33-17-212. Examination required -- exceptions -- fees. (1) Except as provided in subsection (6), an individual applying for a license is required to pass a written examination. The examination must test the knowledge of the individual concerning each kind of insurance listed in subsection (5) for which application is made, the duties and responsibilities of an insurance producer, and the insurance laws and rules of this state. The examination must be developed and conducted under rules adopted by the commissioner.
     (2) The commissioner may conduct the examination or make arrangements, including contracting with an outside testing service, for administering the examination. The commissioner may arrange for the testing service to recover the cost of the examination from the applicant.
     (3) An individual who fails to appear for the examination as scheduled or fails to pass the examination may reapply for an examination and shall remit all forms before being rescheduled for another examination.
     (4) If the applicant is a partnership or corporation, each individual who is to be named in the license as having authority to act for the applicant in its insurance transactions under the license shall meet the qualifications as provided in this section.
     (5) Examination of an applicant for a license must cover all of the kinds of insurance for which the applicant has applied to be licensed, as constituted by any one or more of the following classifications:
     (a) life insurance;
     (b) disability insurance;
     (c) property insurance. For the purposes of this provision, property insurance includes marine insurance.
     (d) casualty insurance;
     (e) surety insurance;
     (f) credit life and disability insurance;
     (g) title insurance.
     (6) This section does not apply to and an examination is not required of:
     (a) an individual lawfully licensed as an insurance producer as to the kind or kinds of insurance to be transacted as of or immediately prior to January 1, 1961, and who continues to be licensed;
     (b) an applicant for a license covering the same kind or kinds of insurance as to which the applicant was licensed in this state, other than under a temporary license, within the 12 months immediately preceding the date of application unless the commissioner has suspended, revoked, or refused to continue the previous license, except that this subsection (6)(b) does not apply to a title insurance producer, as defined in 33-25-105;
     (c) an applicant for a license as a nonresident insurance producer;
     (d) an applicant for a license to sell all-risk federal crop insurance if the applicant provides certification from an appropriate governmental agency to the commissioner that the applicant is qualified to sell the insurance;
     (e) transportation ticket agents of common carriers applying for a license to solicit and sell only:
     (i) accident insurance ticket policies; or
     (ii) insurance of personal effects while being carried as baggage on a common carrier, as incidental to their duties as transportation ticket agents;
     (f) an association applying for a license under 33-17-211;
     (g) a mechanical breakdown insurance producer;
     (h) a prepaid legal plans producer;
     (i) a gap insurance producer;
     (j) involuntary unemployment insurance producer; or
     (k) an individual who, within 60 days of cancellation of a license issued by the state of the individual's residence, files with the commissioner a current letter of clearance certifying that the individual has passed an examination and held an insurance license in good standing in the individual's state of licensure, except that the individual shall take an examination pertaining to this state's law and each kind of insurance for which the individual has applied for a license and that is not covered under the license held in the other state.

     History: En. Sec. 157, Ch. 286, L. 1959; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 44, L. 1969; R.C.M. 1947, 40-3313; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 345, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 211, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 18, Ch. 519, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 409, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 480, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 22, Ch. 713, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 25, Ch. 531, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 316, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 31, Ch. 472, L. 1999.