Examination Procedures
Requirements
Each resident individual applicant for license as agent, broker, solicitor or adjuster shall, prior to the issuance of any such license, personally take and pass an examination given as a test of qualifications and competence, but this requirement shall not apply to:
- Applicants for limited licenses under RCW 48.17.190, at the discretion of the commissioner (Travel)
- Applicants who were licensed as residents in this state within the last two years under a license requiring qualifications similar to qualifications required by the license applied for, or who have successfully completed a course of study recognized as a mark of distinction by the insurance industry and who are deemed by the Commissioner to be fully qualified and competent. (CLU and CEBS for Life and Health; MAFS (Master of Science Financial Service) and CPCU for Property, Casualty, Disability; AIC (Assoc. in Claims) for adjuster.)
- Applicants for an agent’s license covering the same types of insurance as a solicitor’s license they currently hold or held within the last two years.
- Applicants for an adjuster’s license who for a period of one year (a portion of which was in the year preceding the date of application), have been full-time salaried employees of an insurer or a general agent, adjusting, investigating, or reporting claims arising under insurance contracts.
Pre-license Education
- Applicants for a resident license as a life, disability, property or casualty insurance agent or solicitor must meet pre-license education requirements to be allowed access to the exam.
- Candidates must complete approved courses consisting of at least 16 hours of instruction for each line of insurance (life, disability, property, casualty) for which an examination is being taken and an approved course consisting of at least 4 hours of instruction relating to Washington’s rules and regulations.
- Candidates who plan to take an examination for more than one major line of insurance need NOT repeat the 4 hours of instruction on rules and regulations.
- An approved pre-license education provider (PDF 123Kb) must issue a certificate of completion to each student upon successful completion of each course. A separate certificate must be issued for each line of insurance and for the rules and regulations course. A certificate of completion is valid for a period of twelve months from the date of course completion.
- Applicants moving from non-resident to resident may qualify for a waiver. The general content portion of an examination for life, disability, property or casualty may be waived if the candidate has been licensed continuously in another state for the same line or lines of insurance for a minimum of two years, and within the last 90 days. The licensee may apply for a waiver by sending us a letter affirming that his/her license status conforms to the requirements, and forwarding copies of his/her previous licenses, or other written proof from his/her former state’s insurance department. This letter should also include a statement that he understands that he must still complete an approved four-hour course on Washington Statutes and Regulations should be in the waiver request letter. If the licensee meets the above requirements, we will send him/her a written waiver. The waiver and the Certificate of Completion for statutes and regulations will allow him/her to be admitted for testing for the Statues and Regulations portion of the examination.
- A self-study waiver may be granted by request to the Office of Insurance Commissioner (OIC) if circumstances are deemed to be valid. A written request should be made to OIC.
- Certificates of Completion of the required hours of approved pre-license education and/or Waivers are required to schedule the examination and candidates must present them at the test site, prior to admission to the license examination.
The following are the examination requirements for specific licenses:
Examination Requirements for Agent & Solicitor Life Licenses | |
| Insurance Lines | Examination(s) Required |
| Life | Life |
| Disability | Disability |
| Life and Disability | Life and Disability |
| Property/Casualty & Disability | Property/Causality & Disability (inc. Surety, Vehicle, Marine & Trans. Vehicle |
| Property & Casualty | Property & Casualty (inc. Surety, Vehicle, Marine & Trans. Vehicle |
| Vehicle only | Vehicle |
| Surety only | Surety |
| Credit Life & Disability | Credit Life & Disability |
| Credit Causality | Credit Casualty |
| Travel or Wet Marine | No Exam |
Examination Requirements for Broker Licenses | |
| Life & Disability | Life & Disability |
| Property & Casualty | Property & Casualty (inc. Surety, Vehicle & Disability) |
Examination Requirements for Adjuster (public or Independent) Licenses | |
| N. A. | Adjuster |
Examination Procedures - Agents, Brokers, Solicitors, Adjusters
- Examinations are administered by Promissor, Inc.
- Pre- Licensing Education providers will provide a copy of the "Insurance Licensing Examination Candidate Handbook" or it is available free of charge to assist and guide applicants through the examination and licensing process. It is suggested, that applicants familiarize themselves with this information before registering for the examination(s).
- Candidate guide are also available on-line at: http://www.asisvcs.com/indhome.asp?CPCAT=1248INS
Or Candidate Handbooks may also be obtained from either of the following:
Promissor Systems, Inc
3 Bala Plaza West, Ste 300
Bala Cynwyd , PA 19004-3481
Phone: 1-800-274-8949Office of the Insurance Commissioner
Licensing and Education
P. O. Box 40257
Olympia , WA 98504-0257
Phone: (360) 725-7144
E-mail: Licinfo@oic.wa.gov- The Registration form contained in the Candidate Guide must be completed according to the instructions provided in the Guide and on the Registration form itself. All questions must be answered and the form must be signed.
- Candidate registration for all examinations may be made by telephone or by fax with Promissor. Registration will be accepted between 5:00 AM and 8:00 PM Pacific time, Monday through Friday, or 5:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturday, or 7:00AM to 1:00 PM on Sunday. Candidates must receive a registration number over the telephone or by fax. Without the registration number, a candidate will not be admitted to the test center at the scheduled time.
- Candidates are not permitted to take calculators, textbooks, or paper of any kind into the examination room. Candidates found to have any of these materials or other aids will not be allowed to continue. Any candidate who gives or receives assistance during the examination or engages in prohibited acts as defined by WAC 284-17-125 will be required to turn in all test materials and leave the room.
- A score report(s) will be printed for each candidate immediately following the examination(s).
- Candidates who pass the examination must follow the initial licensing procedures outlines in application procedures.
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