How to get an insurance license in Texas

A resident General Lines license in Texas takes four things. You need a passing Pearson VUE exam score, IdentoGO fingerprints in most cases, an online application and an insurer’s appointment.¹²³

As of October 2026, the exam costs $49 and runs 150 minutes, and the application fee is $50.⁴¹² You must apply within 12 months of passing.⁴¹³ This page covers the resident individual license for General Lines Property & Casualty and for General Lines Life, Accident & Health.

At a glance

Item	Detail
Licenses	General Lines Property & Casualty; General Lines Life, Accident & Health56
Pre-licensing course	None listed in TDI’s application steps12
Exam vendor	Pearson VUE4
Exam codes (English)	InsTX-PC06 (P&C); InsTX-LAH05 (LAH)7
Exam time	150 minutes4
Passing score	70 on a 0–100 scaled score4
Exam fee	$49 per exam, as of October 20264
Fingerprints	IdentoGO, after TDI emails you a service code8
Fingerprint fee	Paid to IdentoGO; not listed on TDI’s fingerprint page or in the handbook84
Application fee	$50, as of October 202612
Apply within	12 months of passing the exam413
Continuing education	24 hours every two years910

The steps in order

TDI lists three application steps for each General Lines license: take an exam, begin on its online fingerprint portal, then apply.¹² A pre-licensing course isn’t one of them.¹² With the appointment that follows, the full path is:

1. Pass the exam. You must pass before you apply. If you apply first, you must file a new application and pay the application fee again.¹²
2. Start in TDI’s fingerprint portal. Submit your initial application and intent to apply. After TDI registers it, TDI emails you a service code.⁸¹¹
3. Get fingerprinted at IdentoGO using that code.⁸
4. Apply on Sircon or NIPR and attach a copy of your IdentoGO receipt.¹⁸
5. Get appointed by an insurer before you act as an agent.³¹²

The exam

Texas has hired Pearson VUE to develop and run its insurance licensing exams.⁴ You must be at least 18 when you sit for the exam and have a valid Social Security number.⁴

Walk-in exams aren’t available.⁴ Reserve online through Pearson VUE’s Texas insurance page, or by phone at (888) 754-7667, at least 24 hours ahead.⁴ Create your web account with your legal name as it appears on your government-issued ID.¹³

Here is what the handbook and exam list publish:

• Codes: InsTX-PC06 is General Lines Property & Casualty. InsTX-LAH05 is General Lines Life, Accident and Health. The Spanish versions are InsTX-PC26 and InsTX-LAH25.⁷
• Format: Each major lines exam is multiple choice in two parts: basic product knowledge, and laws, rules and practices unique to Texas. You’re scored on the exam as a whole, not on each part.⁴
• Questions: The Life and Health and the Property and Casualty general knowledge outlines each list 100 scored plus 10 pretest questions. Their matching state-specific agent outlines each list 30 scored plus 5 pretest.⁴ The handbook doesn’t print a single total for either exam.⁴
• Pretest questions: They are mixed in with the scored questions, aren’t identified, and don’t affect your score.⁴
• Time: 150 minutes. The exam clock doesn’t stop during breaks.⁴
• Passing score: Scores are scaled from 0 to 100, and passing is 70.⁴ Your scaled score isn’t the number or percentage of questions you answered correctly.⁴
• Fee: $49 per exam, as of October 2026. Pay when you reserve, by credit card, debit card or voucher. The test center doesn’t accept payment.⁴
• Retakes: After a fail, you can schedule a new exam within one day. There’s no limit on attempts.⁴
• ID: Bring two forms of current, signed ID in English, with a name that exactly matches your registration. The primary ID must be government-issued with a photo. Pearson VUE doesn’t recognize grace periods, so an ID past its expiration date counts as expired.⁴
• Test day: Arrive 30 minutes early. You leave with your official score report.⁴
• Changes: To change or cancel, call Pearson VUE at (888) 754-7667 at least 48 hours ahead. Without that notice, you forfeit the exam fee.⁴

