Delaware Insurance License Requirements: Your Complete Guide

You need four things to get a Delaware insurance producer license: pre-licensing education, a passing score on the state exam, a clean background check, and an approved application through NIPR or the Delaware DOI. Consult the Delaware DOI for typical processing times.

Quick Answer: Obtaining Your Delaware Insurance License

The Delaware Department of Insurance (DOI) is the regulatory body that issues and oversees all insurance producer licenses in the state. The process generally includes:

1. Completing state-approved pre-licensing education for your chosen line of authority
2. Passing the Delaware state insurance licensing exam
3. Submitting a license application through NIPR or directly to the Delaware DOI
4. Clearing a fingerprint-based background check

The DOI operates under DE Code Title 18 (Insurance) as its primary statutory authority.

Who Needs an Insurance Producer License in Delaware?

Under DE Code Title 18, Chapter 17, an "insurance producer" is any person who sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance contracts in Delaware. These activities require a license.

Activities That Require a License

• Selling or attempting to sell an insurance policy to a consumer
• Soliciting insurance applications or inquiries on behalf of an insurer
• Negotiating policy terms, coverage, or premiums between a client and an insurer
• Advising clients on which insurance products to purchase in exchange for compensation

Common Exemptions

Delaware Code Title 18, Chapter 17 recognizes several exemptions:

• Clerical or administrative staff who quote premiums from a rate manual but do not engage in selling or negotiating
• Salaried employees of an insurer who perform only clerical or administrative functions
• Persons selling certain limited products (such as travel insurance or credit insurance) under a limited lines license held by their employer
• Licensed adjusters handling claims, as distinct from producer activities

If your role is genuinely limited to processing paperwork or answering factual questions from a script, you may fall under an exemption. When in doubt, consult the Delaware Department of Insurance directly.

Delaware Insurance License Types and Lines of Authority

Delaware issues producer licenses by line of authority. You apply for the specific lines that match the products you intend to sell.

Major Lines of Authority

Life - Covers life insurance, endowments, and annuity contracts. Delaware licenses for Life cover term life, whole life, universal life, and fixed annuities.

Health - Covers accident and health insurance, disability income, long-term care, and Medicare supplement products.

Property - Covers insurance on real and personal property against loss, damage, or theft.

Casualty - Covers liability exposures, including auto liability, general liability, and workers' compensation.

Personal Lines - A combined property and casualty authority restricted to products sold to individuals and families. This path allows producers to sell personal auto and homeowners policies without separate property and casualty exams.

Variable Life and Variable Annuity - Covers variable life insurance and variable annuity contracts. This line requires both a state insurance license and a FINRA securities registration (e.g., Series 6 or Series 7, plus Series 63 or 66). The state license alone is not sufficient to sell variable products.

Limited Lines and Specialty Licenses

Delaware also issues limited lines licenses for narrower product categories, including:

• Credit insurance - tied to loan or credit products
• Travel insurance - sold in connection with travel services
• Car rental insurance - sold at the point of car rental transactions
• Surplus lines - for producers placing coverage with non-admitted insurers for risks that standard market carriers will not write

Surplus lines producers must hold a standard resident producer license before applying for a surplus lines license. Consult the Delaware DOI for current surplus lines requirements.

Step-by-Step Guide to Licensing in Delaware

Step 1: Complete Pre-Licensing Education

Delaware requires pre-licensing education before you sit for the state exam. The required hours vary by line of authority. Verify current hour requirements directly with the Delaware Department of Insurance or your approved pre-licensing provider before enrolling. Courses must come from a DOI-approved provider and cover the specific content outline for your chosen line.

Pre-licensing courses typically cover insurance concepts, state law, policy provisions, and ethics. Completion generates a certificate needed when scheduling your exam.

Step 2: Schedule and Pass the State Exam

Delaware contracts with an exam vendor to administer the state licensing exam. Consult the Delaware DOI for the current approved exam vendor. The exam covers both state-specific law and general insurance knowledge for your line of authority.

The Delaware DOI sets passing scores and retake policies. Check the current candidate handbook published by the exam vendor (available through the DOI's website or the vendor's site directly) for exact passing score thresholds and waiting periods between retake attempts.

Step 3: Submit Your Application

After passing the exam, submit your license application through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) at nipr.com, or directly to the Delaware DOI. NIPR is the faster and more common route. You will need:

• Your exam pass confirmation
• Personal identification information
• Disclosure answers regarding any criminal history, regulatory actions, or financial judgments

Resident applicants must apply as Delaware residents and provide a Delaware address.

Delaware offers reciprocity for non-resident applicants from states with reciprocal licensing agreements. These applicants may apply without retaking the Delaware exam, provided they hold an equivalent license in good standing in their home state. Consult the Delaware DOI for the current list of reciprocal states.

