Sponsoring a new hire's Texas General Lines P&C license
Texas has no required pre-licensing course. The exam is the gate.
To license a Texas hire for General Lines property and casualty, they pass the Pearson VUE exam, get fingerprinted through IdentoGO, and apply to TDI for $50. TDI's application page lists no required pre-licensing course. If you need them working sooner, a sponsor can request a one-time 180-day temporary license for $150, with at least 40 hours of training from the appointing company.
The path to a Texas General Lines license
| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1. Study | No required course listed by TDI; exam prep is optional |
| 2. Exam | Pearson VUE property and casualty exam |
| 3. Fingerprints | IdentoGO, using a service code from TDI's fingerprint portal |
| 4. Application | To TDI; $50 |
| 5. CE | 24 hours every 2 years, including 3 ethics |
The 180-day temporary license
If you need your hire doing licensed work before they pass the exam, Texas offers a one-time temporary license.
- Sponsor: an agent, agency or company completes form FIN700 and confirms they'll supervise training.
- Training: at least 40 hours from the appointing company, starting within 30 days of the application.
- Deadline: pass the exam within 180 days, or reapply and pay again.
- Fee: $150, which also covers the permanent application.
- No renewal. It's one time only.
What they can do before they're licensed
Texas Insurance Code § 4001.002(b)(5) lets a salaried employee do clerical and administrative work, including incidentally taking customer information and receiving premiums, if they:
- don't solicit or negotiate insurance;
- receive no commission; and
- have pay that doesn't vary with premium volume.
Quoting, explaining coverage and recommending options need a license. See Texas CSR license requirements.
Keeping them once they're licensed
- Raise at licensing, written into the offer.
- A clear next role, such as commercial lines or account manager.
- A fair workload. A new licensee buried in the old desk's backlog starts looking.
Free tool: score flight risk for a newly licensed hire, or anyone on your team. About 3 minutes.
Where Humai fits
While your hire studies, someone still has to quote and advise. Humai matches U.S.-licensed agents who hold Texas licenses, checked in NIPR, to cover it in your AMS under your name.
Questions agency owners ask
Does Texas require a pre-licensing course for General Lines?
TDI's General Lines application page lists no required pre-licensing course. Candidates still need to pass the Pearson VUE exam, so an exam prep course is often worth it.
How much does a Texas General Lines license cost?
The TDI application fee is $50. The exam fee is paid to Pearson VUE, and fingerprinting is paid to IdentoGO.
What is the Texas temporary license?
A one-time, 180-day license that can't be renewed. A sponsor completes form FIN700, the person gets at least 40 hours of training from the appointing company starting within 30 days, and they must pass the exam within 180 days. The fee is $150, which also covers the permanent application.
What can an unlicensed hire do in Texas?
Under Insurance Code § 4001.002(b)(5), a salaried employee on clerical and administrative work who doesn't solicit or negotiate and earns no commission can incidentally take customer information and receive premiums.
Does General Lines cover personal lines too?
Yes. TDI says the General Lines license covers home, auto, commercial, liability and other personal and limited lines P&C.
Sources
- TDI: General Lines Property and Casualty license
- Texas Insurance Code Chapter 4001 (exceptions for salaried employees)
- TDI: Continuing education for agents
Licensing rules differ by state. This article is general information, not legal advice. Check with your state's department of insurance.