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How to Get Your Ohio Insurance License in 2026

A complete step-by-step guide to becoming a licensed insurance producer in Ohio. Ohio requires ODI-approved pre-licensing education before you can sit for the producer exam.

Pre-licensing requiredOhio requires 20 hours of ODI-approved pre-licensing per line before the exam. Take it from an ODI-approved provider — Elite Training Academy is not an approved Ohio pre-licensing provider.

Ohio insurance license — quick facts

State regulatorOhio Department of Insurance (ODI)
Exam vendorPSI
Pre-licensing educationRequired — 20 hours per line (ORC Chapter 3905)
Exam fee (resident)$49 per attempt
License application fee$10 per line + NIPR fee
FingerprintingRequired — BCI + FBI via WebCheck (~$72)
License term2 years
CE requirement24 hours / 2 years incl. 3 hours ethics
Workers' CompMonopolistic state fund (BWC) — cannot be written by private carriers

The six steps

  1. 1

    Complete the required ODI pre-licensing course

    The Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) requires 20 hours of state-approved pre-licensing per line of authority before you can sit for the resident producer exam. The provider issues a Certificate of Completion, which is emailed to PSI (ohcert@psiexams.com) within 24 hours of passing your exam.

  2. 2

    Schedule your PSI exam

    Ohio contracts with PSI for resident producer exams. Register at psiexams.com, pick an Ohio testing center, and pay the $49 exam fee.

  3. 3

    Pass the exam at 70%

    Ohio uses a flat 70% passing score (percentage of questions answered correctly). The Property & Casualty exam (Series 11-36) is 150 questions with a 2.5-hour limit. PSI transmits your result to ODI daily.

  4. 4

    Submit your application through NIPR

    Submit your OH resident producer license application at nipr.com. The ODI resident producer license fee is $10 per line of authority, plus a small NIPR transaction fee.

  5. 5

    Complete fingerprinting

    Ohio requires a fingerprint-based background check (BCI and FBI) for new resident producers via WebCheck. It runs about $72 if done at a PSI test center; schedule through an approved WebCheck location.

  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 Ohio P&C exam

The Ohio Property & Casualty exam covers the standard NAIC framework plus Ohio-specific statutes from ORC Title 39 and ODI administrative rules. Typical section weights:

  • Ohio Insurance Law (ORC Title 39) — ~10-15%
  • General insurance — ~10-15%
  • Property insurance basics — ~15-20%
  • Dwelling and Homeowners policies — ~15-20%
  • Auto insurance — ~15-20%
  • Commercial Package, BOP, Surety — ~15-20%

Workers' compensation is typically covered as awareness only — since the line is monopolistic in Ohio, deep WC product knowledge isn't tested in detail.

Ohio BWC: monopolistic WC state fund

The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) is the exclusive workers' comp carrier in Ohio. Private WC carriers cannot write coverage in OH — employers must enroll with BWC. Producers serving multi-state commercial accounts should know to route Ohio-payroll WC questions to BWC directly.

CE requirements after licensing

Ohio producer licenses renew every 2 years. Each renewal cycle requires 24 hours of ODI-approved continuing education, including 3 hours of ethics.

Cost breakdown

  • ODI-approved 20-hour pre-licensing course: $150-$400
  • PSI exam fee: $49 per attempt
  • Fingerprinting (WebCheck, BCI + FBI): ~$72
  • ODI license application: $10 per line + NIPR fee
  • Biennial CE: $30-$200 depending on provider

Preparing for the Ohio exam

Ohio requires a 20-hour ODI-approved pre-licensing course per line before the producer exam — take it from an ODI-approved provider. Elite Training Academy is not an approved Ohio pre-licensing provider. Once your pre-licensing is done, our free practice exam is a good way to get exam-ready.

Try the free practice exam →

Frequently asked questions

Does Ohio require pre-licensing education?

Yes. The Ohio Department of Insurance requires 20 hours of ODI-approved pre-licensing per line of authority before sitting for the producer exam.

Can I sell workers' compensation insurance in Ohio?

No. Ohio's Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) is a monopolistic state fund — private carriers cannot write WC in Ohio. Producers serving multi-state commercial accounts need to refer OH-payroll exposures to BWC directly. This is one of only four states with monopolistic WC (along with ND, WY, WA).

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

A flat 70% (percentage of questions answered correctly). The Property & Casualty exam is 150 questions with a 2.5-hour time limit.

How long does it take to get an Ohio insurance license?

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

Related guides

Sources cited

This guide is based on ODI and PSI published procedures current as of 2026. Fees and procedures change — always verify current requirements at insurance.ohio.gov before relying on any specific number.