PID reduces review time for pending applications to less than eight days, removes certain unnecessary fees, and offers licensing exams in Spanish and Chinese.
Harrisburg, PA – Under Governor Josh Shapiro's leadership and commitment to better serve Pennsylvanians, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) today announced the removal of certain fees associated with licensing forms to provide a less burdensome experience to licensees. Additionally, with a focus on Governor Shapiro's Executive Order to improve the Commonwealth's licensing processes, PID has reduced the review time for pending applications to an average of less than eight days from the previous average of 20 days.
"Accelerating our review time for pending license applications and removing unnecessary fees will help PID better serve Pennsylvanians who are trying to make minor changes to their records," said Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys. "Governor Shapiro has prioritized getting stuff done and making state government more efficient for Pennsylvanians during his first year in office – and these updated processes at PID will help the Administration continue to deliver results while removing barriers that prevent some Pennsylvanians from seeking insurance careers."
As of January 1, anyone seeking licenses can now submit any of their forms electronically with the Department. PID has also removed the $25 fee requirement for any of the following changes:
- Add or Remove Designated Licensee or Surplus Lines Affiliation
- Add or Remove Self Storage Service Location
- Add or Remove Fictitious or DBA Name
- Address Change Form for Business Entity
- Name Change form for Business Entity
- Name and Address Change for Individual
- Letter of Clearance or Voluntary Surrender Request
Additionally, PID has modernized procedures to licensure processes that have helped to reduce PID's response time. These procedures include:
- Receiving background checks electronically;
- Updating our preliminary licensing determination process;
- Clarifying information to applicants on information material and applications for better understanding; and
- Increasing the overall staffing to manage the volume of new licensees.
The updated forms are available on PID's website on the Maintain Your License page.
In Pennsylvania, anyone seeking to sell, solicit or negotiate insurance in the Commonwealth must be licensed through PID. Additionally, anyone seeking to transact other insurance-related functions such as appraising physical damage to motor vehicles, must be licensed with the Department. With a focus to serve all Pennsylvanians, PID has also made licensing exams available in Spanish and Chinese. The availability of these exams will not only increase access to testing but breakdown barriers that potentially prevent some Pennsylvanians from seeking career opportunities in the world of insurance.
More information on how to apply for licenses can be found on PID's Services for Licensees page. Licensees with questions can connect directly with the Bureau of Licensing and enforcement at 717-787-3840 or ra-in-producer@pa.gov.
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