These details come from Pearson VUE’s Texas Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook, #124400. Its cover is dated October 2024, and its content outlines took effect September 1, 2026.⁴

Veterans who pass can have the exam fee reimbursed for exams taken on or after February 1, 2019. You apply to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.¹²

Fingerprints

Most applicants must get a fingerprint background check from IdentoGO and send TDI a copy of the receipt.¹² Your prints are checked against Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and FBI criminal history records.⁸

To book, you need the service code TDI emails you after you submit the portal form.⁸ Online, go to IdentoGO, choose “Digital Fingerprinting,” enter the code, and click “Schedule or Manage Appointment.” Or call 888-467-2080 and give the code.⁸

Bring photo ID and payment. IdentoGO accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, business checks, money orders and employer coupon codes. It doesn’t accept personal checks or cash.⁸

Neither TDI’s fingerprint page nor the handbook lists the fee, so confirm the amount when you book.⁸⁴

You get a receipt, not a printed fingerprint card. Attach a copy to your application; TDI can’t accept your online payment confirmation page or enrollment form instead.⁸ Texas rules call for fingerprints at or near the time you submit your application.¹⁴

The application

Apply online through Sircon or the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). The application fee is $50, as of October 2026.¹²

To be licensed, you must be at least 18 and have passed the exam within the past 12 months.³ You also can’t have committed an act for which TDI may deny a license.³

TDI’s application tips say to answer all questions in Part 1 and to list four addresses: business, mailing, home and email.¹⁵ Grounds for denial include an intentional material misstatement on the application and a felony conviction.¹⁶

TDI says it processes most applications within one business day. After review, you get an email with its decision, or TDI contacts you for more information.¹⁷

TDI’s processing-dates page shows the received date of the filings it is working on. It’s updated every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon.¹⁸ Those dates don’t apply to applications that need extra review because of screening and background check results.¹⁸

If you must give fingerprints, TDI can’t process your application until it has your DPS and FBI criminal history reports.⁴

TDI also offers a one-time, 180-day temporary General Lines license that can’t be renewed. As of October 2026, the application fee is $150, and your sponsor completes Form FIN700.¹²

On a temporary license, you take at least 40 hours of training from the appointing company. To get a permanent license, you must pass the exam within the 180 days.¹²

After you’re licensed

You can’t act as an agent until an insurer appoints you.³ Appointments are filed with TDI online through Sircon or NIPR.¹² For each additional insurer, notice is due within 30 days after the appointment takes effect.³

To keep the license, you need 24 hours of continuing education every two years. At least 12 hours must be classroom or classroom-equivalent courses, and 3 hours must be in ethics.⁹¹⁰ As of October 2026, the renewal fee is $50, paid on Sircon.⁹¹⁰

Where the sources differ

• Fingerprint booking: The handbook tells you to book directly with IdentoGO.⁴ TDI’s pages add the portal and service-code step first.⁸¹ TDI issues the license, so follow TDI.
• Where to apply: For license applications, the handbook names only Sircon.⁴ TDI names Sircon or NIPR, so either works.¹²
• Exam code: The handbook prints the P&C code as InsTC-PC06.⁴ Pearson VUE’s exam list, where you register, shows InsTX-PC06.⁷ Use the exam list’s code.
• Appointment timing: The handbook says to file additional appointments the day you start; TDI’s page says before any agent transactions.⁴¹² The Insurance Code controls. It allows notice of an additional appointment up to 30 days after it takes effect, and lets an appointed agent act before TDI receives it.³

StudyWren is an independent study tool and isn’t affiliated with TDI, Pearson VUE or any insurer.

