As an insurance agency, recruiting and onboarding new health insurance agents can be a critical step in expanding your team and growing your business. One of the first things your new recruits need is their health insurance license, which opens the door for them to start selling health insurance policies.
This leads to the question: How to get a health insurance license? Navigating the licensing process efficiently is key, and EMG Insurance Brokerage is here to help streamline this journey for your agency and new agents.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps your agency should take to help new agents get licensed quickly and how EMG Insurance Brokerage can support you in accelerating this process, ensuring your team is ready to sell in no time.
Key Takeaways:
- How to get a health insurance license involves guiding your recruits through the pre-licensing education, licensing exam, and application process.
- EMG Insurance Brokerage offers tools to streamline agent onboarding, from pre-licensing courses to multi-state licensing.
- With EMG’s support, your agency can recruit more agents and empower them to start selling health insurance faster, leading to business growth.
Why Getting a Health Insurance License Matters for Your Agency
Helping your agents obtain a health insurance license is an essential part of building a strong team. Not only does it allow your agents to sell a wider range of products, but it also opens the door to potential commissions and long-term relationships with clients.
Having licensed agents is crucial because:
- Wider product offerings: Licensed agents can sell individual health plans, group health plans, ACA coverage, Medicare supplements, and even disability insurance, expanding the products your agency can offer clients.
- Faster business growth: When your agents are licensed, they can start selling immediately, helping your agency increase revenue and expand its reach.
- In-demand role: The need for licensed health insurance agents continues to grow, with projections showing a 4% increase in employment by 2034.
Key Benefits of Dual Licensing for Your Agents
Consider helping your agents pursue a dual health and life insurance license:
- More products to offer: With both life and health licenses, agents can sell life insurance, accident and health policies, and Medicare, all under one roof.
- Faster growth: Dual-licensed agents have the ability to reach high-net-worth clients, underserved markets, and diverse groups, growing your agency faster.
- Stronger career path: Offering agents a dual license allows your agency to attract top talent who are looking for career advancement and earning potential.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Get Health Insurance License for Your Agents
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how your agency can guide new recruits through the licensing process. By supporting your agents in each phase, you’ll ensure a smooth transition from recruitment to sales.
Step 1: Ensure They Meet the Basic Requirements
Before starting the licensing process, your agency must ensure that your new agents meet the basic eligibility criteria required by each state’s Department of Insurance. These conditions are standard in most states:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have a valid Social Security number.
- Hold a high school diploma or GED.
- Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
- Pass a background check and fingerprinting.
EMG’s Support:
- EMG Insurance Brokerage provides clear guidance to your agency on these requirements and helps ensure that your agents are ready to begin the licensing process with confidence.
Step 2: Help Agents Decide What Type of License They Need
Once agents meet the basic requirements, the next step is deciding what line of authority they need. Many agents choose to get a dual license for both health and life insurance, but it’s important for your agency to ensure that the right licenses are selected for their goals.
Types of licenses:
- Health Insurance License: Covers individual and group health plans, ACA, and some disability policies.
- Life Insurance License: Allows agents to sell life policies, including term, whole, and universal life.
- Life and Health License: Allows agents to sell both life and health insurance policies, increasing the range of products they can offer.
EMG’s Support:
- EMG helps your agency navigate the licensing types and offers dual-licensing support to ensure your agents can offer the widest range of policies, maximizing their ability to sell.
Step 3: Provide Pre-Licensing Education
Once the license type is selected, your agents must complete pre-licensing education. This step prepares them for the licensing exam by covering insurance fundamentals, state regulations, and ethical guidelines.
EMG’s Support:
- EMG Insurance Brokerage provides pre-licensing courses tailored for your agents to complete at their own pace. With online courses and in-person training options, we help your agents get the knowledge they need to succeed on their exams.
Step 4: Schedule and Pass the State Licensing Exam
Once the pre-licensing course is completed, your agents will need to pass the state exam to obtain their license. The exam typically includes multiple-choice questions covering general insurance knowledge and state-specific rules.
EMG’s Support:
- EMG helps agencies track agent progress toward the licensing exam and ensures that your agents have access to study materials, tips, and guidance to pass on their first attempt.
Step 5: Complete Fingerprinting and Background Check
After passing the exam, most states require agents to complete fingerprinting and undergo a background check. This is a standard part of the licensing process.
EMG’s Support:
- EMG Insurance Brokerage helps your agents schedule and complete this process quickly, ensuring no delays in obtaining their license. We provide guidance on the required fingerprinting providers and steps to follow.
Step 6: Submit the Application for the License
Once the exam and background checks are completed, agents can apply for their official health insurance license. Your agency will need to ensure all application steps are followed correctly.
EMG’s Support:
- EMG provides support for agents during the application process, helping them navigate the NIPR system and ensure they have the correct documentation ready.
Step 7: Keep the License Active with Continuing Education
After agents are licensed, they must meet continuing education (CE) requirements to keep their license active. Most states require agents to complete CE courses every two years.
EMG’s Support:
- EMG Insurance Brokerage offers ongoing training and compliance resources to help your agents stay on top of continuing education requirements and maintain their license status.
How EMG Insurance Brokerage Helps Your Agency with Licensing
EMG Insurance Brokerage provides comprehensive support to help your agency recruit, onboard, and manage licensed health insurance agents. Here’s how we assist your agency at every step of the licensing process:
- Streamlined Onboarding: Our e-complete portal simplifies document submission, progress tracking, and agent management, allowing your agency to focus on recruiting more agents.
- Multi-State Licensing Support: Whether your agents are applying for a resident license or a non-resident license, we guide them through the necessary steps to ensure they are licensed in all states where your agency operates.
- Ongoing Support: EMG offers training resources, mentorship programs, and educational content to help your agents succeed at every stage of their careers.
By partnering with EMG Insurance Brokerage, your agency will have the resources and support to ensure your agents are licensed, trained, and ready to start selling health insurance policies efficiently.
FAQs:
How can EMG help my agency with multi-state licensing?
EMG Insurance Brokerage supports your agency in obtaining non-resident licenses for agents across all 50 states, allowing your team to expand and sell in multiple regions quickly.
What types of support does EMG provide for new agents?
We offer pre-licensing education, application assistance, exam prep, and ongoing training, ensuring your agents are equipped to succeed from day one.
How long does it take for agents to get licensed?
Most agents can complete the entire process in 3 to 6 weeks, depending on state requirements. EMG’s resources streamline this timeline to help agents become licensed faster.
How can EMG’s tools help my agency recruit agents?
With EMG’s e-complete portal, your agency can efficiently manage and track agent progress, ensuring that new recruits are onboarded quickly and are ready to start selling.
Empower Your Agents and Drive Agency Growth with EMG Insurance Brokerage
Partnering with EMG Insurance Brokerage helps your agency recruit, onboard, and support licensed health insurance agents more effectively. Our tools, training, and multi-state licensing support ensure your agents are prepared and compliant, allowing your agency to grow and expand quickly.
Ready to expand your team? Contact EMG Insurance Brokerage today and discover how we can help you streamline the recruitment and licensing process for your agents.
