Free Washington Insurance FAQs | Free Washington Insurance Legal Documents

How Do I Register For And Schedule The Examination?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

Assessment Systems, Inc. (ASI) administers insurance licensing examinations in Washington. Candidates may make a reservation by:

calling ASI Customer Care at (800) 2748949
faxing the Fax Reservation Form (found in the Handbook Update) to ASI at (888) 2046291
visiting the ASI Web site http://www.asisvcs.com

Candidates should make a reservation at least three (3) business days before the desired examination date. Exams are administered in Wenatchee, Lacey, Kennewick, Tukwila, Spokane, Vancouver and Yakima. The examination fee for agents ($55 for one exam, $70 for two) and brokers and surplus line brokers ($100) must be paid on the day of the examination, and should be in the form of a certified check, cashier's check, company or agency check, or money order, made payable to "Assessment Systems, Inc."

The Candidate Handbook and Handbook Update are available to assist and guide applicants through the examination and licensing process. It is suggested, that applicants familiarize themselves with this information before registering for the examination(s).

What Are The License Fees?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

Agent's license (every two years)	$50
Limited Agents' licenses (every two years)	$20
Brokers' Licenses (every two years)	$100
Adjusters" Licenses (every two years)	$50
Solicitors' Licenses (every two years)	$20
Surplus Lines Brokers' Licenses (every two years)	$200
Filing of appointment or affiliation (every two years)	$20
Filing of appointment for managing general agent (every two years)	$200
Filing fee for initial license	$5
Fingerprint processing fee	$49

What Are The Licensing Application Procedures?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

The following is a list of the forms that must be submitted to apply for each type of license for a resident of Washington:

Agent (Individual)

PreLicense Education Certificates of Completion (for Life, Disability, Property, Casualty, Rules & Regulations)
Insurance License Application (INS14 WordPerfect) (INS14MS Word)
Two Fingerprint Cards
Appointment and/or Affiliation Request Form (INS18 WordPerfect) (INS18 MS Word)
Examination Score Report(s)

Broker (Individual)

Insurance License Application (INS14 MS Word)
Two Fingerprint Cards
Examination Score Report(s)
Broker's Bond in the amount of $20,000. (INS17) (For Surplus Lines Broker, also need Bond of $100,000 in favor of the people of the State)
Affiliation Request Form (INS18 WordPerfect) (INS18 MS Word) if applicable

Viatical Settlement Broker (Individual)

Completed License Application (INS14VSB)
Appointment Request Form, completed by each viatical settlement provider represented (INS18VSB)
Affiliation Request Form (INS18VSB) if applicable
Two Fingerprint Cards (a $49 Cashier's check, company check or money order payable to the Washington State Patrol Identification Section is required)
Test Score Reports or proof of qualification as a life agent
PreLicense Education Certificates, if applicable
License and Appointment Fees

Adjuster Independent or Public (Individual)

Insurance License Application (INS14 MS Word)
Affiliation Request Form (INS18 MS Word)
Two Fingerprint Cards
Examination Score Report
Public Adjusters only $5,000 Public Adjuster's Bond

Solicitor (Individual only)

Prelicense Education Certificates of Completion (for Life, Disability, Property, Casualty, Rules & Regulations)
Insurance License Application (INS14MS Word) signed by employing Agent or Broker
Two Fingerprint Cards
Examination Score Report(s)

The following is a list of the forms which must be submitted for each type of license for a nonresident:

Agent (Individual)

Insurance License Application (INS14MS Word)
Two Fingerprint Cards
Appointment and/or Affiliation Request Form (INS18 MS Word)
Power of Attorney Form (INS25 MS Word)
Letter of Certification from Resident State

Broker (Individual)

Insurance License Application (INS14 MS Word)
Affiliation Request Form (INS18 MS Word)) if applicable
Two Fingerprint Cards
Power of Attorney Form (INS25 MS Word)
Letter of Certification from Resident State
Broker's Bond in the amount of $20,000

Adjuster Independent or Public Individual

Insurance License Application (INS14 MS Word)
Affiliation Request Form (INS18 MS Word) if applicable
Two Fingerprint Cards
Letter of Certification from Resident State

What Are The Licensing Renewal Procedures?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

All individual licenses, regardless of the issue date, will expire on the individual's next birth date, plus one year, and every two years thereafter. Firm and corporate licenses expire two years from the date issued and every two years thereafter. A renewal notice will be sent to the licensee's last address of record approximately two months prior to the license expiration date. However, it is the licensee's obligation to renew prior to the expiration date, even if the renewal notice is not received.

