The proper filing sequence is as follows:

STEP 1:NAME APPROVAL -Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 155, § 9, the name of any business entity formed for the purpose of acting as an insurance producer is subject to the prior written approval of the Commissioner of Insurance.

The following required documentation is to be submitted to:

MA Division of Insurance
Attn: Producer Licensing
One South Station
Boston , MA 02110

Non-Resident Corporations - An unexecuted foreign corporation Certificate of Registration (www.state.ma.us/sec) along with a certified copy of the home state’s Articles of Organization. In addition, a home state Certificate of Existence dated within the past 90 days is to also be submitted.

Non-Resident Limited Liability Companies – A copy of home state Certificate of Organization along with a new MA Certificate of Organization, following the statutory guidelines provided by the Secretary of the Commonwealth (www.state.ma.us/sec). In addition, a home state Certification dated within the past 90 days is to also be submitted.

The Division of Insurance (“Division”) will note the name approval by signing off on the unexecuted documentation and return all documents to you, for filing with the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Please note, all corporations, LLC’s and LLP’s are required to file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If a DBA is to be used, a Business Certificate from the town or city in which you will be operating your business in Massachusetts, is also to be included with the above required documentation for approval by the Division. Do not submit any type of licensing applications for the business entity to the Division’s P.O. Box (bank lockbox), until such time that you have received the name approval for your business entity and you have filed with the Secretary of State’s Office.

STEP 2 : FILING WITH THE MA SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE – Please see the instructions on the website at www.mass.gov/sec and go to the Corporation Division. Once you have completed this process, please request a Certificate of Existence, as this will be one of the requirements in your final filing process.

STEP 3: APPLICATION, ENCLOSURES AND FEES – Please include the following:

• Please note: If you are a non-resident Business Entity Producer, you must first hold a resident Business Entity Producer license in your home state, prior to applying for a non-resident Business Entity Producer license in MA. Your home state license status and lines of authority will be verified via the NIPR Producer Database prior to issuance of a MA non-resident Business Entity Producer license.
• NAIC Uniform Licensing Application – New Business Entity Producer
• Certified copy of home state Articles of Organization (or Certificate of Organization if an LLC)
• Home State Certificate of Existence
• MA Certificate of Existence (An acceptable alternative to this is a written statement signed under the pains and penalties of perjury that affirms that the business entity has made the required filings with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts).
• Member list - A list of licensed producers (key individuals i.e.: owners, officers, directors & key employees) who will be transacting business in MA, are individually licensed as resident or non-resident individual producers in MA and are to be covered under the business entity’s license.
• Licensing fee - $75 per member, checks are to be made payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
• All noted documents which are required for licensure are to be sent to the P.O. Box (bank lockbox) first for processing of fee check, at the address below :

Please send these documents to:
MA Division of Insurance
Producer Licensing
P.O. Box 370043
Boston , MA 02241

• Please note: You must first hold an Individual Producer license in your home state prior to applying in MA. Your home state license status and lines of authority will be confirmed before a MA license is issued via the NIPR Producer Database.
• Please complete the NAIC Uniform Producer Application for Individuals.
• Submit the application with the proper licensing fee, made payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Licensing fees are as follow :

• Individual Producer License (no property, casualty or personal lines of authority) - $225.00
• Individual Producer License with a property, casualty or personal lines of authority (includes Lead Paint Surcharge*): $300.00

Please send these documents to:
MA Division of Insurance
Producer Licensing
P.O. Box 370043
Boston , MA 02241

The proper filing sequence is as follows:

STEP 1:NAME APPROVAL -Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 155, § 9, the name of any business entity formed for the purpose of acting as an insurance producer is subject to the prior written approval of the Commissioner of Insurance.

The following documentation should first be submitted to:

MA Division of Insurance
Attn: Producer Licensing
One South Station
Boston , MA 02110

Resident Corporations – The unexecuted Articles of Organization. If already incorporated and approved with the Secretary of State’s office; then a certified copy of your Articles of Organization and a Certificate of Existence are required.

