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How to Get Your Delaware Insurance License in 2026

A complete step-by-step guide to becoming a licensed insurance producer in Delaware. Good news up front: Delaware does not require pre-licensing education — you can go straight to exam prep and be licensed in about a month. The whole process is an exam with Pearson VUE, a fingerprint-based background check, and an online NIPR application.

Quick summaryTotal time: 3–6 weeks. Total cost: roughly $310–$360 all-in. No pre-licensing education required — exam, background check, and a NIPR application are the whole process.

Delaware insurance license — quick facts

State regulatorDelaware Department of Insurance (Dover)
Exam vendorPearson VUE (in-person test centers)
Pre-licensing educationNot required
Exam fee (resident)$90 per attempt — one fee covers multiple major-line exams taken the same day
P&C exam formatTwo exams: Property (85 scored questions) + Casualty (95 scored questions), scaled score of 70 to pass
License application fee$125 via NIPR (plus small NIPR transaction fee)
Background checkRequired — Delaware + FBI certified criminal history via IdentoGO, $85, dated within 90 days
License termFixed statewide biennium — all resident licenses expire the last day of February in even-numbered years; renewal $125
CE requirement24 hours per biennium incl. 3 hours ethics (new licensees exempt for their first biennium)

The six steps

  1. 1

    Skip pre-licensing education — Delaware doesn't require it

    The Delaware Department of Insurance does not mandate a state-approved pre-licensing course for resident producers. That means the exam is the whole academic hurdle — and it's a real one, covering both national concepts and Delaware's Title 18 statutes. Our $49.99 Delaware course with 500+ practice questions gets you exam-ready in 2-4 weeks.

  2. 2

    Schedule your Pearson VUE exam

    Delaware contracts with Pearson VUE for insurance license exams. Create an account at pearsonvue.com/de/insurance, pick a test center, and pay the $90 exam fee by card at the time of reservation (fees aren't accepted at the test center). Delaware's best money-saver: if you schedule more than one major-line exam on the same day — like Property and Casualty — you pay only one $90 fee.

  3. 3

    Pass the exam with a scaled score of 70

    The P&C credential in Delaware is two exams: Property (85 scored questions — 50 general knowledge + 35 Delaware law) and Casualty (95 scored questions — 50 general knowledge + 45 Delaware law), each with unscored pretest items mixed in (12 on Property, 14 on Casualty). Each exam has two portions, and if you fail one portion you only retake that portion — you have 12 months before the passed portion expires. You leave the test center with your score report in hand, and results reach the DOI electronically within 2-5 business days.

  4. 4

    Get your criminal history reports through IdentoGO

    Delaware requires new resident applicants to submit both a certified Delaware criminal history and an FBI criminal history, dated within 90 days. Schedule a fingerprint appointment through IdentoGO (uenroll.identogo.com) — the Delaware State Bureau of Identification's vendor — using the DOI's service code. The combined state + federal certified history costs $85.

  5. 5

    Submit your license application through NIPR

    Delaware only accepts electronic applications, filed at nipr.com. The resident producer application fee is $125 (plus a small NIPR transaction fee), covering all the lines you qualified for by exam. Then send your criminal history reports directly to the Delaware DOI by fax at (302) 736-7906 or email to licensing@delaware.gov. The Delaware DOI is known industry-wide for fast application turnaround.

  6. 6

    Get appointed by an insurance carrier

    A producer license alone doesn't authorize you to sell — you need at least one carrier appointment. The insurer files the appointment with the Delaware DOI; if you're joining an agency, they'll typically handle this for you.

What's on the Delaware P&C exams

Unlike most states, Delaware splits Property & Casualty into two separate Pearson VUE exams — but scheduling both on the same day costs a single $90 fee. Each exam has a general-knowledge portion and a Delaware law portion, and you need a scaled score of 70 on each. Question counts from the official Pearson VUE content outlines (effective January 15, 2025):

  • Property exam — 85 scored questions (plus 12 unscored pretest)
  • — General knowledge (50): Types of policies (22), Insurance terms & related concepts (15), Policy provisions & contract law (13)
  • — Delaware statutes, rules & regulations (35): licensing rules, marketing practices, the Insurance Commissioner's powers, and property-specific Delaware law
  • Casualty exam — 95 scored questions (plus 14 unscored pretest)
  • — General knowledge (50): Types of policies, bonds & related terms (23), Insurance terms & related concepts (15), Policy provisions (12)
  • — Delaware statutes, rules & regulations (45): licensing rules, marketing practices, and casualty-specific Delaware law, including auto and workers compensation statutes

Delaware's law portions carry more weight than most states' — 35 of 85 property questions and 45 of 95 casualty questions test Title 18 statutes and DOI regulations, so generic national prep alone leaves a lot of points on the table. Try our free Delaware practice exam to see where you stand before booking with Pearson VUE.

