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How to Get Your North Carolina Insurance License in 2026

A complete step-by-step guide to becoming a licensed insurance producer in North Carolina. NC requires NCDOI-approved pre-licensing education — 20 hours per line of authority — before you can sit for the Pearson VUE exam.

Pre-licensing requiredNorth Carolina mandates a 20-hour NCDOI-approved pre-licensing course per line. We're working with NCDOI to get our course approved.

NC insurance license — quick facts

State regulatorNorth Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI)
Exam vendorPearson VUE
Pre-licensing educationRequired — 20 hrs per line
Exam fee (resident)~$45 per attempt
License application fee~$50 per line
FingerprintingRequired
License termContinuous (renewed every 2 years with CE)
CE requirement24 hours / 2 years incl. 3 hours ethics

The six steps

  1. 1

    Complete the required NCDOI pre-licensing course

    North Carolina requires 20 hours of NCDOI-approved pre-licensing education per line of authority — so a P&C candidate needing both Property and Casualty must complete 40 hours total. {/* TODO: verify NCDOI current PLE hours per line */} The provider issues a Certificate of Completion you'll need at the exam.

  2. 2

    Schedule your Pearson VUE exam

    NC contracts with Pearson VUE for resident producer exams. Register at pearsonvue.com/nc/insurance, pick a North Carolina testing center, and pay the current exam fee.

  3. 3

    Pass the exam at 70%

    NC uses a 70% passing standard. Your score is sent directly to NCDOI by Pearson VUE, typically within 24 hours.

  4. 4

    Submit your application through NIPR

    Submit your NC resident producer license application at nipr.com along with your pre-licensing Certificate of Completion. NCDOI license fees run roughly $50 per line. {/* TODO: verify NCDOI current fee schedule */}

  5. 5

    Complete fingerprinting

    North Carolina requires fingerprint-based background checks for new resident producers via the NCDOI-designated vendor. {/* TODO: verify current NCDOI 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 NC P&C exam

The NC Property & Casualty exam covers the standard NAIC framework plus NC-specific statutes from Chapter 58 of the General Statutes. Typical section weights:

  • NC Insurance Law (G.S. Ch. 58) — ~10-15%
  • General insurance — ~10-15%
  • Property insurance basics — ~15-20%
  • Dwelling and Homeowners policies (NC Rate Bureau) — ~15-20%
  • Auto insurance — ~15-20%
  • Commercial Package, BOP, Workers' Comp, Surety — ~15-20%

CE requirements after licensing

NC producer licenses are continuous as long as CE is met. Each biennial cycle requires 24 hours of NCDOI-approved continuing education, including 3 hours of ethics.

Cost breakdown

  • NCDOI-approved pre-licensing course: $150-$400
  • Pearson VUE exam fee: ~$45 per attempt
  • Fingerprinting: ~$40-$60
  • NCDOI license application: ~$50
  • Biennial CE: $30-$200 depending on provider

Pre-licensing required in NC — coming soon

North Carolina requires an NCDOI-approved pre-licensing course before the producer exam. We're working with the North Carolina Department of Insurance to get our course approved. Sign up to be notified when North Carolina becomes available.

See available courses →

Frequently asked questions

Does North Carolina require pre-licensing education?

Yes. NCDOI requires 20 hours of state-approved pre-licensing per line of authority. A combined P&C candidate effectively needs 40 hours (20 Property + 20 Casualty). {/* TODO: verify per-line breakdown */}

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

70%. Pearson VUE administers the exam and sends your scaled score directly to NCDOI.

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

Most candidates complete the process in 6-10 weeks: 3-4 weeks for the NCDOI-approved pre-licensing course, 2-3 weeks of exam prep, schedule and pass the Pearson VUE exam, fingerprinting, then file the NIPR application.

Related guides

Sources cited

This guide is based on NCDOI and Pearson VUE published procedures current as of 2026. Fees and procedures change — always verify current requirements at ncdoi.gov before relying on any specific number.