Licensing guide · Ontario

How to Become an Insurance Broker in Ontario

Last checked 4 sources checkedNOC 63100

Do you need a licence?

Licence required

You must be registered with Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario to work as an insurance broker in Ontario or to use a protected title.

Protected titles
Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“It is a legal requirement under the Registered Insurance Brokers Act for all general insurance brokers in Ontario to be registered and licensed by RIBO.”

From ribo.com/getting-a-license/individual-licenses, checked October 10, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Licence required See the source
Routes
Annual fees

Your roadmap

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

  • 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total
  • 4 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $625
  • Listed time: 0.2 to 0.3 months (only 1 of 5 steps state a time)

  1. Pass the examination corresponding to the licence level you are applying for.

    Source
    “individuals must pass the corresponding examination (or equivalent)”
    ribo.com/getting-a-license/individual-licenses
  2. Source
    “This form must be completed by all individuals seeking registration as an insurance broker in the province of Ontario. The individual applying for licensing must complete this application.”
    ribo.com/getting-a-license/individual-licenses/new-applicants/licen...

  3. Submit a Criminal Background check via the local police department or Sterling Back Check, including all current and previous names.

    Source
    “You will be prompted to submit a Criminal Background check via the local police department or Sterling Back Check. We do not accept third-party checks. License registrations will not be processed without this document.”
    ribo.com/getting-a-license/individual-licenses/new-applicants/licen...

  4. Be employed by a RIBO-registered brokerage and include the employment confirmation with your application.

    Source
    “be employed by a RIBO-registered brokerage (sponsoring brokerage). Employment is required for registration but not for taking the exam.”
    ribo.com/getting-a-license/individual-licenses

  5. RIBO processes applications in the order received, which may take 5-10 business days due to seasonal volumes.

    Time: 5 to 10 days
    Time source
    “Due to seasonal volumes, processing may take 5-10 business days.”
    ribo.com/getting-a-license/individual-licenses/new-applicants/licen...
    Source
    “All applications will be processed in the order received. Due to seasonal volumes, processing may take 5-10 business days.”
    ribo.com/getting-a-license/individual-licenses/new-applicants/licen...

Listed fees for this route

1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.

4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $625 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total
  • 3 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $625

  1. Submit your resume, licence and designations to RIBO to confirm which equivalency exams you are eligible to take.

    Source
    “To determine eligibility, applicants should submit the following documents in PDF format to [email protected]: Copy of your resume outlining experience-to-date, Copy of your OTL and/or out-of-province insurance licence, Copy of any insurance designations you currently hold (transcript and certificate).”
    ribo.com/getting-a-license/individual-licenses/new-applicants/equiv...

  2. Successfully complete the RIB Act, Regulations, and By-Laws Equivalency Exam and the RIBO Ontario Automobile Equivalency Exam, passing all required exams within twelve months.

    Source
    “Candidates required to take multiple exams, such as the RIB Act, Regulations, and By-laws Equivalency Exam and the RIBO Ontario Automobile Equivalency Exam, must pass all exams within twelve months.”
    ribo.com/getting-a-license/individual-licenses/new-applicants/equiv...

  3. After passing the equivalency exams, proceed with registration as an insurance broker with a RIBO registered brokerage firm, subject to meeting the suitability requirements.

    Source
    “Upon successfully completing your Equivalency exam(s), you can proceed with registration as an insurance broker with a RIBO registered brokerage firm. This is subject to meeting the suitability requirements.”
    ribo.com/getting-a-license/individual-licenses/new-applicants/equiv...

  4. When applying for the renewable RIBO licence, demonstrate knowledge of matters applicable to the practice of an insurance broker in Ontario, such as the Registered Insurance Brokers Act and related legislation.

    Source
    “Local Knowledge: When you apply for renewable RIBO licence, you will need to demonstrate knowledge of matters applicable (e.g., Registered Insurance Brokers Act, its Regulations, RIBO’s By-Laws, the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act and the Insurance Act) to the practice of an insurance broker in Ontario.”
    ribo.com/getting-a-license/individual-licenses

Listed fees for this route

1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.

3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $625 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

  • Annual fees: $625

No separate route for this group.

Source
“Individuals holding a valid Property & Casualty (P&C) licence from another Canadian jurisdiction may be eligible for one or both of the following options:”
ribo.com/getting-a-license/individual-licenses

Official page for this route

Other listed fees

The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Education

  • To maintain the licence, RIBO requires completing continuing education credits annually.

