Insurance Agent
Sells an insurance company's policies for commission, acting as the legal representative of the insurer.
Overview
An Insurance Agent works for an insurance company and sells its policies for a commission. They are also the legal representatives of the insurers.
Where they work
- Banks
- Insurance and other Financial Service Organisations
Work environment
You will have a desk job. Local travel is a part of the job role. You will be working regular hours. Organisations usually work for 5 to 6 days a week and 8 to 9 hours every day. This may vary from organisation to organisation. Entrepreneurship: you can choose to work independently.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You like to try to persuade people
- You can comfortably talk with all kinds of people
- You like to do filing or typing
- You like to work with numbers or charts
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete Class 10 (applicable for candidates from rural areas with a population of less than 5,000 people)
- 2Pursue a 6-month Industrial Training Institute course for insurance agents, appear for the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Exam
Alternative route 2
- 1Pursue a 6-month Industrial Training Institute course for insurance agents, earn work experience, and then take the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Exam
Alternative route 3
- 1Complete 10+2 in Commerce or Science stream (Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics), Complete a 50-hour training from an IRDA-approved training institute for General/Life insurance licence or 75-hour training for a composite licence, then clear IC33 exam for Life Insurance & IC34 for General Insurance licence
- 2(You can choose to take this pathway after your undergraduate course)
Forms, exams and applications
Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) examination; IC33 for a Life Insurance licence and IC34 for a General Insurance licence, following IRDA-approved training. Check the official notification for current eligibility and dates.
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
Any recognized college which offers Bachelor's in Commerce/Finance and related subject. Some of the IRDA-recognized training institutes are listed here.
Government institutes
- HRD Foundation, New Delhi
- Insurance Academy – North East, Guwahati, Assam
- Insurance Academy, Pune, Maharashtra
- Usha Deep Insurance & Management Services Pvt. Ltd, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
- Udaipur Insurance Institute, Udaipur, Rajasthan
- Indian Insurance Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Delhi Insurance Institute, New Delhi
- Bhopal Insurance Institute, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Officer
- 2Insurance Agent
- 3Insurance Area Manager
- 4Regional Head
- 5Zonal Head
- 6National Head
Expected income
₹16,688 – ₹50,000 per month or more
The figures are indicative and subject to change.
SourceRelated careers to explore
Life Insurance Agent
Advises clients on life and health insurance products and helps them get claims settled.
Customer Care Executive
Provides after-sales service, resolving customer and client queries efficiently.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Commerce, Science, Any Stream.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to helping people.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Lachhman Das Mittal — Businessman Lachhman Das Mittal, 89, is the owner and chairman of Sonalika Group, which is the third-largest tractor manufacturer in India. Mittal started his career as an LIC agent. Mittal completed his M.A. in English & Urdu from Panjab University.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 1, printed page 227 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://in.talent.com/salary?job=insurance+agent
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.