How to Get Your Michigan Insurance License in 2026
Michigan requires 20 hours of state-approved pre-licensing per major line before you can sit for the producer exam. Plan for a 5-8 week timeline.
Michigan insurance license — quick facts
| State regulator | Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) |
| Exam vendor | PSI |
| Pre-licensing education | Required — 20 hours per major line (40 for combined P&C) |
| Exam fee (resident) | $41 per attempt |
| License application fee | $10 + ~$5 NIPR fee |
| Fingerprinting | Not required |
| License term | 2 years |
| CE requirement | 24 hours / 2 years incl. 3 hours ethics |
The six steps
- 1
Complete pre-licensing education
Michigan requires 20 hours of state-approved pre-licensing per major line (a combined Property & Casualty license needs 40 hours). The course must be from a DIFS-approved provider, and your Certificate of Completion is valid for 12 months.
- 2
Schedule your PSI exam
Michigan contracts with PSI for insurance license exams. Register at test-takers.psiexams.com/midifs, pick a testing center (or remote online proctoring), and pay the $41 exam fee.
- 3
Pass the exam
Michigan sets a separate passing cut score for each exam rather than a flat 70%. The Property & Casualty combined exam is 150 questions in 2.5 hours with a 74% cut score; the Property-only exam (100 questions, 2 hours) requires 75% and Casualty-only requires 74%. Your result is shown on screen and reported to DIFS.
- 4
Submit your DIFS license application
File your Electronic Resident Licensing (ERL) application through NIPR at nipr.com. The Michigan license fee is $10 plus about a $5 NIPR transaction fee.
- 5
Background check
Michigan does not require fingerprinting for resident producer licenses. Applicants must still disclose and document any background issues through the NIPR application.
- 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 Michigan P&C exam
Standard NAIC P&C framework plus Michigan-specific statutes (MCL 500.1200 et seq.).
- Michigan 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
Michigan producer licenses renew every 2 years with 24 hours of DIFS-approved CE including 3 hours ethics.
Cost breakdown
- State-approved 20-hour PLE: $150-$400
- PSI exam fee: $41 per attempt
- License application: $10 + ~$5 NIPR transaction fee
- Biennial CE: $30-$200
Preparing for the Michigan exam
Pre-licensing is required in Michigan, and you'll need to complete the 20-hour course (40 hours for combined Property & Casualty) through a DIFS-approved provider — Elite Training Academy is not an approved Michigan pre-licensing provider. Once your pre-licensing is done, our free practice exam is a solid way to sharpen up before test day.
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Would you pass the Michigan Public Adjuster exam today?
10 questions from our Michigan Public Adjuster question bank, graded instantly. Want the longer version? Take the 20-question practice exam.
1. On a manufactured-home total loss, the difference between a 'stated amount' cap and an 'agreed value' promise matters because:
2. A failed water heater must be removed so drying can begin. The correct handling of the unit is to:
3. Reserving is described as a solvency obligation because:
4. The declarations page lists the named insured and limits, but a boilerplate clause elsewhere appears to contradict those identifying facts. Under the priority rules, which controls the identifying facts?
5. A standard, or union, mortgage clause differs from an open mortgage clause because it:
6. In a coverage dispute, which party bears the burden of proving that an exclusion applies?
7. A carrier settles a loss to plaster walls by paying to replace them with drywall — a less costly but functionally equivalent material. Which valuation method is this?
8. Among the three "other insurance" clause types, which one purports to provide NO coverage at all if other insurance exists — and is widely disfavored by courts?
9. An adjuster tells an insured not to bother filing a proof of loss, and the insured files none. The insurer's later reliance on that condition is most directly barred by:
10. Which is an insured's duty after loss under the Section I conditions?
Michigan licensing requirements at a glance
Quoted from NIPR, "Michigan resident licensing requirements, individual", read 2026-09-16. Confirm with the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services before you apply.
| State exam | NIPR does not verify exams before allowing submission, but an exam is required before the state approves the request. |
|---|---|
| Background check | Supporting documents are required where a background question is answered yes. Applicants with conviction histories are urged to review Chapter 12 of the Michigan Insurance Code and the department's Guiding Principles before filing. |
| How to apply | Apply electronically through NIPR's Resident License application. |
| Application fee | Resident Producer: $10 |
Source: Michigan resident licensing requirements, individual (NIPR, read 2026-09-16).
Michigan insurance exams: published facts
- Public AdjusterPublic Adjuster (16-70): 100 scored questions, 120 minutes, administered by PSI, $41 exam fee. The published passing score is 71%.
What the Michigan Public Adjuster (PSI Series 16-70) covers
Section weights from PSI publication Series 16-70, effective 2025-06-10.
| I. Insurance Regulation | 12% (12 of 100) |
| II. Insurance Basics | 23% (23 of 100) |
| III. Dwelling Policy | 8% (8 of 100) |
| IV. Homeowners Policy | 18% (18 of 100) |
| V. Commercial Package Policy (CPP) | 8% (8 of 100) |
| VI. Businessowners Policy | 8% (8 of 100) |
| VII. Adjusting Losses | 22% (22 of 100) |
| VIII. Other Coverages and Options | 1% (1 of 100) |
Everything for Michigan in one place
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Exam outlines and checklist
Frequently asked questions
Does Michigan require pre-licensing education?
Yes. The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) requires 20 hours of state-approved pre-licensing per major line (40 hours for a combined Property & Casualty license).
What's the passing score on the Michigan insurance exam?
Michigan uses a separate cut score for each exam rather than a flat 70%. The Property & Casualty combined exam requires 74%, Property-only 75%, Casualty-only 74%, Life 72%, and Accident & Health 76%. PSI administers the exams and reports results to DIFS.
Is Elite Training Academy approved in Michigan?
No. Elite Training Academy is not an approved Michigan pre-licensing provider, so you'll need to take the required course from a DIFS-approved provider. Our free practice exam can help you prepare once you've completed pre-licensing.
Related guides
- Texas insurance license cost — full breakdown
- How to get your Texas insurance license
- All exam-prep and CE pricing
Sources cited
- Michigan DIFS
- PSI — Michigan DIFS Insurance Licensing Candidate Information Bulletin
- NIPR — National Insurance Producer Registry
- MCL 500.1200 et seq. — Insurance producer licensing
This guide is based on DIFS and PSI published procedures current as of 2026. Always verify current requirements at michigan.gov/difs before relying on any specific number.