Step 4: Fingerprinting and Background Check

Delaware requires a fingerprint-based criminal background check for all new resident producer applicants (DE Code Title 18, Chapter 17). You will submit fingerprints through the process specified by the DOI at the time of your application. The DOI reviews results and may deny a license for certain criminal convictions. Disqualifying offenses are evaluated on a case-by-case basis under the standards set in DE Code Title 18. If you have a prior conviction, contact the Delaware DOI before investing time and money in pre-licensing to get a preliminary assessment.

Fees, Renewals, and Continuing Education (CE) in Delaware

Application and Renewal Fees

The Delaware DOI publishes an official fee schedule. Fees are updated by regulation and can change. Verify current amounts at the Delaware DOI's official website or by contacting the DOI directly before submitting payment.

Consult the Delaware DOI fee schedule page or NIPR's fee display during the application process for current amounts.

Renewal Cycle

Delaware producer licenses renew on a biennial (two-year) cycle. Your renewal date is tied to your license issue date. The DOI sends renewal notices, but the obligation to renew on time is yours. Consult the Delaware DOI for the exact deadline window before and after your expiration date.

Continuing Education Requirements

Delaware requires licensed producers to complete continuing education (CE) hours during each renewal period. The specific total hour requirement and the mandatory ethics component hours are set by the DOI under DE Code Title 18, Chapter 17. Verify current CE requirements directly with the Delaware DOI or through an approved CE provider before planning your coursework.

Key points about CE in Delaware:

• A portion of required hours must cover ethics
• CE must be completed through DOI-approved providers
• Credits are tracked through the DOI's CE tracking system; confirm with your provider that credits are being reported correctly
• Producers holding the Variable Life and Variable Annuity line have additional FINRA CE obligations separate from state CE

Consequences of Non-Renewal or CE Failure

If you miss your renewal deadline or fail to complete required CE, your license lapses. A lapsed license means you cannot legally sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance in Delaware until the license is reinstated. Reinstatement typically requires paying back fees and demonstrating CE completion. Continued activity on a lapsed license is a violation of DE Code Title 18 and can result in fines or other disciplinary action. Contact the Delaware DOI immediately if your license has lapsed to understand the current reinstatement process.

Recent Regulatory Changes Affecting Delaware Insurance Producers

Recent Delaware legislative activity primarily affects insurance coverage, which impacts what producers sell and what clients are entitled to.

SB 238 (153) - Chiropractic and Physical Therapy Coverage

Governor-signed SB 238 (153) amends Title 24, Title 31, and Title 31 of the Delaware Code to address insurance coverage for chiropractic therapy and physical therapy (OpenStates.org, SB 238, 153rd General Assembly). For producers selling health, group health, or managed care products, this law expands the coverage landscape. Review the enrolled bill text to understand affected plan types and any disclosure or explanation obligations for producers advising clients on health coverage options.

SB 28 (153) - Funeral Expenses for Fire and Ambulance Volunteers

Governor-signed SB 28 (153) amends Title 18 of the Delaware Code to address funeral expense coverage for certain volunteers with fire or ambulance companies (OpenStates.org, SB 28, 153rd General Assembly). Producers working with municipalities, volunteer fire companies, or fraternal benefit organizations should understand how this change affects policies those entities carry and what coverage their members now have access to.

Pending Legislation to Watch

None of the following bills have been signed into law as of 2026. Monitor their status through OpenStates.org or the Delaware General Assembly's website:

• SB 22 (153) - Relates to insurance coverage generally; reported out of Senate Health & Social Services Committee with 5 favorable votes
• HB 200 (153) - Relates to insurance coverage for HIV prevention treatment; reported out of Senate Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology Committee
• SB 120 (153) - Relates to health insurance; reported out of Senate Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology Committee with 6 favorable votes
• SB 189 (153) - Relates to unfair practices in the insurance business; amendment SA 1 introduced and placed with the bill
• HB 406 (153) - Relates to unfair trade practices in automobile insurance; assigned to House Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce Committee

None of these pending bills directly modify producer licensing requirements as currently drafted. However, SB 189 and HB 406 address trade practices, which directly govern how producers conduct business.

Next Steps and Key Contacts for Delaware Insurance Licensing

Delaware Department of Insurance

The DOI is your primary resource for licensing.

• Website: insurance.delaware.gov
• Mailing Address: Delaware Department of Insurance, 1351 West North Street, Suite 101, Dover, DE 19904
• Phone: (302) 674-7300
• Producer Licensing: Use the DOI website's producer licensing section for forms, fee schedules, approved provider lists, and CE tracking information

NIPR (National Insurance Producer Registry)

NIPR handles online applications and renewals for most producers.

• Website: nipr.com
• Use NIPR to submit new resident and non-resident applications, pay fees, and manage renewals

Finding Approved Pre-Licensing and CE Providers

The Delaware DOI maintains a list of approved pre-licensing education providers and CE providers on its website. Do not enroll in any course without confirming the provider appears on the current approved list. Credits from unapproved providers will not count toward your requirements.

Verifying License Status

You can verify any Delaware insurance producer's license status through the NIPR Producer Database (pdb.nipr.com) or through the Delaware DOI's license lookup tool on its website.