IRDAI Broker or IMF Exam & Training: The Complete guide

IRDAI Broker or IMF Exam & Training: The Complete guide. Obtaining approval to operate as an insurance broker in India requires more than corporate paperwork and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) insists on proven individual competence through structured training and a qualifying examination administered by National Insurance Academy (NIA), Pune. we will explain through this article in one place, how to prepare for exam enrollment, what to submit, how the training platform works, what the Principal Officer (PO) and the two Qualified Persons (BQPs) must demonstrate, and how companies can present their infrastructure and experience in a way that satisfies scrutiny the first time.
Understanding who needs to qualify (PO and BQPs)
Every brokerage applicant must ensure that the Principal Officer and at least two Qualified Persons meet the prescribed training and qualification standards. If the proposed brokerage intends to handle both life and general insurance, the competency must exist in both domains, which means the two qualified individuals should collectively cover both life and general, or individually meet both tracks as applicable. 
The Principal Officer is expected to be a senior, accountable leader, typically a key managerial executive, whole-time director, partner, or officer who has the knowledge and certification to run the broking function responsibly.
Hence, treat the IRDAI broker exam and training as the operating foundation of your brokerage rather than a compliance chore. When the Principal Officer and BQPs are trained, tested, and documented with care, the rest of the application falls into place. Clear identity data, precise sponsorship, an honest capability narrative, disciplined IT notes, and a predictable training calendar together convert weeks of uncertainty into a smooth, traceable approval path.
Exam enrollment: information that must be accurate the first time
When a candidate registers for the IRDAI broker examination with NIA Pune, precise personal details are essential because they feed into identity verification and certificate generation. 
The candidate’s full legal name, date of birth, complete postal address with PIN, mobile and telephone contacts, and a working email ID are basic yet non-negotiable fields. 
PAN functions as the user ID in many systems, so keeping the number consistent across all places reduces downstream friction. The photograph needs special attention: it should be in JPEG format, kept under 30 KB, and saved with a strict filename convention PANNumber_Name (for example, AJCPK1122R_PriyankaDeshmukh.jpeg). 
Seemingly small formatting errors here cause many otherwise avoidable rejections, so preparing the file exactly as required helps the application move swiftly.
Pattern of Online Insurance Brokers’ Exam 
The study syllabus is grouped into four sections:

Compulsory

General Insurance

Life Insurance

Reinsurance

Broker Type

Sec-I Compulsory

Sec-II General

Sec-III Life

Sec-IV Reinsurance

Total Qs

Time (mins)

Syllabus Sections

Direct – General Insurance

–

1 & 2

Direct – Life Insurance

–

1 & 3

Direct – General + Life Insurance

–

1, 2 & 3

Direct – Reinsurance

–

1 & 4

Composite

120

1, 2, 3 & 4

Sponsorship and the Letter of Intent: why it matters
Candidates typically appear under the sponsorship of the company pursuing the brokerage license. The sponsor’s registered name and address, including state and PIN code, should match corporate records, while the contact person’s name, phone, and email make coordination easier across enrollment, training, and testing. A clean, clearly worded Letter of Intent (LOI) signals that the company stands behind the candidate’s qualification pathway and intends to deploy them in the broker operation upon approval.
Documenting capability: experience, infrastructure, and IT readiness
The IRDAI Regulators expect a brokerage applicant to be capable on day one, not after approval, that is why applicants compile a concise narrative of their functional readiness and this should summarise the Principal Officer’s and BQPs’ experience across broking, consulting, risk management, or adjacent financial services, together with major milestones and present activities. Next, describe the physical infrastructure, office space, equipment, and manpower, that will support client servicing, policy placement, and post-issue work. 
The technology section should be specific rather than generic: name the core hardware and software stack, outline network architecture, and briefly explain disaster recovery, business continuity, cyber-security, data privacy controls, antivirus/anti-malware regimes, and any security certifications the firm follows. Clarity here reassures reviewers that the applicant can protect policyholder data and sustain operations under stress.
Declarations and integrity checks
If there have been any economic offences or proceedings involving the applicant entity, its partners or directors, or key managerial personnel in the last three years, these must be stated plainly with the relevant context and closure documents where available. Transparent declarations do not automatically disqualify; in fact, forthrightness often shortens the clarification cycle compared with evasive or incomplete responses.
Exam centres and scheduling policy

99 centres are presently available. A state-wise centre list is provided by NIA; once a centre is chosen and the application close date passes, it cannot be changed.

Exams will be conducted subject to the prevailing situation at each location.

NIA reserves the right to conduct or not conduct the exam at a centre if total candidates there are below 50.

Exam duration

90 minutes for Direct (Life / General / Life+General / Reinsurance) Brokers.

120 minutes for Composite Brokers.

Passing score

PO / BQP minimum pass mark: 50%.

