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How to Get Your California Insurance License in 2026

A complete step-by-step guide to becoming a licensed insurance producer in California. California has one of the strictest pre-licensing regimes in the country — 20 hours per line plus a 12-hour ethics course — so plan for a 6-10 week timeline.

Quick summaryTotal time: 6–10 weeks. Total cost: roughly $500–$900 all-in including PLE, exam, license, and fingerprinting fees. State-approved pre-licensing education is required.

California insurance license — quick facts

State regulatorCalifornia Department of Insurance (CDI)
Exam vendorPSI
Pre-licensing educationRequired — 20 hours per line + 12 hours ethics (Cal. Ins. Code §1749)
Exam fee (resident)~$55-$75 per attempt
License application fee~$170 per line, 2-year term
FingerprintingLive Scan required (~$70-$90)
License term2 years
CE requirement24 hours / 2 years incl. 3 hours ethics

The six steps

  1. 1

    Complete pre-licensing education

    California Insurance Code §1749 requires 20 hours of state-approved pre-licensing per line PLUS 12 hours of ethics — that's a minimum 32-hour course for any single line of authority. Personal Lines is shorter (20 hours total). The course must be from a CDI-approved provider and the completion certificate filed with CDI.

  2. 2

    Schedule your PSI exam

    California contracts with PSI for insurance license exams. Register at psiexams.com, pick a testing center, and pay the current exam fee (~$55-$75 per attempt). {/* TODO: verify CDI/PSI current rate */}

  3. 3

    Pass the exam

    California uses a 60% passing standard for most resident producer exams. {/* TODO: verify CDI passing score for each line */} PSI sends your score directly to CDI within 24 hours.

  4. 4

    Submit your CDI license application

    Apply through Sircon or NIPR. California license fees run ~$170 per producer license (2-year term). {/* TODO: verify CDI fee schedule */} CDI reviews applications and typically issues licenses within 2-3 weeks.

  5. 5

    Get fingerprinted via Live Scan

    California requires Live Scan fingerprinting through an approved DOJ vendor. Cost is ~$70-$90 including DOJ and FBI fees. The CDI uses ORI code A0902. {/* TODO: verify ORI code is still current */}

  6. 6

    Get appointed by a carrier

    A producer license alone doesn't authorize you to sell — you need at least one carrier appointment. Most agencies handle this on day one of employment.

What's on the California P&C exam

California issues a combined Property & Casualty Broker-Agent license. Section weights :

  • California insurance law and regulation — ~20-25%
  • General insurance principles — ~10-15%
  • Property insurance — ~20-25%
  • Casualty insurance — ~25-30%
  • Ethics — built into multiple sections

CE requirements after licensing

California producer licenses renew every 2 years. Each renewal cycle requires 24 hours of CDI-approved continuing education, including 3 hours of ethics.

Cost breakdown

  • State-approved PLE (20 hrs + 12 hrs ethics): $250-$500
  • PSI exam fee: ~$55-$75 per attempt
  • Live Scan fingerprinting: ~$70-$90
  • License application: ~$170 per line
  • Biennial CE: $30-$200 depending on provider

California course — coming soon

Pre-licensing is required in California — we're working with CDI to get our course approved as a 20-hour PLE provider. Sign up below to be notified when our California exam-prep + PLE bundle launches.

Notify me when California launches →

Frequently asked questions

Does California require pre-licensing education?

Yes. CDI requires 20 hours of approved pre-licensing per line of authority plus an additional 12 hours of ethics — see California Insurance Code §1749. This is one of the more demanding PLE regimes in the country.

What's the passing score on the California insurance exam?

California uses a 60% passing standard for most resident producer exams. PSI administers and sends results to CDI.

Is Elite Training Academy approved in California?

Not yet. We're working to file our course with CDI as an approved provider. Sign up for the waitlist to be notified when our California course launches.

Related guides

Sources cited

This guide is based on CDI and PSI published procedures current as of 2026. Always verify current requirements at insurance.ca.gov before relying on any specific number.