Texas Department of Insurance Website

Comment:  This website has detailed information about everything you would ever want to know about insurance regulation in Texas. Unfortunately, most of this information will be of much more interest AFTER you pass the exam and begin your career in insurance.

But, this website is useful for getting information necessary to reach specific individuals you may need to contact within Texas Department of Insurance before obtaining your license. For example, if you have previously held an insurance license in another state or in Texas, you should contact the department’s licensing personnel to see if any particular rules apply to you. Also, if you have a significant criminal record such as a felony, a prior bankruptcy, or child support payment issues, you may have a delay in obtaining your insurance license. On this website, you can find the people who know the answers to those kinds of questions. At 180 Licensing, we have found the staff members at the Texas Department of Insurance to be very friendly and helpful.

When in doubt about any technical licensing or regulatory issue, the Texas Department of Insurance is the authoritative administrative agency to contact. Their phone number is 800-578-4677.

Texas Statutes and Regulations

Comment:  These are exact copies of Texas’s state statutes and regulations. The detail is overwhelming. Our recommendation is to not visit these two state sites unless you have a very specific issue you want to research.

At 180 Licensing we matched your state’s specific rules and regulations with the most current Test Content Outline in a way that is easy to learn and understand. So, there is no need to try and dissect these complex statutes or regulations unless you have a very specific question or just can’t sleep at night.

Pearson VUE’s Website

Comment:  Pearson VUE, located in Bloomington, Minnesota, has the contract to write and administer the insurance exams in Texas. They work with experts in Texas to help provide some of the state specific test content.

There are a lot of useful resources on this site, including:

  • Test Registration Services.  To register you may call the testing company 888-754-7667 or register online.
  • Test Content Outlines.  There are Test Content Outlines for each insurance exam administered by the testing company. But, the outlines are very broad and do not supply adequate detail. It is critical that any materials you use in your studies not only cover the key points in the Test Content Outlines, but also expand on them to provide the comprehensive information needed to pass the exam. That’s where 180 Licensing comes in. We have years of experience and have put thousands of hours into developing our materials which go into sufficient depth to prepare you for the exam. So, should you review the Test Content Outlines? We don’t think so – because our materials are built directly from them.
  • Candidate Licensing Handbook.  Pearson VUE’s website does have detailed information in the Candidate Handbook section that will be very useful if you have unique issues. For example, the Candidate Handbook covers I.D. problems, such as if you are in the process of changing your name and your I.D. does not match the name you are currently using. You will also find all of the helpful details regarding getting a refund of your test fee, rescheduling your exam date, making special arrangements if you have a testing disability issue, or determining whether the exam is offered in a language other than English. Dig into this handbook to get most of your questions answered.

National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s (NAIC) Website

Comment:  All of the state insurance regulators belong to this organization. The government regulators use NAIC to share information and create model legislation as guidance for the individual states.

Because this website is primarily oriented toward insurance regulators, we have not found the site to be as beneficial for someone preparing for the exam. But, a visit to this site can be instructive in a few ways. First, you will gain an appreciation for how complex the insurance industry is. Second, you will see the vast array of issues facing the insurance industry on any given day. And, last, you will find a number of the NAIC Consumer Guides very informative (such as the Shopper’s Guide for Buying Life Insurance, the guide on Deferred Annuities with Equity Index Features, etc.)

Sircon Corporation (Online License Application Service)

Comment:  The state of Texas has contracted with Sircon to allow you to apply for your license electronically.

IdentoGO By MorphoTrust USA (Fingerprinting Service)

Register online here.

The state of Texas has contracted with IdentoGO for fingerprinting services, which is connected to Pearson VUE (the testing service). Preregistration is required. When you arrive at the test center for your fingerprint appointment and to take your exam, have the confirmation number you received during the fingerprint reservation process. Your fingerprint will be captured at the test center. Pearson VUE will then provide you with a fingerprint card.