How to Become an Independent Life Insurance Agent in 2026

How to Become an Independent Life Insurance Agent: The Four Steps

Becoming an independent final expense agent in the United States takes a state life insurance license and a contract with an organization that appoints you to final expense carriers. It does not take a degree, a franchise fee or an employer.

Step 1: Complete your state’s pre-licensing course

Final expense, term, IUL, UL and whole life are all sold under a life insurance license, so if you want to become an independent life insurance agent, you start where every life agent starts. Every state requires a pre-licensing course in Life (or Life, Accident and Health) before you can sit the exam.

Course length varies by state, commonly 20 to 40 hours, and can be taken online. Check the required hours with your own state department of insurance, since the requirement differs state to state.

Step 2: Pass the state life insurance exam and get licensed

You schedule the exam through your state’s testing vendor, pass it, submit fingerprints and a background check where required, and pay the license fee. Once the state issues your producer license you are legally able to sell, but not yet able to write final expense business, because you are not appointed with any carrier.

Step 3: Get contracted and appointed with carriers

This is where BetterLifeQuotes.com comes in. You get access to 14 carriers, with Fidelity & Guaranty (F&G), InstaBrain, National Life Group and Symetra on the way. Contracting is free, typically completes in a few days to about a week, and carries no production minimums and no quotas.

Every new agent starts at a 100% commission at contracting, and every solo agent with at least 6 months of continuous sales who meets our minimum requirements is guaranteed more than 100%, with up to 160%.

To apply as a solo agent you need at least 6 months of continuous life insurance sales and your own lead source and tools.

If you do not yet meet the 6-month minimum, apply through our Just Licensed Agent application and start at a 100% commission, or be recruited into the downline of an agent who meets our minimum requirements, or of a new agency, established agency or healthcare agency contracted with us, which also gives you access to our training. See the full minimum requirements.

Step 4: Start writing final expense, term, IUL, UL and whole life, and own your book

Once you become an independent life insurance agent, you sell when and how you want. BetterLifeQuotes.com agents own their book of business, and advance payouts are available on qualifying carriers to smooth cash flow while first-year commissions are still being earned.

You also get back office support (a guided contracting roadmap, a members portal, a carrier resource directory and help with carrier appointments, transfers and contracting questions; sales training, telesales scripts, objection handling, closing strategies, personal coaching and ongoing professional development; an agent management system with production, commission and book-of-business reporting; the CallWave inbound call platform with lead strategy and ROI guidance; and recruiting, training and retention resources for agency growth), and there is no manager assigning you activity.

Contracting is independent and non-captive: agents, new agencies, established agencies and healthcare agencies own their book of business, renewals and hierarchy, even upon release, and releases are granted.

Common Questions From New Life Insurance Agents

How long does it take to become a licensed life insurance agent?

Most people go from starting the pre-licensing course to holding a life insurance license in two to six weeks, depending on how fast they work through the course hours, how soon they can schedule the exam, and how long their state takes to process the license and background check. Contracting and carrier appointments then add a few days to about a week.

How much does it cost to get started?

The costs to become an independent life insurance agent are the state pre-licensing course, the exam fee, the fingerprint or background check where required, and the state license fee, and the totals vary by state. Contracting with BetterLifeQuotes.com itself is free: no franchise fee, no start-up fee and no required lead purchase.

Do I have to be captive to one insurance company?

No. That is the difference between a captive agent and an independent one. A captive agent sells one company’s products and the company owns the client relationship. An independent life insurance agent is appointed with several carriers, quotes whichever fits the client’s health and budget, and owns the book. For the difference between the organizations that contract independent agents, see IMO vs FMO vs NGA.

Can I sell final expense part time?

Yes. There are no production minimums and no quotas at BetterLifeQuotes.com, so nothing forces a full-time schedule. Many agents start part time while still employed elsewhere and scale up as their book grows.

What do I need to have ready before applying?

Your active producer license number, the states you are licensed in, your basic contact and business details, and your E&O coverage information if you already carry it. Applying takes a few minutes at BetterLifeQuotes.com/apply.