Step 4 Take Required Training
IMPORTANT: You can take free training from CMS, or sign up for a paid course through a CMS-approved vendor. Vendor training may offer continuing education units . Free CMS training doesn’t offer CEUs.
- Log in to the CMS Enterprise Portal at
- Select Complete Agent Broker Training.
- Select the Access Training link next to Marketplace Learning Management System or a CMS-approved vendor.
- Complete the required profile information and select Save/Update.
- Select the appropriate curriculum .
- Enroll in the curriculum and select Complete Enrollment.
- Complete all required training.
Prepare With A Texas Pre
Our Texas pre-licensing insurance courses cover the various insurance concepts, definitions, insurance laws and agent regulations listed on the Texas Examination Content Outline. Courses are presented in a clear and concise format and include instructional videos, interactive illustrations, practice exams, and student support.
National Online Insurance School provides the following pre-licensing insurance courses in Texas:
| Pre-Licensing Course |
|---|
How To Become An Insurance Broker In Texas
If you are seeking to become an insurance broker in Texas, your first step will be to get the appropriate insurance licenses for the type of insurances you want to sell. To be licensed, you will need to satisfactorily demonstrate the appropriate depth of knowledge concerning regulations and legalities central to the insurance industry and actions expected of insurance brokers when dealing with the public. The purpose of such legalities and regulations, along with specific licensing requirements, are implemented to ensure the public is protected from unscrupulous business behaviors. An insurance broker is expected to act in his customer best interest by exhibiting honesty and integrity when representing clients.
Visit the Prometric agency website authorized by Texas to administer insurance licensing testing–and order study materials for the type of test you want to take.
Study the materials sent to you by Prometric and be sure to retain the information for testing.
Schedule the time and date to take your licensing test by revisiting the Prometric website.
Show up at the test center where you scheduled your exam, at the time and date scheduled and take your exam.
Wait for the final results to be mail to you indicating a passing score.
Get sponsored by an insurance company so your can apply for your license. Search your local newspaper ads for insurance companies that are hiring for the exams you have taken and passed.
Tip
Warning
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Find And Maintain Clients
You have a license. Now what? Youll want to begin prospecting for clients. Many agents begin by writing their own insurance and prospecting to friends and family. This is a great way to get a good feel for how the systems work and become comfortable quoting new coverage.
At this point, its a good idea to begin marketing your agency. You may want to join the local chamber of commerce, create a website and promote your business online, or explore local advertising options. Many options are available, and most will require some trial and error until you find what works best for you.
Agent/agency Criteria For Becoming Appointed With Community Health Choice:
- The agent/agency must be domiciled and operating within one of the 20 counties Community operates within: Harris, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, Orange, Waller, Walker, San Jacinto, Polk, Tyler, Jasper, Newton, Hardin, Austin, Wharton, and Matagorda.
- The agent/agency must hold an active Texas Department of Insurance Health and Life HMO Agent License. The agent/agency must not have any sanctions placed on the agent/agency with the State of Texas or OIG .
- If selling on the Health Insurance Marketplace, the agent/agency must have completed all required CMS training and received active benefit year certification.
- The agent/agency must provide all required paperwork.
- The agent/agency must complete Community-required agent training and pass the agent training quiz with a minimum score of 80%.
Application & Agreement
If you are a Producer interested in marketing and selling Community Health Choice plan options, simply fill out the form below to start the process.
We will send you an email with the information for contracting.
For general contracting questions or inquiries, contact us by phone at 713.295.6760 or email us.
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How Do I Get My License
Step 1 : Complete an optional prelicensing course that helps prepare you to take and pass your licensing exam.
Step 2: Schedule your exam online with your states testing provider, Pearson Vue. You may also schedule over the phone at 754-7667. Payment is not accepted at the testing center.
If you need to reschedule your exam, you must do so at least 24 hours prior to your testing appointment or you will forfeit your examination fee. If you are cancelling your appointment, you must do so at least three calendar days prior to your appointment.
