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  • Which Insurance License Should You Get First?

Which Insurance License Should You Get First?

By Sandra King March 24, 2026

Florida 20‑44 Personal Lines or 2‑20 General Lines? Is one easier?

Florida neighborhood and homes, symbolizing personal lines and property insurance
  • 20-44 license
  • 20 44 license
  • Florida 20-44 license exam questions
  • general lines

If you’re searching for “20-44 license”, “20 44 license”, or trying to understand how the Florida 20‑44 license compares to the 2‑20 General Lines license, you’re not alone. Florida’s license numbers are confusing, and most people just want a clear answer to one question:

Should I get my 20‑44 Personal Lines license or my 2‑20 General Lines license first?

Quick answer in plain English:
  • The 20‑44 Personal Lines license is a shorter path focused on personal P&C (home, auto, renters, etc.).
  • The 2‑20 General Lines license is longer and harder but lets you sell both personal and commercial P&C.
  • Many people start with the 20‑44 to get licensed and working faster, then upgrade later to the 2‑20.

OLTraining offers both: a 60 hr 20-44 Personal Lines Agent Pre-licensing Course for personal lines and a 200 hr 2-20 General Lines Course if you’re ready to go straight for the full general lines license.

20‑44 vs 2‑20 in Florida: Big-picture overview

Both licenses are property & casualty (P&C) licenses, but they’re not the same.

What the Florida 20‑44 license covers

The 20‑44 Personal Lines Agent license lets you sell personal lines P&C, typically including:

  • Homeowners, condo, and renters policies
  • Personal auto insurance
  • Personal umbrella and similar coverages

You do not sell commercial policies (e.g., coverage for businesses) under a 20‑44 license.

What the Florida 2‑20 General Lines license covers

The 2‑20 General Lines license is broader. It usually allows you to sell:

  • All the same personal lines coverage a 20‑44 can sell
  • Commercial lines P&C, such as:
    • Commercial property
    • Commercial general liability
    • Business auto and trucking
    • Business Owners Policies (BOPs)

This is why you’ll often hear people simply say they want their general lines license when they’re talking about the 2‑20.

Side-by-side comparison: Florida 20‑44 vs 2‑20

20‑44 Personal Lines Agent2‑20 General Lines Agent
What you can sell Personal Lines
  • Homeowners, condo, renters
  • Personal auto
  • Personal umbrella
No commercial (business) policies.
Personal & Commercial
  • All personal lines that 20‑44 can sell
  • Commercial property
  • Commercial general liability (CGL)
  • Business auto, trucking
  • Business Owners Policies (BOPs) and more
Typical employers
  • Personal lines agencies
  • Captive agents focused on home/auto
  • Call centers handling personal lines
  • Agencies that don’t do much commercial business
  • Independent agencies (personal & commercial)
  • Commercial-focused brokerages
  • Captive carriers needing full general lines agents
  • Future agency owners and producers building books
Education hours 60 hours of approved pre‑licensing education

OLTraining: 60 hr 20-44 Personal Lines Agent Pre-licensing Course
200 hours of approved pre‑licensing education

OLTraining: 200 hr 2-20 General Lines Course
Difficulty level (typical) Moderate
  • Focuses on personal lines concepts
  • Less content than 2‑20
  • Many first‑time test takers succeed with solid prep
More challenging
  • Includes both personal and commercial P&C
  • More laws, forms, and policy types
  • Requires deeper understanding and more study time
Time to get licensed Shorter
  • 60 hours of coursework
  • Often completed in a few weeks by working adults
Longer
  • 200 hours of coursework
  • Often takes several weeks to a few months
Income potential (general)
  • Good entry‑level potential in personal lines
  • Commission and bonus opportunities with growth
  • Best for those wanting to start quickly in P&C
  • Broader potential: personal and commercial books
  • Ability to work larger commercial accounts
  • Often more long‑term earning power
Best for
  • Newer to insurance, want a quicker start
  • Roles focused mainly on home/auto clients
  • Customer service reps and entry‑level producers
  • Career‑minded agents aiming for full P&C authority
  • People planning to work in or build commercial lines
  • Those who can invest more time up front

Both licenses can be great options. The right choice depends on your timeline, your employer’s expectations, and how broad you want your authority to be in property & casualty insurance.

What about the Florida 20‑44 license exam questions?

When people search for “Florida 20-44 license exam questions”, they’re usually trying to understand what the test is like and how hard it is.

