How to Get a Delaware Insurance License in 2026?
Expanding into Delaware? Full licensing guide covering resident and non-resident producers, agency requirements, fees, and renewal rules for 2026.
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What Are the Requirements to Get a Resident Producer License in Delaware?
Delaware does not require pre-licensing education courses. Passing the state exam is all that is required before submitting your application.
Available lines of authority include Life, Health, Property, Casualty, Personal Lines, and Surplus Lines.
Exam: Administered by Pearson VUE. Results are automatically submitted electronically to the DOI within 2 to 5 business days of your test date. Exam results are valid for one year.
Fingerprints: Required for all resident applicants. Fingerprint cards must be obtained from state police and submitted with your application. A state and federal criminal history report (FBI), dated within 90 days of receipt, must be faxed to the Delaware DOI at (302) 736-7906.
Where to apply: NIPR Gateway. P.O. Boxes are not accepted. Business, residence, and mailing addresses are all required.
How Do Non-Resident Producers Get Licensed in Delaware?
Non-resident producers apply through NIPR Gateway. Fingerprints are not required for non-resident applicants.
Delaware recognizes a licensing exemption for non-resident commercial lines producers with multistate contracts.
Delaware has reciprocity agreements with the following states:
Reciprocity states (no exam required): AK, AL, AR, AZ, CT, FL, GA, ID, IN, KY, LA, ME, MI, MN, MS, NC, NH, NV, OK, OR, RI, SC, TX, UT, VT, WA, WV
States requiring an exam despite reciprocity: CA, HI, IA, MT, NY, PR, WY
If your home-state license lapses, your Delaware non-resident authorization can be affected. Keep your resident license current.
Agency Licensing in Delaware
Delaware requires agencies to hold a separate entity license to transact insurance. Sole proprietors can be licensed as an entity.
Agencies may designate multiple DRLPs. The DRLP must hold an active Delaware license but does not need to be an owner, partner, officer, or director of the agency. DRLPs must hold the same license class as the entity application but are not required to cumulatively cover all lines of authority.
Branch offices must be separately licensed in Delaware, unlike states where the main license covers all locations.
Agencies must notify the Commissioner within 30 days of any change to their legal name, physical mailing address, or email address via NIPR Gateway.
Non-resident agencies follow the same structure and apply through NIPR Gateway.
Appointments: Delaware requires carrier appointments. Carriers must file within 15 days of contract execution or first business submission. Appointment fees are $25 for both resident and non-resident producers. Appointments are perpetual — no annual renewal required.
Licensing Fees
Here is what Delaware charges for each license category:
License Type | Initial Fee | Renewal Fee |
|---|---|---|
Resident Producer | $125 | $100 |
Resident Surplus Lines | $275 | $200 |
Non-Resident Producer | $125 | $100 |
Non-Resident Surplus Lines | $275 | $200 |
Resident Agency | $125 | $100 |
Non-Resident Agency | $125 | $100 |
Additional LOAs (any category) | $25 each | — |
No retaliatory fees apply in Delaware. Appointment fees are $25 for all producers and agencies, resident and non-resident.
Renewal Periods
Delaware uses fixed calendar dates for renewal - not birth month. This is one of the most distinctive features of Delaware licensing and the detail most likely to catch producers off guard.
License Type | Renewal Period | Renewal Date | Late Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
Resident Producer | Every 2 years | Last day of February, even years | Up to 1 year after expiration |
Non-Resident Producer | Every 2 years | Last day of February, odd years | Up to 1 year after expiration |
Resident Agency | Every 2 years | February 28, odd years | March 1 to February 28/29 |
Non-Resident Agency | Every 2 years | February 28, odd years | March 1 to February 28/29 |
The renewal window opens 60 days before expiration. Delaware sends a CE reminder on December 1 of each odd-numbered year for resident producers.
Missed renewal: If your license expires, you have one year to reinstate by completing CE, submitting a renewal application, and paying a late fee. After 12 months, the license goes inactive and requires a full new application.
Continuing Education Requirements
Delaware requires 24 CE hours per two-year renewal cycle. CE must be completed before your license expiration date. Here is how the hours break down:
- 3 hours of ethics or consumer protection
- Remaining hours in approved courses relevant to your lines of authority
Up to 5 non-ethics hours can roll over to the next renewal cycle. Ethics hours do not roll over. CE instructors receive credit for courses they teach.
Additional requirements by specialty:
- Flood: 2 hours of NFIP coursework (one-time)
- Long-Term Care: 3 hours of product knowledge, laws, and regulations per renewal cycle
- Annuity: One-time 4-hour course
CE exemptions: The following producers receive automatic credit for half their CE requirement - producers licensed 25 or more consecutive years, or holders of CPCU, ChFC, CFP, AAI, CLU, CEBS, FLMI, FSPA, CIC, or RHU designations. Producers in their first renewal cycle are not required to complete CE. Limited lines producers writing only consumer credit, title, crop/hail, surety, or car rental insurance are fully exempt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need pre-licensing courses to get a Delaware insurance license?
No. Delaware does not require pre-licensing education. Passing the Pearson VUE state exam is all that is required before applying.
How much does a Delaware producer license cost?
Resident and non-resident producers both pay $125 initially and $100 at renewal. Additional lines of authority cost $25 each.
When does my Delaware license expire?
Resident producers renew by the last day of February in even-numbered years. Non-resident producers renew by the last day of February in odd-numbered years.
What happens if my Delaware license expires?
You have one year to reinstate by completing CE and paying a late fee. After 12 months the license goes inactive and requires a full new application.
Are branch offices separately licensed in Delaware?
Yes. Each branch office requires its own license, unlike states where the main agency license covers all locations.
Can CE hours roll over in Delaware?
Yes, up to 5 non-ethics hours can carry over to the next renewal cycle. Ethics hours cannot roll over.
Final Thoughts
Delaware is one of the few states with no pre-licensing requirement and no retaliatory fees — two meaningful advantages for producers expanding their footprint. The fixed February renewal dates, split between even and odd years for residents and non-residents, require more calendar discipline than birth-month renewal states.
The branch office licensing requirement is the detail that catches growing agencies off guard. Every location needs its own license, which adds both cost and tracking complexity as an agency scales.
For agencies managing Delaware producers alongside other states, InsureTrek centralizes license status, renewal deadlines, and branch office tracking across all jurisdictions so nothing slips through quietly.