Mandatory training: hours, tracking, and the five-day rule
Training precedes the exam, and the platform used is video-based. Fresh candidates typically complete 50 hours of online training, while those with specific relevant qualifications or prior experience may be eligible for 25 hours. The modules must be watched in full for the system to credit time. Candidates can see their status in a Course Completion Report, while the User Summary shows hours spent on each video and the aggregate time across the course. A training completion certificate appears in the certificates section only after the minimum five days of training elapse; this timing is built into the platform to ensure a spaced learning window rather than a single-sitting binge. 
Only after the certificate is issued does the candidate become exam-eligible.
Who must qualify (and why it matters)
Every brokerage applicant must ensure that the PO and at least two BQPs meet IRDAI’s prescribed training and qualification standards. If the brokerage will handle both Life and General Insurance, the competency must cover both lines either via individuals who collectively cover life and general or via individuals qualified across both. In an IMF, the PO and Insurance Sales Persons (ISPs) must meet the IMF-specific training and assessment norms. The PO is expected to be a senior, accountable leader typically a key managerial executive, whole-time director, partner, or officer.
What to include about systems and controls—brief but convincing
For infrastructure, a paragraph that quantifies the office footprint, the number of operation seats, and the availability of private meeting areas for client discussions shows functional readiness. On technology, name the CRM or policy-servicing system, the document management repository, and whether multi-factor authentication and role-based access are enforced. Outline daily data backups, off-site or cloud resilience, and the process playbook for incident response. Close with a note on how employee accounts are provisioned and deprovisioned, which often becomes a reviewer’s follow-up question because it relates to client data leakage risk.
After the pass: why documentation discipline must continue
Passing the exam and receiving approval do not end the compliance story. Brokerages operate under ongoing obligations covering conduct, disclosures, grievance redressal, and data protection. Maintain a tidy archive of training certificates, exam results, LMS reports for all current personnel, and updated CVs of the PO and BQPs. Keep a living register of infrastructure and IT changes, new software versions, new security tools, revised backup schedules so that answers for future inspections are available on demand. This culture of documentation reduces risk, protects clients, and makes renewals uneventful.
Some FAQ's
Q1. How should the photograph be named and sized for enrollment? 
Ans. Save it as a JPEG under 30 KB and name it PANNumber_Name, for example AJCPK1122R_PriyankaDeshmukh.jpeg.
Q2. What is the passing score for the broker exam? 
Ans. The minimum passing mark is 50%.
Q3. When will the training certificate appear in the portal? 
Ans. Only after the required hours are fully watched and at least five days have passed since training began.
Q4. Do we really need two qualified persons in addition to the PO? 
Ans. Yes; the applicant must ensure at least two qualified individuals are available, and if you intend to handle both life and general insurance, ensure qualifications cover both lines.

Obtaining approval to operate as an insurance broker in India requires more than corporate paperwork and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) insists on proven individual competence through structured training and a qualifying examination administered by National Insurance Academy (NIA), Pune. we will explain through this article in one place, how to prepare for exam enrollment, what to submit, how the training platform works, what the Principal Officer (PO) and the two Qualified Persons (BQPs) must demonstrate, and how companies can present their infrastructure and experience in a way that satisfies scrutiny the first time.

Understanding who needs to qualify (PO and BQPs)

Every brokerage applicant must ensure that the Principal Officer and at least two Qualified Persons meet the prescribed training and qualification standards. If the proposed brokerage intends to handle both life and general insurance, the competency must exist in both domains, which means the two qualified individuals should collectively cover both life and general, or individually meet both tracks as applicable.

The Principal Officer is expected to be a senior, accountable leader, typically a key managerial executive, whole-time director, partner, or officer who has the knowledge and certification to run the broking function responsibly.

Hence, treat the IRDAI broker exam and training as the operating foundation of your brokerage rather than a compliance chore. When the Principal Officer and BQPs are trained, tested, and documented with care, the rest of the application falls into place. Clear identity data, precise sponsorship, an honest capability narrative, disciplined IT notes, and a predictable training calendar together convert weeks of uncertainty into a smooth, traceable approval path.

Exam enrollment: information that must be accurate the first time

When a candidate registers for the IRDAI broker examination with NIA Pune, precise personal details are essential because they feed into identity verification and certificate generation.

The candidate’s full legal name, date of birth, complete postal address with PIN, mobile and telephone contacts, and a working email ID are basic yet non-negotiable fields.

PAN functions as the user ID in many systems, so keeping the number consistent across all places reduces downstream friction. The photograph needs special attention: it should be in JPEG format, kept under 30 KB, and saved with a strict filename convention PANNumber_Name (for example, AJCPK1122R_PriyankaDeshmukh.jpeg).

Seemingly small formatting errors here cause many otherwise avoidable rejections, so preparing the file exactly as required helps the application move swiftly.

