How to Obtain Your Texas Insurance License: Process, Requirements, and Timeline

Your Texas insurance license is the first concrete step toward agency ownership. The process is more straightforward than most people expect — and faster than you might think.

Here's the complete guide to getting your Texas Property & Casualty (P&C) and Life & Health (L&H) licenses.

What Licenses You Need

For a full-service Farmers Insurance agency, you need two licenses from the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI):

• Property & Casualty (P&C): Required to sell auto, homeowners, renters, and commercial insurance

• Life & Health (L&H): Required to sell life insurance, annuities, and health products

Most new Farmers agents complete both licenses before or during their contracting process with Farmers.

Step 1: Complete a Pre-Licensing Course

Texas requires that you complete a state-approved pre-licensing education course before sitting for the exam. The course covers:

• Insurance concepts and principles

• Texas-specific regulations and laws

• Policy types, coverages, and exclusions

• Ethics requirements

Pre-licensing courses are available online and are self-paced. Many providers let you complete the course in 1-2 weeks if you study full-time, or 3-4 weeks at a part-time pace.

Required hours vary by license line:

• P&C: 40 hours of pre-licensing education

• L&H: 40 hours of pre-licensing education

Cost: $100-200 per course depending on provider. District 46 recommends specific providers — ask during your onboarding.

Step 2: Schedule and Pass the TDI Exam

Texas insurance exams are administered by Pearson VUE at testing centers throughout Texas (including San Antonio). After completing your pre-licensing course, you'll receive a certificate of completion that authorizes you to schedule the exam.

Exam format:

• P&C exam: approximately 150 questions, 2.5 hours

• L&H exam: approximately 150 questions, 2.5 hours

• Passing score: 70% on each exam

Exam fee: approximately $40-60 per exam.

Most candidates who complete the pre-licensing course thoroughly pass on the first attempt. If you don't pass, you can reschedule and retake.

Step 3: Get Fingerprinted

Texas requires a fingerprint-based background check for insurance license applicants. You'll schedule fingerprinting through IdentoGo, which has locations throughout the San Antonio area.

Cost: approximately $35-50.

Timing: Submit your fingerprints before or at the same time as your license application. Processing typically takes 1-5 business days.

Step 4: Submit Your License Application

After passing your exam, submit your license application through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) or Sircon — both are online portals authorized by TDI.

You'll need:

• Your passing exam score certificate

• Social Security Number

• Background information for the application

• Application fee: approximately $50 per license line

TDI typically processes applications within 1-3 business days. You'll receive your license electronically.

Step 5: Keep Your License Active

Texas insurance licenses require renewal every two years. Renewal requires continuing education (CE) — 24 hours per renewal period for most license types, including at least 3 hours of ethics.

District 46 helps its agency owners track and complete CE requirements so nothing slips through the cracks.

Full Timeline and Cost Summary

• Pre-licensing courses (P&C + L&H): $200-400 / 4-8 weeks

• Exam fees (P&C + L&H): $80-120

• Fingerprinting: $35-50

• License application fees: $100

• Total cost: $415-670 / Total timeline: 4-8 weeks

What Comes Next

Once licensed, the next step is contracting with Farmers Insurance and starting your District 46 onboarding. Carl Prieto and the District 46 team guide you through the contracting process and get you into training.

If you're not yet licensed but you're seriously considering this path, the best move is to schedule a discovery call now — many people start the licensing process while having their initial conversations with the district. You can pursue both in parallel.

Schedule your free discovery call at farmersdistrict46.com/contact-us.