Insurance Agent

Updated: 11 November 2024

What Does Insurance Agent Mean?

An insurance agent is a professional who sells insurance policies. In the U.S., an individual must obtain a state license before practicing as an insurance agent. Agents may work for a single insurance company or offer policies from multiple companies.

Insuranceopedia Explains Insurance Agent

In some states, becoming an insurance agent requires a high school diploma. In most states, candidates must pass an exam to obtain a license, and some states require additional coursework or training.

A captive agent sells products from a single insurance company, while a non-captive (or independent) agent offers products from multiple companies. In both cases, agents earn commissions from sales.

An agent may specialize in one type of policy, such as auto insurance, or sell and have expertise in multiple types of policies.

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