Iowa Insurance Licensing State Requirements

On this page, you will find all of the state-specific information for insurance licensing in the state of Iowa. This information pertains to resident license applicants. For additional information for resident licensing, or for nonresident license information, please refer to the Iowa Insurance Division website at http://www.iid.state.ia.us. Information is subject to change, and we will do our very best to make the process of completing your licensing education requirements as simple as possible.

Iowa Insurance Division

Iowa Insurance Division
1963 Bell Ave., Suite 100
Des Moines, IA 50315
Division Main Phone: 515-654-6600
Producer Licensing Phone: 515-654-6565
Website: http://www.iid.state.ia.us
E-mail: producer.licensing@iid.iowa.gov

How to Get Your Iowa Insurance License

1. Complete an Insurance Exam Prep Course

Those looking to earn an Iowa insurance license have a significantly higher chance of passing their licensing exam when they complete one of Kaplan’s exam prep courses. Give yourself the best chance to pass before you sit for the state exam. 

Prelicensing Education Hour Requirements

The state of Iowa does not require prelicensing education.

Adjuster Licensing Requirements

The Designated Home State (DHS) adjuster license is available to individuals who are 1) residents of a state that does not license adjusters, or 2) to individuals that are company adjusters and reside in a state that only licenses independent adjusters and wants to designate another state as their home state. 

• Individuals interested in becoming either a resident or non-resident insurance producer licensed in the state of Iowa need to apply through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) online system.
• Those wishing to become a resident insurance producer licensed in the state of Iowa must successfully pass the appropriate Iowa producer licensing exam for that specific line of authority.
• To register for the examination, please contact Pearson Vue at www.pearsonvue.com or 877-540-5825.
• If you successfully pass the Iowa producer licensing exam, your test results will be electronically submitted to the NIPR online system.
• Allow up to three business days for the exam results to transfer to the NIPR online system.
• Exam results are valid for 90 days.

2. Pass Your Iowa  Licensing Exam

After completing your exam prep course, you must pass a state licensing exam. Kaplan’s exam prep content is based directly on the Iowa licensing exams, so you will be prepared to pass the first time. 

Exam Provider: Pearson VUE

• To obtain a Licensing Information Bulletin, go to the Pearson VUE website at http://www.pearsonvue.com.
• To schedule an exam, contact Pearson VUE at http://www.pearsonvue.com or 877-540-5825.

The Iowa Insurance Division announced that insurance producer examinations will be available in an online format through OnVUE online proctoring by PearsonVUE beginning November 12, 2020. More information about OnVUE is available at the following: https://iid.iowa.gov/press-releases/onvue-to-provide-online-insurance-producer-examinations.

Overview of Process

1. Make a reservation and pay examination fee. Make a reservation (online or by phone) with Pearson VUE for the examination.
2. Go to the test center. Go to the test center on the day of the examination, bringing along all required materials. 
3. Apply for a license. After passing the examination, allow 3-4 business days for your notification to be uploaded to the NIPR (National Producer Insurance Registry) website. Then submit application and license fee online following links on www.nipr.com. 

Please note that the application process must be completed within 90 days of passing the examination.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Iowa Licensing Exam

After completing my Iowa Exam Prep, how should I prepare for exam day? 

Candidates must make an online reservation at least twenty-four (24) hours before the desired examination date. Candidates who wish to make a phone reservation at (877) 540-5825 must do so at least twenty-four (24) hours before the desired examination date

Before making a reservation, candidates should have the following: 

• Legal name, address, Social Security number, daytime telephone number, and date of birth. 
• The name of the examination(s). 
• The preferred examination date and test center location (a list of test centers appears at the end of this handbook). 

Candidates must: 

• Be at least 18 years of age prior to sitting for the examination. 
• Have a valid Social Security number.

Combination Examinations

To schedule the IA Life and the IA Accident & Health OR the IA Property and IA Casualty exams together and pay only $69, please follow the steps below once you have logged into your web account: 

• Once you have selected the first exam, you will need to select the “Add another exam to take on the same day” box. You will then be able to add the second exam. 
• Once both exams are selected, you will need to accept the box that states the following: I understand that after consecutive appointments have been scheduled, they can only be rescheduled or cancelled individually. 
• When scheduling either of these exam combinations together, you will see the $69 fee applied to Total Due on the “Enter Payment” screen. You can then proceed with payment as normal.

Required Materials

All candidates are required to bring identification that is deemed acceptable, listed under Acceptable Forms of Candidate Identification, to the test center on the day of examination. 

Candidates who have changed their names must provide written documentation of the change. This documentation may be a copy of a marriage license, divorce decree, or other official document.

Acceptable Forms of Candidate Identification 

Candidate must present two (2) forms of current signature identification. The name on the identification must exactly match the name on the registration. The primary identification must be government issued, photo-bearing with a signature and the secondary identification must contain a valid signature. Identification must be in English.

