Licensed Insurance Agents: How to Transfer Your License When Moving to Another State
Moving to a new residence always brings up challenges, especially when you’re changing states. There’s plenty of documents to transfer over and paperwork to fill out, in addition to moving all your stuff. If you’re a licensed insurance agent, you also need to get your insurance license transferred over to your new state of residence.
Reciprocity Programs
Most states will recognize your current license and the hard work you’ve put into obtaining and maintaining it. Each state has their own reciprocity system that you’ll need to work through when transferring insurance licenses. These processes are very similar from state to state, but there are some differences in protocol. Contact the state’s insurance department for specific details on this process.
You need to send an application to your new state’s insurance department for a transfer. Most of the time it’s not necessary to re-take all the coursework and exams for a new license. Many states want to see that you’ve had your license for some predetermined amount of time before you send this application.
Ensure you work through the reciprocity process in a timely fashion. Most states give you 90 days to cancel your previous license and get it transferred over. If you wait too long to complete the process, or the state you’re moving to doesn’t have a reciprocity system, then you’re out of luck; you’ll need to retake the exam and any other required coursework.
Certificate of Good Standing
Your next step to take in transferring your license is to obtain a certificate of good standing from your current state’s insurance department. Send the certificate with any other documents and materials needed for a license in your new state. Most states only require an application and a fee, but providing a certificate of good standing will make the process smoother.
Your New State May Require a Clearance Letter
Some states will also want to see a letter of clearance and certification. Sending in the request for a clearance letter to your previous state will cancel your license there. So, make sure you have all your documents in order and meet all other requirements before getting a clearance letter.
You can contact the state’s insurance department to find out exactly which form to fill out and send in for clearance. There is a fee included with this request for most states—usually around $30. Most clearance letter requests take around two weeks to process.
States will often give you the option to simultaneously transfer your resident license to the new state as well. You’ll have around 30 days to contact the insurance department with your new address. If you wait too long, you may have to submit a new application and pay licensing fees for your new resident license.
Keeping your insurance license is straightforward once you obtain it and stay active with it. Most states will let you transfer it over hassle-free as long as you fill out any paperwork they request. Get in touch with your new state’s department of insurance as soon as possible for the details of this process.
Hi, My question is – what happens to your current clients while you are in the process? Do you lose them or will they stay with you once all the transfer paperwork is done? I would hate to make the move with the DOI and then find out I can’t service my clients or need to AOR them. Thanks.
Hi Jamie, I think you want to contact the Department of Insurance and ask about the specifics. We know you’re not the first person to complete this transition so there should be a process they can provide for you. The particulars are a bit out of the “Test World” realm we live in so I’d prefer you touch bases with the DOI. Good luck!
Hi Susan, We don’t really have a list for reciprocal states as most of the time it is recommended that you call each state’s insurance licensing department you are interested in getting a non-resident license for. You could call the Ohio licensing division (614-644-2665) and see if they have an up-to-date list. Good luck! 🙂
Hi Rashad, We always recommend calling the Department of Insurance of the state you are moving to first (NJ). They generally require a cancellation letter from the state’s Department of Insurance you are moving out of (PA). They (NJ) will usually give you “x” amount of days to transfer your license over without having to take the insurance license exam. You would then apply for a non-resident in PA. It’s always good to speak with both state’s Department of Insurance to make sure there aren’t any special exceptions. Good luck!
Hi John, Often you can if the testing company is the same in both states (Pearson VUE, PSI Exams, etc.). Each testing facility has different capabilities so first make sure your new state’s exam provider has a location in your current state and second, call the local testing company and make sure they can load the new state’s exam. Good luck!
Hi my name is Krista and I am moving from Las Vegas Nevada to Colorado Springs Colorado. I am a licensed producer in Las Vegas and would like to keep my license as well as get licensed in Colorado. My question for you is how do I do both as easily as possible. I’ve got a lot going on with the move and would like to be prepared if with all my paperwork ahead of time. Please let me know your thoughts on the subject. Thank you
Hello Krista, You will want to make sure with the Colorado Insurance Department that they will accept license (which they usually will) but they will request that you get a clearance letter from Nevada’s Insurance Department and then apply for your license in Colorado within a certain time frame. After you move, you then apply for a non-resident license in Nevada (check NIPR for information on that). I’m sure once you speak to the Colorado Insurance Department they will get you squared away. Good luck to you!
Hi I’m planning on moving to eirher Texas or Florida from NYS, where I currently reside and work as licensed insurance broker. What do I do after I settle down in FL or Texas to get licensed in the new state where I will be residing? I keep applying for jobs as a broker in FL and TX and traveling for interviews, so I want to make sure I have all my ducks in a row by the time I get the offer and move to either state, and join a new brokerage. I appreciate your taking the time to… Read more »
Hello Magdalena, You will want to look at the National Insurance Producer Registry website to see the requirements of each state you plan to work in. Good luck!
Hello Nancy, More than likely you would request a clearance letter from New Mexico and then have so many days to apply for your Georgia license. As previously mentioned, it’s always best to contact the Department of Insurance in the state you are moving to (Georgia DOI: 800-656-2298). Good luck!
Hello Patricia, You will want to call the Department of Insurance in Colorado (1-800-930-3745). Often you can get a clearance letter from the state you are moving from (Kansas) and be given an amount of days to apply for your license in the new state (Colorado) without having to retest. Good luck!
Hi, just moved from Indiana to Colorado. I’ve filled out the service request form to cancel my IN license.
