How to get a North Carolina life & health license
Requirements, exam, fees and the order to do things in — from the North Carolina Department of Insurance and the exam handbook.
Step by step
- Complete pre-licensing education — 20 hours from a North Carolina-approved provider.
- Schedule and pass the state exam with Pearson VUE ($45). Read the candidate handbook.
- Get fingerprinted if required — Required for major lines (Live Scan/law enforcement); fee.
- Apply for the license through NIPR or the North Carolina Department of Insurance ($50).
- Get appointed by an insurance company (agents) and keep up with continuing education — 24 hours per renewal (license term: Continuous (no producer renewal application); biennial CE compliance).
Pre-licensing & exam prep courses
- Kaplan Financial Education — state-approved pre-licensing and exam prep, the long-running market leader
- ExamFX — pre-licensing and exam prep with a pass guarantee
- AceableAgent — mobile-first pre-licensing courses
- XCEL Solutions — low-cost online pre-licensing and exam prep
Pick a course approved in North Carolina. Some links may be affiliate links.
North Carolina Life & Health requirements
| Life (01) | Accident & Health or Sickness (02) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-licensing education | 20 hours | 20 hours |
| Exam vendor | Pearson VUE | Pearson VUE |
| Exam fee | $45 | $45 |
| Questions / time | 75 min | 75 min |
| License application fee | $50 verify | $50 verify |
| Fingerprints | Required for major lines (Live Scan/law enforcement); fee verify | Required for major lines (Live Scan/law enforcement); fee verify |
| Continuing education | 24 hours · Continuous (no producer renewal application); biennial CE compliance | 24 hours · Continuous; biennial CE |
Life (01): Two-part exam. CE 24 h/2 yr incl. ethics.
Accident & Health or Sickness (02): Medicare Supp/LTC separate (10 h).
Minimum age 18. Sources: Pearson VUE North Carolina Insurance Candidate Guide · NCDOI Prelicensing. Checked 2026-10. Values marked verify haven't been confirmed against an official source yet.
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Life & Health license rules across the US
Other North Carolina licenses
Property & Casualty license · Adjuster license · All North Carolina insurance licenses
Questions
How long does it take to get a life and health insurance license in North Carolina?
The 20 hours of pre-licensing take most people 1–3 weeks. After you pass, license approval usually takes a few days to a few weeks after fingerprints clear.
How much does a North Carolina Life & Health license cost?
State fees (exam + application) come to about $190, plus fingerprints and a course if you take one.
Who runs the North Carolina insurance exam?
Pearson VUE. Book the exam on the vendor's site after reading the candidate handbook.