If the completed and signed renewal application, renewal fee and continuing education information is received prior to the expiration date, the licensee may continue to act under his/her license until the issuance of the renewed license. If all renewal requirements have not been met, the Licensing Section of the Office of Insurance Commissioner will inform the licensee in writing of the deficiency. The licensee has until the expiration of 15 calendar days from the date of this notice to comply. After that date the authority conferred by the license ends.

If the renewal application, renewal fee and continuing education information is not received prior to the expiration date, the authority conferred by the license ends on that date.

What Are The Prelicensing Examination Requirements?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

Each applicant for license as agent, broker, solicitor or adjuster shall, prior to the issuance of any such license, personally take and pass to the satisfaction of the examining authority, an examination given as a test of qualifications and competence, but this requirement shall not apply to:

Applicants for limited licenses under RCW 48.17.190, at the discretion of the commissioner
Applicants who were licensed as residents in this state within the last two years under a license requiring qualifications similar to qualifications required by the license applied for, or who have successfully completed a course of study recognized as a mark of distinction by the insurance industry and who are deemed by the Commissioner to be fully qualified and competent.
Applicants for license as a nonresident agent, broker or adjuster, who are duly licensed in their state of residence and who are deemed by the Commissioner to be fully qualified and competent for a similar license in this state.
Applicants for an agent's license covering the same types of insurance as a solicitor's license they currently hold or held within the last two years.
Applicants for an adjuster's license who for a period of one year (a portion of which was in the year preceding the date of application), have been fulltime salaried employees of an insurer or a general agent, adjusting, investigating, or reporting claims arising under insurance contracts.

Applicants who were licensed as an insurance broker by this state prior to June 8, 1967, who are otherwise qualified to be a licensed insurance broker, shall be entitled to renew their broker's license by payment of the applicable fee for such a broker's license as authorized by RCW 48.17.110(2), without taking any additional examinations.

What Are The Requirements To Become Licensed In Washington?

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 21:51:22 GMT

Washington State residents desiring any type of insurance license must (1) be 18 years of age, (2) be a resident of and actually reside in Washington State and (3) be trustworthy and competent. In addition, the following qualifications for specific license types are required:

Agents No additional eligibility requirements
Brokers Two years experience either as an agent, solicitor, adjuster, general agent, broker, or as an employee of insurers or representatives of insurers, and special education or training of sufficient duration and extent reasonably to satisfy the Commissioner that they possess the competence necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of broker
Solicitors May represent and be employed by but one licensed agent or broker and intend to make the soliciting and handling of insurance business under their license their principal vocation
Adjuster Experience or special education or training with reference to the handling of loss claims under insurance contracts of sufficient duration and extent to reasonably make them competent to fulfill the responsibilities of an adjuster.
Surplus Line Broker Five years as a licensed property/casualty broker, immediately preceding the date of the application, or the CPCU designation with not less than five years' experience in the insurance industry, or not less than ten years' experience as an insurance company employee, or an employee of an insurance broker's office or other related insurance industry experience, or have equivalent experience acceptable to the insurance commissioner.
Viatical Settlement Broker Applicants for a resident viatical settlement broker must be qualified as a life insurance agent and appointed by each viatical settlement provider represented.
Managing General Agent Persons acting in the capacity of a resident Managing General Agent must be licensed as an Agent for the lines of insurance involved and appointed as a Managing General Agent by the insurer.

Nonresidents must meet the same qualification as residents and additionally be licensed as a resident of a state that extends a similar privilege to Washington State residents. Washington State does not license or permit nonresident solicitors.

