Whether you want to work in the insurance industry in Pennsylvania, or if you want to be an insurance broker really anywhere in the country, you have to have a health insurance license. This shows that you know what you’re talking about first and foremost, and also shows that you’re qualified to provide advice about the insurance industry, as well that you’re able to understand and follow insurance law and guidelines. However, acquiring PA health insurance licenses is not always easy, as there is a pretty difficult test that you’re going to have to take.
Basically this is like any other type of qualification process for any other major industry. That means you’ll be required to pass a rigorous examination, and you’re also going to have to go through an educational preparation period as well, so that you can consume the most important knowledge necessary to the field. That can have anyone wondering where to start first, so here’s a quick guide to ensure that you’re going to be prepared for licensure:
1) Start with a positive educational foundation.
The PA health insurance exam is pretty difficult, featuring in the area of 150 questions with a harsh time limit of 2 hours, so it’s going to be really demanding on the knowledge that you’ve gained. This means you want to enroll in the proper courses to prepare you. In most cases, Pennsylvania only requires that you take 24 hours of aggregate license course classes, but you may want to go beyond that so that you can be specific about the knowledge, and ensure you really understand the topics. You’ll also need a certificate of completion before you can take the test, so that you can show you’ve completed the prior requirement.
2) From there you want to schedule an exam.
For this you want to contact the local Prometric testing area where you live, so that you can schedule an appointment where you’ll be able to take the test. Of course, this can take some doing as they are not always the easiest buildings to find because of their extremely specific purpose. But you can typically find just the information that you need by visiting the Prometric website at Prometric.com. Here they can point you in the direction of where you need to go for testing, as well as what you can expect once you arrive.
3) Expect a pretty stringent identification process.
You can expect having to provide a state issued ID, and perhaps even your social security card, in addition to a birth certificate. This is so that they really know that it’s you, and so that you can be registered as having taken the exam. The law is no joke when it comes to PA individual health insurance, and they have to be sure that you are who you say you are, and that you don’t take advantage of your certification down the line. That’s why you shouldn’t be surprised when you’re also fingerprinted as a part of the procedure.
4) Pass your exam.
This is really important, as obviously you can’t get certification and start working without your PA health insurance license. That means you’re going to need to pass sections on health insurance as well as life insurance, and all the different policies as well as laws that go into both. But you’re also going to find that you always want to show up early because check in procedure can take so long. You have to show up with enough time in advance, to ensure that you can get through the process and be in your seat ready to take the test by the time proceedings actually start.
5) Now you’re ready to get your license.
Once you’ve actually passed the PA health insurance license exam, you’re considered registered as well as certified. That means you can actually apply for a license with your exam results as proof of your qualification. In fact you can even register for a license online through the Sircon.com website. This way, you’re able to get your license faster, and you can even apply for a non-resident license if you need a special dispensation for PA health insurance if you already have a license from a different state.