Washington Personal Lines Insurance License Exam — All Questions

Which agency issues resident personal lines insurance producer licenses in Washington?

• a.The federal Department of Insurance
• b.The Washington Bureau of Insurance Agents
• c.The Washington Department of Licensing
• d.The Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner✓

Insurance in Washington is regulated by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC), an independently elected Insurance Commissioner's agency. It licenses producers and companies, reviews rates and forms, and enforces the insurance code. There is no federal insurance department. Source: Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner (https://www.insurance.wa.gov).

After a producer is licensed in Washington, what generally must occur before transacting business for a specific insurer?

• a.The producer must first sell to at least five clients on a temporary permit
• b.The producer must post a personal surety bond with the state treasurer
• c.The insurer must appoint the producer, with the appointment on file with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner✓
• d.Nothing further — the license alone authorizes sales for any insurer

A license lets a person act as a producer, but to represent a particular company that insurer must appoint the producer, with the appointment filed with the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner. A producer may hold appointments from several insurers at once. This follows the NAIC producer-licensing model Washington uses.

Which statement about continuing education (CE) for resident personal lines producers in Washington is correct?

• a.CE is optional and only recommended for new producers
• b.Passing the licensing exam permanently exempts a producer from all CE
• c.CE is required once, in the first year, and never again
• d.Resident producers must complete state-approved CE each renewal cycle to keep the license active; confirm the exact hours and ethics requirement with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner✓

Like other states, Washington requires resident producers to complete approved continuing education each renewal cycle, typically including an ethics component, before renewing. Because specific hour totals can change, verify the current CE requirement with the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner (https://www.insurance.wa.gov).

Unlike many states where the insurance regulator is appointed, how does Washington select its Insurance Commissioner?

• a.There is no commissioner; a private board regulates insurance
• b.The Insurance Commissioner is a statewide elected official✓
• c.The Commissioner is chosen by a vote of licensed insurers
• d.The Commissioner is appointed by the President of the United States

Washington's Insurance Commissioner is elected statewide by voters, rather than appointed by the governor as in many states. The elected Commissioner heads the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, which licenses producers, reviews rates and forms, and protects consumers. Source: Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner (https://www.insurance.wa.gov).