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Getting A Licence

 

The sale or adjusting of insurance is a regulated occupation in British Columbia. To work as an insurance agent, salesperson, or adjuster in BC, you must be licensed by the Insurance Council of BC. To hold an insurance licence, an individual or organization must meet standards of qualification and practice set by the Insurance Council under the Financial Institutions Act.

Even if you have completed the education requirements and have obtained employment or a contract with an insurance company, you must still be licensed to legally conduct insurance activities in BC.

All documents submitted to the Insurance Council for licensing purposes are required in English. We accept translated documents from:

  • A certified member of the Society of Translators and Interpreters of BC;
  • A translator accredited by a professional association of translators in Canada;
  • A translator accredited by the Canadian government;
  • A Notary Public acting as a translator;
  • A translator accredited by a provincial or municipal government in Canada;
  • The consulate, high commission, or embassy (in Canada) for the country that issued the documents; and 
  • A Canadian consulate, high commission, or embassy in the country from which the applicant emigrated.
About Applying for a Licence
Classes of Insurance licence

How to Apply for a Licence

Processing Times for Applications

Changes to your Licence Status or Information

Licensing Policies 

Frequently Asked Questions

About Applying for a Licence


Suitability to Hold a Licence and Criminal Record Checks

Individuals looking to become licensed in British Columbia must meet the requirements of Council Rule 3(2) which sets out criteria for suitability to hold a licence. Find out more before submitting a licence application.
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First-time Licence Applicant

If you are applying for an insurance licence for the first time, you will need to meet the qualifications and requirements for licensure, including suitability to hold a licence. You can then submit an Insurance Licence Application to the Insurance Council of BC.

Applicants will need to:

  1. Review Suitability Requirements
  2. Review the education and experience requirements for the class/type of licence you are applying for
  3. Complete a criminal record check if required by the class/type of licence
  4. Submit a licence application, including:
    • Proof of completion of the required education and experience requirements
    • Criminal Record Check (if applicable to licence class/type)
    • Copy of E&O insurance certificate from your insurer or completed Confirmation of E&O Insurance Form*
    • Application fee.

The Insurance Council will then review the application and supporting materials provided in accordance with the licensing criteria established under the Financial Institutions Act, Council Rules, and Insurance Council policies to determine whether a licence may be issued or if further inquiry or investigation is required.

*Applicants applying for a general insurance (agent/salesperson) or adjuster licence are not required to submit confirmation of E&O insurance provided that their agency/firm has existing confirmation of E&O insurance coverage on file with the Insurance Council. This exemption also applies to general insurance applicants who are direct employees of an insurer and only sell the products of that insurer as stipulated in Council Rule 7 (11)(b).

Former Licensee Reinstating a Licence

If you are a former Insurance Council licensee, you may be eligible to re-apply under the Reinstatement Provision if you previously held a licence within the last two years. This provision may exempt a former licensee from needing to re-take qualifying education. 

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Licensing for Non-BC Residents

To apply for any form of non-resident licensing in BC, applicants must hold the same class and comparable level of licence in their home jurisdiction and meet certain requirements. 

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Applying for a Licence based on Equivalency

Applicants who do not have the required education for their licence class can request that the Insurance Council consider granting a licence based on alternate education and/or experience.

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Licensure and Other Employment/Business Activities

The potential for conflict of interest is considered as a part of the application process for insurance licensing as well as ongoing licensed practice where an applicant/licensee has other employment and/or engages in other business activities. 

Most other employment or business activities have no impact on a licensee’s insurance activities, and in most cases, concerns can be addressed by imposing conditions or restrictions on an insurance licence. However, there are a number of business activities where the potential for a conflict of interest is so significant the Insurance Council it is not prepared to issue a licence.

Note: The Insurance Council reserves the right to request a letter of acknowledgment from the employer/organization of your other business activity confirming that they are aware of your application for an insurance licence.


Before applying for a licence, be sure to review information about the impact of other employment or business activities on insurance licensure.

