How to Get Your California Life & Health Insurance License: Complete Guide

California is one of the largest, most competitive insurance markets in the country — and getting licensed here takes more preparation than in most states. The California Department of Insurance (CDI) has specific requirements, and the process is detailed. But it's straightforward when you know the steps in the right order.

Here's the complete guide to getting your California life and health insurance license.

Step 1: Meet the Basic Eligibility Requirements

Before you start, confirm that you meet California's baseline requirements:

• You must be at least 18 years old
• You must be a resident of California or have a qualifying business presence in the state (non-residents can apply separately)
• You must be able to pass a background check
• You must truthfully complete the license application and disclose any relevant history

There's no degree requirement. You don't need prior insurance experience. But you do need to be able to pass the prelicense requirements and the state exam.

Step 2: Complete Your Prelicense Education

California requires all applicants for the resident Life, Accident, and Health Insurance Producer license to complete CDI-approved prelicense education before sitting for the exam.

The standard requirement is:

• 12 hours of California Insurance Code and Ethics coursework

That's a combined 12 hours total under AB 943 (effective January 1, 2026), which eliminated all line-specific prelicense hours. Only the 12-hour California Insurance Code and Ethics course is required.

Prelicense education must be completed through a CDI-approved provider. You'll receive a certificate of completion once you finish, which is required to schedule the exam.

Step 3: Schedule Your State Exam

California insurance licensing exams are administered by PSI Exams Online. Once your prelicense education is complete:

• Register at psiexams.com
• Schedule your exam at a California testing center
• Pay the exam fee (typically around $75 per exam attempt)
• Bring two forms of valid ID on test day — one must be government-issued with a photo
• Exam seats are usually available within a week or two, though high-demand testing sites can take longer.

Step 4: Pass the Exam

The California Life, Accident, and Health exam:

• Contains 150 scored questions (plus some unscored pilot questions)
• Gives you up to 3 hours and 15 minutes
• Requires a score of 60% to pass

You'll see your pass/fail result immediately after finishing. Failed candidates receive a printed breakdown of performance by content area.

Step 5: Get Fingerprinted and Complete the Background Check

California requires fingerprinting for all applicants as part of a criminal background check. Fingerprinting is done through Live Scan, California's electronic fingerprinting system. You'll receive a Live Scan form from CDI after your exam, and you'll take it to an approved Live Scan location.

The fingerprint check runs through both California Department of Justice and FBI databases. Results are typically submitted to CDI within a few days.

Step 6: Submit Your License Application

You can apply for your license through Sircon or NIPR — both are CDI-approved online portals for submitting license applications. The application fee is paid at submission (fees vary depending on license line, but budget around $188 for initial Life, Accident, and Health licensing).

Your application will include:

• Confirmation of exam completion
• Background check clearance
• Disclosure of any past criminal history, regulatory actions, or bankruptcies
• Residency and business information

Step 7: Wait for License Approval

Once CDI has your application, exam results, fingerprint clearance, and payment, they review everything together. Processing times vary — simple applications typically clear within 2 to 4 weeks, though applications that require additional review take longer.

Step 8: Get Appointed by a Carrier

Your license alone doesn't authorize you to sell. You need to be appointed by at least one insurance company before you can write policies. Most carriers handle the appointment process once you've contracted with them as an agent.

Total Timeline

From starting your prelicense course to holding your license in hand, most California applicants finish in 6 to 12 weeks. Moving through each step promptly — booking your exam early, scheduling fingerprinting right after — keeps the timeline on the shorter end.

5 Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need to take Life and Health separately or together? They're combined into a single Life, Accident, and Health license in California. You complete one combined exam, though the prelicense education covers both lines.

2. Can I take the prelicense course online? Yes. CDI accepts approved online prelicense education, and most candidates complete it at their own pace online.

3. What happens if I fail the exam? You can retake it. Each retake requires a new PSI registration and fee. California doesn't cap retake attempts, but repeated failures may require waiting periods.

4. How long is my California license valid? California resident producer licenses are issued as non-expiring as long as you complete CE and renewal requirements. License renewal is tied to a specific biennial cycle based on your license date.

5. Does California reciprocate with other states? Yes. Once you hold a California resident license, you can apply for non-resident licenses in most other states relatively easily.

Start Your California Insurance Career the Right Way

California's licensing process rewards applicants who take each step seriously. At JustInsurance, our California prelicense course is built specifically for the CDI exam — covering the Life, Accident & Health material plus the mandatory California Insurance Code and Ethics hours.

Enroll today and take your first step toward a California insurance license.