This page provides state-specific checklists, application forms and contacts for paper resident and non-resident licensing in the State of California.

 

Non-Resident Licensing Checklist for Business Entities

Health insurance (Disability insurance) in California may be sold under Accident and Health Agent license.

Appointment Requirements

• Action Notices and Bonds - may be submitted after the license is issued for a Life Only Agent, Accident and Health Agent, Limited Lines Auto Insurance Agent, Property and Casualty Broker Agent and Personal Lines Broker-Agent.

Financial Responsibility

• Applicants intending to act either as a Property and Casualty Brokers and Personal Lines Broker must file a $10,000 Bond of Insurance Broker, form LIC 417-5, executed in California before transacting as a broker. (CA does not issue a life broker license).

  Applicants intending to act as a Surplus Line Broker must file a $50,000 Bond of Surplus Line Broker (SL) formLIC 447-31, executed in California before SL broker license can be issued.  To transact as a Special Lines' Surplus Line Broker a $10,000 Bond of Special Lines' Surplus Line Broker formLIC 447-32 must be filed before SP broker license can be issued.

• LLC only: For purposes of satisfying the security requirements of Section 1647.5 of the California Insurance Code (CIC), all Limited Liability Companies must provide evidence of financial security compliance. If an error and omission liability insurance policy or policies are being maintained to meet the financial security requirements under Section 1647.5 CIC, the amount required is a minimum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) which is at least one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) multiplied by the number of licensees rendering professional services on behalf of the LLC. However, the maximum amount is not required to exceed five million ($5,000,000) dollars. For the purposes of satisfying this requirement, you are required to provide one of the following: Complete the Certification of Coverage (Form LIC CC1A https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0200-industry/0040-seek-producer-forms/0100-broker-agents/upload/LICCC1CertofComp.pdf) signed by a representative of the insurance company providing the E&O policy. If assets other than or in addition to the E&O liability insurance are being used to satisfy the security requirements, provide verification from the bank or escrow holder listing the type of asset and the current dollar amount.

Other Requirements

• Attach a check * or money order for $170 (per line of authority) and $29 (per Business Entity Endorsement). 
  

  * Checks payable to California Department of Insurance

• Business name must be approved by the Commissioner before submitting application The request to have a name approved can be submitted online at www.insurance.ca.gov and selecting Business Entity Online Application Services. ** Refer to CA Ins Code Section 1724.5 & CA Code of Regulations, Title 10, Section 2050 to 2052.5
• If your Business Entity is engaged in any business or activity other than insurance, a statement detailing the nature of the business and the percentage of net income that is derived from that business must be signed by an officer of the Business Entity ( with an original signature ) and attached to the application. If 80 percent or more of your net income is derived from that business, you may be exempt from California name approval requirements.

Note:
1) Authority granted will never exceed the authority granted in the home state. Classes of insurance authorized are limited to the classes of insurance held in home state.

2) Insurance Commissioner may require such other documents as will aid in determining whether the applicant meets the qualifications for a license.

LLC's only download and complete Certification of Coverage

• Certification of Coverage for Limited Liability Companies Form LIC CC1

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Non-Resident Licensing Checklist for Individuals

Appointment Requirements

• Action Notices, Endorsements and Bonds - may be submitted after the license is issued for a Life Only Agent, Accident and Health Agent, Limited Lines Auto Insurance Agent, Property and Casualty Broker Agent, Personal Lines Broker-Agent and Travel Agent license.

Financial Responsibility

• Applicants intending to act either as a Property/Casualty Broker or a Personal Lines Brokers must file a $10,000 Bond of Insurance Broker form LIC 417-5, executed in California before transacting as a broker (CA does not issue a life broker license).
• Applicants intending to act as a Surplus Line Broker (SL) who do not solely transact on behalf of a business entity must submit a $50,000 Bond of Surplus Line Broker form LIC 447-31, executed in California to act as a SL broker before license can be issued. However, individual SL brokers who only transact on behalf of a licensed surplus line broker business entity are no longer required to file a surplus line broker bond.
• Applicants intending to act as a Special Lines' Surplus Line Broker (SP) who do not solely transact on behalf of a business entity must submit a $10,000 Bond of Special Lines' Surplus Line Broker form LIC 447-32, executed in California to act as a SP broker before license can be issued. However, individual SP brokers who only transact on behalf of a licensed special lines' surplus line broker business entity are no longer required to file a special lines' surplus line bond.

