Property and casualty insurance license: what it covers and how to get it
Last checked October 18, 2026 · Sources: NAIC Uniform Licensing Standards and major lines chapter; state figures from our Texas, Florida, California, New York and Illinois pages, each sourced to the state and its test vendor.
A property and casualty insurance license lets you sell coverage for homes, cars, businesses and liability. Under the NAIC’s model law, Property and Casualty are two of the six major lines of authority, and Personal Lines is a narrower option for individuals and families. Requirements vary more than for life and health: Texas lists no required course, while Florida’s 2-20 license takes 200 hours and New York’s takes 90.
What a property and casualty license covers
The NAIC’s model law defines Property as coverage for direct or consequential loss or damage to property of every kind, and Casualty as coverage against legal liability, including for death, injury or disability, or damage to real or personal property. Personal Lines covers property and casualty insurance sold to individuals and families for mainly non-commercial purposes, such as home and auto, so it’s a narrower license than full P&C. The NAIC’s standards give the example that an applicant seeking both the property and the casualty line needs 40 hours of pre-licensing, 20 per line.
Property and casualty licensing in the five biggest states
| State | Pre-licensing | Exam | To pass | License fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | None listed in the handbook | General Lines Property & Casualty, $49, 150 minutes | 70 (scaled) | $50 |
| Florida | 200 hours (2-20 General Lines) | 2-20 exam, $44 | 70% | $50 + $5 |
| California | 12-hour Ethics and Code course | PSI exam | 60% | $188 |
| New York | 90 hours (Personal Lines: 40) | PSI, $40 | 70% | $80 |
| Illinois | 40 hours (20 per line) | General + State exam per line, about $92 each | 70 | $215 |
From our state pages, each sourced to the state insurance department and its test vendor, checked October 2026. Where figures come from approved schools citing official handbooks, the state page says so.
See each state for details: Texas, Florida, California, New York and Illinois.
What’s on the property and casualty exam
The general part typically covers property and liability insurance basics, homeowners and dwelling policies, auto insurance, commercial property and liability, and workers’ compensation; the state part covers your state’s licensing law and its rules for these policies. Each vendor’s candidate handbook lists the exact topic weights for your state.
Full P&C or personal lines?
If you’ll only sell home and auto to individuals, a Personal Lines license can be quicker: New York, for example, requires 40 hours for Personal Lines against 90 for full Property and Casualty. If you want to sell to businesses, or keep your options open, full P&C covers both.
How to get a property and casualty license
Property and Casualty together, or Personal Lines if you'll only sell to individuals.
Requirements range from none listed (Texas) to 200 hours (Florida 2-20).
Book with your state's vendor using its candidate handbook. Illinois uses separate General and State exams for each line.
Get fingerprinted, apply through NIPR or Sircon, and get appointed by an insurer.
Common questions about the property and casualty license
Is P&C one license or two?
Under the NAIC’s model law they’re two lines of authority, Property and Casualty, but many states test and license them together.
Which state needs the most P&C pre-licensing?
Florida’s 2-20 General Lines license, at 200 hours, is the most of the five states we cover; New York requires 90.
What is a personal lines license?
Property and casualty coverage sold to individuals and families for mainly non-commercial purposes, such as home and auto.
Can I hold P&C and life and health licenses?
Yes. Life and health and property and casualty are separate lines; many agents hold both.
See also our life and health license guide and how licensing works by state. MockTestPrep is independent and is not affiliated with the NAIC or any state.