Sources

1. Texas Department of Insurance, “General lines – life, accident, health and HMO,” Apply for a license (page last updated 2025-07-28). https://www.tdi.texas.gov/agent/general-life-apply.html Accessed 2026-10-21. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷

2. Texas Department of Insurance, “General lines – property and casualty,” Apply for a license (page last updated 2025-07-25). https://www.tdi.texas.gov/agent/general-property-apply.html Accessed 2026-10-21. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³

3. Texas Insurance Code, Chapter 4001, Sections 4001.105, 4001.201, 4001.202(b) and 4001.204, Texas Constitution and Statutes. https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/IN/htm/IN.4001.htm#4001.201 Accessed 2026-10-21. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹

4. Pearson VUE, “Texas Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook,” #124400 (PDF; cover dated October 2024, copyright 2025, content outlines effective 2026-09-01; file last modified 2026-09-04). https://www.pearsonvue.com/content/dam/VUE/vue/en/documents/publications/124400.pdf Accessed 2026-10-21. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹ ↩²⁰ ↩²¹ ↩²² ↩²³ ↩²⁴ ↩²⁵ ↩²⁶ ↩²⁷ ↩²⁸ ↩²⁹ ↩³⁰ ↩³¹

5. Texas Insurance Code, Chapter 4051, Section 4051.051, Texas Constitution and Statutes. https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/IN/htm/IN.4051.htm#4051.051 Accessed 2026-10-21. ↩

6. Texas Insurance Code, Chapter 4054, Section 4054.051, Texas Constitution and Statutes. https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/IN/htm/IN.4054.htm#4054.051 Accessed 2026-10-21. ↩

7. Pearson VUE, “Find an exam,” Texas Department of Insurance program (client code TXINS). https://wsr.pearsonvue.com/testtaker/registration/examlist/TXINS?locale=en_US Accessed 2026-10-21. ↩ ↩² ↩³

8. Texas Department of Insurance, “Fingerprint requirements and instructions” (page last updated 2024-08-05). https://www.tdi.texas.gov/agent/fingerprint-instructions.html Accessed 2026-10-21. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹²

9. Texas Department of Insurance, “General lines – life, accident, health and HMO,” Manage your license (page last updated 2026-05-21). https://www.tdi.texas.gov/agent/general-life-manage.html Accessed 2026-10-21. ↩ ↩² ↩³

10. Texas Department of Insurance, “General lines – property and casualty license management” (page last updated 2026-04-17). https://www.tdi.texas.gov/agent/general-property-manage.html Accessed 2026-10-21. ↩ ↩² ↩³

11. Texas Department of Insurance, “Texas initial application and fingerprint process” (page last updated 2023-06-05). https://www.tdi.texas.gov/agent/fingerprinting-process.html Accessed 2026-10-21. ↩

12. Texas Department of Insurance, “Appointment transactions” (page last updated 2023-05-17). https://www.tdi.texas.gov/agent/agcosmos4-2.html Accessed 2026-10-21. ↩ ↩² ↩³

13. Pearson VUE, “Texas Insurance Licensure Examinations” (page last updated 2026-09-17). https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/tx/insurance.html Accessed 2026-10-21. ↩

14. 28 Texas Administrative Code Section 1.504(a), “Fingerprint Requirement” (as amended effective 2023-04-16), Cornell Legal Information Institute copy. https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/texas/28-Tex-Admin-Code-SS-1-504 Accessed 2026-10-21. ↩

15. Texas Department of Insurance, “Tips for successful application processing” (page last updated 2022-06-07). https://www.tdi.texas.gov/agent/application-tips.html Accessed 2026-10-21. ↩

16. Texas Insurance Code, Chapter 4005, Section 4005.101(b), Texas Constitution and Statutes. https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/IN/htm/IN.4005.htm#4005.101 Accessed 2026-10-21. ↩

17. Texas Department of Insurance, “Have a question about your agent or adjuster license?” (page last updated 2025-04-21). https://www.tdi.texas.gov/agent/agent-questions.html Accessed 2026-10-21. ↩

18. Texas Department of Insurance, “Processing dates” (updated every Tuesday and Thursday; version read updated 2026-10-20). https://www.tdi.texas.gov/agent/agpdates.html Accessed 2026-10-21. ↩ ↩²