How to Get a Minnesota Insurance License

Updated July 5, 2023

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On this page, you’ll find a comprehensive guide for becoming a licensed insurance agent in Minnesota and the state requirements. We’ll walk you through the process, and we’ll be here to answer any questions you have along the way. 

The Minnesota Department of Commerce requires each person selling insurance in the state to hold an insurance producer license. You will choose which line of authority you want to be licensed in: health insurance, life insurance, property and casualty insurance, or any combination of those lines. 

Once you know which license you need, you’re ready to begin. In the State of Minnesota, there are 5 steps to getting your insurance license. 

1. Complete a Prelicensing Course

The first step is to complete the prelicensing education requirements. The State of Minnesota requires potential agents to complete 20 hours of prelicensing education courses for each license type to be held. A.D. Banker's exam prep courses will prepare your to successfully pass the state exam on your first attempt. Our online courses can be supplemented with web classes and learning tools like flashcars and study manuals.

After completing your course and fulfilling the time requirement, you will need to pass the Certification Exam included in your course. This demonstrates course completion and satisfies the prelicensing requirement. Certification exams must be monitored by a disinterested third party, with a minimum age of 18 years old, who can be any person except for family members or individuals who have a financial interest in the student's success on the exam.  Co-worker proctors must not be above or below in the student's line of supervision. After passing the Certification Exam with a 70% or greater, you will receive a Certificate of Completion. You will be required to provide this certificate when you take the state exam. The Certificate of Completion is valid for 1 year. You will need to take and pass the state exam within this time period.

2. Pass a Licensing Exam

To qualify for licensure, you must pass a state insurance licensing exam. This will test your knowledge of the industry, insurance policy features, and the state insurance regulations.

You must score 70% or higher to pass your state licensing exam. If you retake the exam, there will be an additional exam fee, so it is important to pass the first time.

3. Get Fingerprinted

Minnesota requires fingerprint impressions from all resident license applicants, which will be submitted for a background check. You can make your reservation online through PSI,

4. Apply for License

After passing the exam, you are ready to submit your license application and pay the license fee through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) or Sircon. 

5. Plan for Continuing Education

Continuing education (CE) is required for all resident insurance agents for license renewal. The insurance continuing education requirements for agents and insurance adjusters are generally 24 hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics training. There are addition CE requirements to sell certain products, such as annuities and long-term care.

Nonresident license holders are currently required to adhere to their home state continuing education requirements. 

It’s important to stay on top of any changes to Minnesota’s insurance statutes and continuing education requirements, which can be found on the Minnesota Department of Insurance’s website. 

We’re Here to Help

Our goal is to prepare you for your insurance licensing exam, and then guide you through your career as a licensed professional. Once you pass your exam and successfully apply for a license, your license will need to be renewed every two years. Learn more about how to renew a Minnesota insurance license by visiting our Minnesota CE requirements page.

Once you begin the process of becoming a licensed insurance professional, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Get started today by reviewing our prelicensing course catalog.

Minnesota Licensing Requirements FAQ

Where can I find more information about the exam?

More information about the exam, including the exam fees and content outlines, can be found on the PSI website.

Do I qualify for a prelicensing exemption?

If you meet earned any of the following designations, you may qualify for an exemption from the prelicensing education requirement:

• 4-year college degree in business with an insurance emphasis
• 2-year vocational degree in insurance
• Life insurance applicants with any of the following designations: CEBS, ChFC, CIC, CLU, FLMI, or LUTCF
• Health insurance applicants with any of the following designations: CEBS, HIA, REBC, or RHU
• Property, Casualty, or Personal Lines insurance applicants with any of the following designations: AAI, ARM, CIC, CPCU

Where will I take the state exam?

Remote exams are available to ensure accessibility and safety. These exams require you to have a computer or laptop that is compatible with the PSI Bridge remote testing platform. Exams may also be taken in-person at a PSI testing site.  If you do not have a compatible computer, you must schedule an in-person exam.

How do I schedule my state exam?

