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How to Get Your New York Insurance License in 2026

A complete step-by-step guide to becoming a licensed insurance producer in New York. NY is among the most demanding states for new producers — the NY Department of Financial Services (DFS) requires a full pre-licensing course (40 hours for P&C) before you can sit for the exam.

Pre-licensing requiredNew York mandates an approved pre-licensing course before the exam. We're working with NY DFS to approve our course; until then, we can't sell our New York exam-prep program standalone.

NY insurance license — quick facts

State regulatorNY Department of Financial Services (DFS)
Exam vendorPSI
Pre-licensing educationRequired — 40 hrs combined P&C; ~20 hrs Life or A&H
Exam fee (resident)~$33 per attempt
License application feeVaries by line
FingerprintingRequired (IdentoGO)
License term2 years
CE requirement15 hours / 2 years incl. 3 hours ethics

The six steps

  1. 1

    Complete the required pre-licensing course

    New York DFS requires completion of a DFS-approved pre-licensing course before you can sit for the exam: 40 hours for combined Property & Casualty, ~20 hours each for Life and Accident & Health under NY DFS Regulation 64-A. The provider issues a Certificate of Completion that's good for two years. {/* TODO: verify current NY DFS Reg 64-A hours */}

  2. 2

    Schedule your PSI exam

    New York contracts with PSI for resident producer exams. Register at psiexams.com, pick a New York testing center, and pay the current exam fee. {/* TODO: verify current NY exam vendor — historically PSI */}

  3. 3

    Pass the exam at 70%

    New York uses a 70% passing standard. Your score is sent directly to NY DFS by the exam vendor, typically within 24 hours.

  4. 4

    Submit your application through NIPR

    Submit your NY resident producer license application at nipr.com along with your pre-licensing Certificate of Completion. NY DFS license fees vary by line. {/* TODO: verify NY DFS current fee schedule */} Licenses typically issue within 2-4 weeks of a clean application.

  5. 5

    Complete fingerprinting

    New York requires fingerprint-based background checks for new resident producers via IdentoGO. Schedule through IdentoGO and have results forwarded to DFS. {/* TODO: verify current DFS fingerprint vendor */}

  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.

What's on the NY P&C exam

The NY Property & Casualty exam covers the standard NAIC framework plus NY-specific provisions from the NY Insurance Law and DFS regulations. Typical section weights :

  • NY Insurance Law & DFS regulation — ~15-20%
  • General insurance — ~10-15%
  • Property insurance basics — ~15-20%
  • Dwelling and Homeowners policies — ~10-15%
  • Auto insurance (incl. NY no-fault PIP) — ~15-20%
  • Commercial Package, BOP, Workers' Comp, Surety — ~15-20%

NY DFS — the strictest U.S. insurance regulator

NY DFS is widely regarded as the most rigorous state insurance regulator in the U.S. Resident adjuster licenses require 200 hours of pre-licensing education — a higher bar than any other state. Producer applications are scrutinized for complete fingerprinting, clean disciplinary histories, and accurate disclosure. Plan to budget extra time for application processing.

CE requirements after licensing

NY producer licenses renew every 2 years. Each renewal cycle requires 15 hours of DFS-approved continuing education, including 3 hours of ethics.

Cost breakdown

  • DFS-approved pre-licensing course: $200-$500 (40 hr P&C)
  • PSI exam fee: ~$33 per attempt
  • Fingerprinting (IdentoGO): ~$100
  • NY DFS license application: varies by line
  • Biennial CE: $30-$200 depending on provider

Pre-licensing required in NY — coming soon

New York requires a DFS-approved pre-licensing course before the producer exam. We're working with NY DFS to get our course approved. Sign up to be notified when New York becomes available.

See available courses →

Frequently asked questions

Does New York require pre-licensing education?

Yes. NY DFS Regulation 64-A requires resident producers to complete an approved pre-licensing course before sitting for the exam: 40 hours combined for Property & Casualty and approximately 20 hours each for Life and Accident & Health. {/* TODO: verify current hours */}

How strict is NY compared to other states?

Very. NY DFS is one of the strictest U.S. insurance regulators. Adjuster licenses, for example, require 200 hours of pre-licensing education. Producer applications are reviewed carefully — clean fingerprints, no unresolved disciplinary matters, and a complete file are essential.

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

70%. PSI administers the exam and sends your scaled score directly to DFS.

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

Most candidates complete the process in 8-12 weeks: 4-6 weeks for the DFS-approved pre-licensing course, 2-3 weeks of exam prep, schedule and pass the PSI exam, fingerprinting, and then 2-4 weeks for DFS to issue.

Related guides

Sources cited

This guide is based on NY DFS and PSI published procedures current as of 2026. Fees and procedures change — always verify current requirements at dfs.ny.gov before relying on any specific number.