Delaware's one-date license cycle

Most states tie license renewal to your birth month. Delaware doesn't: every resident license in the state expires on the last day of February in even-numbered years, with a renewal window from December 1 through the deadline. That makes compliance easy to remember — but it also means your first license term is prorated to whatever remains of the current biennium. Renew on time ($125) or the late fee jumps to $225, and missing the February 28 CE deadline adds a separate $200 CE late fee on top.

CE requirements after licensing

Under Regulation 504, resident producers complete 24 credit hours of approved CE per biennium, including 3 hours of ethics. Newly licensed producers are exempt during the biennium in which they're first licensed, so your first CE deadline is a full cycle away. Watch for the add-ons: producers writing homeowners or personal lines must include a 2-hour flood insurance / NFIP course, health producers soliciting long-term care need 3 hours of Delaware LTC training, and anyone selling annuities needs a one-time 4-hour suitability course before selling. Up to 5 excess general credits carry over to the next biennium (ethics hours don't).

Cost breakdown

  • Exam-prep course: $49.99 with Elite Training Academy
  • Pearson VUE exam fee: $90 per attempt (both P&C exams same-day = one fee)
  • IdentoGO criminal history (Delaware + FBI): $85
  • NIPR license application: $125, plus a small NIPR transaction fee
  • Biennial renewal: $125 + CE course costs ($30-$200 depending on provider)

All-in, plan on roughly $310-$360 to go from zero to licensed. Delaware's application and background-check fees run higher than neighboring states, but skipping a mandatory pre-licensing course (often $150-$300 elsewhere) keeps the total competitive.

Ready to start studying?

Start your Delaware insurance license exam prep for $49.99 with lifetime access and 500+ practice questions per course — including the Delaware law questions that make up over 40% of each exam.

See Delaware exam prep courses →

Free quiz, no signup

Would you pass the Delaware Personal Lines exam today?

10 questions from our Delaware Personal Lines question bank, graded instantly. Want the longer version? Take the 20-question practice exam.

  1. 1. In a casualty (liability) context, 'risk' refers to:

  2. 2. The doctrine of utmost good faith (uberrimae fidei) means:

  3. 3. A property owner has a single-family rental home he wants to insure on a DP-3 (special form). His insurance question: does DP-3 automatically include personal liability for tenant injuries, similar to HO-3 Coverage E?

  4. 4. Which dwelling form does NOT include personal liability coverage as a built-in part of the policy?

  5. 5. The standard increment for personal umbrella limits is:

  6. 6. An 'occurrence' on a liability policy is generally defined as:

  7. 7. An insured purchases liability limits of $250/500/100 but only $30/60/25 UM/UIM. Three years later he is severely injured by an underinsured driver. He sues his own carrier for the difference between his liability and UM limits, arguing UM should match liability. The most likely outcome is:

  8. 8. Personal umbrella policies typically EXCLUDE which of the following?

  9. 9. An applicant for an HO-3 is quoted $1,420 annually. The carrier runs a credit-based insurance score and a CLUE loss-history report. Based on both reports, the underwriter increases the premium to $1,980 and uses a 'tier 4' rating instead of 'tier 2.' Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the carrier must:

  10. 10. An insured's neighbor's child is at the insured's house playing and falls off the swing set, breaking an arm. Medical bills total $4,800. The neighbor does not threaten to sue — she just asks the insured to help with the bills as a goodwill gesture. The insured has Coverage F Medical Payments to Others at $5,000. Which statement BEST describes how Coverage F responds?

Delaware licensing requirements at a glance

Quoted from NIPR, "Delaware resident licensing requirements, individual", read 2026-09-16. Confirm with the Delaware Department of Insurance before you apply.

State examInsurance Producer exams are required for Life, Health, Property, Casualty, Personal Lines, Surety and Multi-Peril Crop; Variable Annuities does not require one. Adjuster exams are required for Property, Casualty, Surety, Motor Vehicle, Marine & Transportation and Workers' Compensation. Public Adjuster requires the Property exam.
Background checkA state criminal history report and a federal FBI criminal history report, each dated within ninety days of receipt, are required.
How to applyApply electronically through NIPR's Resident License application.
Application feeInsurance Producer: $125Limited Lines Producer: $125

Source: Delaware resident licensing requirements, individual (NIPR, read 2026-09-16).

