How Much Does it Cost to Get an Insurance License in Texas?

Which Texas License Should You Get?

Your license choice decides how many exams and applications you pay for, so settle it first.

• Life and Health: one exam and one $50 application. Sell life insurance, annuities, and health coverage. See the Life and HealthTexas Life And Health Pre License course.
• Property and Casualty: one exam and one $50 application. Protect homes, cars and businesses. See the P&C courseTexas Property And Casualty Pre License.
• All in One: two licenses, which means two exams and two $50 applications, and a book of clients that can cover every need.

Still deciding? Our guide to which licensePre License What Type Of Insurance License Should I Get In Texas Resources fits breaks it down.

Texas keeps its insurance licensing requirements lean. The state does not mandate pre-licensing education, which is why some candidates underestimate the real cost of getting licensed. They assume "optional" means "skippable." In reality, every fee below is nonrefundable, and failing the exam once means paying the exam fee again. Here is a full, itemized breakdown of what the Texas Department of Insurance and its partner vendors charge you to become a licensed producer.

How Much Does the Texas Insurance Exam Cost?

The state exam is administered by Pearson VUE, and fees vary by exam. Most Texas insurance exams cost about $39 to $49 per attempt, with the Property and Casualty exam at the higher end. Confirm the current amount when you reserve your seat.

Each attempt requires a new payment. If you fail twice, you have already spent much of what a structured prep course costs, without improving your odds on the third try.

How Much Does Fingerprinting Cost in Texas?

Texas requires a fingerprint background check for individual resident applicants through IdentoGO. Use service code 11G6QF to schedule. The electronic fingerprint fee is around $41, though the exact amount can change.

Start the process on TDI's online application and fingerprint portal, and get your fingerprints done before you apply. Your TDI application cannot be processed without them.

What Is the Texas Insurance License Application Fee?

The TDI application fee is $50 per license type, plus a small transaction fee, when you apply through NIPR or Sircon. If you are licensing in both Life and Health and Property and Casualty, you pay $50 for each license.

Applications must be submitted within one year of passing the exam. Miss the window, and you will need to retake the exam before you can apply, according to TDI's application rulesAgent General Life Apply.html Tdi.texas.gov.

Does Texas Require a Pre-Licensing Course?

No. Texas is one of the few states that doesn't require pre-licensing education for general lines licenses. In theory, you can take the state exam without studying. In practice, that is a costly gamble.

If you fail twice, you may have paid more in retake fees than a quality course would have cost, and you have lost weeks of potential earning time. Choosing a providerPre License Choosing Your Texas Insurance Education Provider Resources is the one cost you control entirely. Look for practice exams built around the Pearson VUE content outline so you know you are ready before you book.

What Hidden Costs Catch Texas Candidates Off Guard?

A few smaller costs do not always make it into the budget:

Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance

Many carriers and agencies require agents to carry E&O before they will contract with them. Premiums vary based on lines and coverage amounts.

Continuing Education

Texas insurance licenses expire every two years. Renewal requires 24 hours of approved CE, 3 of which must be ethics, plus a $50 renewal fee. See the full Texas CE requirementsContinuing Education What Are The Continuing Education Requirements For Texas Insurance Agents Resources and find your expiration dateContinuing Education When Does My Texas Insurance License Expire Resources.

Appointments

Once you are licensed, an insurance carrier must appoint you before you can sell its products. Appointment fees are usually paid by the sponsoring carrier.

Specialty Training

If you plan to sell annuities, long-term care insurance, or flood coverage, Texas requires initial training courses. Annuity training is 4 hours. Long term care is 8 hours initially, plus 4 hours per renewal period. Flood insurance through the NFIP requires a 3 hour course.

What's the Total Cost of a Texas Insurance License?

Here is a reasonable range for a single license:

• Exam fee: about $39 to $49 per attempt.
• Fingerprint fee: about $41 through IdentoGO.
• Application fee: $50 plus a transaction fee through NIPR or Sircon.
• Prep course: optional but strongly recommended; the price varies by provider.

Pass on your first try and your required fees stay around $130 to $140, plus whatever you invest in preparation. Each failed attempt adds another exam fee. For the full licensing processPre License Texas Insurance License Faq Resources, the exam, fingerprints and application are the only costs you cannot skip.