Insurance license cost: exam, application, fingerprints and course fees
Last checked October 18, 2026 · Sources: state fees from our Texas, Florida, California, New York and Illinois pages, each sourced to the state and its test vendor (or approved schools citing official handbooks, as labeled there); course prices from Kaplan, ExamFX and Pearson VUE. Totals are our sums.
Insurance license cost has four parts: the state exam ($40 to about $92 per exam in the five biggest states), the license application ($50 to $215), fingerprints, and any required course. In Texas, which lists no required course, exam and license fees for one line come to about $140 with fingerprints; in Illinois, with two exams per line and a 40-hour course for life and health, it’s several hundred dollars.
Insurance license cost by state
| State | Exam fee | License fee | Required course | Exam + license |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $49 | $50 | None listed | $99 (about $140 with ~$41 fingerprints) |
| Florida | $44 | $50 + $5 ID fee | 60 hrs (2-15) or 200 hrs (2-20) | $99 plus course and fingerprints |
| California | Check PSI (sources differ) | $188 | 12-hour Ethics and Code course | $188 plus exam, course and Live Scan |
| New York | $40 | $80 (two years) | 20 to 90 hrs by line | $120 plus course |
| Illinois | About $92 per exam, 2 per line | $215 | 20 hrs per line | $399 for one line (2 exams + license), plus course |
Fees from our state pages. Course and fingerprint costs vary by provider. Totals are our sums for one exam attempt and one license.
What courses cost
Kaplan’s Life & Health packages run from $139 (Basic) to $349 (Career Launcher), with live online Premium at $329 to $359 where offered. ExamFX shows its prices at checkout and offers Self-Study, Video Study and Live Online packages. Both give 60 days of access. Pearson VUE’s $19.95 practice tests are an optional extra in states it serves.
Example budgets
| Scenario | Items | About |
|---|---|---|
| Texas, self-study, one line | $49 exam + $50 license + ~$41 fingerprints | $140 |
| Texas, with a course | The above + Kaplan Basic $139 | $279 |
| New York, Life & Health | $40 exam + $80 license + 40-hour course (Kaplan Basic $139) | $259 |
| Illinois, Life & Health | Four exams (~$368) + $215 license + 40-hour course | $583 plus course |
Our sums, first-time pass, using the fees above and Kaplan’s $139 Basic package.
Costs people forget
- Retakes: every attempt means another exam fee, and Florida limits you to five attempts in 12 months.
- Extra lines: each license type has its own application fee in Texas ($50 each).
- Expiring windows: Texas requires you to apply within one year of passing, or you retake the exam.
- Fingerprints: NAIC standards call for fingerprinting resident applicants, and the fee varies by vendor.
- Course access: Kaplan’s and ExamFX’s 60-day access can run out before you test.
Common questions about insurance license cost
How much does an insurance license cost?
In the five biggest states, exam fees run from $40 to about $92 per exam and license fees from $50 to $215, plus fingerprints and any required course. Texas, with no required course, comes to about $140 for one line.
What is the cheapest state to get licensed in?
Texas, where the handbook lists no required course, the exam is $49 and the license $50.
Does my employer pay?
Often. Many agencies sponsor licensing costs for new agents, so ask before you pay.
Do I pay again if I fail?
Yes. Each attempt needs a new exam fee.
See also cheapest insurance licensing prep and our insurance licensing guide. MockTestPrep is independent and earns no commission from these providers.