How to Become an Insurance Agent in Texas
Looking for the BEST Texas course available to pass your insurance license exam?
Whether you want to sell home and auto insurance or life and health insurance in Texas, your first step is to get licensed.
Getting your Texas insurance license will allow you to work for an insurance company or as an independent broker. In Texas, you must be licensed to sell insurance policies or even discuss insurance matters with customers.
This requirement helps protect consumers. Insurance is often complicated, and laws and regulations vary by state. To effectively help customers, you need to be able to make recommendations and explain how insurance works and why people need it.
Here are the basics on how to get your insurance license in Texas:
- Enroll in a pre-licensing education course. To get your Texas insurance license, the Texas Department of Insurance requires you to take an approved pre-licensing course. You must do this before you can register for the insurance licensing exam. Whether you’re going for your Property and Casualty (P&C) license, your Life license, or your Life & Health (L&H) license, a comprehensive insurance exam prep course through a reputable provider should cover everything you need to know to pass your exam. Note: There is no “health only” license (see FAQs below).
- Decide on an online or in-person course. Each type has its benefits. Most people find that online courses are more practical, and they’re typically more affordable. Online courses are accessible 24/7. This gives you the freedom to study on your own time at your own pace without having to take time off from work or school. Live courses give you the advantage of learning in a classroom setting with access to an instructor. People who aren’t tech savvy and who like the experience of in-person instruction may prefer a live course. Note that live, in-person classes in a physical location are hard to come by these days, as most instruction has moved online.
- Register for your exam. Once you’ve completed your pre-licensing course your next step is registering for the Texas exam and paying the required fees. Find more information about where and how to register here.
- Pass your exam and apply for your insurance license. There are two parts to insurance exams—a national section and state-specific section. You’ll need a passing score of 70 percent on both parts. Your test will be scored immediately after you take it, so you’ll know right away whether you passed. Once you receive confirmation you passed, you’ll need to apply for your insurance license (for an additional fee). Once you’ve received your insurance license, you can start selling or discussing insurance!
Taking a pre-licensing education course is not only a requirement, it’s an essential part of preparing for the insurance exam. Being prepared is critical. If you don’t pass the first time, you’ll have to start the process all over again. This will cost you precious time and money. It’s worth taking the time to study and thoroughly understand the materials.
The state-approved pre-licensing courses through America’s Professor include 24/7 access to our suite of engaging online lectures, a comprehensive textbook, and unlimited customer service help. AP gives you 100-day access to the study materials with more time at no charge, if needed.
Enroll in a Texas pre-licensing course today and be on your way to launching or expanding your career in the lucrative insurance industry!
Texas Insurance License FAQs
Which type of license should I get?
It depends on the kinds of insurance products you want to sell. In Texas, the two most common types of licenses are:
- Property & Casualty (P&C) License: This license allows you to sell insurance products that protect against property damage and liability. Examples of products you can sell as a P&C agent include homeowners, auto, and liability insurance.
- Life & Health (L&H) License: This license allows you to sell products that provide financial and health-related security. Examples of products you can sell with an L&H license include life insurance, health insurance, annuities, and long-term care insurance.
Before deciding which type of Texas insurance license to get, consider which area interests you most and which products you’d feel most comfortable helping clients with.
Can I get a Health-only license?
No, in Texas, you cannot obtain a Health-only license. The state requires you to get a combined Life & Health (L&H) license if you want to sell health-related insurance products. With a Life & Health license, you’ll be authorized to sell health insurance policies and related products, life insurance, annuities, and other products.
What can I do with an insurance license aside from sales?
An insurance license opens doors to many career opportunities beyond just selling insurance. Some potential roles include working as a customer service representative (CSR), assisting with clients with policy inquiries, updates, and claims. You can also work as a claims adjuster or examiner, an underwriter, in addition to many other roles.
While some of these roles may require additional education or experience—such as a college degree or specialized certifications—you may be able to start in other positions with only an insurance license and work your way up.
The insurance industry is highly diverse and offers long-term career growth. Whether you enjoy working directly with clients or prefer behind-the-scenes roles, getting licensed is the first step to unlocking a wide range of professional opportunities.
How much do licensed insurance agents make in Texas?
How much you’ll earn as a licensed insurance agent in Texas depends on several factors, including:
- Which type(s) of insurance you sell
- Whether you work as a captive or independent agent
- Your level of experience
As an example, Property & Casualty agents in Texas earn an average of $44,503 per year, or $21.40 per hour according to data from ZipRecruiter. In Houston, TX, a Life & Health (L&H) agent can expect to earn around $84,962 per year.
Keep in mind, however, that these are averages. You could earn more than this based on the factors mentioned above, especially as you gain more experience.
This course has been so helpful in helping me attain my Texas Life and Health license. I already had experience in health but not Life so this really benefited me.
Great to hear Pauline! Thanks for being a great student!
This course was perfect for me, I was able to study on my own time, have the PDF formats for each chapter and take helpful quizzes. After preparing for a while with this course I passed my P&C exam!
Congrats on passing your exam!!! 🙂