Why States Require Fingerprinting
Fingerprinting for insurance agent licensing is part of the background check process that states use to determine whether an applicant has a criminal history that would disqualify them from holding a license. The insurance industry is built on trust. Agents handle sensitive personal and financial information, collect premium payments, and advise clients on products that protect their families and assets. States have a legitimate interest in ensuring that people who hold insurance licenses do not have criminal backgrounds that would make them unsuitable for that responsibility.
Fingerprint-based background checks are more reliable than name-based checks because they eliminate issues with common names, aliases, and name changes. A fingerprint check runs against the FBI's criminal history database and provides a comprehensive record that name-based searches can miss. This is why the trend among states has been to add fingerprinting requirements rather than remove them.
Which States Require Fingerprinting
The list of states requiring fingerprinting for insurance licensing has grown steadily. As of 2026, the majority of states require fingerprinting for at least initial resident license applications. States that require fingerprinting for initial licensing include but are not limited to Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
A small number of states do not currently require fingerprinting for insurance licensing, but this changes regularly. Always verify the current requirement with your state DOI before beginning the licensing process, as states can add fingerprinting requirements through legislation or regulatory action at any time.
When Fingerprinting Is Required
The most common trigger for fingerprinting is the initial resident license application. Most states that require fingerprinting make it a prerequisite for obtaining your first license. You must complete the fingerprinting process and have the results submitted to the DOI before your license will be issued.
Some states also require fingerprinting at renewal, though this is less common. A smaller number of states require fingerprinting when you add a new line of authority, such as adding a life license to an existing property and casualty license. A few states require fingerprinting for non-resident license applications, though most accept the fingerprint results from your resident state.
Carrier appointments can also trigger fingerprinting requirements independent of state licensing. Some carriers require fingerprint-based background checks as part of their appointment process, even if the state does not require it for licensing. This is at the carrier's discretion and is part of their own due diligence.
How to Schedule Fingerprinting
Most states contract with third-party vendors to handle fingerprinting for insurance licensing. The two most common vendors are IDEMIA and IdentoGO, which operate fingerprinting locations nationwide. The typical process involves visiting your state DOI website or the NIPR website to find the approved fingerprinting vendor, registering online with the vendor and selecting a fingerprinting location, scheduling an appointment at a convenient location, and bringing valid government-issued photo identification to your appointment.
The actual fingerprinting process takes about 15 minutes. Most locations use electronic livescan technology, which captures your fingerprints digitally and transmits them directly to the FBI and state databases. This is significantly faster than the old ink-and-roll method, which some locations may still use as a backup.
Walk-in appointments are available at some locations, but scheduling in advance is recommended to avoid wait times. Urban areas typically have multiple fingerprinting locations, while rural areas may have limited options that require some travel.
Cost and Processing Time
Fingerprinting fees vary by state but generally fall in the range of $30 to $75 per session. This fee covers the fingerprint capture, the FBI background check, and the state background check. Some states include the fingerprinting fee in the overall license application fee, while others charge it separately.
Processing time also varies. Electronic livescan results are typically available to the state DOI within 24 to 72 hours. Some states process them even faster. Ink-and-roll submissions take longer because the physical fingerprint cards must be mailed and then manually processed, which can add one to three weeks.
Your license application will not be approved until fingerprint results are received and cleared. Plan accordingly and complete your fingerprinting early in the licensing process to avoid delays. If you are applying for a license in a state with a fingerprinting requirement, do not wait until you have passed your licensing exam to schedule fingerprinting. Do it as soon as your application is submitted or even before.
What Shows Up and What Does Not
The fingerprint-based background check queries the FBI's Interstate Identification Index, which contains criminal history records from all 50 states, federal courts, and some international sources. The results will show arrests, charges, convictions, and dispositions. This includes felonies and misdemeanors, pending charges, and in some cases arrests that did not result in conviction.
What does not show up includes civil matters like lawsuits, divorces, or bankruptcies. Traffic violations that are classified as infractions rather than misdemeanors typically do not appear. Juvenile records that have been sealed are generally excluded. Expunged records vary by state. Some expungements remove the record from the FBI database entirely, while others leave a notation that the record was expunged.
A criminal record does not automatically disqualify you from obtaining an insurance license, though certain offenses can. Felonies involving dishonesty, breach of trust, or money laundering are the most serious disqualifiers. Many states evaluate criminal history on a case-by-case basis, considering the nature of the offense, how long ago it occurred, and evidence of rehabilitation. If you have a criminal record and are applying for an insurance license, disclose it fully and honestly on your application. Non-disclosure of a known criminal history is treated more severely than the underlying offense in most cases.
Keeping Your Records Current
Once you are licensed and fingerprinted, maintain awareness of how your state handles ongoing background check requirements. Some states conduct periodic background checks on licensed agents without requiring new fingerprints. Others only check at renewal if fingerprinting is required at renewal.
If you are arrested or charged with a crime after obtaining your license, most states require you to self-report within a specified timeframe, regardless of whether the next fingerprinting cycle would reveal it. Proactive disclosure demonstrates good faith and is viewed more favorably than having the DOI discover it independently.
Closd helps agents stay on top of licensing requirements, renewal deadlines, and compliance milestones across every state where they do business. When your licensing data is tracked in one place, nothing falls through the cracks. Learn more at getclosdai.com.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Fingerprinting requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with your state DOI or NIPR before beginning the licensing process.