Get Your New York Insurance License Online

Getting your New York insurance license involves four steps. First, complete a state-approved prelicensing course (40 hours for the combined Life & Health line). Second, pass the New York state licensing exam administered by PSI Services LLC — you need a score of at least 70% to pass. Third, complete a background check. Fourth, Submit your application through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) and pay the New York Department of Financial Services application fee of $80. Most candidates complete the entire process in 2-4 weeks. JustInsurance offers fully online, self-paced prelicensing courses approved for New York that get you to exam day confident and prepared.

The total cost to get your New York insurance license typically runs $350-500 estimated total cost. Here is how it breaks down: the PSI Services LLC exam fee is $33, the New York Department of Financial Services application fee is $80. If you need a prelicensing course, JustInsurance's New York combined Life & Health package is $199 — that's $199 less than purchasing Life and Health courses separately. Everything you need to get licensed, with no hidden fees.

Most focused candidates complete the New York insurance licensing process in 2-4 weeks. That timeframe covers finishing your prelicensing course (you get 30 days of access; most students finish in 5–10 days), scheduling and passing the PSI Services LLC state exam, clearing your background check, and waiting for the New York Department of Financial Services to process your application. The PSI Services LLC exam delivers results quickly — most candidates receive their score before leaving the testing center. JustInsurance's self-paced format lets you move as fast or as steady as your schedule allows.

JustInsurance students nationwide pass insurance licensing exams at a rate of approximately 93% on their first attempt — measured among students who complete the full course, finish the recommended study hours, and score 80%+ three times in a row on the practice exam before testing. The New York exam is administered by PSI Services LLC and requires a minimum score of 70% to pass. If you do not pass on your first attempt, you can retake it after scheduling your next available test date with no mandatory waiting period. There is no limit on the number of times you can retake the exam. Your pre-licensing education certificate never expires in New York. See our full pass rate methodology at /pass-rates.

Insurance agents in New York earn an average of $105,490 per year according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. New agents starting out typically earn around $37,980 in their first year while building a client base, and top producers in New York can earn $187,850 or more annually. Demand for new insurance producers remains steady in New York. Income is heavily influenced by the lines of authority you hold and whether you work as a captive or independent agent — the combined Life & Health license unlocks the broadest product range and highest earning potential.

New York's insurance licensing structure requires candidates to pass individual exams for each line of authority — Life, Accident & Health, Property, and Casualty are all separate licenses. Unlike most states that offer a combined Life & Health designation, New York treats each line independently. This means more exams but also more flexibility in specializing. New York prelicensing certificates do not expire, and the state does not require fingerprinting, which simplifies the process somewhat.