Every insurance licensing exam is accompanied by an exam fee that must be paid by a credit or debit card, voucher, or electronic check. This fee must be paid at the time of reservation and will not be accepted at a testing center. You can schedule your state exam through PSI or by calling (866) 395-1006.

How should I prepare for my remote state exam?

Before scheduling your remote licensing exam, test the compatibility of your computer, webcam, and microphone. PSI Bridge requires a Google Chrome Browser. Exams must be scheduled at least two days in advance, and you are allowed to cancel or reschedule your exam up to 48 hours before your reservation time.

Next, download PSI Bridge. Please note that the download can take up to 30 minutes, so we recommend you do this before the day of your test to prevent any last-minute technical problems.

Login to the testing platform 30 minutes before your exam reservation time. A state or government ID is required to be presented to verify your identity. For remote exams, a military ID is not accepted as a valid form of identification.

Your remote test requires you to be alone in a private room for the duration of the exam. The surface you have your computer on must be clear of all objects. You cannot have a phone, headphones, or a wristwatch on while you are taking the exam. Food and drink are also prohibited.

All exams are monitored by a third-party to ensure all testing requirements are followed. The monitors are able to answer questions that do not pertain to the content of the exam via live chat.

If you experience any technical issues while downloading PSI Bridge or during your exam, you can call PSI's Technical Support at (855) 579-4639.

How should I prepare for my in-person state exam?

Report to the testing center 30 minutes before your exam time for the check-in process. You will be required to present a valid government-issued ID and your Certificate of Completion. If you arrive late, you will not be admitted to the test center and will forfeit your exam fee. 

No personal items are allowed to be taken into the testing center. All personal items, including bags and wallets, will have to remain in your vehicle or be checked into provided storage space. Cell phones, calculators, electronic devices, and wrist watches are not allowed into the testing center. Food, chewing gum, and tobacco products are also prohibited. You are allowed to have a beverage. You must stay in the testing center for the duration of the exam. No breaks are allowed.

If you have any questions about the exam process, testing locations, or security measures, please contact PSI or Minnesota Department of Insurance.

What is the format of the state exam?

All licensing exams are taken on a computer and are multiple choice. The exam will cover both a general section with basic insurance product knowledge, and a state section with specific insurance laws, rules, regulations, and practices that are unique to Minnesota. A good prelicensing training course will feature practice exams that simulate the format of the state exams, so you should know exactly what to expect on the actual state licensing exam.

How long is the state exam?

Depending on which line of insurance you are testing on, the amount of time and number of questions on the exam vary. Exams will be 1–3 hours long and can have 35–138 questions. 

• The Life producer exam is 2 hours with 85 questions
• The Accident & Health producer exam is 2 hours with 85 questions
• The Life, Accident & Health producer exam is 3 hours with 145 questions
• The Property producer exam is 2 hours with 85 questions
• The Casualty producer exam is 2 hours with 85 questions
• The Property & Casualty producer exam is 3 hours with 145 questions
• The Personal Lines producer exam is 2 hours with 94 questions
• The Farm Property and Liability producer exam is 1 hours with 35 questions
• The Property & Casualty adjuster exam is 1 hour with 35 questions
• The Crop adjuster exam is 1 hour with 35 questions
• The Workers Compensation adjuster exam is 1 hour with 35 questions

What score do I need to pass? 

For all insurance exams, you need to score 70% or higher to pass. Immediately after your exam, you will receive a pass or fail notification. 

What happens if I fail my exam?

You will receive a diagnostic report indicating your strengths and weaknesses on the exam. You can send up a copy of your score report to curriculum@adbanker.com for our team to review and respond with personalized feedback.

You are able to reschedule for a new exam the following day.  If you would like more detailed information, or if you have any questions about the exam process, please visit PSI’s website.

A.D. Banker & Company provides licensing information as a courtesy to our students. While reasonable attempts have been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, licensees are ultimately responsible for ensuring that they are in compliance with the requirements set forth by their state licensing entity. A.D. Banker & Company offers no guarantee of the accuracy of this information and will not be held liable in case of noncompliance with the license requirements.