Virginia Insurance License Requirements Explained: What Every Applicant Must Know

Virginia stands out from most states in ways that matter to every applicant: it does not require prelicensing education, its licensing authority is the Bureau of Insurance within the State Corporation Commission rather than a standalone department, its exam score is only valid for 183 days, and its fingerprinting vendor is Fieldprint — not IdentoGO, which most other states use. If you have read generic insurance licensing content and assumed Virginia works the same way as other states, this post corrects the record. Here is every requirement, every deadline, and every number you need to get your Virginia insurance license right the first time.

Who Must Be Licensed

Under Title 38.2 of the Code of Virginia, any individual who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance in Virginia must hold an active Virginia insurance producer license for the applicable line of authority. The license is required regardless of whether you are a Virginia resident — nonresidents who transact insurance in the state must hold a nonresident Virginia license.

Eligibility requirements for resident applicants:

At least 18 years of age

Legal resident of Virginia

Valid Social Security Number or Federal Employer Identification Number

No disqualifying criminal history (reviewed through background check)

The Licensing Exam: Prometric

Virginia's insurance licensing exams are administered exclusively by Prometric. The Bureau of Insurance has contracted with Prometric for exam development and delivery. You register at prometric.com/virginia/insurance or by calling (866) 891-6396.

No prelicensing course is required before sitting any Virginia insurance exam except Title. The Title exam requires prior completion of an approved 16-hour course.

Exam structure by line:

Passing score: 70% on all exams.

Retake policy: 24-hour wait between attempts; 30-day mandatory wait after 3rd failure on the same exam.

Score validity: 183 days from the exam date. You must apply for and receive your license within 183 days of passing.

Experimental questions: Each exam contains unscored pretest questions mixed in with scored questions. They are not identified and do not affect your score.

Identification Required at the Testing Center

On exam day, you must present two forms of identification. The primary ID must be a valid, non-expired, government-issued photo ID with both your photograph and signature (driver's license, passport, military ID). The secondary ID must contain a valid signature. If you do not meet the ID requirements, you cannot test and you forfeit your exam fee.

Your name on your ID must match the name used to register for the exam. Any discrepancy can result in denial of entry.

Fingerprinting: Fieldprint Virginia

All resident applicants must complete a fingerprint-based criminal history background check through Fieldprint Virginia. This is different from IdentoGO, which many states use — Virginia specifically requires Fieldprint.

Scheduling: fieldprintvirginia.com Fieldprint Code: FPVABOIProducer (essential — this code routes results to the Bureau of Insurance) Cost: $34.95 (covers Virginia State Police and FBI checks) Timing: Fingerprints must not be more than 90 days old when you submit your license application. You must also submit your application within 90 days of completing fingerprinting.

Fieldprint has approximately 46 locations across Virginia. Appointments are 10 minutes. You must bring your appointment number and two valid forms of identification to the Fieldprint appointment.

Exemption: If you submitted fingerprints in the last 12 months, currently hold a license, and are applying for the same license type, you do not need new fingerprints.

The Criminal History Record Report (CHRR)

Virginia requires all resident applicants to submit a Criminal History Record Report (CHRR) obtained from the Virginia State Police, no more than 90 days old. This is submitted electronically as an attachment to your online application through NIPR or Sircon.

If you have lived in Virginia for less than six months, provide a CHRR from your previous home state.

If your CHRR shows any conviction — misdemeanor or felony — you must also attach a detailed written explanation and copies of relevant court documents. The Bureau reviews all background information individually. Having a prior conviction does not automatically disqualify you, but it requires disclosure and documentation.

Applying for the License

Applications are submitted electronically through NIPR (nipr.com) or Sircon (sircon.com/virginia).

Application fee: $15 per line of authority (non-refundable).

Processing time: Applications are processed in date order. Allow 15 business days from submission. NIPR does not pre-verify your exam results before accepting submission — the Bureau reviews everything post-submission.

Two critical windows: You must submit your application within 90 days of fingerprinting AND within 183 days of passing your exam. Both windows must be satisfied simultaneously. If either expires, you must start over.

