How Do I Become an Insurance Agent in Colorado?

As a resident of the State of Colorado, becoming a life insurance agent involves the following steps:

• Complete an approved pre-licensing education
• Make a reservation and pay the license examination fee
• Go to the test center or prepare for your examination online
• Apply for a license

The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) has the authority to issue a license from the Bureau of Licensing.¹

Requirements for a Colorado insurance agent

Requirements must be met before advancing to the next steps. To become an insurance agent in the State of Colorado, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age;
• Be a bona fide resident of the State of Colorado (reside or maintain a principal place of residence in Colorado); and
• Be a United States citizen or legal alien who possesses a work authorization from the United States Immigration and Naturalization Services.

Pre-Licensing course

Before taking the exam to become a licensed Colorado insurance agent, you must complete a pre-licensing course approved by the State of Colorado.

A pre-licensing course for life and health insurance involves two different lines of authority: life insurance and health insurance. The goal of the pre-licensing course is to give you the information you need to pass the exam. The kind of license you choose, will determine which courses you will take.

In the state of Colorado, each line of authority requires fifty (50) hours of pre-licensing education. Included in the 50 hours education is ten (10) hours of coursework in the following subjects: This includes Principles of Insurance three (3) hours, Legal Concepts four (4) hours, and Regulations four (4) hours.

The student must pass the closed book, monitored Exam Prep Course Certification with a score of 70% or higher to receive a certificate of completion and take the insurance agent licensing exam.

Applicants who have held a resident license in another state within 90 days prior to submitting their Colorado application are exempt from pre-licensing training for the lines of authority held in previous states.²

If the final exam is not passed on the first attempt, students have an unlimited number of attempts.

Apply for the Colorado insurance license exam

After completing the pre-licensing coursework, you will apply for the Colorado insurance license exam. You will need to take one exam for each line of insurance you plan to carry.

Candidates make a reservation by either visiting or calling Pearson VUE. It is a national center for state licensing exam.

• Create a Sircon account on the Colorado DORA site.³
• Make a reservation for a test date and pay the examination fee.

Taking the State of Colorado insurance license exam

You are now ready to sit for the State of Colorado's insurance examination. You can register online⁴ or call up to 24 hours before the desired examination date.

The information you need to register are:

• Legal name, address, daytime telephone number, and date of birth
• The name of the examination
• The preferred examination date and test center location
• A failing score report if you are retaking the examination
• The five-digit code number of your prelicensing provider (You will find this information on the Pearson VUE website under Pre-Licensing Provider and Course Listing.)

A Pearson VUE representative will help you select a date and location and will answer questions.

If you need to retake the licensing exam, you are allowed unlimited attempts as necessary for in-person testing. You must pass the exam within one year of completing the pre-licensing coursework. If you take the exam online, only two attempts per exam are allowed, and any remaining exams are taken at a Pearson VUE testing center.⁵

After passing the examination, apply for your license online at www.sircon.com or www.nipr.com. It will be reviewed, and your license will be sent to you electronically.

Team up with the professionals – Join a life insurance agency

Once the Colorado Department of Financial Services approves your license, you will be ready to sell insurance in Colorado. Congratulations!

Finding a home with a team of successful and motivated insurance agents is the next big step in achieving your potential. Look for a reputable insurance company and find a licensed agency where you can receive additional training and mentoring.

Sources:

1. Colorado Division of Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook, https://home.pearsonvue.com/co/insurance, April 2023.
2. Colorado Division of Insurance, https://doi.colorado.gov/insurance-industry/for-producers/agents, Accessed 2023.
3. Sircon, https://www.sircon.com/landingPages/states/colorado/content.jsp, Accessed 2024.
4. Pearson VUE, https://home.pearsonvue.com/co/insurance, Accessed 2023.
5. Pearson VUE, https://home.pearsonvue.com/getattachment/9df8c6db-f2e3-4d14-a674-f07ba560388c/Colorado%20Division%20of%20Insurance%20Licensing%20Candidate%20Handbook.aspx , Accessed 2024.