    Source
    “Continuing Education: To maintain your licence, RIBO requires you to complete continuing education (CE) credits annually.”
    ribo.com/getting-a-license/individual-licenses

Experience

  • Applicants must be an employee or contractor of a RIBO licensed firm, confirmed through the Employment Confirmation Form.

    Source
    “RIBO may only issue a license to an individual where they are an employee or contractor of a RIBO licensed firm pursuant to s. 5 (1), (c), of Regulation 991.”
    ribo.com/getting-a-license/individual-licenses

Police check

  • Applicants must submit a Criminal Record Check dated within the last sixty days that includes all current and previous names.

    Source
    “The Criminal Record Check must be dated within the last sixty (60) days and it must include all current and previous names.”
    ribo.com/getting-a-license/individual-licenses

Residency

  • All licensees must maintain an Ontario mailing address to permit the service of registered mail.

    Source
    “Section 28 of the Registered Insurance Brokers Act requires all licensees to maintain an Ontario mailing address to permit the service of registered mail.”
    ribo.com/getting-a-license/individual-licenses

Other

  • The only business or employment of an individual must be that of an insurance broker, or an insurance broker/life agent, or as approved by the Qualification and Registration Committee.

    Source
    “Section 5 of Regulation 991 requires that the “only business or employment” of an individual be that of an insurance broker, or an insurance broker/life agent, or as approved by the Qualification and Registration Committed.”
    ribo.com/getting-a-license/individual-licenses

  • All licensed brokers are required to act under the supervision of a Principal Broker.

    Source
    “Supervision by a Principal Broker: All licensed brokers, are required to act under the supervision of a Principal Broker, who will ensure that you comply with RIBO regulations and guidelines.”
    ribo.com/getting-a-license/individual-licenses

  • Applicants must be employed or sponsored by an Active Firm Licensee, and any periods of unemployment at an Active Firm must be reported to RIBO.

    Source
    “Employed by an Active Firm: You must be employed or sponsored by an Active Firm Licensee, which is a brokerage registered with RIBO. Any periods of unemployment at an Active Firm must be reported to RIBO.”
    ribo.com/getting-a-license/individual-licenses

Already licensed in another province?

Extra steps

Out-of-province licensees may qualify for a Level 1 licence in Ontario following successful completion of the RIB Act, Regulations, and By-Laws Equivalency Exam and the RIBO Ontario Automobile Equivalency Exam, so more than simply registering on their current licence is required.

Source
“If you hold one of the following licences in your home jurisdiction, you may be eligible for a Level 1 licence in Ontario, following the successful completion of the RIB Act, Regulations, and By-Laws Equivalency Exam and RIBO Ontario Automobile Equivalency Exam.”
ribo.com/getting-a-license/individual-licenses/new-applicants/equiv...

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario

Exams

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 63100, Insurance agents and brokers. Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in Ontario and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
Ontario $21.63 $30.22 $51.28 Good (4 of 5)
Canada $21.31 $30.00 $51.28 —

Wages by region and job outlook in Ontario

Wages in every province and territory

Insurance brokers in other provinces and territories

Regulated in 1 of the other 12 jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

  • British Columbia Not confirmed yet
  • Alberta Not confirmed yet
  • Saskatchewan Not confirmed yet
  • Manitoba Licence required
  • Quebec Not confirmed yet
  • New Brunswick Not confirmed yet
  • Nova Scotia Not confirmed yet
  • Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
  • Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
  • Yukon Not confirmed yet
  • Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
  • Nunavut Not confirmed yet

Compare insurance broker licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 10, 2026.

  1. Individual Licences - RIBO - Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario ribo.com/getting-a-license/individual-licenses · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. Application & Licence Fees - RIBO - Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario ribo.com/getting-a-license/application-license-fees · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. Licence Application Form - RIBO - Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario ribo.com/getting-a-license/individual-licenses/new-applicants/licen... · fetched October 10, 2026
  4. Equivalency - RIBO - Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario ribo.com/getting-a-license/individual-licenses/new-applicants/equiv... · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as an insurance broker in Ontario?

Yes. Registration with Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario is required to practise in Ontario.

Which exams are required?

RIB Act, Regulations, and By-Laws Equivalency Exam, RIBO Ontario Automobile Equivalency Exam, Level 2 – Technical/Commercial Exam, RIBO Level 3 – Management Exam.

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