Insurance agents aren’t just an intermediary between customers and insurance companies, they’re responsible for ensuring each person gets the coverage they need. If you’re interested in a career as a property and casualty insurance agent, here’s what you need to do to get started.
What Is a Property and Casualty Insurance Agent?
Explaining the job of a property and casualty insurance agent is as simple as explaining what property and casualty insurance is. Property insurance is an umbrella term for insurance that covers the assets of an individual or business, while casualty insurance protects individuals and businesses from lawsuits and liability claims. As a licensed property and casualty insurance agent, you can sell various forms of insurance to both individuals and businesses. The types of insurance you’re permitted to sell include:
- Auto insurance
- Boat and motorcycle insurance
- Home insurance
- Commercial property insurance
- Commercial general liability insurance
- Workers’ compensation insurance
- Professional liability insurance
- Renters insurance
- Condo insurance
- Landlord insurance
- Inland marine insurance
Property and Casualty Insurance Agent Requirements
Making sure people have the proper types and amounts of coverage is an important job, so it can’t be entrusted to just anybody. Instead, you’ll have to obtain a license to operate as a property and casualty insurance agent. The requirements for licensure vary from state to state, but you’ll have to take a timed exam with numerous multiple choice questions relating to insurance to obtain your license. A quick Google search for “property and casualty insurance license classes near me” will help you find more information.
The first step to becoming a licensed property and casualty insurance agent is taking a pre-licensing course. While this isn’t required in every state, it is in about half of them. On top of that, taking a pre-licensing course gives you more practice so you can be more confident when taking the real exam. Once you’re ready to move on to the final exam, passing that is the next step. You can find more information about the grade you need to achieve to pass by looking for information specific to your state. Once you pass your licensing exam, you will be fingerprinted and a background check will be performed. Once you’ve completed all these steps, you will have your license. However, it’s important to note that you’ll need to keep up with continuing education in the future, so the learning certainly doesn’t stop here.
If helping people get the best insurance based on their needs sounds like something you’d be interested in, a career as an insurance agent may be for you. When you’re ready to dive in and get started, searching the web for property and casualty insurance license classes in your area can help you find all the resources you need to pass your exam and get licensed.