Step 3: Be aware that the state of Texas requires license candidates to submit fingerprints to the Department of Insurance. Electronic fingerprinting appointments must be made online through IdentoGO by MorphoTrust USA by calling 888-467-2080 Monday through Friday, 8AM5PM Central time. For more information on fingerprinting requirements, please see the instructions available through Pearson VUE. https://www.tdi.texas.gov/agent/documents/fpinstructions.pdf
Step 4: Take and pass your state licensing exam. On the day of your appointment you must bring with you two valid forms of government issued identification , one of which must contain a photograph and a signature. You will not be able to take your exam if these requirements are not met.
If you pass, you will receive a successful score report. If you do not pass, you will receive a report indicating your strengths and weaknesses by examination type.
Consider Earning A Bachelor’s Degree
While the Texas Department of Insurance doesn’t require professionals to earn a bachelor’s degree, completing a degree program may advance your knowledge of insurance and strengthen your skill set. You may earn a bachelor’s degree in business, economics, finance or marketing. While in college, you can consider completing an internship with an insurance agency to observe experienced brokers as they work with clients and perform research.
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Pass The Texas Insurance License Exam
Once you are prepared to sit for your state exam, you must register to take it with Pearson Vue, the state’s testing administrator. Registration must occur at least 24 hours in advance of the date in which you intend to sit for your state exam. Exam reservations can be made online at the Pearson Vue website or over the phone at 754-7667.
$43.00 for General Lines – Life, Accident & Health
$33.00 for Life
About the state exam
- You are required to provide two current forms of identification at the testing center. The name on the identification must exactly match the name on the registration. The primary identification must be government-issued and photo-bearing with a signature, such as a driver’s license, passport, etc. The secondary identification must contain a valid signature and must not be expired, such as a Debit or Credit card. Identification must be in English.
- You should arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment to allow time for check-in procedures. If you arrive late you will not be allowed to take your exam and will forfeit your exam fee.
- Applicants with disabilities should make special arrangements before registering for the state exam by visiting the Pearson Vue test accommodations page. You may contact the Pearson Vue ADA Coordinator at if you have additional questions concerning test accommodations.
- Passing score is 70%
| 15 | 100 |
Pass Your Texas Licensing Exam
After completing your required prelicensing course, you must pass a state licensing exam. Kaplans prelicensing content is based directly on the Texas licensing exams, so you will be prepared to pass the first time.
Certificate of Completion Requirements
Insurance Adjusters: Applicants who qualify for an Adjuster license by completing a Texas Department of Insurance approved course within 12 months prior to submitting an application, must submit to the TDI the TDI license application along with the course certificate of completion.
Exam Provider: Pearson VUE
Texas will begin offering remote proctored state exams. For most major insurance agent lines, you have a new option when you take a certification exam. You can now take an online exam at your home or office. An off-site monitor will use your computers webcam and microphone to monitor you. This is currently available for General Lines Life and Health, General Lines Property and Casualty, Personal Lines Property and Casualty, and Life Agent exams. For more information, or to schedule an exam appointment, please visit .
Frequently Asked Questions About the Texas Licensing Exam
After completing my prelicensing, how should I prepare for exam day?
Exam Preparation
Before making a reservation, candidates should have the following:
- Legal name
- The name of the examination
- The preferred examination date and test center location
Exam Day
Required Identification
Primary ID
Secondary ID
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Completing The Criminal Background Check
Requirements For Texas Insurance Agent License
Related
The first requirement for a Texas insurance license is deciding what kind of license you want. The Texas Department of Insurance lists multiple career paths on its website, including agents, adjusters and risk managers. The path to acquiring a Texas insurance license is similar for all of them.
Tip
To get a Texas insurance license you first have to pass the state exam. Next you submit your fingerprints for a background check. If you pass the exam and the check, submit your license application.
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Get Appointed With An Insurance Company To Sell Products
You must be appointed by an insurance company before you have the authority to sell its products. You will need to complete an application with each insurance company you plan to sell products for and be granted an appointment and binding authority, which is recorded on your state insurance license.
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What Is An Insurance Broker
An insurance broker is responsible for helping clients research and purchase insurance policies. They often specialize in one type of insurance, like auto or property insurance. Typically, they analyze their client’s insurance needs and perform research to determine which policy is the best fit. Then, insurance brokers may provide several policy options that clients can choose from, which range in price and coverage. While they can’t bind insurance policies, they can assist insurance agents in purchasing policies for clients.
