HB 408: Insurance; repeal prelicensing education requirements applicable to certain licenses

Under current Georgia law, people seeking certain insurance licenses (agent, limited subagent, adjuster, and related categories) generally must complete approved classroom prelicensing courses before they can sit for their licensing exam. HB408 removes that classroom education requirement from the qualifications in O.C.G.A. § 33-23-5, replacing the old requirement with a 'Reserved' placeholder, meaning applicants would still need to pass a written exam but would no longer need to complete a state-approved course beforehand. The bill also strikes references to prelicensing education for agents transferring their license from another state and for temporary licenses issued after an agent's death or disability. Separately, it amends O.C.G.A. § 33-23-10 to cap the waiting period before an applicant can retake a failed licensing exam at three days, rather than leaving that period open-ended under Commissioner discretion. The changes take effect once the Governor signs the bill, with conflicting laws repealed.

• Removes the requirement that applicants for agent, limited subagent, or adjuster licenses complete approved classroom insurance courses before licensing, replacing that section with 'Reserved.'
• Eliminates references to prelicensing education for out-of-state agents transferring their license to Georgia within 90 days of moving.
• Caps the waiting period before a failed exam-taker can retake the licensing exam at three days, instead of an undefined 'reasonable' period set by the Commissioner.
• Removes the education requirement for temporary licenses issued when an agent dies or becomes unable to work, keeping the exam and residency requirements in place.

People applying for Georgia insurance agent, limited subagent, adjuster, or counselor licenses, insurance schools and course providers currently offering state-approved prelicensing classes, out-of-state agents relocating to Georgia, and the state Insurance Commissioner's office, which administers licensing exams.

Aspiring insurance agents and adjusters would no longer need to pay for and complete classroom coursework before taking their licensing exam, potentially lowering the cost and time to become licensed, while still requiring them to pass the exam itself. Retesting after a failed exam would also happen faster, within three days.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 33-23-5 to strike the classroom prelicensing education requirement for agent, limited subagent, and adjuster licenses and marks that paragraph 'Reserved.'
• Section 1 also removes prelicensing education requirements for agents transferring licenses from another state, while keeping the exam exemption for those already licensed elsewhere.
• Section 1 directs the Commissioner to set rules on the scope of any remaining prelicensing or examination requirements and exemptions.
• Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 33-23-10 to limit the reexamination waiting period after a failed exam to no more than three days.
• Section 3 amends O.C.G.A. § 33-23-13 to remove the education requirement for temporary licenses issued after an agent's death, illness, or other inability to work, while keeping exam and residency rules.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-02-18House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-13House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-12House Hopper (House)

• Carl Gilliard (D, HD-162)Primary sponsor
• Park Cannon (D, HD-058)
• Sandra Scott (D, HD-076)

• insurance licensing
• professional education requirements
• insurance agents
• state regulation