What Happens After Approval

Once approved, you print your license from NIPR or Sircon. No physical license is mailed. To transact insurance on behalf of any insurer, you must receive an appointment from that insurer. Appointments are filed by the carrier through NIPR. You cannot sell for a carrier until your appointment is active and on file with the Bureau.

License Types: Major Lines

Virginia issues producer licenses for the following major lines of authority requiring an exam:

Life and Annuities (includes variable products with applicable securities registration)

Accident and Health or Sickness (Health)

Property

Casualty

Personal Lines

Title (requires prelicensing course)

Life, Annuities, and Health are treated as a combined single line for CE purposes. A producer holding all three through the 11-01 combined exam holds one license type for CE calculations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Virginia's insurance licensing requirements different from most other states?

Several things distinguish Virginia from the typical state licensing framework. First, no prelicensing education is required — Virginia is one of the few states with no mandatory hours before the exam (except for Title). Second, the regulatory authority is the Bureau of Insurance within the State Corporation Commission, not a standalone Department of Insurance — this affects where you apply, where you look up regulations, and how you communicate with the regulator. Third, Virginia uses Fieldprint (not IdentoGO) for fingerprinting. Fourth, Virginia's exam score is valid for 183 days rather than the 1-year window many states offer. Fifth, the 30-day mandatory wait after three failed exam attempts is a Virginia-specific rule that does not apply in many states. Understanding these distinctions upfront prevents the most common application errors.

Is the $15 application fee charged per line of authority or per application?

The $15 fee is charged per line of authority. If you are applying for both a Life & Annuities license and a Health license separately, you pay $15 for each line. If you take the combined Series 11-01 exam covering Life, Annuities and Health and apply for all three lines in one application, you pay $15 per qualification. A producer applying for Property and Casualty as separate lines pays $15 twice. Always budget per line, not per application session, when calculating your total licensing cost.

How do I know if my background will prevent me from getting a Virginia insurance license?

Virginia does not publish a definitive list of disqualifying convictions. The Bureau of Insurance reviews each application individually. Generally, convictions involving dishonesty, fraud, misappropriation, or violence are the most likely to create problems, and the federal insurance fraud statutes (18 U.S.C. § 1033-1034) create additional restrictions for certain financial crimes. If you have any conviction in your history, you must disclose it fully and attach documentation. Failure to disclose is treated more seriously than the underlying conviction in many cases. If you are uncertain whether your background will present an issue, you can contact the Bureau of Insurance at AgentLicensing@scc.virginia.gov before investing in exam prep and fingerprinting.

Can I get a temporary insurance license in Virginia?

Virginia issues temporary licenses in limited circumstances — primarily upon the death or incapacity of a licensed agent, to allow a surviving spouse, employee, child, or representative to continue the business for up to 180 days. Virginia does not issue a general temporary license to new applicants the way some states do. New applicants must complete the full licensing process — exam, fingerprinting, application — and receive a permanent license before transacting insurance business.

What is the role of the State Corporation Commission in Virginia insurance licensing?

The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) is a constitutional body established by the Virginia Constitution that regulates multiple industries — utilities, insurance, state-chartered financial institutions, securities, retail franchising, and railroads — through specialized bureaus. The Bureau of Insurance is the SCC division responsible for insurance regulation, including producer licensing, market conduct, solvency oversight, and consumer complaints. For producer licensing purposes, the SCC's Bureau of Insurance functions similarly to a state Department of Insurance in other states — it issues licenses, enforces insurance laws, and responds to consumer complaints. The distinction matters primarily for exam purposes: Virginia-specific state law questions on the Prometric exam reference the SCC and its Bureau of Insurance, not a commissioner or department.

Virginia's insurance licensing requirements are straightforward once you understand what makes the Commonwealth different — no mandatory prelicensing, Prometric as the exam vendor, Fieldprint for fingerprinting, and the SCC as the regulator. Know these facts before you start, and the path to your license is clear.

Visit JustInsurance to enroll today and prepare for your Virginia Prometric exam with a course built to the current content outline approved by the Bureau of Insurance.