Other Requirements

• Criminal Convictions
  For the purposes of the California application, you have been "convicted" if you were ever found guilty by verdict of a judge or jury; and/or ever entered a plea of guilty, nolo contendre or no contest. You must disclose all convictions, even if the charges were later dismissed or expunged, your guilty plea was withdrawn pursuant to Penal Code Section 1203.4, or you were placed on probation, received a suspended sentence or just ordered to pay a fine.
• Driving Under the Influence
  You must also disclose all driving related misdemeanors including, but not limited to, driving under the influence, reckless driving, driving without a valid license, or driving with a suspended or revoked license. If you fail to disclose all convictions, your application may be denied. You may exclude juvenile offenses tried in juvenile court.
  • Attach a check * or money order for $170 (per line of authority) and $29 (per Business Entity Endorsement).
    

    * Checks payable to California Department of Insurance;

  • Must be 18 years of age

  • Exam required if applicant's, commonwealth or Canadian province of residence has no reciprocal agreement for waiving of examinations.

  • Any assumed business name must be approved by the Commissioner before use in CA *

    
    

    * Refer to CA Ins Code Section 1724.5 & CA Code of Regulations, Title 10, Section 2050 to 2052.5

  • Continuing Education (CE) requirements are waived for all nonresident licensees whose home state has a CE requirement. However, any licensee that markets long-term care contracts is required to meet the specific training requirements for marketing such contracts. Additionally, any non-resident life agent who sells annuities in CA must complete an initial 8-hour training course, prior to selling annuity products and a 4-hour annuity training course each two year license term thereafter. Persons representing insurers who are direct response providers are exempt from this requirement. For more information regarding these training requirements, please refer to the CA web site at www.insurance.ca.gov.

  • Sign application

  • Fingerprints are not required from applicants who were previously fingerprinted as a condition of obtaining an insurance producer license in their resident state. For information on the fingerprint requirements you may select the following link: http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0200-industry/0200-prod-licensing/0100-applicant-info/0300-ca-fingerprint/index.cfm

    As stated on the above link, to qualify for the exemption non-resident applicants must have been fingerprinted as a condition of obtaining their resident license in these states. Therefore, non-resident applicants who currently hold a resident license in these states but were never fingerprinted because they were licensed prior to the state implementing the fingerprint requirement will still need to be fingerprinted as a condition of obtaining a non-resident license in California.

    Obtaining the fingerprint impressions at least three weeks prior to submitting your application will minimize the risk that the license issuance will be delayed while awaiting the results from both the California Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigations. These fingerprint impressions must be taken by either a law enforcement agency or a Live Scan vendor certified by the California Department of Justice, on a standard FBI fingerprint card, (Form FD 258), which is available from that agency. To ensure that your fingerprint impressions are properly recorded, the ORI number ""A0042"" must be written in the space designated on the fingerprint card. The Fingerprint cards along with a check in the amount of $58.30 made payable to Accurate Biometrics must be mailed directly to:

    Accurate Biometrics
    8680 Greenback Lane, Suite 200
    Orangevale, CA 95662

Note:
1) Authority granted will never exceed the authority granted in the home state. Classes of insurance authorized are limited to the classes of insurance listed on the held in home state. 2) Insurance Commissioner may require such other documents as will aid in determining whether the applicant meets the qualifications for a license.

California does not currently accept the NAIC Non-Resident Individual Paper Application. 
Please go to State of California Department of Insurance website for the Non-Resident Individual Application for Insurance License or visit the website at http://www.insurance.ca.gov/

Wet Signature is currently required for the California Individual Application form LIC 441-9.

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