Delaware insurance exams: published facts

  • LifeDE Life Producer (InsDE_Life01): 90 scored questions, 135 minutes, administered by Pearson VUE, $90 exam fee. Delaware does not publish a passing score for this examination, so treat the candidate handbook as the authority rather than any figure quoted elsewhere.
  • HealthDE Accident and Health Producer (InsDE_Health02): 92 scored questions, 135 minutes, administered by Pearson VUE, $90 exam fee. Delaware does not publish a passing score for this examination, so treat the candidate handbook as the authority rather than any figure quoted elsewhere.
  • PropertyDE Property Producer (InsDE_Prop04): 85 scored questions, 135 minutes, administered by Pearson VUE, $90 exam fee. Delaware does not publish a passing score for this examination, so treat the candidate handbook as the authority rather than any figure quoted elsewhere.
  • CasualtyDE Casualty Producer (InsDE_Cas05): 95 scored questions, 135 minutes, administered by Pearson VUE, $90 exam fee. Delaware does not publish a passing score for this examination, so treat the candidate handbook as the authority rather than any figure quoted elsewhere.
  • Personal LinesDE Personal Lines Producer (InsDE_Pers55): 115 scored questions, 150 minutes, administered by Pearson VUE, $90 exam fee. Delaware does not publish a passing score for this examination, so treat the candidate handbook as the authority rather than any figure quoted elsewhere.

What the Delaware Personal Lines Producer (Pearson VUE InsDE_Pers55) covers

Section weights from Pearson VUE publication #120800, effective 2025-01-15.

I. Types of Policies8.7% (10 of 115)
II. Insurance Terms and Related Concepts16.5% (19 of 115)
III. Policy Provisions and Contract Law11.3% (13 of 115)
IV. Personal Policies — Auto and Umbrella11.3% (13 of 115)
V. Insurance Terms and Related Concepts (Casualty emphasis)10.4% (12 of 115)
VI. Policy Provisions9.6% (11 of 115)
VI. Delaware Insurance Code and Department of Insurance19.1% (22 of 115)
VII. Delaware Statutes Pertinent to Personal Lines13% (15 of 115)

Everything for Delaware in one place

Frequently asked questions

Does Delaware require pre-licensing education?

No. The Delaware Department of Insurance does not require a state-approved pre-licensing course for resident producer licenses — you qualify by passing the Pearson VUE exam. A solid exam-prep course is strongly recommended (the exam includes a dedicated Delaware law portion), but it's not legally required.

How many questions are on the Delaware property and casualty exam?

Delaware splits P&C into two separate exams. The Property exam has 85 scored questions (50 general knowledge + 35 Delaware statutes) and the Casualty exam has 95 scored questions (50 general knowledge + 45 Delaware statutes), each with unscored pretest questions mixed in (12 on Property, 14 on Casualty). If you fail one portion of an exam, you only retake that portion.

How much does the Delaware insurance exam cost?

$90 per attempt through Pearson VUE, paid by credit/debit card or voucher when you book. The fee is non-refundable, but there's a big money-saver: scheduling more than one major-line exam on the same day (like Property and Casualty) costs only one $90 fee.

What score do you need to pass the Delaware insurance exam?

Delaware uses scaled scoring from 0 to 100 — producer major-line exams require a scaled score of 70. You get your official score report before you leave the test center, and Pearson VUE reports results to the Delaware DOI electronically within 2-5 business days. Exam scores stay valid for 12 months.

Does Delaware require fingerprinting for an insurance license?

Yes. New resident applicants must submit a certified Delaware criminal history plus an FBI criminal history, both dated within 90 days. You complete a fingerprint appointment through IdentoGO (the Delaware State Bureau of Identification's vendor); the combined state + federal certified history costs $85. Reports go to the DOI by fax or email after you file your NIPR application.

How much does a Delaware insurance license cost in total?

Roughly $310-$360 all-in: $49.99 for exam prep, $90 for the Pearson VUE exam (one fee covers both P&C exams taken the same day), $85 for the state + FBI criminal history, and $125 for the NIPR application, plus a small NIPR transaction fee. Failed exam retakes add $90 each — which is why practice exams pay for themselves.

How long does it take to get a Delaware insurance license?

Typically 3-6 weeks. With no pre-licensing requirement, the timeline is mostly study time: 2-4 weeks of exam prep, then schedule and pass the Pearson VUE exam, complete the IdentoGO fingerprint appointment, and file the NIPR application. The Delaware DOI is known for fast license turnaround once your exam results and background reports are in.

What are Delaware's continuing education requirements?

Resident producers complete 24 credit hours of approved CE per biennium, including 3 hours of ethics (18 DE Admin. Code Reg. 504). Delaware runs one fixed statewide cycle: every resident license expires the last day of February in even-numbered years, with a Dec 1 - Feb 28/29 renewal window and a $125 renewal fee. Newly licensed producers are exempt from CE for the biennium in which they're first licensed. Producers writing homeowners or personal lines also need a 2-hour flood insurance course within their 24 hours, and annuity sellers need a one-time 4-hour suitability course.

Related guides

Sources cited

This guide is based on Delaware DOI, Pearson VUE, and NIPR published procedures current as of 2026. Fees and procedures change — always verify current requirements at insurance.delaware.gov before relying on any specific number.