew every 2 years2.
Who issues it
New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS)
Exam
Not required1
Renewal
Every 2 years2
From another state
No reciprocity route1
On this page
- New York insurance agent licenses
- Applies to every license level
- Who needs an Excess lines broker license
- Requirements for an Excess lines broker license
- How to apply
- Renewal and continuing education
- Moving to New York with a license from another state
- Life, Accident and Health broker license
- Property and Casualty broker license
- Check a license or report a problem
- Laws and rules
- Common questions
- Insurance agent licenses in other states
New York insurance agent licenses
New York issues 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excess lines broker license | Places excess and surplus lines property/casualty coverage.1 | – | No1 | – |
| Life, Accident and Health broker license (Insurance Law 2104(b)(1)(A)) | Acts as broker for clients (not for insurers); brokers cannot be appointed by insurance companies.3 | Training 40 clock hours4 Experience 1 year4 | Yes5 | $802 |
| Property and Casualty broker license (Insurance Law 2104(b)(1)(B); includes personal lines broker) | Acts as broker for clients (not for insurers); brokers cannot be appointed by insurance companies.3 | Training 90 clock hours6 Experience 1 year4 | Yes5 | $802 |
Applies to every license level
These rules are the same for several of the New York 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 3)
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Returned e-check or paper check fee | $201 | DFS |
How to apply
- Apply online
- myportal.dfs.ny.gov1
Renewal
- Renew online
- myportal.dfs.ny.gov1
2. Every license level except Excess lines broker license
What it covers
Acts as broker for clients (not for insurers); brokers cannot be appointed by insurance companies.3
Requirements
- Minimum age
- 18 years old5
- Background check
- Background check required4
Persons with felony convictions involving dishonesty or breach of trust (federal Omnibus Crime Bill, 18 U.S.C. 1033) need the Superintendent's written consent to work in insurance.1
You can ask the board to review your record before you apply1 - Residency or citizenship
- Resident license if your declared home state is New York; otherwise a non-resident license through NIPR.2
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial license fee | $802 | DFS | Individual whose declared home state is New York; license term up to two years |
The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee.
How to apply
- Complete the DFS-approved pre-licensing course (or qualify for an exemption).5
- Register with PSI and pass the New York exam for the license class.1 candidate.psiexams.com1
- Within two years of passing, apply online in NY LINX (DFS ID with multi-factor authentication) and pay the licensing fee; select the correct license class.5 myportal.dfs.ny.gov1
- DFS does not mail licenses: check the Producer/Licensee Search and print the license once issued.1 myportal.dfs.ny.gov1
Renewal
- How often
- Every 24 months7
- When it expires
- Individual licenses expire on your birthday: even-numbered years if born in an even year, odd-numbered years if born in an odd year. Renew online (NY LINX or NIPR) up to 180 days before expiry; file at least 60 days before expiry to avoid the $10 late fee.2
- Renewal fee
- $802 (Individual whose declared home state is New York; license term up to two years)
- Continuing education
- At least 15 credit hours each renewal period8
- Required topics
- Within the 15 credits: at least 1 hour Insurance Law; 1 hour ethics and professionalism; 1 hour diversity, inclusion and elimination of bias; 1 hour flood insurance if licensed for any property/casualty line; 3 hours enhanced flood instruction if selling NFIP flood insurance (licenses renewing on/after April 1, 2022).8
CE first required once the license has been in effect more than 2 years; excess credits do not carry forward; credits can be shared across similar license classes in the same period; self-study needs a passed final exam.8 - Approved courses
- Courses must be approved and offered by a DFS-approved provider (classroom, webinar or self-study); complete CE before filing the renewal.8
- Exemptions
- Nonresidents compliant with home-state CE are exempt; licenses that need no exam and limited licenses are outside Section 2132.9
From another state
- Route
- Reciprocity agreements
- What the board says
- Individuals licensed in their home state apply for a New York non-resident license through NIPR (home-state certification supplied by NIPR); no NY exam or pre-licensing for lines held where the home state grants NY residents licenses on the same basis.3
- States on New York'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
- Non-residents pay the fee listed for their declared home state on the DFS chart (retaliatory amounts differ by state, e.g. California $144), plus a nominal NIPR transaction fee.2
New residents must apply for a resident license within 90 days of moving; no pre-licensing or exam for lines held in the prior state.7
Military service members, veterans and spouses: License fee waived for honourably discharged veterans; veterans who held a similar broker license within three years before service may be licensed without exam if they apply within one year of discharge.4
Who needs an Excess lines broker license
Places excess and surplus lines property/casualty coverage.1
Other rules on who may do this work:
- Non-residents whose home state is California must post a $50,000 bond.1
Requirements for an Excess lines broker license
More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Applies to every license level.
