Massachusetts Insurance Licensing State Requirements

On this page, you will find all of the state-specific information for insurance licensing in the state of Massachusetts. This information pertains to resident license applicants. For additional information for resident licensing, or for nonresident license information, please refer to the Massachusetts Division of Insurance website at ttps://www.mass.gov/orgs/division-of-insurance. 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.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Division of Insurance
One South Station, 5th Floor  
Boston, MA 02110-2208
Phone: 617-521-7794
Fax:  617-521-7576
Website: http://www.mass.gov/doi
Email: producerupdate.mailbox@state.ma.us

How to Get Your Massachusetts Insurance License

1. Complete an Insurance Exam Prep Course

Those looking to earn a Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts does not require prelicensing education. Although prelicensing education is not required, due to the difficulty and nature of the exam, Kaplan highly recommends enrolling in a study course.

2. Pass Your Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts licensing exams, so you will be prepared to pass the first time. 

Exam Provider: Prometric

To obtain a Licensing Information Bulletin, go to the Prometric website at http://www.prometric.com. To schedule an exam, contact Prometric at http://www.prometric.com or 800-741-9380.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Massachusetts Licensing Exam

After completing my Massachusetts exam prep, how should I prepare for exam day? 

Create or Login to Your Account

Before scheduling your test, please create an account or log into your existing account.  To create an account, you must:

• Select “MA” as your state
• Select “Insurance” as the business type
• Enter your eligibility number (SSN)

Schedule Your Test

Once you are set up and logged into your account, you are able to schedule your test.  Just enter your eligibility number (Social Security Number/SSN) and the first four letters of your last name. PLEASE NOTE: You must have an account and select MA’s insurance test in order to schedule online.

Review the Test Content Outlines

Download the License Information Bulletin

Exam Day

You should arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled exam appointment. This allows time for you to sign in and for staff to verify your identification and complete all security checks.

You required identification document must:

• Be government-issued (e.g., driver’s license, state-issued identification card, passport, or military identification card).
• Contain both a current photo and signature (if not, you must present two identification cards: one with your photo and one with your signature).
• Exactly match the name used to register for the exam (including designations such as “Jr.” and “III”).

What is the exam like? 

• The exam will be administered by computer but you do not need any computer experience or typing skill to take the exam.
• While in the test center, you will be continuously monitored by video. 
• During your examination, you will also be monitored by physical walk-throughs and through an observation window.
• All testing sessions are video and audio recorded. 
• You must present valid (unexpired) and acceptable ID(s) in order to take your test. 
• You will be scanned with a metal detector wand prior to every entry into the test room. (If you refuse, you cannot test).
• You will be required to raise your pants legs above your ankles, empty and turn all pockets inside-out and raise shirt sleeves above your wrists prior to every entry into the test room.
• If you are wearing eyeglasses, you will be required to remove them for visual inspection to ensure they do not contain a recording device. 
  • Large jewelry items must be stored in your locker due to concerns over concealed recording devices.
• You must sign the test center roster each time you leave the test room.
  • You must also sign back in and show your ID to the Test Center Administrator (TCA) in order to re-enter the test room.
• You are prohibited from communicating, publishing, reproducing, or transmitting any part of your test, in any form or by any means, verbal or written, for any purpose.
• You must not talk to other candidates or refer to their screens, testing materials, or written notes in the test room.
• You must not use written notes, published materials, or other testing aids.
• You are allowed to bring soft earplugs or center-supplied tissues into the test room.
• Any clothing or jewelry items allowed to be worn in the test room must remain on your person at all times. Removed clothing or jewelry items must be stored in your locker.
• You must not bring any personal/unauthorized items into the testing room
  • Such items include but are not limited to outerwear, hats, food, drinks, purses, briefcases, notebooks, pagers, watches, cellular telephones, recording devices, and photographic equipment. Weapons are not allowed at any Prometric test center. You will be asked to empty and turn your pockets inside out prior to every entry into the test room to confirm that you have no prohibited items. 
• You must return all materials issued to you by the test center administrator (“TCA”) at the end of your test. 
• You are not allowed to use any electronic device or phone during breaks.
• If you have a medical condition that may require you to access food or medicine during your exam session, you must store those items separately from other items you place in the test center locker.
  • You must inform the TCA before you retrieve the food or medicine, and the TCA will observe you obtaining the item from the locker. You are not allowed to access any item other than food or medicine needed for a medical reason.
• You must conduct yourself in a civil manner at all times when on the premises of the test center.
• The examination contains four-option multiple-choice questions. 
• Three different multiple-choice formats are used. (*) indicates the correct answer in each example. 
  • Format 1: Direct question
    • Which one of the following is a type of health insurance policy designed to replace the wages of an insured that is unable to work due to an accident or sickness?
      1. Disability Income Insurance Policy *
      2. Employer-Sponsored Group Major Medical Policy
      3. Hospital Expense Insurance Policy
      4. Special Risk Policy
  • Format 2: Incomplete sentence
    • Benefits under workers' compensation insurance are payable:
      1. For bodily injury that is accidental or international
      2. Regardless of the liability of the employer *
      3. Unless safety rules are violated
      4. Up to a maximum of 30 percent of weekly wages
  • Format 3: All of the following except
    • A life insurance policy may include provisions that do all of the following EXCEPT:
      1. Restrict coverage if death is caused by suicide
      2. Require evidence of insurability to reinstate coverage
      3. Extend the contestable period beyond two years *
      4. Adjust proceeds if the insured's age is misstated on the application

• The examination may include some experimental questions that will not be scored.
• If present, they are distributed throughout the examination and will not be identified as such.
• These experimental questions will not be counted for or against you in the final examination score.
  • You will be helping us help future test takers by completing five (5) experimental test questions in your exam.
  • The questions will: 
    • be randomly distributed within your test;
    • will not be counted in your final score;
    • will not count against your time allotted for the test. 

How is the exam scored?

• At the end of the exam, your exam score will be shown on the screen and you will receive a printed exam score report.
• The report indicates your overall score and grade, including the numerical percentage of questions answered correctly and whether you passed or failed. 
• You are required to receive a minimum of 70% to pass your exam. 
• The report also displays your correct percentage in each major section of the exam, as defined by the exam content outline.
  • These section scores are shown to guide you in areas requiring additional preparation for retesting if you do not pass the exam.
  • Even after you pass, you may want to focus on these areas as you begin to provide insurance products and services to the public. 
• Your total percentage score is computed by dividing the number of questions you answered correctly by the total number of questions in the exam
• The total score is not computed by adding the section percentages and dividing by the total number of sections.
• Your test score report will be electronically submitted to NIPR so that you will be able to apply online at the NIPR website.
• If applying by paper, the original passing exam score report(s) for a Producer license is to be submitted to the Division’s P.O. Box address at MA Division of Insurance, along with your application and fee for licensure.

How long is the exam? 

The license exam for each license type consists of questions that test knowledge of topical areas listed in that exam’s content outline. You can view a complete outline specific to your exam online here.

3. Apply for Massachusetts Insurance License

Once you have passed your state licensing exam, you are ready to apply for an insurance license.

• You must apply for and be issued a license within 12 months of passing your exam or you will have to retake the exam.
• Issuance of a license depends on review and approval of all license application documents.

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 Massachusetts insurance license by clicking here.