General Requirements
Major Lines licenses include:
- General Lines – Life, Accident & Health
- General Lines – Property & Casualty
- Life Agent
- Personal Lines – Property & Casualty
Texas General Lines Licensed Agents must take 24 Credit Hours of Approved Continuing Education every 2 years, prior to their Expiration Date. Expiration dates occur on the last day of the agent’s birth month – every 2 years. Of the 24 credit hours required, at least 3 must be done in the category of Ethics Training. The remaining requirements are “non-license type specific”: Agents can take courses in any topic as long as they are approved by the Texas Department of Insurance. It is important to note that Texas requires at least 12 of the 24 credits taken must be done in a classroom setting or approved as “Classroom Equivalent”.
Producers licensed in multiple major lines (Property & Casualty and Life, for example) are only required to meet the same requirements as agents with single lines of licensing. In other words: you only must take 24 credit hours of CE, regardless of the number of lines of licensing you hold. However, Texas DOI advises that some agents with multiple lines of authority may have different CE due dates based on when they were originally licensed. You should check your CE Transcript to be certain of your renewal and CE requirement dates (review dates)
Agents must complete their CE Requirements prior to their license expiration date to be eligible to renew their license. Licenses can be renewed online through NIPR.com, or Sircon.com. The renewal fee is $50 per general line of authority. For example, agents licensed in Property and Casualty only are required to pay a renewal fee of $50, and an agent licensed in Property and Casualty and Life or Health would pay a renewal fee of $50 per each line of authority ($100 total). Texas also charges an additional $1 per credit hour “filing fee” that must be collected by the CE provider and remitted when credits are filed.
Licenses are eligible for renewal when 1) all CE Requirements have been completed, and 2) when the licensee is within 90 days of their license expiration date.
Texas CE Requirements are “Non-License Type Specific.” Producers can take courses in any subject matter as long as:
- They are approved by the Texas Department of Insurance
- At least 3 of credit hours are approved for Ethics credit
Continuing Education Requirements must be completed every 2 years, on or before the last day of the licensee’s birth month.
Special Training Requirements
There are special training requirements for Texas insurance agents who sell certain products. These courses count towards your CE Requirements.
Flood Insurance
Texas insurance agents who sell Flood Insurance must complete a one-time 3-hour Flood Training Course.
Annuity Training
Any Texas life insurance agent who sells, solicits or negotiates an annuity product must complete a one-time 4-Hour Annuity Suitability course prior to selling.
Long Term Care
Texas insurance agents may not sell, solicit or negotiate a Long-Term Care policy unless the individual has completed an initial 8 Hour Long Term Care training course. Agents must also complete ongoing training consisting of a 4 Hour Long Term Care training course every compliance period following.
Medicare-Related Products Training
Texas insurance agents may not sell, solicit or negotiate Medicare-Related Products until they have undergone an initial 8-hour Medicaid Training Course approved by the Texas Department of Insurance. They must also complete a 4-hour refresher course each compliance period.
CE Exemptions and Reductions
There are limited exemptions from CE Requirements for some Texas insurance agents.
Extensions: You may request for an extension of time to complete your CE requirements through Sircon. Click on “Services” under Education. You must submit your request at least two weeks before your license expires.
Exemptions: You may not need to complete CE if you have been continuously licensed in Texas for at least 20 years without interruption. To apply, go to Sircon and click on “Request CE Exemption.” You must do this two weeks before your license expiration date.
Non-Resident Agents are exempt as long as they have met the CE and Renewal Requirements of their home State where they hold their License.
*Please note that even if you are exempt from CE requirements, you’re still required to meet the special training requirements for selling or soliciting annuities, long-term care partnership products, and Medicare-related products. You are also required to renew your license every 2 years.
Course Repeat Restrictions
Agents will not receive credit for the same course taken within the same renewal period.
Carryover Credits
Any credits earned in excess of the 24 credit requirements cannot be carried over to future renewal periods.
Late Renewal and Reinstatements
Texas has different penalties and requirements based upon whether you completed your CE requirements prior to license expiration date, and how long you are beyond your license expiration date. It is important to note that regardless of how far you are beyond your expiration date, you will be fined $50 for each hour of CE that you didn’t complete before your deadline (up to a maximum of $500).
- If your license expiration date has passed but you are still within 89 days of your expiration date, you can still renew your license by completing all outstanding CE requirements and paying a late fee of $25 in addition to the renewal fee of $50. You will also have to pay a $50 fee for each hour of uncompleted CE. Additional information can be found here: TX Late Renewal
- If you are 91 days beyond your license expiration date but still within one year, you can no longer renew, but you can reinstate your license. To do so, you must complete any outstanding CE, pay your CE fines of $50 per missing credit hour, get new fingerprints, submit a new application, and pay the application fee of $50 and reinstatement fee of $25. Additional information can be found here: TX Reinstatement Process
- If your license expiration date was over one year ago, your license can no longer be renewed or reinstated. You must retake the qualifying exam, complete and pay new application fees, re-fingerprint, and clear up any outstanding fees for previously uncompleted CE. Additional information can be found here: TX Reactivate License
Texas Insurance Agent Continuing Education & Renewal Requirements Summary
| Renewal Term | Every 2 Years |
| Renewal Date | Last Day of Birth Month – Every 2 Years |
| CE Requirements | 24 Credits Total (3 in Ethics) – At Least 12 Must Be Classroom or Classroom Equivalent |
| Course Requirements | Non-License Type Specific (Courses May Be Taken in Any Approved Subject Matter) |
| Special Training | Flood – 1 Time Prior to Selling Annuities – One-time Annuity Training Course Long Term Care – 8 Hour Initial, 4 Hours Every Renewal Period Following |
| Exemptions | Over 20 years of continuous experience |
| Renewal Fee | $50 + $1.30 per credit hour filing fee = ($81.20 total renewal fees) |
| Renewal Site | NIPR or Sircon |
| Missed Renewal | Late renewal up to 90 days. Reinstate up to 1 year. |
| Late Renewal, Reinstatement, Fees | All require $25 late fee + $50 per credit hour of uncompleted CE (up to $500). After 1 Year – Relicense and pay late and CE Fees. |
| Carryover Credits | None |
| Course Repeat Restrictions | No credits for courses repeated within same compliance period |
Texas Department of Insurance Contact Information
Main Switchboard: 800-578-4677
Licensing Switchboard: 512-676-6500
Life & Health Email: LifeHealth@tdi.texas.gov
Property & Casualty Email: PropertyCasualty@tdi.texas.gov
Texas Department of Insurance
1601 Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78701
