Imagine a career where your earnings know no bounds and your workspace has no confines. Becoming an insurance agent in India is a profession that offers unparalleled flexibility, limitless income potential, and the chance to shape your destiny. Whether you’re eyeing a side hustle to boost your income or a full-time venture, becoming an insurance agent holds the key.
This isn’t just another job; it’s an opportunity to carve your path in the thriving insurance industry of India. In this guide, we unravel the secrets, requirements, and tips to help you navigate the maze of becoming an insurance agent.
Table of Contents
What is an Insurance Agent?
An agent in insurance is licensed to sell insurance products to customers representing insurance providers. They are responsible for informing the customer of all they need to know about the policies and different offerings of the insurer and recommend plans based on their needs after understanding their requirements. They are also responsible for offering financial advice and customer support to existing customers when required.
There are two types of agents. This classification is done based on their affiliation.
- Exclusive Agent – An exclusive or captive agent represents only a single insurer. They specialise in the type of insurance they sell and offer policies only from a single provider.
- Independent Agent – An independent agent is not bound to any one insurance provider and offers insurance products from multiple insurers.
What are the Requirements to Become an Insurance Agent Health?
While becoming an insurance agent is easy and requires no investment, some insurance providers might place additional requirements to join them. As an agent specialising in health insurance with Niva Bupa, a leading health insurance provider, I will state the minimum requirements to become an agent in insurance.
- The applicant must be at least 18 years old.
- The applicant must have completed their 10th or 12th standard, depending on their origin.
- The applicant must have an Aadhaar card and a PAN Card.
- The applicant must complete a mandatory practical training
- The applicant must pass an exam prescribed by the IRDAI
How to Become an Insurance Agent in India?
With the requirements being clear, let us look at the process and what it takes to become a health insurance agent.
- Identify an insurance company you would like to work for. Do detailed research about them, their offerings, where they are situated, etc. I work for Niva Bupa and would recommend them if you wish to work as a health insurance agent.
- Visit the insurance company’s website. Fill out the insurance agent registration on the ‘Become an Agent’ page and submit it to receive a call back for an appointment.
- After this, you should be able to complete your mandatory practical training with the insurance provider and start preparing for the compulsory examination.
- After clearing the examination and getting the license, you can start working with the organisation as an agent and begin on-the-job training.
Conclusion
As you can see, becoming an agent in India is just a matter of investing some time and being able to understand the requirements and take action accordingly. With this knowledge, you can now decide on which path you would like to follow.
From my experience, I would suggest aspiring agents start out as an agent with a particular insurance provider as it offers greater benefits, handholding, and assistance than becoming an independent agent. Once you have spent a few years as an agent, you can decide to continue as an exclusive agent or pivot to become independent.
Also Read: Health Insurance Marketplaces: What They Are and How to Use Them?