What Is The Continuing Education Requirement?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

Currently, each resident life, disability, property or casualty insurance agent, broker or solicitor is required to present thirtytwo (32) hours of approved continuing education as a prerequisite to license renewal or reissuance (reinstatement). Nonresidents are exempt from continuing education requirements.

Licensees must include copies of the Certificate of Completion of continuing education courses with the license renewal application. All courses must have been completed within the twentyfour months immediately preceding the assigned renewal date. Licensees must retain each certificate of completion for a minimum of three years from the date the course is used for continuing education compliance.

A list of organizations which sponsor approved continuing education courses is available from the Education Department of the Insurance Commissioner's Office.

Effective January 1, 1998, resident and nonresident licensees engaged in the transaction of longterm care insurance, long term care partnership insurance or both, are required to take an approved sixhour course on long term care, long term partnership, or both, every two years. The Commissioner will prescribe the content of the course. Each course will be approved in advance. The insurer, not the licensee must certify to the Commissioner, that its appointees complied with this requirement. The approved sixhour course may also count towards the thirtytwo required continuing education credit hours, if it is approved for that purpose.

What Is The Prelicensing Education Requirement In The State Of Washington?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

Applicants for a resident license as a life, disability, property or casualty insurance agent or solicitor must meet prelicense education requirements to be allowed access to the exam.

Candidates must complete approved courses consisting of at least 16 hours of instruction for each line of insurance (life, disability, property, casualty) for which an examination is being taken and an approved course consisting of at least 4 hours of instruction relating to Washington's rules and regulations.

Candidates who plan to take an examination for more than one major line of insurance need NOT repeat the 4 hours of instruction on rules and regulations.A waiver of the general prelicense education is permitted for those lines in which a candidate holds a valid license in another state, if the candidate has been licensed continuously for a minimum of two years, and within the last 90 days. A candidate may apply for a waiver by sending a letter, affirming that his/her license status conforms to the requirements, and forwarding copies of previous licenses, or other written proof from the Insurance Department of the candidate's home state to the Insurance Education Section of this office. A statement that the candidate understands that a four hour course on Washington's rules and regulations must still be completed, should be in the waiver request.

What Is The Procedure For Obtaining An Appointment/Affiliation?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

Individuals, firms or corporations licensed as agents must be appointed by an insurer(s) and notice of the appointment must be furnished the Office of Insurance Commissioner by the insurer on an Appointment/Affiliation Notice (INS18). Agents must be licensed for all the lines of insurance the appointing insurer is authorized to transact. Agents, adjusters and brokers acting on behalf of a firm or corporation must be affiliated with that firm or corporation and notice of such affiliation must also be provided the Office of Insurance Commissioner on form INS18. Licenses will not be issued without at least one appointment or affiliation.

An appointment/affiliation will expire biennially on the renewal date for the insurer or licensed firm or corporation that has been assigned by the Office of Insurance Commissioner. An appointment/affiliation is terminated when the licensee's qualification license expires or is revoked, or when written notice of the termination of the appointment/affiliation is filed with the Commissioner, whichever occurs first.

To file a written notice of termination of appointment/affiliation, use "Notice of Revocation of Agent, Broker or Adjuster" form (INS24 MSWord) or provide required information in letter form.

Where Can I Obtain Insurance Licensing Information?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

You may obtain licensing information from The Office of Insurance Commissioner:

Address: The Office of Insurance Commissioner
Rowesix, Building 5
4224 6th Ave SE
P. O. Box 40257
Olympia, Washington 985040257

Telephone: (360) 4070341

Email: Licensing: georgiac@oic.wa.gov or erikat@oic.wa.gov

Web site: http://www.insurance.wa.gov

Free Auto Insurance FAQs

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 02:58:41 GMT

Free Auto Insurance FAQs

Free Health Insurance FAQs

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 02:58:41 GMT

Free Health Insurance FAQs

Free Home Owners Insurance FAQs

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 02:58:41 GMT

Free Home Owners Insurance FAQs

Free Life Insurance FAQs

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 02:58:41 GMT

Free Life Insurance FAQs