Which license do you need
Indiana calls its health line Accident and Health. A Life producer sells life insurance and annuities. An Accident and Health producer sells health and disability coverage. Most new agents here take the combined Life and Health path: one 40 hour course and one combined exam with 150 questions in 3 hours, and both lines land on one license.
The steps, in order
- Finish the approved pre-licensing course. Take 20 hours for Life alone or Accident and Health alone, or 40 hours for the combined Life and Health path, from an IDOI approved provider listed through Sircon. Your provider issues a Certificate of Completion and reports your completion. That certificate starts a six month clock: pass the exam and file the application before it runs out.
- Pass the state exam through Pearson VUE. Reserve at least 24 hours ahead at pearsonvue.com/in/insurance or by phone at (866) 895-0496. The combined exam is 150 questions in 3 hours and costs $69. Bring a government issued photo ID and your completion certificate, and arrive 30 minutes early. You need 70 percent. If you fail, wait 48 hours before retaking, and pay the full $69 fee again.
- Apply online through NIPR or Sircon. Pay the $40 application fee plus the portal processing fee. You must be at least 18, keep your principal residence or principal place of business in Indiana, and be a U.S. citizen or a legal alien with work authorization. Answer every background question in full. Then allow 7 to 10 business days for processing, and finish any missing step fast: an application left incomplete for 30 days is closed.
- Get appointed before you sell for a carrier. The license lets you hold the lines. It does not let you transact for a specific insurer until that insurer appoints you and the appointment is active. Indiana law bars commission on business written while you were not properly licensed and appointed.
What it costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Pre-licensing course (20 hrs one line, 40 hrs combined) | Varies by provider |
| State exam (Pearson VUE) | $69 |
| License application (NIPR or Sircon) | $40 plus portal processing fee |
| Fingerprinting | Not required |
| Application processing | 7 to 10 business days |
| Total | $109 in exam and application fees if you pass on the first try |
That $109 holds for one line or for the combined Life and Health license, because Indiana charges one $69 fee for the combined exam and one $40 fee for the combined license. Add your pre-licensing course cost, which varies by provider and is not a state fee. Each exam retake costs another $69.
Frequently asked questions
What does the whole thing cost?
$109 in exam and application fees if you pass on the first try: $69 to Pearson VUE for the exam and $40 to the state with the application, plus a small online processing fee at checkout. Your pre-licensing course is the other real cost, and its price is set by the provider you pick, not by the state. Each exam retake adds another $69.
How long does it take?
The state piece is short once you apply: IDOI asks you to allow 7 to 10 business days for application processing. As an estimate for the full path, plan on 4 to 8 weeks from the day you start the 40 hour course to the day the license is in hand, if you pass on the first try and your application is complete. The hard deadline is the six month certificate window. Pass the exam and apply inside it, or start the course over.
What does the background check involve?
There is no fingerprint appointment and no fingerprint fee for an Indiana resident producer license. The background check runs through the application itself: you answer the background questions, you disclose any criminal history, and IDOI reviews the answers. A felony involving dishonesty or a breach of trust can require written consent under federal law (18 U.S.C. 1033) before you can work in insurance at all. Disclose everything. Leaving a material fact off the application is its own ground for denial.
What disqualifies me?
IDOI can deny a license to anyone who has committed an act that is a ground for denial, suspension, or revocation under Indiana law. Cases involving fraud, theft, or dishonesty are the hardest to get past, and the 1033 consent issue above controls felonies involving dishonesty or breach of trust. A record does not automatically end every application, but hiding one does real damage. Answer in full and attach the official documents for any yes answer.
Can I skip the pre-licensing course?
Some people can. IDOI waives the pre-licensing education requirement for holders of a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), or Chartered Financial Consultant designation for the Life and Accident and Health lines, and for anyone holding a bachelor's degree in insurance for any line. You must request the waiver from the Commissioner by email with your designation certificate or degree, and waiver holders take the Laws and Regulations exam ($50) instead of the full exam.
Do veterans get any fee help?
No Indiana state fee waiver for a new producer license appears in the IDOI guidelines or the NIPR requirements. The help that exists is federal: qualifying veterans can ask the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to reimburse licensing and certification test fees, up to $2,000 per test, under the GI Bill test fee program. Check your eligibility at va.gov before you test, keep your receipts and your score report, and file the claim after you test. The VA pays test fees; it does not pay the fee for the license document itself.
Can I do this part time?
Yes. The license does not set your hours. Plenty of new agents keep a day job while they finish the course, 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.
Do I need a degree?
No. Indiana does not require a college degree for this license. You must be at least 18 and an Indiana resident, or keep your principal place of business in Indiana. A bachelor's degree in insurance only matters as one of the course waiver paths above.
Direct links
- Indiana Department of Insurance, Resident Licensing
- IDOI Resident Licensing Guidelines and Requirements
- IDOI Initial Resident Application Steps
- IDOI Examination Procedure Checklist
- Pearson VUE Indiana insurance exams
- National Insurance Producer Registry
- Sircon Indiana
- VA reimbursement of licensing and certification test fees
What happens after you are licensed
The license does not hand you clients, a system, or anyone to call when you get stuck. That is where Oihana Consulting comes in: an honest read on the career first, then training and mentorship through the team you join. Agents are independent contractors, not employees, and the income is commission based with no salary and no guarantee. Start with the career fit assessment before you spend a dollar.
Last verified: October 28, 2026. Confirm current amounts with the Indiana Department of Insurance before you pay anything.