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About Classes of Insurance Licences

Licence description, qualification requirements, education prerequisites, application forms, and fee schedules by class/type of licence.

General Insurance

General insurance salesperson level 1, agent level 2 or level 3 and trainee registration for individuals, corporations, or dealerships.
Link

Life Insurance

Life insurance licence for individuals, partnerships, or corporations.
Link

Accident and Sickness Insurance

Accident and Sickness insurance licence for individuals, partnerships, or corporations.
Link

Insurance Adjusting

Insurance Adjusting licence level 1, level 2, or level 3 for individuals, partnerships, or corporations.
Link

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance licence for sole-proprietors, partnerships, or corporations.
Link

Forms

Applications, licence upgrade, changes to employer, licence status, or corporate ownership.
Link

How to Apply for a Licence


Individual Licences: Individuals applying for a general, life, accident and sickness or adjuster licence can submit their application online or via email by following the instructions provided below.

Applications for Travel Sole-Proprietors must be submitted by email (application via Online Portal is not available at this time).

Trainee Registrations: Individuals applying for a general insurance trainee registration can submit their application online or via email by following the instructions provided below.


Corporate Licences: Applications for corporate insurance licences can be submitted online or via email by following the instructions provided below.

Applications for licensure can be submitted using one of the following options: (Click to expand for instructions)

You can apply for an individual insurance licence through the Insurance Council's online portal. To do so, you will need to login with a portal account.

 
If you already have a portal account, have previously held an insurance licence in BC or written the LLQP exam in BC, you can log into the online portal with your user name and password.  You can then select "Apply for a Personal License" from the main menu. 
 
First time applying for a license with the Insurance Council and have no LLQP exam history with us? You will first need to create a portal account here. Please note, you will need to enter your legal name exactly as it appears on your government issued photo ID. You must also add a residential and service address to your account.
 

  1. Go to the online portal and login to your account.

  2. From the main menu, click on " Apply for a personal licence." 

  3. Follow the steps to enter all the information required, including the uploading of all corresponding documents (i.e., government issued photo ID, qualifying course results, etc).

  4. Once you have completed and submitted your application, the agency/firm you will represent  will be contacted to verify your authority to represent them. Please note this does not apply to Unaffiliated agents.

  5. Once the agency/firm has verified your application and has notified the Insurance Council, your application will be put into queue for review by a Licensing Officer. Applications are reviewed in the order of which they are received. The Insurance Council makes their best effort to review applications typically within 10 business days after submission of a complete application. (See processing times) If additional information is required, you will be notified by email.

  6. On approval of the application, you will receive a confirmation email from the Insurance Council's Licensing Team. 

If you require assistance with any aspect of the online application process, please contact our Licensing Team directly.

Note: Even if you have submitted an application and have obtained employment or a contract with an insurance company, you must hold a licence before you can conduct insurance activities in BC.
You can apply for a general insurance trainee registration through the Insurance Council’s online portal. To do so, you will need to log in with a portal account.

First time registering for an account with the Insurance Council? You will first need to create an account here. Please note you will need to enter your legal name exactly as it appears on your government-issued photo ID. You must also add a residential and a service (mailing) address to your account.
 
  1. Go to the online portal and log in to your account.
  2. From the main menu, under the Trainee Registrations tab click on “Apply for a Trainee Registration”.
  3. After reading the Trainee Registration Application Checklist, click on “Proceed to Trainee Registration Application”
  4. Confirm or update your contact information
  5. Click on “look up” to enter the name of the Agency you will work for.
  6. Answer all questions and upload the required documentation (i.e., government-issued photo ID, ICBC Autoplan Basics certificate, etc.)
  7. After you have completed and submitted your application, the Agency you will represent will be contacted to verify your authority to represent them. 
  8. Once the Agency has verified your application, your application will be reviewed by a licensing officer typically within 10-15 business days from that date. Please see our processing times. If additional information is required, you will be notified by email.
  9. On approval of the trainee registration, you will receive a confirmation email from the Insurance Council’s Licensing Team.
 
