How to get an Insurance License in Arkansas

Licensing Information

Licensing Steps

Studying for Exam

Scheduling the Exam

Parts of the Exam

Renewal Information

How to Renew

Continue Education

Expired License

Nonresident License

Q: What type of insurance license is needed to offer Medicare plans in Arkansas?

To offer Medicare plans in Arkansas, you will need a Health and Accident insurance license (producer).

Q: What are the Licensing Steps in Arkansas?

Step 1: Complete a prelicensing course that has been approved by the Department of Insurance. We recommend using ExamFX. Once you have completed your course, ExamFX will issue a certificate of completion which you may download and print from your online ExamFX account. Certificate population may be delayed by a short period time due to need for proctor validation.

Step 2: Complete the Electronic Resident Licensing Application at www.nipr.com and the Criminal Background Check online at www.ark.org/background-check/index.php/home/index/aid. Application fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable.

Step 3: Receive the Authorization to Test Confirmation via email from PSI. The Authorization to Test Confirmation is a separate document from the Certificate of Completion and must be obtained from PSI. Please allow 4 business days for PSI to process your Registration. After 4 business days, you may go online or call PSI to schedule the examination.

Step 4: Schedule your exam with PSI. You can register online by accessing PSI’s registration website at www.psiexams.com 24 hours a day. For telephone registration, you will need a valid credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover). Call PSI at (800-733-9267.) Your examination fee for the Health license exam is $50.

To change of cancel your testing appointment, you must contact PSI at least 48 hours in advance or forfeit the examination fee.

Step 5: Take and pass your state licensing exam. On the day of your appointment you must bring with you two valid forms of government issued identification (driver’s license, passport, military I.D., etc.) One form must contain your name and photograph and the second form must be signature bearing. If you cannot provide the required identification, call (800) 733-9267 at least 21 days prior to your scheduled appointment. You will not be able to take your exam if these requirements are not met.

Step 6: Apply for your license with NIPR at www.nipr.com. Detailed licensing information can be found through the Arkansas Department of Insurance. Licensing fee: $188

Step 7: Maintain your license by being aware of your continuing education requirements. Most insurance licenses must be maintained by completing a certain number of credit hours of continuing education each licensing period. ExamFX offers continuing education courses that will help you comply with your state’s requirements. Click here to view your state’s education rules and stay on top of your license.

Q: How do I study for my health insurance license exam in Arkansas?

Complete the required Pre-licensing Education (PE) coursework from a Arkansas-approved PE provider prior to taking an examination.

  • PE requirements may be met by completing an approved 20-hour classroom course or completing an approved self-study course.
  • Upon completing the required PE program, applicants will be issued a Course Completion Certificate for each line of authority completed. The certificate is valid for 12 months from the completion date and the corresponding examination must be successfully completed during this 12-month period.
  • The PE Course Completion Certificate should not be taken to the examination site.  PE course completion information is sent to our office by the PE provider as an electronic file. The information populates the application in our database and will be matched to the examination score.
  • We recommend using ExamFX for pre-licensing study.

Q: How do I schedule to take my health insurance exam in Arkansas?

Schedule your exam with PSI. You can register online by accessing PSI’s registration website at www.psiexams.com 24 hours a day. For telephone registration, you will need a valid credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover). Call PSI at (800-733-9267.) Your examination fee is dependent on the exam you are taking and ranges from $40 to $100.

To change of cancel your testing appointment, you must contact PSI at least 48 hours in advance or forfeit the examination fee.

Q: Are there different parts to the health insurance exam?

Yes. The exam is broken up into 2 categories: General Knowledge and State law. The topics listed in each category are listed below.

Arkansas Accident and Health Insurance Examination
90 Questions (80 scored, 10 pretest)
Time Limit: 2.5 Hours
Passing score: 70%

General Knowledge:

  • Field Underwriting Procedures
  • Types of Policies
  • Policy Provisions, Clauses, and Riders
  • Social Insurance
  • Other Insurance Concepts

State Law:

  • Arkansas Statutes, Rules, and Regulations Common to All Lines
  • Arkansas Statutes, Rules, and Regulations Pertinent to Sickness and Accident Only

Q: How do I apply for a nonresident health insurance license in Arkansas?

You will need to have completed the CE requirements or have a reciprocating CE from another state. You will also have to pay the biennial fee: $120

Nonresidents can apply on NIPR: https://nipr.com/licensing-center/state-requirements/arkansas-non-resident-licensing-individual

Q: How do I renew my health insurance license in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, insurance licenses expire every two years although, depending on when you apply and your date of birth, the initial term may be only one year. Otherwise, the expiration date is on your date of birth, biennially. The renewal period begins fifty (50) days prior to the expiration date. Please be aware that the expiration date is not the last day of your birth month but your actual date of birth.
If this is the state you reside in, then renewing your license will also keep any non-resident license you have in good standing. You will still need to pay the license renewal fee for non-resident licenses held in other states.
The State of Arkansas requires that resident individual licensees complete twenty-four (24) credit hours of continuing education every two-year renewal period. Of those hours, three (3) of those hours must be in the subject of ethics.
After you have completed your continuing education and you are within 90 days of your license expiration, you may renew your Arkansas insurance license online by using the National Insurance Producer Registry Arkansas Resident Renewal tool or the Arkansas State Information Center Insurance Licensing Search and Renewal Tool.
There is a fee of $120 per application to renew your license.
Once this process is complete, your license will be renewed and your new expiration date will be two years from your previous expiration date

Tip:
It is recommended to complete all continuing education credits thirty (30) days prior to the expiration date of the license. This will give the CE provider time to report the successful completion to the department of insurance. Your CE courses can be taken at any time within your license term.

Q: What do I do if my health insurance license has expired in Arkansas?

If your license is under a year expired, you can still renew your license without having to retake your exam but you will have to complete your CE requirements and pay the reinstatement fee. If the license is over a year expired, you will have to retake your exam and reapply for your license.

Q: What do I do for Continuing Education to keep my health insurance license in Arkansas?

The State of Arkansas requires that resident individual licensees complete twenty-four (24) credit hours of continuing education every two-year renewal period. Of those hours, three (3) of those hours must be in the subject of ethics.

Tip:
It is recommended to complete all continuing education credits thirty (30) days prior to the expiration date of the license. This will give the CE provider time to report the successful completion to the department of insurance. Your CE courses can be taken at any time within your license term.

If you have a producer license in more than one line of authority (ex. Property & Casualty and Life & Health), you do not need to complete double the hours.

You may take your continuing education courses either in person in a classroom setting or online as a self-paced course. The online courses usually require a reading of the subject at hand, then a test at the end.

Upon completion of these courses, the company who you took the course should send the certificate of completion directly to the state. You should, however, print a copy of this certificate to keep in your records just in case there is a dispute later.

URL: https://nipr.com/licensing-center/state-requirements
http://insurance.arkansas.gov

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