Home > Getting a Licence

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. Council accepts 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 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

Frequently Asked Questions

About Applying for a Licence


Suitability to Hold a Licence

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.
More Information

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)
    • 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.

Former Licensee Reapplying for a Licence

If you are a former Insurance Council licensee, you may be eligible to re-apply under the Reactivation Provision if you previously held a licence within the last 1 or 2 years. This provision may exempt a recent former licensee from needing to re-take qualifying education.

If you previously held a licence but are not eligible to re-apply under the reactivation provision,you will need to apply for a licence through the First-time Licence Applicant process and re-take qualifying education for that class/type of licence.

If you are a resident of British Columbia, or a non-resident of British Columbia whose home jurisdiction does not have a mandatory continuing education requirement, you must have met the continuing education requirements for your most recently held licence. See Continuing Education for more information.

How to Re-apply Under the Reactivation Provision

Applicants who held an insurance licence in British Columbia within 1 year preceding the current application date are not required to re-take the qualifying education if:

  • The current application receipt date does not exceed 1 year of the prior licence termination date; and

  • The application is complete; and

  • The applicant is currently applying for the same licence class they held previously; and

  • The applicant held the same licence class as the current application continuously for the 1 year preceding the termination date of the previously held licence, and can demonstrate that the applicant was actively engaged in the business of insurance authorized under the licence for that 1-year period.

Re-applying for a licence under the Reactivation Provision can be done:

  • Online. Apply through our online application system and follow the prompts, indicating that you are applying under the Reactivation Provision.

  • Via Email. Complete and submit an Application Form.

Applicants who held an insurance licence in British Columbia within 2 years preceding the current application date are not required to re-take the qualifying education if:

  • The current application receipt date does not exceed 2 years of the prior licence termination date; 

  • The application is complete;

  • The applicant is currently applying for the same licence class they held previously; and

  • The applicant meets ONE of the following conditions:

    • The applicant held the same licence class as the current application, for at least 5 of the 7 years preceding the current application date; or

    • The applicant held the same licence class as the current application, for the 2 years preceding the termination date of the licence, and can show that the applicant was actively engaged in the business of insurance authorized under the licence for that 2-year period.


To re-apply for a licence under the Reactivation Provision, applicants will follow the standard application process, but will need to indicate on the form or online module that they are applying under the reactivation provision.

Re-applying for a licence under the Reactivation Provision can be done:

  • Online. (Individual licences only)  Apply through our online application system and follow the prompts, indicating that you are applying under the Reactivation Provision.

  • Via Email. Complete and submit an Application Form.

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. 

More Information

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.

More Information

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.

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

More Information

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, and individuals representing Direct-Writers (Insurers) 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 then be reviewed by a Licensing Officer typically within 10-15 business days from that date. (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 January 24, 2023.

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

To apply, please see Apply Online above. 

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.