Resident Limited Liability Companies – A Certificate of Organization following the statutory guidelines provided by the Secretary of the Commonwealth (www.state.ma.us/sec).

The Division of Insurance (“Division”) will note the name approval by signing off on the unexecuted documentation and return all documents to you, for filing with the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Please note, all corporations, LLC’s and LLP’s are required to file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If a DBA is to be used, a Business Certificate from the town or city in which you will be operating your business, is also to be included with the above required documentation for approval by the Division. Do not submit any type of licensing applications for the business entity to the Division’s P.O. Box (bank lockbox), until such time that you have received the name approval for your business entity and you have filed with the Secretary of State’s Office.

STEP 2 : FILE WITH THE MA SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE – Please see the instructions on their website at www.mass.gov/sec and click on to the Corporation Division. Once you have completed this process, please request Certified Articles of Organization or Certificate of Organization if an LLC along with a Certificate of Existence, as these documents will be required in your final filing process.

STEP 3: APPLICATION, ENCLOSURES AND FEE – Please include the following:

• Uniform Licensing Application – New Business Entity Producer
• Certified Articles of Organization (or Certificate of Organization if an LLC)
• MA Certificate of Existence
• Member list (a list of licensed producers (key individuals i.e.: owners, officers, etc) who will be transacting business in MA and who are to be covered by the agency’s license.
• Licensing fee - $75 per member, checks are to be made payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
• All noted documents which are required for licensure are to be sent to the P.O. Box (bank lockbox) first for processing of fee check, at the address below :

Please send these documents to:
MA Division of Insurance
Producer Licensing
P.O. Box 370043
Boston , MA 02241

• Resident applicants must pass a licensing examination for the particular line of authority(ies) they wish to sell/solicit or negotiate insurance in MA.
• Applicants must include the ORIGINAL test service score report for each exam with the application. Examinations are administered by the independent testing service, Prometric, contracted by this office. Registration and examination information can be found at www.prometric.com.
• Applicants have one (1) year from the date they pass the Massachusetts licensing exam(s) to apply for the line of authority. After one (1) year the state exam must be repeated.
• Please complete the Uniform Application for Individuals and submit with the licensing fee.

Fees are as follows :

• Ind. Producer License (no property, casualty or personal lines of authority) - $225.00
• Individual Producer License with a property or casualty or personal lines of authority (includes Lead Paint Surcharge*): $300.00
• Submit applications, documents and fee checks to the P.O. Box (bank lockbox) for processing of checks first.

Please send these documents to:
MA Division of Insurance
Producer Licensing
P.O. Box 370043
Boston , MA 02241

Fee Exemptions:

Certain applicants are exempt from paying licensing and lead paint surcharge fees:

• Applicants who are either:
• A Massachusetts resident and a Veteran (must be a MA resident)
• Legally blind;
• The non-licensed widow/widower of a recently deceased licensee who is applying for a temporary license.
• The above are exempt from paying these fees Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 175, § 167A.

Exempt applicants must submit the following documentation to the Division:

• Veteran: (applicable to MA Residents only) Submit a copy of the DD-214 discharge papers, if not previously submitted to the Division.
• Blind: Submit appropriate documentation verifying legal blindness, if not previously submitted.
• Widow/er of Licensee: Submit the name and social security number of deceased spouse and a letter indicating who the widow/er's licensed sponsor will be (must be on site during business hours at agency). Please review the Division’s Bulletin at: 2005-10 Issuance of Temporary Producer Licenses.

Attachments (if applicable):

• Submit FINRA U-4 status report or individual CRD number if applying for variable life and/or annuities contracts authority.
• Trade name Approval (DBA): Application Item - #35 - Trade name Approval: Application Item - #35; applicants must notify the Division of any name under which he/she is doing business (DBA). Applicants who include a DBA or trade name under item #35 on the Uniform Application for Resident Individual Insurance Producer must attach a copy of the Business Certificate from the city or town in which the DBA is operating.
  To meet approval, the DBA cannot be in use by another entity and it must include the word "insurance" in its name or use plural nouns such as group, associates or partners.

