Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Website
Comment: This website has detailed information about everything you would ever want to know about insurance regulation in Wisconsin. Unfortunately, most of this information will be of much more interest AFTER you pass the exam and begin your career in insurance.
This website is useful for getting information necessary to reach specific individuals you may need to contact within the Commissioner’s Office before obtaining your license. For example, if you have previously held an insurance license in another state or in Wisconsin, 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 Web site, 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 Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner’s Office to be very friendly and helpful.
When in doubt about any technical licensing or regulatory issue, the Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner is the authoritative administrative agency to contact. Their phone number is 608-266-3585.
Wisconsin Laws, Rules, and Bulletins
Comment: These are exact copies of Wisconsin’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.
PSI Testing Service
Comment: Working with the state of Wisconsin, PSI has the contract to write and administer the insurance exams in Wisconsin.
There are a lot of useful resources on this site, including:
- Test Registration Services. To register you may call the testing company at 800-733-9267 or register online here.
- 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 with solid exam prep materials.
- Candidate Information Bulletin. PSI’s website does have detailed information in the Candidate Information Bulletin that will be very useful if you have unique issues. For example, the Bulletin 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.
- Online Practice Questions. The testing company has online practice exams available. While these exams will give you a feel for how a test question is structured, the testing company cannot ethically sell you test questions. 180 Licensing has one of the largest practice test banks that we know of included as part of our exam prep packages.
Wisconsin Approved Prelicensing Education
Comment: The state of Wisconsin requires prelicensing education from a Wisconsin approved provider prior to you being able to take your insurance exam. You must take the required course and receive a certificate of completion and must pass your insurance exam within a 12 month period.
STILL NEED HELP PASSING THE EXAM?
Have you taken an prelicensing course, have your valid certificate, and still having trouble with the exam? We have highly effective courses designed to make passing the exam easier. We recommend our National Exam Prep Package for your Life and Health or Property and Casualty exam prep needs.
We have not sought to be an approved provider. Our focus in Wisconsin is on helping you pass your insurance licensing exam as fast and as easy as possible. Our materials does not meet your prelicensing education requirement. To best prepare to pass your exam, you will need to supplement our National course materials with the state specific rules provided to you by your approved prelicensing education provider.
Fingerprinting Service Website (Fieldprint)
Comment: You obtain your fingerprints through Fieldprint, the fingerprint service company contracted by Wisconson. Preregistration is required before visiting a Fieldprint location in Wisconsin. Get fingerprinted after passing your exam and immediately before applying for your license.
Online Licensing Service Website (NIPR)
Comment: The state of Wisconsin has contracted with the National Insurance Producers Registry (NIPR) to provide you with an online license application portal. In most states for most major insurance licenses, the online licensing process has largely replaced the old paper application system. Check with the Wisconsin Insurance Department if you have the need to apply by paper.
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.
Since 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.)
Disclaimer: 180 Licensing Exam Prep, Inc. makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, information is subject to change. The final authority for the latest insurance licensing information is your state’s department of insurance.
Must Read: Our National online, self-paced, exam prep courses offered in Wisconsin do not meet your state’s prelicensing education requirement. They contain national insurance and general state law rules, but do not contain your exam’s specific state law content (about 15-20% of your exam). If you have taken an approved prelicensing education course, have a valid certificate, and still need a passing score, use our materials and supplement with the state law material from your prelicensing provider. Designed by award winning Professor Jerry Furniss, our interactive exam prep materials are excellent for getting you over the finish line the fastest and easiest way possible. Go here for more information.
