The 4-40 Customer Representative License is vital if you want to work for an insurance agent or agency in Florida. We receive a lot of questions regarding who needs the 4-40, what it’s for, and how to get it. Let’s take a closer look.
What does an insurance customer representative do?
According to the Florida Department of Financial Services, a customer representative is “a salaried employee of the general lines (property and casualty) agent or agency that may transact automobile, watercraft, home, motorcycle, and pet insurance under the supervision of a licensed and appointed general lines agent.”
Customer representatives are incredibly important to insurance agencies and agents. Since they communicate with policyholders and would-be policyholders on a regular basis, they can have a huge impact on customer satisfaction and retention (the main goal of any insurer). And most importantly, there is always a need for new representatives as many move up to other positions relatively quickly.
The official responsibilities of representatives include developing good relationships with policyholders in order to retain their business, upselling coverage, and encouraging customers to refer friends and family. They may discuss policies and coverages, handle personal information of clients and potential clients, and solicit insurance as long as they are under the supervision of a licensed general agent (2-20). Customer Reps can make commissions, however, the commissions cannot total more than half of their annual pay.
Simply put: to handle most of the tasks you’d need to in a Florida insurance office, you must hold the 4-40 Customer Representative license.
Ready to get Your Florida 4-40 License?
All-Lines Training’s CIR Course is the quickest and most convenient way to become a Customer Rep. After you finish our course and pass the included exam, you’re ready to apply for your license.
Requirements for Licensing
- Be at least 18 years old
- A resident of Florida
- Must be a United States citizen or legal alien who possesses a work authorization from the United States Immigration and Naturalization Services
- Must not hold a resident license in another state
What steps do I need to take to get the 440 license?
- Take a Florida-approved prerequisite course, like the CIR Designation offered by All-Lines Training, a partner of AdjusterPro. After successfully completing the required 40-hour course and passing the included exam, All-Lines Training will send your certificate to the Florida Department of Financial Services.
- OR, earn an associate degree or bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with at least 9 academic hours of property, casualty, and inland marine insurance curriculum, or the equivalent (an official transcript is required).
- Apply for the license online through the Florida Department of Financial Services. You must submit your application within 4 years of receiving your course completion certificate.
- Register to have your fingerprints submitted through Florida’s approved vendor.
Holding the Florida 4-40 customer representative license also offers some additional advantages for those considering a career as an agent. Once you have your license and 1 year of experience, you only need to take a 40-hour course and pass the exam to apply for the 2-20 general agent license. Those who didn’t hold a 4-40 license first will need to take a 200-hour course and pass the state exam before they can apply for the license. Working as a representative also gives potential agents real-world experience and connections that will help them hit the ground running should they pursue the 2-20 agent license.
You can find additional details and licensing information in the Florida DFS (4-40) documents. Still have questions? Give us a call at (469) 314-2472 or email info@alllinestraining.com. We are here to help.