Term of License

The Producer License is for a term of three (3) years. Upon receipt of your initial licenses, however, licensees may notice that the actual term of their initial Producer License is for less than a 3-year term. This is because the Producer License will be renewed on the licensee's date of birth and no licenses are issued for a period beyond three years. At the Producer's next renewal, he/she will receive a Producer License with a full three-year term. There are not any rebates.

• Please note: If you are a non-resident business entity, you must first hold a Business Entity Producer license in your home state, prior to renewing in MA. Your home state license status and lines of authority will be confirmed before a MA license is renewed via the NIPR Producer Database.
• Residents and non-residents, please complete the NAIC Uniform Renewal/Continuation Producer Application for Business Entities.
• Submit the application with the proper licensing fees, made payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
• Submit a copy of your Member List.
• Submit your renewal fee of $75 per member, made payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
• All noted documents which are required for renewal are to be sent to the P.O. Box (bank lockbox) first for processing of fee check. Please allow enough time for your check to be processed prior to your renewal date.

All documentation is to be submitted to:

MA Division of Insurance
Producer Licensing
P.O. Box 370043
Boston , MA 02241

!! Please note an online business entity renewal process will be available the fall of 2008 for the renewal of resident and non-resident business entities. Please visit the Division’s website at www.mass.gov/doi for further information.

All Producers who are renewing are now able to do so online, using the Division of Insurance’s new online system, OLLIE. All online Renewal/Continuation applications are due on or before the expiration date of their current licenses. If the online Renewal/Continuation application is not filed on time, the renewing license and all affiliated appointments will be canceled.

All Producers who are renewing via paper applications must submit their NAIC Renewal/Continuation applications prior to the expiration date of their current licenses, to the P.O. Box (bank lockbox), for processing prior to the renewal date. If the Renewal/Continuation application is not filed on time, the renewing license and all affiliated appointments will be canceled. Do not submit applications to the Division’s street address, as these will be forwarded to the P.O. Box for check processing first; and may cause your renewal to be late. These applications are to be sent to:

MA Division of Insurance
Producer Licensing
P.O. Box 370043
Boston , MA 02241

• Individual Producer License (no property, casualty or personal lines of authority) - $225.00
• Individual Producer License with a property or casualty line of authority (includes Lead Paint Surcharge*): $300.00

Late fees

Pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 175, section 162M (8) (c), if a licensee does not renew his/her license on or before his/her renewal date, he/she must reinstate his/her license, which will include the penalty fee of the double the amount.  He/she has up to 12 months to reinstate his/her license. After the 12 months have past, a MA resident cannot be reinstated and must retake any licensing exams required. Non- residents do not need to retake their exams, as long as they maintain their home state license .

* Lead Paint Surcharge: Pursuant to Section 22 of Chapter 482 of the Acts of 1993, as amended by Section 154 of Chapter 184 of the Acts of 2002, insurance producers licensed in property or casualty lines of insurance shall be charged a lead paint surcharge of $25 per year on the license, payable at the time of the licensing fee. Because the producer license is a 3-year license, the surcharge fee amounts to $75.

DISCLAIMER

The National Insurance Producer Registry ("NIPR") populates the State Matrix of Business Rules ("State Matrix") with information provided directly from participating state insurance departments. Participating states are encouraged to provide updated information when appropriate. NIPR does not guarantee the completeness, accuracy or adequacy of the information in the State Matrix. The information in the State Matrix does not constitute legal advice and use of this information is at user's own risk and responsibility. Any questions regarding the interpretation of the rules or the accuracy of the information should be directed to the appropriate state insurance department.

Massachusetts Division of Insurance - Producer Licenses
P.O. Box 370043
Boston, MA 02241-1743

DO NOT SEND APPLICATION TO THE DIVISION'S OFFICE ADDRESS, AS THIS WILL DELAY PROCESSING.

Non-Resident Contacts

Business and Individual
Producer Licensing Department
617-521-7794, option #2

Resident Contacts

Business and Individual
Producer Licensing Department
617-521-7794, option #2