Related:Insurance Broker vs. Insurance Agent: What’s the Difference?
Where Is The Work Environment For An Insurance Broker
Insurance brokers often work in an office setting to research policies and work with clients. They may travel throughout the workday to meet clients and provide them with information on their policy options. Insurance brokers often work independently, though they collaborate with insurance agents to bind policies for clients.
Please note that none of the companies mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.
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What Does A Health Insurance Agent Do
A health insurance agent does insurance plans. In particular, they are trained insurance professionals who can help you enroll in a health insurance plan.
Their duties include attracting new clients and answering their questions, helping clients choose the best policy, and making sure all legal requirements are met.
Education And Training Requirements
Insurance agents only need a high school diploma, but some employers may prefer candidates with a college degree in business, finance or marketing. The University of North Texas, for instance, offers a Bachelor of Business Administration degree program with a concentration in risk management and insurance. The curriculum covers insurance company operations, corporate risk management and other related topics. Similar programs are available at the University of Texas at Tyler and the University of Houston-Downtown.
A bachelor’s degree takes four years to complete. If you want to start your career faster, consider taking a course in finance, risk management or economics. The American College of Financial Services features several certification programs in wealth management, retirement income planning, financial planning and more. Some courses can be completed online.
Note that many insurance companies offer on-the-job training. New agents may have the opportunity to complete an internship program so they can learn more about this business model and hone their leadership skills. If you complete a college degree program in risk management or a related field, you may be able to secure an internship while attending school.
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What Types Of Insurance Do Agents Usually Sell
Insurance agents usually sell one or more types of insurance:
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Property and casualty insurance: These policies protect people or businesses from financial loss as a result of fire, theft, auto accidents or other events that can cause property damage.
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Life insurance: These policies are designed to pay a beneficiary when a policyholder dies.
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Health and long-term care insurance: These policies are designed to cover the cost of assisted-living and medical care for seniors.
Insurance Agent Career Profile
Texas was home to more than 33,290 insurance sales agents in 2019, reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics . Most professionals in this field make approximately $68,740 per year, or slightly over $33 per hour. Some are independent and represent different companies, while others sell insurance products for a single company.
Independent agents may sell one or more types of insurance, such as health coverage, life insurance or disability insurance policies. Many of them also specialize in other financial products, from annuities to mutual funds. As an independent agent, you can either start your own business or work for brokerages and insurance agencies. The BLS reports that 12 percent of insurance agents are self-employed.
Captive agents are typically employed by the insurance company they represent. Therefore, they receive a salary and benefits plus a commission per sale. The downside is that they can only sell specific products. Independent agents, on the other hand, can provide their clients with multiple quotes from different companies and help them choose the best policy for their needs.
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Top 10 Insurance Agent Associations & Groups
Membership in insurance agent associations and industry trade groups can help insurance agents in numerous ways. These organizations offer opportunities for professional development, help agents stay abreast of important industry news and events, and provide an important voice of advocacy in legislative and regulatory issues. They also can lead to key networking opportunities, which is an important business development tool for insurance agents and brokers relationship building has long been a key tenet of the insurance industry.
Insurance agents should consider membership or attending the national conferences of one or more of the following organizations:
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American Agents Alliance
Founded in 1962 in Southern California, this member-driven organization is dedicated to serving the needs of independent brokers and agents. Membership benefits include access to industry insurance, government advocacy, continuing education, and networking opportunities at local meetings and the AAA national convention.
There are many other specialty insurance and related trade associations in the U.S. as well. The Insurance Risk Management Institute offers a comprehensivelist of insurance organizations on its website.
Which Insurance Licenses Do You Need
The first step to getting your insurance license is choosing which licenses you need. The most common licenses new insurance agents get are the property & casualty license , life and health insurance license .
The types of insurance products and policies youll be selling will determine which licenses you need. Here are some examples of the types of policies you can market with each license:
- Life and Health Insurance License Life Insurance, Annuities, Medicare, Health Insurance, etc
Most insurance agents and producers choose to get both P& C and L& H licenses, but if you plan on specializing in only one category then you dont need every license.
Insurance adjusters require a separate license. You can find more information on becoming an insurance adjuster here: Texas Insurance Adjuster License
Note:
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