The 5 steps
- Complete your pre-licensing education. Connecticut requires 20 hours for the life line and 20 for accident and health, or 40 for the combined license. Budget $100 to $200 for the course. If you hold a professional designation such as CLU, ChFC, CFP, or FLMI, the pre-licensing requirement may be waived entirely. Check the current waiver list before you pay for a course.
- Pass the state exam through Pearson VUE. The fee is $65 for a single line. The combined exam may be priced differently, so confirm the fee when you schedule.
- Skip the fingerprint line. Connecticut does not require fingerprinting for producer applicants. Your application still gets reviewed, so answer every question on it honestly.
- Apply for your license. The fee is $140. Connecticut typically issues 7 to 10 business days after the application lands. One thing to know: an insurer appointment is required before you transact that company's business. That is normal and gets handled when you get contracted.
- Get contracted and start training. The license lets you sell. It does not give you clients, a system, or anyone to call when you get stuck. That is where Oihana Consulting comes in: mentorship and training from people who do this work every day. One thing to be clear about: agents are independent contractors, not employees. The tradeoff is real. You own your schedule and your results, and the income is commission-based, so nobody hands you a paycheck either. What you get instead is a team, a process, and someone in your corner while you build.
What it costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| State exam (Pearson VUE, single line) | $65 |
| License application | $140 |
| Fingerprints / background check | Not required ($0) |
| Pre-licensing course (20-40 hrs) | $100-200 (typical) |
| Total | $205 in state fees; ~$305-405 with course |
Frequently asked questions
Can I do this part-time?
Yes. The license does not care how many hours you work. Plenty of new agents keep their day job while they study, get licensed, and build their first clients on nights and weekends. The tradeoff is speed. Part-time means slower momentum, and this business rewards consistency. Be honest with yourself about how many hours you will actually put in each week.
Do I need a degree?
No. No state requires a college degree to hold an insurance producer license. The exam tests insurance concepts, not academics. What matters more is whether you can learn the material, talk to people plainly, and follow through when things get uncomfortable.
What if I have a criminal record?
Connecticut does not fingerprint producer applicants, but your application still gets reviewed, so answer every question honestly. A record is not an automatic disqualification. What sinks applications is not the record itself. It is hiding the record.
How hard is the exam?
It is a memorization test, not a trick test. The people who fail it are usually the ones who tried to wing it. Take a real prep course, drill the practice exams until your scores are consistently strong, and schedule the real thing only when you are ready. Respect the test and it is very passable.
How long does the whole process take?
Plan on 4 to 6 weeks. Connecticut issues about 7 to 10 business days after your application, so most of your timeline is studying and the pre-licensing course.
Do veterans get any fee help?
No state program here covers licensing fees specifically. The one thing worth checking: VA education benefits may reimburse licensing and certification exam fees, up to $2,000 per test. That is a federal benefit, not a state one, so confirm the details at va.gov before counting on it.
What happens after you are licensed
Once the license is in hand, the real work starts: learning the products, finding clients, and building a practice. That is the part nobody can do alone, and it is exactly what Oihana Consulting exists for. Mentorship, training, and a team around you from day one. Start with the career fit assessment and see whether this business fits you before you spend a dollar: /career-fit-assessment
Fees verified October 2026. Confirm current amounts with your state Department of Insurance before you pay anything.