• Primary identification - (photograph, and signature, not expired)
  • Government-issued Driver’s License
  • U.S. Dept of State Driver’s License  
  • U.S. Learner’s Permit (plastic card only with photo and signature
  • National/State/Country Identification Card
  • Passport
  • Passport Cards 
  • Military ID
  • Military ID for spouses and dependents  
  • Alien Registration Card (Green Card, Permanent Resident Visa)
• Secondary ID (signature, not expired)
  • U.S. Social Security Card
  • Debit (ATM) Card or Credit Card
  • Any form of ID on the Primary list

Pearson VUE does not recognize grace periods. For example, if a candidate’s driver’s license expired yesterday and the state allows a 30-day grace period for renewing the ID, the ID is considered to be expired.

Candidates should report to the test center thirty (30) minutes before the examination and check in with the test center administrator. The candidate’s identification and other documentation will be reviewed and they will be photographed for the score report.

Test Center Policies

• No personal items are allowed in the testing room. 
  • Personal items include but are not limited to: cellular phones, hand-held computers or other electronic devices, pagers, watches, wallets, purses, firearms or other weapons, hats, bags, coats, books, and/ or notes, pens or pencils.
• Candidates must store all personal items in a secure area as indicated by the administrator, or return items to their vehicle. 
  • All electronic devices must be turned off before storing them in a locker.
• Studying is not allowed in the test center
• Visitors, children, family or friends are not allowed in the test center.
• Dictionaries, books, papers (including scratch paper), and reference materials are not permitted in the examination room (unless permitted by the exam sponsor)
• Upon entering and being seated in the testing room, the test administrator will provide the candidate with materials to make notes or calculations and any other items specified by the exam sponsor
• The candidate may not write on these items before the exam begins or remove these items from the testing room.
• Eating, drinking, or chewing gum, smoking and/or making noise that creates a disturbance for other candidates is prohibited during the exam.
• Break policies are established by the exam sponsor. Most sponsors allow unscheduled breaks. To request an unscheduled break, the candidate must raise their hand to get the administrator’s attention. The exam clock will not stop while the candidate is taking a break. 
• Candidates must leave the testing room for all breaks. Candidates are not permitted to leave the floor or building for any reason during this time, unless specified by the administrator and the exam sponsor.
• While taking a break, candidates are permitted to access personal items that are being stored during the exam only if necessary— for example, personal medication that must be taken at a specific time. However, a candidate must receive permission from the administrator prior to accessing personal items that have been stored.
  • Candidates are not allowed access to other items, including but not limited to, cellular phones, exam notes and study guides, unless the exam sponsor specifically permits this.

What is the exam like? 

• Candidates will have an opportunity to take a tutorial on the computer on which the examination will be administered.
• The time spent on this tutorial will not reduce the examination time.
• Once candidates are familiar with the computer, they may begin the examination.
• The examination begins the moment a candidate looks at the first examination question.
• After the examination time has expired, the examination will automatically end.
• Candidates will leave the test center with their official scores in hand.
• Each major lines examination is given in a multiple-choice format and consists of two parts: 
  • The general section deals with basic insurance product knowledge.
  • The state section deals with insurance laws, rules, regulations, and practices that are unique to Iowa.
• Pearson VUE routinely reviews irregularities and examination scores believed to be earned under unusual or nonstandard circumstances. 
• The performance of all candidates is monitored and may be analyzed statistically for the purpose of detecting and verifying fraud.

How is the exam scored?

• When candidates complete the examination, they will receive a score report marked “pass” or “fail.”
  • Candidates who pass the examination will receive a score report that includes information on how to apply for a license.
  • Candidates who fail the examination will receive a score report that includes a numeric score and diagnostic information relating to both the general portion and state portion of the examination, as well as information about reexamination.
  • Candidates must wait twenty-four (24) hours before making one. Reservations for reexamination are not made at the test center.
• For security reasons, examination material is not available to candidates for review.
• Examination scores are based on the number of questions answered correctly. 

How long is the exam? 

More lines available at: https://home.pearsonvue.com/getattachment/38c28fd2-cf5f-4a60-8f8c-e49e49c1ebf2/Iowa%20Insurance%20Content%20Outlines-121601.aspx

3. Apply for an Iowa Insurance License

Once you have passed your state licensing exam, you are ready to apply for an insurance license. The license fee is $50.00.

You will be assigned an NPN. This unique identifier is assigned through the licensing application process and is used to track individuals and business entities on a national basis. The NPN is used by many states to replace a producer license number.

4. Plan to Complete Required Insurance Continuing Education (CE) Credits

Every insurance producer must adhere to their home state’s CE requirements. Stay on top of your CE and ahead of the competition with 365 days of unlimited course access when you enroll in a CE library with Kaplan. 

Learn how to renew an Iowa insurance license by clicking here.