Prep Training Group - Resources

Insurance Licensing Process
Securities Licensing Process
Industry Links and Contacts

Insurance Licensing

Applying and obtaining an Illinois insurance license is a multi-step process. Prep Training Group is here to help you understand the process and to guide you through it. Ready? Let's go!

1. Pre-licensing and Preparation
   Prep Training Group is certified by the Illinois Department of Insurance as a provider of insurance pre-licensing and continuing education. Call us at 630.260.1630 for information, to get all of your questions answered, and to enroll in the Pre-Licensing Class(es) of your choice.
2. Register for Your Illinois State Insurance Exam
   

   Insurance examinations are administered by Pearson VUE, a provider of assessment services to regulatory agencies and national associations. The state of Illinois has contracted Pearson VUE to develop and administer its insurance exams.

   Register in one of two ways:
   
   • By phone at 800-274-0402 at least one day before your desired exam date, Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sunday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
   • Register online at least 4 business days before your desired exam date at www.pearsonvue.com. Click "Check-In" to Exam Registration Services. Pearson VUE will issue you a check-in code and you will establish a personal password. An email address is required.

   At time of registration, you will receive a confirmation number. Pearson VUE accepts payment by credit card, debit card or electronic check. The cost is $103 which includes the exam fee and the state administrative fee. Pearson VUE will not accept any form of payment at the test site.

   On your examination day, you must bring the following to the test site: 1. Two forms of ID (one must have both a picture and signature, such as a driver's license) 2. Your Confirmation Number (referenced above) 3. Letter of pre-licensing completion from Prep Training

   Insurance examinations are administered at the following Chicago area assessment centers:

   Downtown Chicago (Wed - Sat) Chicago Pearson VUE Center 111 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 515 Chicago (Wacker at Michigan Avenue)

   West location (Tues - Sat) Oak Brook Pearson VUE Center Oak Brook Place 2301 West 22nd Street, Suite 209 (immediately west of Summit)

   North location (Wed - Sat) Schaumburg Pearson VUE Center Discovery Office Park 1014 E. Algonquin Road, Suite 113 (Approximately 2 miles west of Route 53)

3. Apply for your License
   

   You're almost done now! After completing the examination, you will receive test results (photo bearing) with instructions on what additional steps need to be taken in order to apply for your insurance license. (Note: If you already hold a license, you do not submit another application or fee to the Illinois Department of Insurance. When the Department is notified by Pearson VUE that you have passed an additional insurance exam, the Department will automatically update the license record and send you an amended license showing all lines of authority.)

   You will apply for your insurance license and pay the licensing fee by completing the NAIC Uniform Application. Go to http://nipr.com. Click Resident Initial License. Click Begin ERL Application. Accept a long disclaimer. Obtain a NPN (National Producer Number) by entering your SSN and last name. Complete the application step-by-step. Pay the $180 license fee plus a service charge of $5. Receive a confirmation with transaction number. After approximately 2 to 7 days, the information should be available on State Based Systems http://www.statebasedsystems.com/. SBS serves the regulatory needs of states and provides producer licensing processes. You will be able to print your license from SBS's website.

   Congratulations! You are now a licensed Illinois insurance producer!

Securities Licensing

Series 6 and 63 exams are administered by FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. For exam admission, your sponsoring member firm must file the proper application form (U-4 application) through the Web CRD system. Once your firm has received confirmation, you can make an appointment to take the exam by calling Thomson ProMetric at (800) 578-6273 or Pearson VUE at (866) 396-6273. There are many testing locations in the Chicago land area.

Industry Links & Resources

For general insurance information: Illinois Department of Insurance www.insurance.illinois.gov / 217.782.6366

For Insurance exams: Pearson Vue www.pearsonvue.com / 800-274-0402

For Insurance application: National Association of Insurance Commisioners/National Insurance Producer Registry www.nipr.com

For Producer Licensing Processes:

State Based Systems www.statebasedsystems.com

For Series 6 Information: Financial Industry Regulatory Authority www.finra.org

For Series 63 Information: North American Securities Administrators Association www.nasaa.org