Pattern of Online Insurance Brokers’ Exam

The study syllabus is grouped into four sections:

Compulsory
General Insurance
Life Insurance
Reinsurance

Broker Type	Sec-I Compulsory	Sec-II General	Sec-III Life	Sec-IV Reinsurance	Total Qs	Time (mins)	Syllabus Sections
Direct – General Insurance	40	40	–	–	80	90	1 & 2
Direct – Life Insurance	40	–	40	–	80	90	1 & 3
Direct – General + Life Insurance	40	20	20	–	80	90	1, 2 & 3
Direct – Reinsurance	40	–	–	40	80	90	1 & 4
Composite	40	20	20	40	120	120	1, 2, 3 & 4

Sponsorship and the Letter of Intent: why it matters

Candidates typically appear under the sponsorship of the company pursuing the brokerage license. The sponsor’s registered name and address, including state and PIN code, should match corporate records, while the contact person’s name, phone, and email make coordination easier across enrollment, training, and testing. A clean, clearly worded Letter of Intent (LOI) signals that the company stands behind the candidate’s qualification pathway and intends to deploy them in the broker operation upon approval.

Documenting capability: experience, infrastructure, and IT readiness

The IRDAI Regulators expect a brokerage applicant to be capable on day one, not after approval, that is why applicants compile a concise narrative of their functional readiness and this should summarise the Principal Officer’s and BQPs’ experience across broking, consulting, risk management, or adjacent financial services, together with major milestones and present activities. Next, describe the physical infrastructure, office space, equipment, and manpower, that will support client servicing, policy placement, and post-issue work.

The technology section should be specific rather than generic: name the core hardware and software stack, outline network architecture, and briefly explain disaster recovery, business continuity, cyber-security, data privacy controls, antivirus/anti-malware regimes, and any security certifications the firm follows. Clarity here reassures reviewers that the applicant can protect policyholder data and sustain operations under stress.

Declarations and integrity checks

If there have been any economic offences or proceedings involving the applicant entity, its partners or directors, or key managerial personnel in the last three years, these must be stated plainly with the relevant context and closure documents where available. Transparent declarations do not automatically disqualify; in fact, forthrightness often shortens the clarification cycle compared with evasive or incomplete responses.

Exam centres and scheduling policy

99 centres are presently available. A state-wise centre list is provided by NIA; once a centre is chosen and the application close date passes, it cannot be changed.
Exams will be conducted subject to the prevailing situation at each location.
NIA reserves the right to conduct or not conduct the exam at a centre if total candidates there are below 50.

Exam duration

90 minutes for Direct (Life / General / Life+General / Reinsurance) Brokers.
120 minutes for Composite Brokers.

Passing score

PO / BQP minimum pass mark: 50%.

Mandatory training: hours, tracking, and the five-day rule

Training precedes the exam, and the platform used is video-based. Fresh candidates typically complete 50 hours of online training, while those with specific relevant qualifications or prior experience may be eligible for 25 hours. The modules must be watched in full for the system to credit time. Candidates can see their status in a Course Completion Report, while the User Summary shows hours spent on each video and the aggregate time across the course. A training completion certificate appears in the certificates section only after the minimum five days of training elapse; this timing is built into the platform to ensure a spaced learning window rather than a single-sitting binge.

Only after the certificate is issued does the candidate become exam-eligible.

Who must qualify (and why it matters)

Every brokerage applicant must ensure that the PO and at least two BQPs meet IRDAI’s prescribed training and qualification standards. If the brokerage will handle both Life and General Insurance, the competency must cover both lines either via individuals who collectively cover life and general or via individuals qualified across both. In an IMF, the PO and Insurance Sales Persons (ISPs) must meet the IMF-specific training and assessment norms. The PO is expected to be a senior, accountable leader typically a key managerial executive, whole-time director, partner, or officer.

What to include about systems and controls—brief but convincing

For infrastructure, a paragraph that quantifies the office footprint, the number of operation seats, and the availability of private meeting areas for client discussions shows functional readiness. On technology, name the CRM or policy-servicing system, the document management repository, and whether multi-factor authentication and role-based access are enforced. Outline daily data backups, off-site or cloud resilience, and the process playbook for incident response. Close with a note on how employee accounts are provisioned and deprovisioned, which often becomes a reviewer’s follow-up question because it relates to client data leakage risk.

After the pass: why documentation discipline must continue

Passing the exam and receiving approval do not end the compliance story. Brokerages operate under ongoing obligations covering conduct, disclosures, grievance redressal, and data protection. Maintain a tidy archive of training certificates, exam results, LMS reports for all current personnel, and updated CVs of the PO and BQPs. Keep a living register of infrastructure and IT changes, new software versions, new security tools, revised backup schedules so that answers for future inspections are available on demand. This culture of documentation reduces risk, protects clients, and makes renewals uneventful.

Some FAQ's

Q1. How should the photograph be named and sized for enrollment?

Ans. Save it as a JPEG under 30 KB and name it PANNumber_Name, for example AJCPK1122R_PriyankaDeshmukh.jpeg.

Q2. What is the passing score for the broker exam?

Ans. The minimum passing mark is 50%.

Q3. When will the training certificate appear in the portal?

Ans. Only after the required hours are fully watched and at least five days have passed since training began.

Q4. Do we really need two qualified persons in addition to the PO?

Ans. Yes; the applicant must ensure at least two qualified individuals are available, and if you intend to handle both life and general insurance, ensure qualifications cover both lines.