Typical topics on the 20‑44 Personal Lines exam

The exact outline comes from Florida DFS and the testing provider, but in general you can expect questions on:

  • General insurance concepts (risk, perils, hazards, indemnity)
  • Personal auto coverages, limits, and endorsements
  • Homeowners, condo, and renters policy forms
  • Personal umbrella liability
  • Policy structure, conditions, exclusions, and endorsements
  • Florida‑specific P&C laws and regulations
  • Ethics and professional conduct

Your pre‑licensing course should walk you through not only the content, but also how exam questions are framed, how to avoid common traps, and how to manage your time on test day.

OLTraining’s 60 hr 20-44 Personal Lines Agent Pre-licensing Course is built to cover the tested topics and give you a structured way to prepare, even if you’re new to insurance.

Which license should you get first?

There’s no one answer that’s right for everyone. Here are some practical guidelines based on common situations.

Career changer (new to insurance)

You’re moving from retail, hospitality, trades, or another field and want to break into insurance without spending months in training before you can start earning.

  • Want to get licensed and working as soon as reasonably possible
  • Comfortable starting in home and auto while you learn the business
  • May consider commercial lines later, once you have experience

Recommendation: Start with the 20‑44 Personal Lines license.

This lets you:

  • Complete 60 hours instead of 200
  • Focus on core personal lines topics first
  • Build confidence and real‑world experience quickly

Best next step: enroll in the 60 hr 20-44 Personal Lines Agent Pre-licensing Course and map out a realistic 3–6 week study plan.

Current CSR / agency staff

You already work at an agency in an unlicensed or limited role and your employer wants you to move into a licensed position.

  • You may already handle quotes, service calls, or documentation
  • Your agency might focus mostly on personal lines or might have a mix
  • You want a solid credential without overwhelming your schedule

If your agency is mostly personal lines: the 20‑44 is often the faster, more focused choice.

If your agency wants you in commercial down the road: talk with your manager about whether to start with 20‑44 now and move to 2‑20 later, or go straight to 2‑20.

For many CSRs, starting with the 60 hr 20-44 Personal Lines Agent Pre-licensing Course is the most realistic first step, then upgrading once you’re established.

Captive agent or long-term agency career path

You’ve been recruited by a carrier or independent agency and you’re serious about making insurance your long‑term career.

  • Comfortable investing more time up front
  • Want to work with both personal and commercial clients
  • Interested in higher long‑term earning potential

Recommendation: If your schedule and finances allow, consider going straight for the 2‑20 General Lines license.

Yes, it’s more demanding (200 hours vs. 60), but it opens more doors:

  • Personal and commercial lines business
  • More flexibility in roles and future agency ownership
  • Potential to handle larger, more complex accounts over time

Best next step: plan for a longer study window and enroll in the 200 hr 2-20 General Lines Course so you can build a deep foundation from day one.

Concrete recommendations: what to do next

Here’s a simplified way to decide what license to pursue first:

  • If you need to get licensed quickly and your immediate job will be mostly home and auto: start with the 20‑44 Personal Lines license.
  • If you’re aiming long‑term at commercial lines, business clients, or agency ownership and you can commit to more study time: go for the 2‑20 General Lines license.
  • If you’re unsure, ask your current or prospective employer which license they prefer for your specific role—and match your choice to that.
Option 1: Start with 20‑44 Personal Lines

If you’re a career changer or CSR who wants a realistic, focused first license, your best next step is to enroll in a 60 hr 20-44 Personal Lines Agent Pre-licensing Course. This 60‑hour path is designed to help you understand personal lines clearly and prepare you for the Florida 20‑44 exam.

Option 2: Go straight to 2‑20 General Lines

If you’re committed to a full general lines career and ready for a deeper dive, the 200 hr 2-20 General Lines Course gives you a comprehensive foundation in both personal and commercial P&C.

Either way, choosing the right starting license—and pairing it with structured pre‑licensing training—puts you on a clear path toward your Florida P&C insurance career.

Tags : Tags Florida 2‑20 General Lines   Florida 20‑44 Personal Lines
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Florida 2‑20 Property & Casualty License: Step‑by‑Step Guide to Getting Your 2‑20 in 2026

Sandra King

COO and CTO of OnLine Training since January 2025.
25+ years in e-learning, web design, systems administration, and tech support at OLT

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