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Texas Surplus Lines License - Application Process & Exam Guide
Everything you need to get your Texas Surplus Lines license: the official application process, what the exam actually tests, and exam prep built to match it.
Texas issues this as Surplus Lines Agent.
Exam logistics
How to get your Texas Surplus Lines license
- 1
Pick your line of authority
Most new TX producers start with General Lines Property & Casualty (this is the course we sell). Other options: General Lines Life Accident Health & HMO, Personal Lines P&C, Life Agent. Each line has its own exam.
- 2
Schedule fingerprinting through IdentoGO
TDI requires a fingerprint-based background check. Use IdentoGO with TDI service code 11G6QF.
Cost: $40Time: 30 minutes; results to TDI in 3-5 business daysSchedule fingerprinting → - 3
Study with our exam prep course
TDI does NOT mandate state-approved pre-licensing education, but the exam itself is challenging — particularly the Texas-specific statutes section (~33% of all questions). Expect 3-4 weeks of part-time study to be ready.
Cost: $49.99Time: 3-4 weeks part-timeSee the Texas exam prep course → - 4
Schedule your Pearson VUE exam
Once you're scoring 70%+ on full-length practice exams, register at Pearson VUE for a Texas testing center near you. Most candidates can sit within 1-2 weeks of registering.
Cost: $43Time: 1-2 weeks to first available slotSchedule at Pearson VUE → - 5
Pass the exam (70%)
Texas General Lines P&C is 150 scored questions in 2.5 hours; you need 70% to pass. Pearson VUE sends your score to TDI automatically within 24 hours.
Time: 2.5 hours at the testing center - 6
Apply for your license through Sircon
After passing, file your TDI license application at Sircon (most common) or NIPR. The fee is $50 application + $10 fingerprint surcharge.
Cost: $60Time: 1-3 business days for TDI to issueApply at Sircon → - 7
Get appointed by an insurer
A Texas producer license alone doesn't authorize you to sell — you need at least one carrier appointment. Most agencies handle this on day one of employment.
Cost: Usually paid by employerTime: Same day as offer
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Texas Surplus Lines exam?
Texas administers the Surplus Lines, 60 scored questions, a 60-minute time limit, administered by Pearson VUE. The exam fee is $29.
What score do I need to pass?
Texas does not publish a passing score for this examination, so treat the candidate handbook as the authority rather than any figure quoted elsewhere.
Does Texas require state-approved prelicensing education?
No. Texas does not mandate prelicensing education for the Surplus Lines license - passing the exam is what qualifies you. Exam prep alone is sufficient.
How much does it cost and how long does it take to get licensed in Texas?
Budget $190-$200 all-in (fingerprinting, exam fee, license application, and exam prep), and 4-8 weeks part-time from starting to study to holding your license, most of it spent studying at your own pace.
Is the practice exam built to the real Texas exam's format?
We build every course from Texas's own published material. A section-by-section exam blueprint for this specific license has not yet been transcribed into our registry, so the course uses its standard internal weighting rather than a state-verified one - check back as we complete the blueprint audit.
Ready to start studying?
Exam prep built directly to Texas's content outline, with practice questions and a full-length final exam.
Start studying: $49.99 →