IC-38 vs IRDAI POSP: Which Should You Choose?
Full insurance agent or Point of Sales Person? Training, exam, eligibility and what you can sell compared.
IC-38 and POSP are two different routes into selling insurance, and they're often confused. IC-38 is the pre-recruitment exam for a full insurance agent; POSP (Point of Sales Person) is a lighter certification that lets you sell only simple, standardised products.
IC-38
IC-38: Insurance Agents' Pre-Recruitment Examination
- Exam Mode
- Online (Computer-Based)
- Total Questions
- 50 MCQs / 50 marks
- Pass Mark
- 35% (18 of 50)
- Licence Validity
- 3 years (renewable)
Eligibility
Education: Class 10th (matriculation) pass for rural areas; Class 12th (10+2) pass for urban areas.
Age: Minimum 18 years.
IRDAI POSP
IRDAI POSP (Point of Sales Person) Insurance Certification
- Training Hours
- 15 hours (online)
- Exam Type
- Online qualifying test
- Minimum Age
- 18 years
- Min. Education
- Class 10th pass
Eligibility
Education: Minimum Class 10th (matriculation) pass.
Age: Minimum 18 years.
Key differences at a glance
- IC-38 leads to appointment as a full insurance agent; POSP lets you sell only pre-underwritten, standardised products.
- IC-38 needs 50 hours of training for one line or 75 for composite; POSP needs 15 hours online.
- IC-38 is a 50-question exam conducted by III; the POSP exam is run by the sponsoring insurer or intermediary.
- IC-38 needs class 10 in rural areas and class 12 in urban areas; POSP needs class 10.
- Both need a minimum age of 18.
Which should you choose?
Choose IC-38 if you want to be a full insurance agent who can advise on and sell the insurer's wider product range, and can commit to 50 to 75 hours of training. Choose POSP if you want a quick start selling simple products such as motor, travel or basic term and health plans, often part-time through an intermediary.
IC-38 vs IRDAI POSP: FAQ
Is POSP the same as an insurance agent?
No. A POSP can sell only simple, pre-defined point-of-sale products. A full agent, appointed after IC-38, can sell the insurer's wider range.
Which is easier?
POSP. It has shorter training and a simpler qualifying test.
Do I need IC-38 to become a POSP?
No. POSP has its own 15-hour training and qualifying exam.
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