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The path to licensed is shorter than you think. And you won’t finish it alone.

Most people picture a year of night classes. In California, the 2026 path is six steps — and most agents complete it inside 60 days. Below is exactly what to do and in what order. When your license number lands, day one is already set up: a plan, a system, and a team that’s been waiting for you.

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The path

Six steps from where you are to licensed.

  1. Step 1

    Check the basics

    Be 18 or older and legally able to work in the U.S.

    Why this matters
    Your name must match your government-issued ID exactly on every registration — course, exam, and application. Mismatches delay everything.
  2. Step 2

    Prepare for the exam (strongly recommended)

    As of January 1, 2026 (AB 943), California no longer requires the 20-hour line-specific prelicensing course — but roughly 40–50% of first-time test takers fail. Self-study is legal; prepared is smarter.

    PRELICENSING SCHOOL 1
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    PRELICENSING SCHOOL 2
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    PRELICENSING SCHOOL 3
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  3. Step 3

    Complete the mandatory 12-hour course

    The California Insurance Code & Ethics course (includes fraud training) is the one required course — your license cannot be issued without the certificate.

  4. Step 4

    Schedule and pass the state exam

    Administered by PSI: 150 questions, 170 minutes, 60% to pass. Take it at a test center or online with remote proctoring. Exam fee ≈ $55.

    ●Fail limit: 10 attempts per line, then a 12-month wait
  5. Step 5

    Get fingerprinted

    Live Scan background check through the CDI's current vendor (also available at PSI test centers). ≈ $50–$120 depending on location and fees.

  6. Step 6

    Apply for your license

    File through Sircon or NIPR with the CDI. Filing fee $188. Once approved, you get your license number — and that's when the real work starts.

What it costs

Typical all-in: about $350–$360.

State exam
≈ $55
Fingerprinting (Live Scan)
≈ $50–$120
License application
$188
Optional prep course
Varies

Approximate; verify current fees with the California Department of Insurance before paying.

Day 1 after your license

Passing the exam makes you licensed. It doesn't make you a business.

When your license number lands, choose the path that fits how you want to work.

Join as an Agent

The complete system from day one.

Enter
Join the Premier Team

Training, mentorship, and a hierarchy that invests in you.

Enter
Not ready to sell?

Keep your license working as a Referral Agent.

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Why this matters
New licensees on our platform get a custom business plan in week one, weekly live classes, and an AI recruiting assistant that answers licensing questions 24/7 — free to ask even before you're licensed.
Have a licensing question?

Ask us before you pay for anything.

Free to ask — even before you're licensed.

FAQ

Common licensing questions.

Licensing requirements, fees, exam formats, and vendors vary by state and change over time. The steps above reflect California requirements as publicly described as of mid-2026, including changes under Assembly Bill 943, and are provided for general information only — always verify current requirements directly with the California Department of Insurance (or your state's insurance department) before enrolling or paying fees. We are not a prelicensing education provider; third-party school links are provided for convenience and may include partner or affiliate relationships, disclosed where applicable. Nothing on this page is legal advice or a guarantee of licensure, employment, or income.

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