RCW 48.17.110
Examination of applicants. (Effective until July 1, 2009.)

(1) Each applicant for license as an agent, broker, solicitor, or adjuster shall, prior to the issuance of any such license, personally take and pass to the satisfaction of the examining authority, an examination given as a test of that person's qualifications and competence, but this requirement shall not apply to:

     (a) Applicants for limited licenses under RCW 48.17.190, at the discretion of the commissioner.

     (b) Applicants who within the two year period next preceding date of application have been licensed as a resident in this state under a license requiring qualifications similar to qualifications required by the license applied for or who have successfully completed a course of study recognized as a mark of distinction by the insurance industry and who are deemed by the commissioner to be fully qualified and competent.

     (c) Applicants for license as a nonresident agent or as a nonresident broker or as a nonresident adjuster who are duly licensed in their state of residence and who are deemed by the commissioner to be fully qualified and competent for a similar license in this state.

     (d) Applicants for an agent's or solicitor's license covering the same kinds of insurance as an agent's or solicitor's license then held by them.

     (e) Applicants for an adjuster's license who for a period of one year, a portion of which was in the year next preceding the date of application, have been a full time salaried employee of an insurer or of a general agent to adjust, investigate, or report claims arising under insurance contracts.

     (2) Any person licensed as an insurance broker by this state prior to June 8, 1967, who is otherwise qualified to be a licensed insurance broker, shall be entitled to renew that person's broker's license by payment of the applicable fee for such of the broker's licenses authorized by RCW 48.17.240, as that person shall elect, without taking any additional examination, except as provided in subsection (3).

     (3) The commissioner may at any time require any licensed agent, broker, solicitor, or adjuster to take and successfully pass an examination testing the licensee's competence and qualifications as a condition to the continuance or renewal of a license, if the licensee has been guilty of violation of this code, or has so conducted affairs under an insurance license as to cause the commissioner reasonably to desire further evidence of the licensee's qualifications.

[1990 1st ex.s. c 3 § 2; 1977 ex.s. c 182 § 3; 1967 c 150 § 16; 1965 ex.s. c 70 § 19; 1963 c 195 § 17; 1955 c 303 § 10; 1949 c 190 § 23; 1947 c 79 § .17.11; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 45.17.11.]

     RCW 48.17.110
Examination of applicants -- Exemptions. (Effective July 1, 2009.)

(1) A resident individual applying for an insurance producer or adjuster license shall pass a written examination unless exempt under this section or RCW 48.17.175. The examination shall test the knowledge of the individual concerning the lines of authority for which application is made, the duties and responsibilities of an insurance producer or adjuster, and the insurance laws and rules of this state. Examinations required by this section shall be developed and conducted under the rules prescribed by the commissioner. The commissioner shall prepare, or approve, and make available a manual specifying in general terms the subjects which may be covered in any examination for a particular license.

     (2) The following are exempt from the examination requirement:

     (a) Applicants for licenses under RCW 48.17.170(1) (g), (h), and (i), at the discretion of the commissioner;

     (b) Applicants who within the two-year period next preceding date of application have been licensed as a resident in this state under a license requiring qualifications similar to qualifications required by the license applied for, or who have successfully completed a course of study recognized as a mark of distinction by the insurance industry, and who are deemed by the commissioner to be fully qualified and competent;

     (c) Applicants for an adjuster's license who for a period of one year, a portion of which was in the year next preceding the date of application, have been a full-time salaried employee of an insurer or of a managing general agent to adjust, investigate, or report claims arising under insurance contracts;

     (d) Applicants deemed by the commissioner to be qualified by past experience to deal in ocean marine and related coverages.

     (3) The commissioner may make arrangements, including contracting with an outside testing service, for administering examinations.

     (4) The commissioner may, at any time, require any licensed insurance producer or adjuster to take and successfully pass an examination testing the licensee's competence and qualifications as a condition to the continuance or renewal of a license, if the licensee has been guilty of violating this title, or has so conducted affairs under an insurance license as to cause the commissioner to reasonably desire further evidence of the licensee's qualifications.

[2007 c 117 § 8; 1990 1st ex.s. c 3 § 2; 1977 ex.s. c 182 § 3; 1967 c 150 § 16; 1965 ex.s. c 70 § 19; 1963 c 195 § 17; 1955 c 303 § 10; 1949 c 190 § 23; 1947 c 79 § .17.11; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 45.17.11.]