- Experience
- Must hold an active Property/Casualty broker license (residents and non-residents).1
- Exam
- Not required1
- Residency or citizenship
- Residents and non-residents may apply if they hold a P&C broker license.1
- Surety bond
- $50,0001 (Non-residents whose home state is California only)
- Also required
- An entity's sublicensees must match those on its P&C broker license.1
How to apply
- Hold an active P&C broker license, then apply in NY LINX with DFS ID and multi-factor authentication.1 myportal.dfs.ny.gov1
Renewal and continuing education
- How often
- Every 2 years2
- When it expires
- Expires on your birthday every even year (born in an even year) or every odd year (born in an odd year).1
Renewal planner
Enter the expiration date printed on your New York Excess lines broker license. The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.
Moving to New York with a license from another state
These are the routes DFS publishes for the Excess lines broker license.
- Route
- No reciprocity
- What the board says
- Non-residents may hold the license if they hold a NY P&C broker license; California-based non-residents post a $50,000 bond.1
Life, Accident and Health broker license
Requirements
- Education or training
- At least 40 clock hours4
DFS-approved pre-licensing course, unless exempt by designation or by the one-year employment alternative.5
Alternative: Exempt (course and/or exam, at the Superintendent's discretion) with CLU, ChFC or MSFS; experience route via Statement of Employer.4 - Experience
- At least 1 year4
Alternative to the course: at least one year (in the last three years) of responsible insurance duties with an insurer, agent or broker (estate conservation, employee benefits, business continuation plans), shown on a Statement of Employer.6 - Exam
- New York life, accident and health broker examination4
Given by: PSI Services (test centers across New York State)1
When you can take it: Complete the approved pre-licensing course, or qualify through one year of insurance employment (Statement of Employer), before licensing.4
Time limit: Apply for the license within two years of passing the exam.5
Exam waived: Exam may be waived for prior NY brokers, 5+ years as a licensed life and A&H agent, non-resident brokers for similar lines, certain veterans, or producers licensed for the same lines in another state.4 - Other requirements and options
- Life-only or A&H-only brokers: 20 pre-licensing hours.6
More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.
Property and Casualty broker license
Requirements
- Education or training
- At least 90 clock hours6
DFS-approved pre-licensing course, unless exempt by designation or by the one-year employment alternative.5
Alternative: Exempt (course and/or exam, at the Superintendent's discretion) with CPCU; experience route via Statement of Employer.4 - Experience
- At least 1 year4
Alternative to the course: at least one year (in the last three years) of responsible insurance duties with an insurer, agent or broker (underwriting or adjusting losses in fire, marine, liability and workers' compensation, or fidelity and surety), shown on a Statement of Employer.6 - Exam
- New York property and casualty (or personal lines) broker examination4
Given by: PSI Services (test centers across New York State)1
When you can take it: Complete the approved pre-licensing course, or qualify through one year of insurance employment (Statement of Employer), before licensing.4
Time limit: Apply for the license within two years of passing the exam.5
Exam waived: Exam may be waived for prior NY brokers, 5+ years as a licensed resident P&C and A&H agent, non-resident brokers for similar lines, certain veterans, or producers licensed for the same lines in another state.4 - Other requirements and options
- Personal lines broker: 40 pre-licensing hours.6
More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.
Check a license or report a problem
Before you hire an insurance agent in New York, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in New York is on the New York license lookup page.
- Look up a license
- myportal.dfs.ny.gov1
Laws and rules
The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.
Common questions
Can I transfer my insurance agent license to New York?
Non-residents may hold the license if they hold a NY P&C broker license; California-based non-residents post a $50,000 bond.1 Conditions and forms.
How often do you renew an Excess lines broker license in New York?
Every 2 years2.
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
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- 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.
- Information for Insurance Agents and BrokersNew York State Department of Financial ServicesDated September 30, 2026Checked November 8, 2026
- Application FeesNew York State Department of Financial ServicesDated August 13, 2026Checked November 8, 2026
- Original License Application - Non-ResidentNew York State Department of Financial ServicesDated April 20, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- N.Y. Insurance Law 2104 (Insurance brokers; licensing)New York State SenateDated October 9, 2025Checked November 8, 2026
- Insurance Agent and Broker License Application - Individual or TBANew York State Department of Financial ServicesDated May 9, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Agent and Broker Prelicensing EducationNew York State Department of Financial ServicesDated July 15, 2026Checked November 8, 2026
- N.Y. Insurance Law 2103 (Insurance agents; licensing)New York State SenateDated December 11, 2025Checked November 8, 2026
- Continuing Education (agents and brokers)New York State Department of Financial ServicesDated May 12, 2026Checked November 8, 2026
- Agents and Brokers: Renew a LicenseNew York State Department of Financial ServicesDated September 13, 2026Checked November 7, 2026