Virginia Insurance License Requirements: Your Complete Guide

Obtain your Virginia insurance producer license by completing pre-licensing education, passing the PSI state exam, submitting a background check, and applying through NIPR or directly to the Virginia Bureau of Insurance (BOI).

Quick Answer: How to Get Your Virginia Insurance License

The Virginia Bureau of Insurance (BOI), a division of the State Corporation Commission (SCC), oversees all insurance producer licensing in the Commonwealth. The process follows a fixed sequence: education, exam, background check, and application. You cannot reorder these steps.

The core sequence:

1. Complete state-approved pre-licensing education for your chosen line(s) of authority.
2. Pass the Virginia state insurance exam administered by PSI Services.
3. Submit fingerprints for a criminal background check.
4. Apply for your license through NIPR (National Insurance Producer Registry) or directly to the BOI.
5. Receive your license and appoint with a carrier.

Timeframe: Consult the Virginia BOI for current processing timelines. Non-resident applicants who already hold a valid license in their home state typically move faster. Virginia offers reciprocal licensing and may waive the exam requirement. Consult the Virginia BOI for current reciprocity agreements.

The BOI does not issue a license until the background check clears. Do not schedule your exam before you are ready to apply promptly afterward, because exam score reports expire.

Understanding Virginia's Insurance Producer License Types

Virginia Code § 38.2-1800 et seq. defines the producer license structure. You apply for specific lines of authority, not a single blanket "insurance license." Choosing the wrong line wastes your exam fee and delays your start date.

Major Lines of Authority

Virginia treats Property and Casualty as separate lines of authority, but the state exam covers them together in a combined P&C exam. You can sit for both at once and receive both lines on your license.

Personal Lines is a narrower authority than full Property + Casualty. It covers personal auto, homeowners, and similar consumer products but does not authorize you to write commercial lines. Agents who want to write both personal and commercial accounts should pursue the full Property and Casualty lines.

Life and A&H are also separate lines but are commonly pursued together. The exam is offered as a combined Life & Health sitting.

Limited Lines of Authority

Virginia also issues limited lines licenses for producers who sell only a narrow category of product (Virginia Code § 38.2-1800 et seq.):

• Credit Insurance - covers loan balances in the event of death, disability, or involuntary unemployment
• Travel Insurance - sold in connection with travel arrangements
• Title Insurance - requires separate title agent licensing through the BOI
• Bail Bond - requires a separate surety bail bondsman license
• Motor Vehicle Rental - covers renters through a rental company

Limited lines producers generally face reduced pre-licensing education requirements and narrower exam content. Consult the Virginia BOI licensing handbook for the current hour requirements for each limited line, as these differ from major lines.

Combining Lines

Nothing prevents you from holding multiple lines simultaneously. Most full-service agents carry Life, A&H, Property, and Casualty. Consult PSI Services for current exam fees if you sit for separate exams, but a combined sitting (e.g., Life & Health, or Property & Casualty) counts as one exam fee.

Step-by-Step Guide to Obtaining a Virginia Insurance Producer License

Step 1: Complete Pre-Licensing Education

Virginia Code § 38.2-1812 requires pre-licensing education from a BOI-approved provider before you sit for the state exam. The BOI maintains a list of approved providers on its website.

Required hours by line (consult the Virginia BOI for current requirements, as hours are subject to revision):

Verify current hours directly with the BOI or your chosen provider before enrolling.

Approved providers include classroom, online, and self-study formats. Keep your completion certificate. You will need it to register for the exam, and the BOI may audit compliance.

Step 2: Register for and Pass the State Exam

Virginia contracts with PSI Services to administer all insurance producer licensing exams (Virginia Code § 38.2-1813). After completing pre-licensing education, register at PSI's website (candidate.psiexams.com) or by phone.

Exam logistics:

• PSI offers testing at physical test centers across Virginia and, for some lines, online proctored options.
• Bring two forms of ID to the test center; the name must match your registration exactly.
• Exam content is outlined in the PSI Candidate Handbook, which PSI publishes for each line of authority.

Passing score: Consult PSI Services or the BOI for the current passing score for the insurance producer licensing exam, as these are set by the BOI and can change.

If you fail, you may retake the exam. PSI charges a fee for each attempt. There is no mandatory waiting period between attempts, but you must re-register and pay again. If you fail multiple times, consult the BOI for any additional requirements before further attempts.

Exam score reports are valid for a limited period. Submit your license application promptly after passing.

Step 3: Fingerprinting and Background Check

Virginia requires a criminal background check for all resident producer applicants. You submit fingerprints through a BOI-approved fingerprinting vendor. The BOI's website lists current approved locations and instructions.