2016 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 59A - Insurance Code
Article 12 - Insurance Agents, Brokers and Solicitors
Section 59A-12-16 - Examination for license.

59A-12-16. Examination for license.

A. Each applicant for license as agent, solicitor or broker shall, prior to issuance of license, personally take and pass an examination authorized by the superintendent to establish the applicant's competence, knowledge and understanding of attendant responsibility and duties as to the insurance business to be transacted under the license applied for; except, that no such examination shall be required:

(1) for renewal or continuance of an existing license, except as provided in Subsection D of Section 59A-11-10 NMSA 1978;

(2) of an applicant for limited license as provided in Section 59A-12-18 NMSA 1978;

(3) of applicants with respect to life and health, or life or health, insurances who hold the chartered life underwriter (C.L.U.) designation by the American college of life underwriters;

(4) of applicants with respect to property, casualty, surety, marine and transportation, and vehicle insurances, or any of them, who hold the designation of chartered property and casualty underwriter (C.P.C.U.) designation by the American institute of property and casualty underwriters;

(5) of applicants for temporary license as provided for in Section 59A-12-19 NMSA 1978;

(6) of an applicant for a license covering the same kind or kinds of insurance as to which licensed in this state under a similar license within five years preceding date of application for the new license, unless the previous license was suspended, revoked or continuation thereof refused by the superintendent;

(7) of an applicant for solicitor license who held license as agent in this state as to the same kind or kinds of insurance within five years preceding date of application for the new license, unless the previous license was suspended, revoked or continuation thereof refused by the superintendent; or

(8) of an applicant for broker or agent license, if the superintendent is satisfied that the applicant took and passed a similar examination in a state in which already licensed, subject to Section 59A-5-33 NMSA 1978.

B. The superintendent shall conduct examinations as provided for in Chapter 59A, Article 11 NMSA 1978.

History: Laws 1984, ch. 127, 217; 1999, ch. 272, 10; 1999, ch. 289, 11; 2001, ch. 309, 2.

59A-12-16. Examination for license. (Effective July 1, 2017.)

A. A resident individual applying for an insurance producer license shall, prior to issuance of license, personally take and pass a written examination. 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 and the insurance laws and rules of this state. Examinations required by this section shall be developed and conducted under rules prescribed by the superintendent.

B. The superintendent may contract with an outside testing service for administering examinations and collecting the nonrefundable fee set forth in Section 59A-6-1 NMSA 1978.

C. Each individual applying for an examination shall remit a nonrefundable fee as prescribed by the superintendent as set forth in Section 59A-6-1 NMSA 1978.

D. An individual who fails to appear for the examination as scheduled or fails to pass the examination shall reapply for an examination and remit all required fees and forms before being rescheduled for another examination.

E. No examination shall be required:

(1) for renewal or continuance of an existing license, except as provided in Subsection D of Section 59A-11-10 NMSA 1978;

(2) of an applicant for limited license as provided in Section 59A-12-18 NMSA 1978;

(3) of applicants with respect to life and annuities or accident and health insurances who hold the chartered life underwriter (C.L.U.) designation by the American college of life underwriters;

(4) of applicants with respect to property and casualty insurance who hold the designation of chartered property and casualty underwriter (C.P.C.U.) designation by the American institute of property and casualty underwriters;

(5) of applicants for temporary license as provided for in Section 59A-12-19 NMSA 1978;

(6) of an applicant for a license covering the same kind or kinds of insurance as to which licensed in this state under a similar license within five years preceding date of application for the new license, unless the previous license was suspended, revoked or continuation thereof refused by the superintendent; or

(7) of an applicant for insurance producer license, if the applicant took and passed a similar examination in a state in which already licensed, subject to Section 59A-5-33 NMSA 1978.

F. An individual who applies for an insurance producer license in this state who was previously licensed for the same lines of authority in another state shall not be required to take an examination. This exemption is only available if the person is currently licensed in that state or if the application is received within ninety days of the cancellation of the applicant's previous license and if the prior state issues a certification that, at the time of cancellation, the applicant was in good standing in that state or the state's insurance producer database records, maintained by the national association of insurance commissioners, its affiliates or subsidiaries, indicate that the insurance producer is or was licensed in good standing for the line of authority requested.

G. A person licensed as an insurance producer in another state who moves to this state shall apply within ninety days of establishing legal residence to become a resident insurance producer. No examination shall be required of that person to obtain any line of authority previously held in the prior state except where the superintendent determines otherwise by rule.

History: Laws 1984, ch. 127, 217; 1999, ch. 272, 10; 1999, ch. 289, 11; 2001, ch. 309, 2; 2016, ch. 89, 34.