How to get licensed in New York
The New York State Department of Financial Services licenses insurance agents in New York. Here is the path to a resident license that covers health insurance, then the steps to sell Medicare and ACA plans.
01Resident license
Get the right license line
In New York, the resident license that lets you sell health insurance is Accident and Health (Life, Accident and Health Agent license). The New York State Department of Financial Services issues it.
0220 hours
Complete pre-licensing education
New York requires 20 hours of pre-licensing education for Accident and Health alone, or 40 hours for Life, Accident and Health.
03PSI
Pass the state exam
In New York, insurance licensing exams are run by PSI. You schedule your health line exam with them.
04Not required
No fingerprints required
New York does not require fingerprints for a resident license for agents: New York fingerprints only adjuster, bail bond, and life settlement applicants.
05
Apply for your license
Apply for your New York resident license through NY LINX, the DFS online licensing system. You receive your National Producer Number (NPN), a unique ID that follows you to every state, during the application process.
06Every plan year
Certify for Medicare
To sell Medicare Advantage and Part D plans with us, complete the AHIP Medicare + Fraud, Waste, and Abuse course for the current plan year (AHIP updates it every year), plus each carrier's certification.
07Every plan year
Register with CMS for ACA plans
Complete Marketplace registration and training with CMS each plan year through the Marketplace Learning Management System (MLMS). You need this for HealthCare.gov states, which you reach with non-resident licenses. CMS ties Marketplace access to the health line of authority on your resident license, so your New York license comes first.
08State exchange
Register with NY State of Health
For 2027 coverage, New York runs its own exchange, NY State of Health, instead of HealthCare.gov. Agents register with NY State of Health as well. Brokers also train and certify with NY State of Health.
09
Keep your license active
To renew, New York requires continuing education: 15 credits every 2 years, with at least 1 each in insurance law, ethics, and diversity, inclusion and elimination of bias.