Individual Life Insurance Agent Licence

Life insurance agent qualifications and application information for first-time or returning individuals applying for an insurance licence in British Columbia.

Section 168 of the Act defines an insurance agent as: "a person, other than an insurance company or an extraprovincial insurance corporation, who solicits, obtains or takes an application for insurance, or negotiates for or procures insurance, or signs or delivers a policy, or collects or receives a premium."

Looking for more information about what a life agent is and what their professional obligations are? 

Our guidebook, Becoming an Insurance Agent: What you Need to Know is available in multiple languages: 
 

 

What Type of Life Insurance Licence Are You Applying For?


Note: The Insurance Council has ceased issuing licences restricted to the sale or adjusting of one or more specific products.  See more information here or contact our Licensing Team via email or at 604-695-2007.

Individual Life Insurance Agent Licence

Licence requirements, education prerequisites and apply for a life insurance licence:

  • Supervision Requirement: New life and/or accident and sickness agents must be supervised for a minimum of 24 months. An exception to the 24 month supervision may be allowed and reduced to 12 months where an applicant holds a current Chartered Life Underwriter, Certified Financial Planner, or Registered Financial Planner designation.  See Council Notice ICN 19-004 Guidelines for Supervision of New Life and/or A&S Agents for who requires a supervisor and who qualifies to be a supervisor. Please follow the instructions to complete the  Supervisor Undertaking Form.
  • Requirements for Sole-Proprietor Trade Names: If you intend to sell life insurance as an individual business under your own name (for example, if John Doe wants to conduct business as “John Doe Insurance Services”), you must apply for a sole-proprietor life insurance agent licence.
  • Requirements for Financial Planners: If you intend to hold yourself out as a Financial Planner (or similar title), you must follow specific Council guidelines (see Council Notice  ICN-02-001 Financial Planning).

The LLQP (Life Licence Qualification Program) is a required certification if you want to sell life insurance products in BC.

  • Before you can schedule an LLQP exam, you must have:
  • You must successfully complete the LLQP exams within one year of completing the Harmonized LLQP course. (Note for online LLQP exams: only exams completed prior to July 1st, 2023 will be accepted for consideration. Exams completed in-person are unaffected.)
  • You must apply for a life insurance agent licence within 1 year of completing the LLQP exams. Applicants who wait longer than 1 year to obtain a licence, must requalify.

The Insurance Council Rules Course must be completed by all individuals, including non-residents, whose applications are received by the Insurance Council on or after March 1, 2019 to qualify for licensure, except those that qualify for licensure under Reinstatement Provision in Council Rule 2(19).

There are a number of occupations and business interests that Council deems incompatible with holding a life agent or accident and sickness licence. To view these occupations and business interests click here.

If you believe that your other business activities could be in conflict with your insurance licence, please submit the Review of Other Business Activities Form. Applicants should also review Council’s Code of Conduct for further information.

Note: The Insurance Council reserves the right to request a letter of acknowledgment from the employer/organization where business activies you are engaged in could be a conflict of interest confirming that they are aware of your application for an insurance licence.
  • Complete the application yourself, following the instructions in the application package. 
  • Answer all questions and attach all required documents, including the application fee, before submitting your application to Council, as incomplete applications may take longer to process.
  • If your application has been pending for more than our displayed processing times, please feel free to contact Council's Licensing Department.

Apply Online (See Instructions)

View and download the Individual Life Insurance Agent Licence Application

View the Individual Life Insurance Agent Licence Fee Schedule

View and download the Supervisor Undertaking Form

Sole-Proprietor Life Insurance Agent Licence

Licence qualifications and application information for first-time or returning sole-proprietors applying for a life insurance agent licence in British Columbia. Get a sole-proprietor life insurance agent licence if you are an individual wishing to act as an agency, without forming a corporation or partnership.

Sole-Proprietor Life Insurance Agent: Licensee Requirements

A sole-proprietor life insurance agent licence is subject to the same standard licence conditions as an individual, corporate or partnership, licence. An individual sole-proprietor must:
  • Complete the application yourself, following the instructions in the application package. 
  • Answer all questions and attach all required documents, including the application fee, before submitting your application to Council, as incomplete applications may take longer to process.
  • If your application has been pending for more than our displayed processing times, please feel free to contact Council's Licensing Department.

Apply Online (See Instructions)

View and download the Sole-Proprietor Life Insurance Agent Licence Application

View the Sole-Proprietor Life Insurance Agent Licence Fee Schedule

View and download the Supervisor Undertaking Form