How to Get a Hawaii Insurance License
Looking for the BEST Hawaii course available to pass your insurance license exam?
Getting your Hawaii insurance license is the first step to becoming an insurance agent in the Aloha State.
Whether you want to sell life insurance, health insurance, or property and casualty products like auto and homeowners insurance, you need the corresponding license.
You also need to be licensed to work as an insurance adjuster, whether you plan to work independently or for an insurance company.
Becoming an insurance agent is a multi-step process that starts with exam prep and ends with applying for your license. We’ve outlined these steps in more detail below to help you on your journey.
Step 1: Determine which license you need.
The type of insurance products you plan to sell will determine which license(s) you’ll need. Here are the two most common licenses new insurance agents get:
- Property & Casualty (P&C) license – A P&C license allows you to sell products like auto and homeowners insurance, umbrella insurance, earthquake insurance, commercial auto and liability insurance, workers’ compensation, and others.
- Life & Health (L&H) license – With an L&H license you can sell different types of life insurance (whole life, term life, etc.), health insurance plans (HMOs, PPOs, etc.), Medicare supplement plans, disability income insurance, annuities, and more.
Many people choose to get both P&C and L&H licenses. But if you plan on specializing in one area, such as life insurance, you may only need a license for a single line of authority.
Step 2: Enroll in an exam prep course.
Hawaii doesn’t require pre-licensing education, but you will greatly improve your chances of passing the exam on your first try if you take an exam prep course.
You have two options: an in-person course in a classroom setting or an online course. Online courses are affordable and offer the most flexibility. You can set your own schedule and study when it’s convenient for you.
Well-designed online courses will teach you exactly what you need to know to pass the exam. They usually include streaming video lectures and practice quizzes simulating the questions you’ll see on the exam.
When choosing an online exam prep provider, look for an established company with good reviews and testimonials. All it takes is a quick Google search.
Plan to spend a total of 35-40 hours studying and create your study schedule accordingly. This is how long it takes for most people to get through all the material.
If possible, spend a full week studying the week before the exam. This simulates an in-person course and will help keep the information fresh in your mind right up until the day of the exam.
Don’t rely on cheap study guides or free practice quizzes you find online. These materials are not comprehensive learning solutions.
Step 3: Take the Hawaii insurance license exam.
Now that you’re well prepared, it’s time to take the exam! You can take the licensing exam in person at one of several test center locations, or you can take a proctored (monitored) exam online through OnVUE.
The exam consists of two parts: a general knowledge section and a section covering state-specific rules and regulations. Unlike most other states, Hawaii allows for a “partial pass.” This means that if you pass one section of an exam but not the other, you will not have to retake the section you already passed when retesting.
The fee to take the exam is $75. The number of questions and the allotted time to complete the test varies for each exam.
You must make an online reservation to take the exam at www.pearsonvue.com/hi/insurance at least 24 hours ahead in advance. Refer to the Hawaii Candidate Handbook for details about where to take the exam, what to bring with you, exam fee information, and more.
Step 4: Get your fingerprints taken.
Once you pass the licensing exam, you must get your fingerprints taken, per the State of Hawaii. This will automatically initiate a background check, also required by the state.
You can schedule your fingerprinting appointment at http://www.fieldprinthawaii.com/.
Step 5: Apply for your insurance license.
Once you’ve had your fingerprints taken you can apply for your license. If you’ve passed exams for multiple lines of authority (for example, P&C and L&H), you’ll need to apply for licenses for each line.
You can submit an online application request on the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) website at www.nipr.com. It may take a few days for NIPR to get the results of your exam, so there may be a waiting period before you can apply.
The State of Hawaii will review your application, background check information, and—if all goes well—issue your license.
Ready to Start Studying for Your Exam?
America’s Professor is a leading national exam prep provider. Our courses teach you everything you need to know to pass your exam on the first try. We offer single line of authority courses in Hawaii and combo courses, taught by our award-winning professor, Dr. Jack Morton.
When you sign up for an AP course, you’ll get instant access to streaming courses, so you can start studying right away. We’ll also send you a comprehensive hardcopy textbook to complement the online material, and it’s all backed by our outstanding customer support.
Enroll in a Hawaii exam prep course with America’s Professor and be on your way to getting your insurance license!