How To Become an Insurance Agent In New Zealand

To become an insurance agent in New Zealand, you need to follow these steps:

1. Meet the eligibility criteria: You must be 18 years or older, a New Zealand citizen or resident, and have no criminal convictions.

2. Decide on the type of insurance you want to sell: You can choose to sell life insurance, health insurance, property and casualty insurance, or a combination of these.

3. Complete an approved qualification: You must complete an approved qualification in insurance, such as the New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services (Level 5) or the National Certificate in Financial Services (Level 5) with a strand in Insurance. These courses take around six to eight months to complete.

4. Register with the Financial Markets Authority (FMA): Once you have completed the qualification, you need to register with the FMA as an Authorised Financial Adviser (AFA) or a Registered Financial Adviser (RFA). You will need to provide details of your qualifications and experience, and pay the registration fee.

5. Join an insurance company: You can apply to work for an insurance company as an agent, or you can become an independent insurance agent.

6. Complete on-the-job training: Once you start working as an insurance agent, you will need to complete on-the-job training to learn about the products and services offered by the company.

7. Obtain a license: Some types of insurance require a license to sell, such as life insurance. You will need to obtain the appropriate license from the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) to sell these types of insurance.

8. Maintain ongoing education: To maintain your license and keep up-to-date with changes in the industry, you will need to complete ongoing education and training every year.

Becoming an insurance agent in New Zealand can be a challenging but rewarding career choice. It requires a strong work ethic, dedication, and the ability to build relationships with clients.