If you require assistance with any aspect of the online application process, please contact our Licensing Team directly.
 
Note: Even if you have submitted an application for a trainee registration, you cannot act as a trainee until the application is approved.
 
You can apply for a corporate insurance licence through the Insurance Council's online portal. To do so, you will need to login with a portal account.
 
If you already have a portal account, have previously held an insurance licence in BC or written the LLQP exam in BC, you can log into the online portal with your username and password. You can then select "Apply for a corporate licence" from the main menu. 
 
First time applying for a license with the Insurance Council and have no LLQP exam history with us? You will first need to create a portal account here. Please note, you will need to enter your legal name exactly as it appears on your government issued photo ID. You must also add a residential and service address to your account.
 
  1. Go to the online portal and login to your account.
  2. From the main menu, click on " Apply for a corporate licence".
  3. If your Agency or Firm has never held a licence, or is a new entity, please click on “Add New Agency/Firm” and follow the instructions.
    • To add branch details or registered trade names, click on “Edit Agency/Firm”.
  4. From the Agency/Firm Information record, click on “Apply for a corporate licence” and follow the steps to enter all the information required, including the uploading of all corresponding documents (i.e.,  Directors, Officers, Partners, and Controlling Shareholders Exhibit Only form, government issued photo ID, etc.).
  5. Once you have completed and submitted your application, it will then be reviewed by a Licensing Officer typically within 10-15 business days from submission date. (See processing times for applications currently being reviewed.)  If additional information is required, you will be notified by email.
  6. Upon approval of the application, you will receive a confirmation email from the Insurance Council's Licensing Team. 
If you require assistance with any aspect of the online application process, please contact our Licensing Team directly.

Note: Even if you have submitted an application and have obtained employment or a contract with an insurance company, you must hold a licence before you can conduct insurance activities in BC.
 
To apply for an insurance licence by email:

  1. Fill out the License Application Form, including any corresponding forms.

  2. Email the completed form(s) and supporting documents to licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com.

  3. An online portal account will be created for you. Please wait for instructions via email, for login information and how to pay for your application. 

  4. Your application will then be reviewed by a Licensing Officer, typically within 10-15 business days. (See processing times)  If additional information is required, you will be notified by email.

  5. On approval of your application, you will receive a confirmation email from our Licensing Team.

If you require assistance with any aspect of the online application process, please contact the Licensing department directly.

Note: Even if you have submitted an application and have obtained employment or a contract with an insurance company, you must be fully licensed before you can conduct insurance activities in BC.

Processing Times

We are currently reviewing applications, licence amendments and authority to represent (ATR) update requests received December 17, 2024.

Please note that suitability, corporate, and equivalency applications may take longer.

To apply, please see Apply Online above. 

Notes for licensing applications:

Agency Unverified Applications
Applications that have been submitted but not yet verified by your agency/firm are not considered complete applications.

Once the agency/firm has verified your application and has notified the Insurance Council, your application will be put into queue for review. Applications are reviewed in the order of which they are received. The Insurance Council makes their best effort to review applications typically within 10 business days after submission of a complete application.

Incomplete Applications
If an application has been reviewed by a licensing staff and found to be incomplete and/or has outstanding requirements, licensing staff will attempt to notify applicants a minimum of two times before an application may be closed with no further notice.

Note that applications will also expire 90 days past the date of submission, and that applications may be closed prior to this date.

Licence Issue and Effective Dates
Licences issued on or before February 29, 2024, will have a first annual renewal date of June 1, 2024.

Licences issued between March 1, 2024, and May 31, 2024, will have a first annual renewal date of June 1, 2025. The government fee is $25.00 per year. As the licence period will be for more than one year, two government fees (total of $50) are applicable. For more information on Insurance Council and government fees we collect, please see our fee schedule.
Licensing Fees

Changes to Licence Status or Information

About Licence Status

About Notification Requirements

Forms for Updates to Licence Information, Notifications

Frequently Asked Questions

See our most Frequently Asked Questions about getting an insurance licence in BC.