New York Producer Licensing
The New York supplement opens with who regulates insurance in the state and how a person becomes and stays a licensed life and health producer. New York consolidated its former Insurance and Banking Departments into the Department of Financial Services (DFS) in 2011; DFS now licenses insurance producers and is led by a Superintendent of Financial Services. This chapter covers the regulator, license lines, appointments, and continuing education, because New York's procedural rules are heavily tested.
The Regulator: New York Department of Financial Services
Insurance producers in New York are licensed and disciplined by the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS), headed by a Superintendent of Financial Services appointed by the Governor. The regulator enforces the state insurance code, licenses producers, oversees insurer market conduct, and can investigate complaints and take disciplinary action. A frequent exam point is correctly identifying this body by name and knowing that it -- not the insurer or a private association -- issues and revokes producer licenses.
License Lines and Qualification
To sell life and health products, a resident applicant generally must be at least 18, complete any required prelicensing education, pass the state licensing examination, submit an application with fees, and clear a background review. The license authorizes specific lines of authority -- typically a life line and an accident and health (health) line. Holding the correct line of authority for the products being sold is mandatory; transacting outside one's authority is a violation.
Appointments, Renewal, and Continuing Education
A license lets a producer be appointed by insurers; the appointment is the insurer's authorization to represent it and is filed with the regulator. Licenses renew on a recurring cycle, and New York conditions renewal on completing continuing education, including an ethics component. Letting a license lapse or failing required CE ends the authority to transact insurance until the producer is reinstated.
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State-specific details
State exam facts
- State regulator
- New York State Department of Financial Services
- Exam vendor
- PSI
- Prelicensing education
- 40 hours (combined life, accident & health) or 20 hours per single line
- Passing score
- 70%
Who regulates life & health insurance licensing in New York?
The New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) licenses life, accident & health agents and brokers. DFS uses PSI to administer the licensing examinations.
Does New York require prelicensing education for the life & health exam?
Yes. New York requires a Department-approved prelicensing course of at least 40 hours for the combined life, accident & health authority, or 20 hours for a single line.
How many exams does New York offer for life & health?
New York does not use one combined 'Life & Health' exam by default; most candidates take the combined 17-55 exam, while separate life-only and accident & health-only exams also exist. A score of at least 70% is required to pass, and the exam must be passed within two years of applying.
Sources: https://www.dfs.ny.gov/apps_and_licensing/agents_and_brokers/lic_app_la_lb, https://www.psiexams.com/
In the New York Life & Health Insurance Producer Exam guide: A KEY CONCEPT box, a Common Traps list and a Check Yourself set closing each of the 9 national chapters. Practice here stays free.