California Reduces Prelicensing Education Requirement for Insurance Producers in 2026: What You Need to Know

Effective January 1, 2026, California will end the line-of-authority prelicensing education requirement for Life, Health, Life & Health, Property & Casualty, Personal Lines, and Limited Lines Auto. Candidates for insurance producer licenses are no longer required to complete a minimum number of hours of study for each line of authority. 

The state will continue to require producer license applicants to complete 12 hours of study on California Insurance Code and Ethics before their license may be issued. 

There are no changes to the content of the state licensing exam. Applicants should still prepare for the state exam by studying a complete prelicensing program specific to their line of authority. 

Candidates currently enrolled in ExamFX California licensing courses must earn their Certificates of Completion prior to December 31, 2025. Current courses will no longer be available starting January 1, 2026.