To sell life insurance and annuities in California, you need a license from the California Department of Insurance (CDI). The path has four parts: study, exam, application and fingerprints.

None of it is hard, but the order matters. Some steps only open up after an earlier one is done.

This guide walks through each step and the fees the state lists. This site is independent and is not affiliated with CDI or PSI, the company that runs the exam.

In short

  • You study the exam objectives, complete a 12 hour course on ethics and the Insurance Code, pass the exam, apply, and submit fingerprints.1
  • The 12 hour course is required before the license is issued. It is not required before the exam, but CDI recommends taking it first.1
  • CDI lists a $55 exam fee and a $188 filing fee for a Life-Only Agent license.2
  • Fingerprints come after you pass the exam and submit your application. The state's live scan vendor charges $74.1
  • A passed exam is valid for one year, so do not wait too long to apply.1
Contents
  1. The four steps
  2. The 12 hour course
  3. Booking the exam
  4. Fees
  5. Fingerprints
  6. Timeline
  7. Common questions
  8. Sources

The four steps

CDI and PSI describe the process the same way. To be considered for a license, you must:1

  1. Study the license examination objectives and complete the approved 12 hour course on ethics and the California Insurance Code.
  2. Pass the licensing examination.
  3. Submit a completed license application to CDI.
  4. Submit fingerprints to a live scan vendor.

The objectives are the official outline of what the exam covers. CDI publishes them, and the exam is based on them.3 Our guide to the exam format and topics breaks them down.

The 12 hour course

California Insurance Code section 1749 requires life agent applicants to complete 12 hours of study on ethics and the Insurance Code. CDI says the course includes one hour on insurance fraud.4

You do not need to finish the course before the exam. But the course must be done before your license can be issued, and CDI recommends taking it first because it supplies the study material for the exam.1

You can take it online or in a classroom. CDI does not recommend a specific provider. It keeps a lookup service of approved education providers, so choose from that list.1

Older guides still mention a separate 20 hour prelicensing course for each line. Assembly Bill 943 removed that requirement as of January 1, 2026, so the 12 hour course is now the only education a life agent applicant needs.5

Booking the exam

PSI runs the exam for CDI. You create an account on the PSI site, and the first and last name must match your government-issued ID exactly.1

The life exam is taken at a test center. Remote proctoring is offered only for the adjuster and life and disability analyst exams, not for the life agent exam.1

Plan for exam day:

  • Arrive at least 30 minutes early. Late arrivals are not admitted and lose the fee.1
  • Bring one valid, unexpired government ID with a photo and signature.1
  • Cancel at least two business days ahead if you cannot make it, using the PSI site or phone. A voicemail or email does not count.1

Fees

CDI lists these amounts for the Life-Only Agent license:2

ItemAmount
Exam fee$55
Filing (application) fee$188
Renewal fee$188
Late renewal fee$282

CDI states that filing fees are not refundable.2 PSI also charges a $43 convenience fee at its test centers, but not at the CDI test center in Los Angeles.1 Fees can change, so confirm them on the CDI page before you pay.

Fingerprints

Do not get fingerprinted too early. CDI says applicants should submit fingerprints only after they pass the exam and submit the license application.1

CDI's live scan vendor is Capital Live Scan. The total fee is $74: $17 for the FBI, $32 for the California Department of Justice and $25 for the vendor.1 Keep your copy of the completed live scan form (BCIA 8016). You may need it if your fingerprints have to be resubmitted.1

Timeline

CDI does not publish a fixed processing time on the pages we reviewed, so we will not promise one. What you can plan around is the order and one deadline.

  1. Take the 12 hour course and study the objectives.
  2. Book and pass the exam. The result shows on screen at the end.1
  3. Apply to CDI and get fingerprinted.
  4. Finish the course before the license can be issued.1

The deadline: under Insurance Code section 1676(a), an exam is valid for one year from the date you passed it.1 If you have questions about where your application stands, CDI's licensing hotline is (800) 967-9331.1

Common questions

Do I need the course before the exam?

No. It is required before the license is issued, but CDI recommends taking it first.1

Can I take the life agent exam from home?

No. Remote proctoring is limited to the adjuster and life and disability analyst exams.1

What if I fail?

You re-register and book again. There is a limit of 10 failed attempts in 12 months, covered in our guide to the exam format.1

Anything to know after I am licensed?

Agents who sell annuities to individual consumers must complete 8 hours of training before soliciting sales and 4 hours every two years before renewal.3 Our guide to senior and replacement rules covers related exam topics.

Ready to test what you know? Start a practice test.

Sources

The steps, fees and exam rules come from CDI and PSI documents listed below. Always confirm current fees and requirements on the CDI website before you apply.

  1. California Department of Insurance and PSI: Candidate Information Bulletin for California Insurance License Examinees (October 2026) (insurance.ca.gov)
  2. California Department of Insurance: License and Filing Fees Specific to Producer Licensing (insurance.ca.gov)
  3. California Department of Insurance: Life Agent License Examination Objectives (2025) (insurance.ca.gov)
  4. California Department of Insurance: Prelicensing Education (insurance.ca.gov)
  5. California Legislature: AB 943 (2025), Chapter 566 (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)