How to Get Your Illinois Insurance License in 2026
Illinois requires state-approved pre-licensing education before you can sit for the producer exam. Plan for a 5-8 week timeline.
Illinois insurance license — quick facts
| State regulator | Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) |
| Exam vendor | Pearson VUE |
| Pre-licensing education | Required — hours TBD |
| Exam fee (resident) | $92 per exam (general and state portions each) |
| License application fee | $215, 2-year term |
| Fingerprinting | No general requirement stated for producers (required for public adjusters) |
| License term | 2 years |
| CE requirement | 24 hours / 2 years incl. 3 hours ethics |
The six steps
- 1
Complete pre-licensing education
Illinois mandates pre-licensing education before sitting for the producer exam. The IDOI Producer Examination Handbook states explicitly: 'Illinois will not issue a license until prelicensing education is complete and on file with the Department of Insurance.' The course must be filed and approved by IDOI.
- 2
Schedule your Pearson VUE exam
Illinois insurance exams are administered by Pearson VUE. Illinois splits each line into a general-knowledge exam and a separately scheduled Illinois-specific exam, and each one carries its own $92 fee (which includes a $50 Illinois Department of Insurance administrative fee). Register through the Illinois candidate handbook at pearsonvue.com.
- 3
Pass the exam
Illinois reports a scaled passing score of 70. The candidate handbook states this is not the percentage of questions answered correctly, so no raw pass mark is published.
- 4
Submit your IDOI license application
Apply through NIPR or Sircon. The IDOI fee schedule lists $215 for the resident producer license (2-year term).
- 5
Background check
The Illinois handbook states no general fingerprint requirement for standard producer applicants. Public adjuster applicants must have fingerprints on file with the department.
- 6
Get appointed by a carrier
A producer license alone doesn't authorize you to sell — you need at least one carrier appointment.
What's on the Illinois P&C exam
Standard NAIC P&C framework plus Illinois Insurance Code (215 ILCS 5).
- Illinois insurance regulation — ~15-20%
- General insurance principles — ~10-15%
- Property — ~20-25%
- Casualty — ~25-30%
- Commercial Package, BOP, WC, Surety — ~15-20%
CE requirements after licensing
Illinois producer licenses renew every 2 years with 24 hours of IDOI-approved CE including 3 hours ethics.
Cost breakdown
- State-approved PLE: $200-$400
- Pearson VUE exam fee: $92 per exam (general and state portions each)
- License application: $215
- Biennial CE: $30-$200
Illinois course — coming soon
Pre-licensing is required in Illinois — we're working with the IDOI to get our course approved as a PLE provider. Sign up below to be notified when our Illinois exam-prep + PLE bundle launches.
Notify me when Illinois launches →Frequently asked questions
Does Illinois require pre-licensing education?
Yes. The Illinois Department of Insurance Producer Examination Handbook explicitly mandates PLE completion before license issuance. The course must be IDOI-approved.
What's the passing score on the Illinois insurance exam?
Illinois reports a scaled passing score of 70, which is not the same as 70 percent of questions correct. Pearson VUE administers the exam and reports results to IDOI.
Is Elite Training Academy approved in Illinois?
Not yet. We're working to file our course with IDOI. Sign up to be notified when our Illinois course launches.
Related guides
- Texas insurance license cost — full breakdown
- How to get your Texas insurance license
- All exam-prep and CE pricing
Sources cited
- Illinois Department of Insurance
- Pearson VUE — Illinois Insurance Candidate Handbook
- NIPR — National Insurance Producer Registry
- 215 ILCS 5/500 et seq. — Producer licensing
This guide is based on IDOI and Pearson VUE published procedures current as of 2026. Always verify current requirements at idoi.illinois.gov before relying on any specific number.