How to get a Resident insurance producer license in North Dakota

North Dakota insurance agent licenses

North Dakota issues 3 insurance agent credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for several of the North Dakota 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)

What it covers

Sell, solicit or negotiate insurance in North Dakota in the licensed lines; to act for an insurer the producer must also be appointed by it (insurer files within 30 days and pays the appointment fee).¹

2. Every license level except Business entity insurance producer license

Fees

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

Apply online

nipr.com⁴

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years⁴

When it expires

Biennial continuation due by the last day of the birth month (following the two-year anniversary of issue); renewal window opens 90 days before expiry; notices are sent by email.⁴

Renewal fee

$25⁸⁷

Who needs a Resident insurance producer license

Work that does not need this license:

• Major lines: Life (incl. annuities), Accident and health or sickness, Property, Casualty, Variable life and variable annuity; reduced-exam limited lines include bail bonds, credit, crop/crop hail, legal expense and personal lines; title and travel are exam-exempt.¹

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Variable life and annuity line requires first becoming licensed (registered) as a securities salesman in North Dakota.⁸
• Selling, soliciting or negotiating without a license is a class C felony.¹

Requirements for a Resident insurance producer license

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

Minimum age

18 years old¹

Exam

North Dakota insurance producer examination for each line (Life and annuity, Accident and health, Property, Casualty; reduced exams for personal lines, crop/crop hail, credit, legal expense, bail bonds)²
Given by: PSI⁴
When you can take it: No prerequisite course: schedule directly with PSI; photo ID required at the test center.³
Tests the lines applied for, producer duties and responsibilities, and North Dakota insurance laws and regulations.¹
Variable life and annuity applicants take the Life and annuity exam.⁸
Retakes: Failed or missed exams may be retaken after paying all fees again.¹
Time limit: A passing score is valid for one year for applicants who have not completed licensing; after that the exam must be retaken.⁸
Exam waived: No exam for lines held in another state if currently licensed there (or applying within 90 days of cancellation) in good standing; producers moving to ND apply within 90 days of establishing residence. Title and travel are exam-exempt.¹

Background check

Background check required¹
Fingerprints required³
Disclose all criminal convictions and pending charges (limited traffic exclusions); a felony involving dishonesty or breach of trust bars participation in the business of insurance.³

Residency or citizenship

Resident if you live in North Dakota or keep your principal place of business there (e.g., Moorhead, MN residents working in ND may choose).¹

Also required

Report administrative actions and criminal convictions in any jurisdiction within 30 days.⁹

Also required

The National Producer Number (NPN) is the North Dakota license number; licenses are not mailed (print via NAIC SBS).⁴

How much a Resident insurance producer license costs

You pay North Dakota Attorney General (fingerprint and state background check) and PSI (fingerprinting processing fee at PSI).

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; check it with the exam provider, PSI⁴, when you schedule.

How to apply

1. Schedule and pass the PSI exam for each line you want (no pre-licensing course required).⁴ test-takers.psiexams.com⁴
2. Get fingerprinted on hard-copy cards (at PSI on exam day or elsewhere) and mail/submit the cards, the SFN 60688 consent form and the $43 payment to the North Dakota Attorney General.³ Form (PDF, insurance.nd.gov)⁴
3. Apply online through NIPR within one year of passing and pay the $100 license fee, disclosing all criminal history.³ nipr.com⁴
4. Each insurer you represent files your appointment within 30 days and pays the appointment fee.¹⁰

Renewal and continuing education

Continuing education

At least 24 hours each renewal period¹

Required topics

3 of the 24 hours must be ethics.¹
Producers selling annuities must take a one-time 4-hour annuity suitability training (not CE, but filed courses can also count toward CE).¹¹
Up to 12 excess hours can be carried to the adjacent year; up to 4 hours per two-year period for active participation in a professional insurance association (not ethics).¹

Approved courses

Courses must be approved by the commissioner.¹²

Exemptions

Extension of up to one year for health, disability or other extenuating circumstances; written request at least 30 days before the deadline.¹²

If it expires

No grace period: an unrenewed license and its appointments are canceled; reapply with an initial application and the $100 fee. Within 12 months exams need not be retaken (if results still valid) but CE must be made up as if the license had stayed active; no new fingerprints within 12 months.⁹

Renew online

insurance.nd.gov⁴

Moving to North Dakota with a license from another state

These are the routes NDID publishes for the Resident insurance producer license. The other insurance agent licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Veterans can be reimbursed for ND producer exam fees through the VA; a temporary license can go to the designee of a producer entering active military service.¹

Nonresident insurance producer license

Requirements

Exam

Not required¹
Exam waived: Home state must license North Dakota residents on the same basis; lines are verified via the NAIC producer database.⁸

Background check

Background check required¹
No fingerprints required⁵
Same uniform application disclosures; license may be refused under NDCC 26.1-26-42.¹

Residency or citizenship

For persons whose home state is not North Dakota and who hold a resident license there.¹

Also required

Movers file a change of address and new-state certification within 30 days; no fee.¹

How to apply

1. Apply through NIPR and pay the $100 fee plus the NIPR transaction fee; North Dakota checks your home-state license through the NAIC producer database.⁵ nipr.com⁴
2. Each insurer you represent files your appointment within 30 days.¹⁰

Renewal

Exemptions

Home-state CE satisfies North Dakota (reciprocal).¹

If it expires

Cancelled license: re-apply through NIPR with the $100 initial fee.⁵

From another state

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

Business entity insurance producer license

Requirements

Experience

Must designate at least one licensed North Dakota producer (DRLP) holding the lines requested, responsible for compliance; DRLP need not be an officer.⁶

Exam

Not required¹

Residency or citizenship

Resident and nonresident entity licenses; nonresident entities must keep their home-state entity license where one is issued.⁶

Business requirements

Register with the North Dakota Secretary of State; DBA/assumed names must be registered there and emailed to NDID before use.⁶

Business requirements

Entity may hold only lines held by at least one DRLP; report DRLP changes within 10 working days.¹

Fees

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

1. Register the entity with the Secretary of State and name at least one licensed ND producer as DRLP for each line.⁶
2. Apply through NIPR (uniform business entity application) and pay the $100 fee.⁶ insurance.nd.gov¹⁵

Apply online

insurance.nd.gov¹⁵

Renewal

If it expires

License stays in force only while at least one DRLP holds an active ND license for its lines and address changes are reported within 30 days (NDCC 26.1-26-33).⁶

From another state

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license

statebasedsystems.com⁴

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• NDCC ch. 26.1-26 (insurance producers and consultants)
• NDCC 26.1-01-07
• NDAC ch. 45-02-02 (licensing of insurance producers)
• NDAC ch. 45-02-04 (insurance continuing education)

Common questions

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
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming