On this page, you’ll find a comprehensive guide for becoming a licensed insurance agent in Mississippi 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 State of Mississippi 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 Mississippi, there are 4 steps to getting your insurance license.
1. Complete a Prelicensing Course
The first step is to complete the prelicensing education requirement. The State of Mississippi requires potential agents to complete 20 hours of prelicensing education for Health, Property, Casualty or Personal Lines before attempting the state exam. The 20 hour education requirement for Life is no longer required as of 7/1/2024.
A.D. Banker offers prelicensing courses that will prepare you to successfully pass the state exam on your first attempt.
After completing your course content, you will need to pass a Certification Exam. This demonstrates completion of the prelicensing requirement. The Certification Exam must be monitored by a disinterested third party (someone with no family or financial relationship). After passing the Certification Exam with a 70% or greater, you will receive a Certificate of Completion. Keep this certificate—you will be required to provide a copy of the certificate at the state exam. The Certificate of Completion is valid for 2 years. You will need to take and pass the state exam within this time period.
2. Pass a Licensing Exam
After you finish your prelicensing education course, you are now ready to take the state licensing exam. The exam may be taken remotely or at a Pearson VUE testing center.
The passing score differs depending on which exam you are taking. Life Only, Accident & Health only, and Life, Accident & Health requires 65% or higher to pass. All other exams require a score 70% or higher to pass your state licensing exam.
You will be required to pay an additional exam fee if you retake the test, so it is important to pass the first time.
3. Apply for License
After passing the exam, you are ready to submit your license application and pay the license fee through Sircon or the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR).
4. Plan for Continuing Education (CE)
Continuing education (CE) is required for all resident insurance producers for license renewal. The continuing education requirements for agents and adjusters are generally 24 hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics training. There are additional CE requirements to sell certain products, such as long-term care and annuities.
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 Mississippi insurance statutes and continuing education requirements, which can be found on the Mississippi Insurance Department’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 Mississippi insurance license by visiting our Mississippi 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.
Mississippi Licensing Requirements FAQ
Where can I find more licensing information?
You can find more information regarding the licensing process on the Mississippi Insurance Department’s website.
If you want to find out more about the exam, check out Pearson VUE’s candidate handbook.
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 OnVUE, Pearson VUE’s 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 Pearson VUE testing site.
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 Pearson VUE or by calling (888) 293-4222.
Before calling to set an exam reservation, you must have:
- Your legal name, address, Social Security number, daytime phone number, and date of birth
- The exam’s name
- Your preferred exam date and location, if applicable
How should I prepare for my remote state exam?
Before scheduling your licensing exam, test the compatibility of your computer, webcam, and microphone. OnVUE requires the newest versions of Microsoft Edge, Safari, Google Chrome, or Firefox. Exams must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance, and you are allowed to cancel or reschedule your exam up to 48 hours before your reservation time by calling Pearson VUE.
Next, download OnVUE. 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 or certain secure access IDs are not accepted as a valid form of identification. Check with Pearson VUE if you are unsure if your ID will be accepted for remote proctoring.
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 you while you are taking the exam. Food, chewing gum, and tobacco products are also prohibited. You are permitted to have a beverage.
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 technical issues occur while you are taking the exam, the proctor is there to resolve the issues in real time. If the proctor cannot resolve the issue, they will file a case on your behalf. Your exam will be rescheduled, and Pearson VUE will provide either a reimbursement or a voucher for a new exam appointment.
Candidates taking an online examination are allowed only one attempt per exam. All subsequent examination attempts must be taken at a Pearson VUE testing center.
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. If you arrive late, you will not be admitted to the test center and will forfeit your exam fee.