1 – where do I mail/email/fax it to? – site was unclear
2 – how much is the transfer fee? If I remember from licensing, it was $30 and How can I pay it?
3 – What else do I need to do?
Hi Joe, These are all questions best answered by your Departments of Insurance. Usually your old state (Colorado) would be able to provide a Letter of Clearance (“LOC” – info) for you to be able reapply for your license in your new state. It’s always best to call the licensing divisions (CO: 1-800-930-3745, IN: 1-317-232-2389) just to make sure you are covering your bases. Good luck!
Hello,
I’ve just gotten my P and C license and will be testing for L and H next week in Colorado. I’m moving to Washington in 4 weeks and am concerned by how long it might take to get my reciprocal license as I do have a position when I get there. Any idea how much of the application I can get done before I move out?
Hello Sabe, I don’t think they are going to allow you to do that since you let the license go and you no longer are a resident of IL. You can always call the licensing department to see if they will work with you but I’m guessing that they will make you take the license exam again in MD. Good luck!
Hello Julio, You will need to transfer your resident license to MN first. This process usually needs to be done within a couple of months. Once you have transferred your licenses you then would apply for non-resident licenses in Texas. You can’t technically keep your resident licenses in Texas as you no longer live there. You are ALWAYS best off to call the licensing department in both states and tell them what you are doing to verify the process. Usually your new state (MN) will allow you to apply for a license and bypass the testing process as long as… Read more »
I currently have my Accident and Health Insurance Resident license with the state of Pennsylvania. I have non resident licenses in South Carolina, Virginia, District of Columbia and Maryland. Can my Pennsylvania Resident license be transferred to the state of Florida? Or, will I have to take the exam again to become licensed in the state of Florida?
Hi Chris, I’m not 100% sure on that one but I don’t think they would convert your Customer Representative license to a Producer license. You should contact the Licensing Department in PA and ask them if they have any special paths for you to follow. Good luck!
Hi Adam, It sounds like you want to pick up your non-resident license. Jump over to NIPR.com and see the requirements. Good luck!
Hi Tiffany, Who have you tried calling and emailing? I’d recommend that you contact the licensing division at the PA Insurance Department and ask them about transferring your license. As mentioned above in this article, usually you can get a clearance letter from your old state (NY) and then transfer to your new state within a certain time frame. These processes are sometimes completed via Sircon.com or NIPR.com (more info.) but we always recommend you try and talk to someone at each department of insurance just to make sure everything goes smoothly. Good luck!
Hi Anne, I would recommend calling the Department of Insurance (DOI) in Arizona (Licensing: 602-364-4457) and inquire about transferring your resident license to your new home state of Arizona. There are sometimes non-standard procedures you may have to deal with when either coming or going from California so it’s best to talk to the AZ DOI. Good luck!
I am in the process of moving from Mississippi to Texas. Currently we are between locations and are still official residents of Mississippi. I need to transfer my license to Texas but the problem is that it is due for renewal the end of this month which is only a few days away. Should I pay the renewal in Mississippi and then work on transferring it to Texas? Or will that complicate matters?
Hi there! You should call the DOI in Texas and ask them about the transfer process but off hand I think it would be better for you to wait until you move. But if you need to be licensed now, then you should obviously get your license and see if they are going to have you re-test in Texas. Good luck!
Hi Kari, I believe you can if you have had your existing resident license for longer than a year. You are really transferring your resident license there, non resident licenses are just extensions of your resident license that you pick up in states you aren’t a primary resident of. It usually requires that you get a letter of clearance from your existing state and apply for your new resident license within a certain period. You’re best off to call the Florida Department of Insurance (850-413-3137) and ask the Bureau of Licensing your question. Good luck!
Hi Amnerys, You will want to check with the Department of Insurance in Florida as mentioned above, you may need a clearance letter. Usually Florida requires that you have your Georgia resident license for at least a year before you can transfer it. If not, you will have to take another pre-licensing course in Florida. Good luck!
Hi Bridget, When it comes to compliance related questions we always recommend that you reach out to your local department of insurance – licensing division. Everyone’s situation is a little different so it’s best to get the information straight from them (licensing@azinsurance.gov or 602-364-4457). Good luck!
I currently have a P&C license in California, and my wife, daughter and I are moving to Florida. Therefore can I transfer my current license; which I need to renew by the end of the month, or should I wait until I get to Florida, and get a new license there? Any advice would be helpful. Thank you!!
Hi Shawn, You are talking about two of the most difficult states to meet requirements for. I would call the Department of Insurance in Florida to verify but I believe since you have had your CA license for over a year, you should be able to get a clearance letter from CA and then apply in FL without having to meet their 200 hour PC pre-licensing requirement. Good luck!
Hi Erin, It’s usually a smooth process but you need to maintain a resident license in whatever state you live in and then switch to non-resident in the other states. Give your state DOI a call or check with NIPR and they should be able to give you the specific steps for each. Good luck!
I moved from CA to FL. I have a resident life and health license in CA and a non resident license in FL. The state says that in order to transfer my resident status to FL, I have to cancel my CA license and then request a non resident license after the FL resident license is activated. The problem is that this means there will be like 20 to 30 days in the middle when I will not be licensed in CA. I have a lot of business on the books in CA and I am wondering if I will… Read more »
Hi Craig, You are talking about two of the most “out of the ordinary” states but it’s something done everyday without problems. I’m pretty sure if you get your clearance letter from CA there is period of time they will give you to get your licenses straight. Unfortunately, that’s a call that needs to be made to each DOI as they are the ones who hold the power. Good luck to you!
