Around the country, insurance companies are increasing their profits by increasing the volume of immediate sales.
This new trend is referred to as “New Product Introduction.” The Insurance Councils throughout the nation are only too happy to encourage this new approach. They’ve taken on new staff and increased their training budgets in preparation for this onslaught of applicants who want to sell insurance.
In many states, insurance companies are offering a series of pre-licensing courses to help prospective agents learn more about the industry. These classes are usually offered by community colleges and can be taken in your spare time while you still have an income from another job. In some cases, employers will pay for you to attend certain types of courses if they happen to be looking for people with these skills.
However, these classes are not enough. You also need to be able to pass the exam with flying colors in order to qualify for licensing as an insurance agent. Here are some helpful tips that will help you prepare for this critical test.
Take Practice Tests
Practice tests are extremely helpful in helping you pass the insurance license exam. You can take many free exams online, but it’s best to buy your own tests and do them daily until you reach a 100% correct rate on each one. Buying your own tests can help you unlock property and casualty exam secrets that will help you ace the actual tests. If you’re taking practice tests from home, it’s important that all of the testing conditions are as close as possible to the real thing:
When you arrive at the testing center, there will be 30 questions visible on the screen. At no time during the test will more than 1 question appear at once; instead, a blue bar will greet you with “answer” or “eliminate”. You’ll have 15 seconds to make a decision before either choice is taken away and replaced by another question. If you crash out three times in a row, the fourth question will always be a re-test of the previous three. Answering questions incorrectly will cost you 0 points, but if you crash out, you’ll lose 10 points from your total score. Remember that it’s possible to pass the test with a negative score of up to 11!
You must answer every question on the screen correctly before moving on. In order to make this happen, there must be no more than 55 seconds left on the clock at any given time. As soon as 55 seconds is reached, another question will appear immediately. This means that testing conditions are strictly controlled and optimal for testing purposes: if it takes 5 minutes or longer per question in real life, then your knowledge isn’t good enough yet – go back and study more!
Register Early for the Exam
You will be thanking yourself for this advice. When you register early, you give yourself ample time to prepare for the test and feel more at ease on the day of the exam.
If you are not registered yet, it is never too late. You can still sign up online or even go directly to your testing center. However, key personalities in the insurance industry concur that signing up early will give you enough time to practice and try out strategies that may come in handy during the actual test. And if this happens before the deadline of your registration, they can extend it! So hurry!
You should allow some time after registering before taking your exam, just so you can get used to sitting for long periods of time with nothing but a pen and paper (or pencil) surrounding you. It would also help if you do some research on your state’s insurance laws. If you study the material thoroughly, chances are you will pass the test with flying colors!
Take advantage of “cheat sheets”
The Insurance Law Handbook is made available for free by most states. This book includes information on statutes and codes, as well as amendments that are effective in your area. Use this handbook very carefully because it does not contain all of your state’s insurance laws – only those regarded as helpful for passing the test.
If ever there is any discrepancy between what’s written in the handbook and what’s actually being tested, go with what’s being asked for. You may also want to check with the state department of insurance regarding your particular state’s laws.
Besides using this handbook as a form of reference, you may use it as a guide to familiarize yourself with the questions and answer choices contained in your exam. By doing so, it will be easier for you to select the most appropriate answers. And if ever you need extra help, don’t hesitate to ask!
Study for the License Test
Remember that studying is essential to helping you pass. If you know what to expect and how the test works, then your odds of passing become much better. You will learn what to study and how to invest your time in studying for this important test.
Did you just graduate from college? Are you looking into getting a career in insurance? Have you decided that one of the best things that can happen is to get licensed as an insurance agent or broker? Then, congratulations! You have made a wise decision by deciding on such a noble profession! However, there is no way around it; if you want to make sure everything goes smoothly and be able to work with every kind of insurance policy, then you need to pass the written exam involved with your state’s licensing requirements.
Make all Necessary Preparations
At some point during the insurance licensing process, you’ll be required to pass a criminal background check, fingerprint analysis, and medical examination before being approved for licensing. For many people, this can come as a bit of a surprise, so it’s much better to have all the requisite information well in advance of the deadline date, so there is no chance of delays.
By now, you have unlocked some excellent tips before taking an insurance licensing exam. Remember that different people have different comfort zones and preferences. Nevertheless, you will come to appreciate the importance of studying and taking your test early to avoid waiting too long. Additionally, you can take advantage of pre-licensing classes to familiarize yourself with what is on this type of test. If you keep them in mind, they will help you to pass this type of test the first time around! Good luck with your exam!
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