Licensing pathRenewal and CE
Renewing a P&C license: CE hours and cycles
You renew a P&C license by completing continuing education (CE) and paying the renewal fee on your state's cycle. In most states we checked that means 24 hours every two years, 3 of them ethics, but New York counts 15 credits, so your own state's rule is the one to read (sources below, checked October 8, 2026).
CE by state
| State | CE | Ethics | Also note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 24 hours every 2 years | 3 hours | Same rule for most Texas license types | Pearson VUE, Texas insurance candidate handbook checked October 8, 2026 |
| Georgia | 24 hours every 2 years | 3 hours | 20 hours if licensed 20 years or more | Pearson VUE, Georgia insurance candidate handbook checked October 8, 2026 |
| California | 24 hours per 2-year license period | 3 hours, including 1 hour on fraud | Due before the license is renewed | California Department of Insurance, property broker-agent qualifications checked October 8, 2026 |
| Ohio | 24 hours | 3 hours | Due before renewal | PSI, Ohio candidate information bulletin checked October 8, 2026 |
| New Jersey | 24 credits every 2 years | 3 credits | License fee $150 per 2 years | New Jersey DOBI, producer FAQ checked October 8, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | 24 hours per 2-year cycle | Check the PA Insurance Department | From the PSI bulletin | PSI, Pennsylvania candidate information booklet checked October 8, 2026 |
| New York | 15 credits every 2 years | Check NY DFS | Biennial license, $40 per year (2023 bulletin) | PSI, New York DFS candidate information bulletin (2023) checked October 8, 2026 |
Out-of-state licenses and reciprocity
Your home-state license anchors every other one. A producer licensed and in good standing at home can generally get a non-resident license in another state without taking that state's exam; the NAIC traces this reciprocity to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (page updated February 10, 2025).
Texas is a clear example. To apply for a Texas non-resident license you need an active general lines property and casualty license in good standing in your home state (TDI). The Texas P&C license page covers the resident route.
Moving resets the question. New Jersey and North Carolina exempt new residents whose home-state license is current or was held within the last 90 days, and Florida exempts new residents who held an equivalent license for at least a year and apply within 90 days of moving (NJ DOBI, North Carolina handbook, Florida DFS, checked October 8, 2026).
Each license keeps its own fees and renewal date, so two states mean two cycles. If you are weighing whether a second license is worth carrying, the BLS pay data for insurance sales agents is a sober reference point. For the first license, start with the licensing steps.
Terms on a renewal notice
- Continuing education (CE)
- Approved courses you complete after licensure, counted in hours or credits per cycle.
- License period
- The span between renewals, two years in the states in the table above that state a cycle.
- Producer Database (PDB)
- NAIC's database of licensing data from 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, Guam and the US Virgin Islands.
- NARAB
- A clearinghouse for licensing in states other than your home state, built on the home-state license, a background check and fees.
Before your first renewal
Do the ethics hours count toward the 24?
Yes, in the states above that list them. Texas requires that 3 of its 24 hours be ethics (Pearson VUE Texas handbook), and California's 24 include at least 3 of ethics (CDI), both checked October 8, 2026.
What does renewal cost?
It is a state fee. California charges $188 to renew a P&C broker-agent license (CDI fees); New Jersey's license fee is $150 per two years (NJ DOBI); New York's is $40 per year on a biennial license (PSI New York bulletin, 2023). All checked October 8, 2026. CE courses are priced separately by the providers.
Do New York and New Jersey count hours or credits?
Both count credits. New York asks for 15 every two years (PSI New York bulletin, 2023); New Jersey asks for 24, including 3 of ethics (NJ DOBI), both checked October 8, 2026.