How to Get an Ohio Insurance License

Updated: 7/8/2022

A.D. Banker Provider #: 211

Get Started 

On this page, you'll find a comprehensive guide for getting your insurance license. We'll walk you through the process, and we'll be here to answer any questions you have along the way.

Ohio requires each person selling insurance in the state to hold an insurance 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 Ohio, there are 5 steps to getting your insurance license.

1. Complete a Prelicensing Course

The first step is to complete a prelicensing course. A.D. Banker offers prelicensing courses that will prepare you to successfully pass the state exam on your first attempt. We offer online courses that can be supplemented with web classes and learning tools like flashcards and study manuals.

Ohio requires potential agents to complete 20 hours of prelicensing education for each line of authority before attempting the state exam. The specific hour requirements are as follows:

• 20 hours - Life Agent
• 20 hours - Accident and Health Agent
• 20 hours - Property Agent
• 20 hours - Casualty Agent
• 20 hours - Personal Lines Agent

Upon the completion of the prelicensing course, you will be issued a Certificate of Completion and A.D. Banker will report your course completion to the state. This certificate is valid for 180 days from the date of completion; you will need to take and pass your state exam within this timeframe. 

Ohio requires you to bring a copy of the Certificate(s) of Completion to your licensing exam. If you are taking a remote exam, you MUST email your certificate(s) to ohcert@psiexams.com within 24 hours of passing the exam. The Ohio Department of Insurance is unable to process any license application without receipt of the valid certificate(s). Failure to submit the certificate(s) to ohcert@psiexams.com will delay the licensure process. 

2. Pass a Licensing Exam 

After you finish your prelicensing course, you are now ready to take the state licensing exam. You must score 70% or higher to pass your state licensing exam.

3. Get Fingerprinted

Once you have passed your state exam, you will need to be fingerprinted by a National WebCheck provider. Details on the background check can be found on the ODI Background Check website. When you have your fingerprints taken, be sure to inform the provider that you need the “direct copy” option. Webcheck requests are processed within 2 business days. 

4. Apply for License

After passing the exam, you are ready to apply for your license. Once the Ohio Department of Insurance has verified that you have met all of the standards for licensure, they will issue your license. You can print a copy of the issued license on the ODI Agent Locator.

5. Plan for Continuing Education

Continuing education (CE) is required for all Ohio insurance agents for license renewal. The continuing education requirements for agents are generally 24 hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of topics approved as Ethics.

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 Ohio insurance statutes and continuing education requirements, which can be found on the Ohio Department of Insurance website.

Ohio Licensing Exam FAQ

Where can 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. If you do not have a compatible computer, you must schedule an in-person exam.
Exams may also be taken in-person at a PSI testing site. Exams taken at a PSI location may include an additional provider fee. 

How do I schedule my state exam?

Every insurance licensing exam is accompanied by an exam fee that must be paid at the time of reservation by a credit or debit card, voucher, or electronic check. You can schedule your state exam through PSI.

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 (844) 267-1017.

Finally, remember to email your Certificate(s) of Completion to ohcert@psiexams.com within 24 hours of passing the exam. 

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. If you arrive late, you will not be admitted to the test center and will forfeit the exam fee.

You will be required to present 2 forms of current, signature identification: 

• A primary ID (photograph and signature) such as a Driver’s license or Passport
• A secondary ID (signature) such as a Debit or Credit card

You must also bring your Certificate(s) of Completion from a completed prelicensing course of study. 
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 and drink are also prohibited. 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 the Ohio 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 Ohio. The exam will also contain “experimental” questions that are mixed in with the scored questions and are not identified. Experimental questions may not be covered in your prelicensing materials and do not affect your final score. 

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 last 2 to 2.5 hours and can have 100 to 150 questions. 

• Life, Accident and Health Agent Series 11-35 exam is 2 hours and 30 minutes with 150 questions
• Property and Casualty Agent Series 11-36 exam is 2 hours and 30 minutes with 150 questions
• Accident and Health Agent Series 11-45 exam is 2 hours with 100 questions
• Life Agent Series 11-44 exam is 2 hours with 100 questions
• Casualty Agent Series 11-47 exam is 2 hours with 100 questions
• Property Agent Series 11-46 exam is 2 hours with 100 questions
• Personal Lines Agent Series 11-43 exam is 2 hours with 100 questions
• Public Adjuster Series 11-38 exam is 2 hours with 100 questions

What score do I need to pass my state exam?

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

What happens if I fail my state 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 can schedule another exam, but you must wait 24 hours before making the reservation. If you would like more detailed information, or if you have any questions about the exam process, please visit PSI'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 2 years. Learn more about how to renew an Ohio insurance license by visiting our Ohio 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.
 

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.