For Individuals and Agencies
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.
1. Get Ready to Apply
Requirements and Prerequisites
Prerequisites and courses you will need to complete before registering for your exams depend on the Licence Type you are pursuing, and vary depending on what situation below applies to you.
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.
If you are a former Insurance Council licensee, you may be eligible to re-apply under the Reinstatement Provision if you previously held a licence within the last two years. This provision may exempt a former licensee from needing to re-take qualifying education.
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.
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.
Learn More
2. Review Suitability
Suitability to Hold a Licence and Criminal Record Checks
Prerequisites and courses you will need to complete before registering for your exams depend on the Licence Type you are pursuing, and vary depending on what situation below applies to you.
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.
3. Apply for a Licence
Apply Online
Applications for licensure can be submitted online or via email. Individuals can apply for Individual, Travel Sole-Proprietor, Trainee Registrations, or Corporate Licences.
Processing Times
Applications are reviewed in the order of which they are received. The Insurance Council makes their best effort to review applications typically within 10 business days after submission of a complete application.
How to Get Your Insurance Licence FAQ
General Top Questions
If you have been disciplined, we require a copy of the decision. If you are under investigation, please provide as much detail as possible, ideally information from that regulatory body.
For more information, please refer to Suitability to Hold a Licence.
If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.
You are required to provide an overview of the proceedings, your involvement, and the expected trial dates. We may ask that you provide a copy of the statement of claim and defence.
For more information, please refer to Suitability to Hold a Licence.
If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Department by emailing licensing@insurancecouncilofbc.com or calling 604-695-2007.
We have approved accessible online applications via Triton Canada for licence applicants to obtain criminal record checks. Online checks must be completed through the direct Triton link from our website as external Triton Canada links are not verified and cannot be accepted.* Visit here to complete your criminal record check with Triton Canada. Criminal record checks can also be obtained through your residing municipal police or RCMP detachment. Please see here for more information on how to obtain your criminal record check through Triton Canada or your residing municipal police or RCMP detachment.
*Effective December 1, 2022, all online criminal record checks must be completed through Triton Canada via the secure link on the Insurance Council's website. The Insurance Council will only accept criminal record checks dated on or before November 30, 2022, from ScreeningCanada or other entities that use information obtained by the Canadian Police Information Centre. Criminal record checks must be dated within 90 days of the licence application submission date to the Insurance Council.
Please note: If you have resided in Canada for less than five years, a criminal record check from the country you have previously resided in is also required. For more information about criminal record checks, please see here .