How Many Licensed Insurance Agents Are There in Ontario?
Insurance Education
Published by BrokerUnion Insurance Editorial Team | RIBO-Licensed Ontario Insurance Broker | October 24, 2026
As of March 31, 2026, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) regulated or registered 75,615 insurance agents. That is the most recent official figure for licensed insurance agents in Ontario. It does not include RIBO-licensed insurance brokers, who are counted separately by a different regulator.
If you're asking how many licensed insurance agents are in Ontario because you're choosing someone to buy insurance from, the number matters less than two other questions: is this person licensed, and who do they work for? This guide explains what the figure means, how agents and brokers differ, and how to check a licence in under a minute.
BrokerUnion is an independent, RIBO-licensed Ontario insurance brokerage with six offices across the province. Our property and casualty brokers are licensed by RIBO, while life and health products are placed by LLQP-licensed advisors regulated by FSRA, so we work within both licensing systems every day.
How many licensed insurance agents are in Ontario?
| Category | Number | Regulator | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agents | 75,615 | FSRA | March 31, 2026 |
| Corporate insurance agencies | 7,448 | FSRA | March 31, 2026 |
| Insurance adjusters | 1,848 | FSRA | March 31, 2026 |
| Insurance companies | 271 | FSRA | March 31, 2026 |
| Individual licensed insurance brokers | 22,747 | RIBO | July 31, 2025 |
| Licensed brokerage firms | 1,694 | RIBO | July 31, 2025 |
Sources: FSRA, About FSRA; RIBO 2024-2025 Annual Report.
What does the 75,615 figure actually represent?
It's the number of individual insurance agents FSRA regulated or registered on March 31, 2026. FSRA issues three classes of agent licence: life insurance (including accident and sickness), accident and sickness, and general insurance, and an agent may hold a combination of them. So the total covers agents selling life and health products as well as those selling property and casualty (general) insurance through an insurer. FSRA's summary doesn't break the figure down by licence class.
How many insurance brokers are licensed in Ontario?
RIBO reported 22,747 individuals licensed and 1,694 licensed firms as of July 31, 2025, in its most recent annual report. Brokers sell general insurance, such as auto, home and business insurance.
How many insurance professionals are in Ontario in total?
There's no single official total. The FSRA and RIBO counts come from different regulators, cover different dates, and some individuals may hold more than one type of licence, so adding them together would overstate the number. Each figure is best read on its own.
Who regulates insurance agents and brokers in Ontario?
Ontario splits insurance licensing between two regulators, depending on who you are and what you sell.
What is FSRA?
The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) is the provincial regulator for Ontario's insurance sector and several other financial sectors. It regulates property and casualty insurance and life and health insurance, licenses insurance companies, and licenses insurance agents, corporate agencies and adjusters. FSRA agent licences are issued for a two-year term.
What is RIBO?
The Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO) is the regulator for general insurance brokers. It regulates the licensing, professional competence, ethical conduct and insurance-related financial obligations of independent general insurance brokers in Ontario. RIBO licences run for a one-year term, from October 1 to September 30, and must be renewed annually.
Does licensing depend on the type of insurance?
Yes. Licensing categories and regulatory responsibilities differ by the type of insurance being sold:
- Property and casualty (general) insurance, such as auto, home and business insurance, can be sold by RIBO-licensed brokers or by FSRA-licensed general agents sponsored by an insurer.
- Life and health insurance, such as life, critical illness and disability insurance, is sold by FSRA-licensed life and accident and sickness agents. Brokerages that offer life products, including BrokerUnion, do so through FSRA-licensed life advisors.
Insurance agent vs insurance broker in Ontario: what's the difference?
"Licensed insurance agents" and "licensed insurance brokers" are not interchangeable terms. The core difference is who the professional represents and how many insurers they can access. RIBO notes that FSRA-licensed agents typically can only arrange coverage with a single insurance company, while brokers act as intermediaries between customers and multiple insurers.
| Insurance agent | Insurance broker | |
|---|---|---|
| Regulator | FSRA | RIBO (general insurance) |
| Who they represent | Generally the insurer that sponsors or appoints them | The client, working with insurers on the client's behalf |
| Access to insurers | Usually one insurer, or one insurer group | Several insurers the brokerage holds market agreements with |
| Licence term | Two years | One year, renewed annually |
| Consumer considerations | Convenient if you already know which insurer you want | Useful for comparing options, or for unusual or hard-to-place risks |
Does an insurance agent represent one insurance company?
Usually, yes. A general insurance agent in Ontario must be sponsored by a licensed insurer at all times, and typically sells that insurer's products. Life agents may work with more than one insurer through a managing general agency, so ask any agent which companies they can place you with.
Can an insurance broker sell policies from multiple insurance companies?
Yes. A broker can place coverage with any insurer its brokerage has a market agreement with. Market access varies between brokerages and by product, so it's worth asking which insurers a broker can approach for you.
How do I verify an insurance agent's or broker's licence in Ontario?
Checking takes a minute and is worth doing before you share personal information or pay a premium.
- Ask for the person's full name and the firm they work for. For an agent, also ask which insurer sponsors them.
- To check an insurance agent, search FSRA's licensing lookup. FSRA's Licensing Link lets consumers confirm the licensing status of an insurance agent, a corporate agency or an insurance company.
- To check an insurance broker, use RIBO's Broker Search, which is updated daily and shows whether an individual or firm currently holds a valid licence.
- Match the details. Make sure the name, licence status and firm match what you were told.
- Look for disclosures. Licensed brokerages must give you key information in writing, such as how they're paid and which markets they use. BrokerUnion publishes its mandatory disclosures online.
Are all insurance agents in Ontario licensed?
Anyone selling insurance in Ontario must be licensed. Only a licensed broker, agent or insurance company can sell insurance in the province. That doesn't mean everyone who claims to be licensed actually is, which is why checking matters.
Why licensing matters when choosing an insurance professional
A licence tells you that the person met education and suitability requirements, answers to a regulator, and can be held accountable. In practice, that gives you:
- Competence standards: licensed professionals must pass exams and keep up with continuing education.
- A complaints path: if something goes wrong, you can escalate to the regulator.
- Required disclosures: you should be told who the professional represents and how they're paid.
- Proper placement: your policy is arranged with a licensed insurer, so it's valid when you need it.
From a brokerage's perspective, the most useful question a consumer can ask isn't just "are you licensed?" but "who do you represent, and which insurers can you place me with?" The answer tells you whether you're getting one company's options or a comparison.
What happens if I use an unlicensed insurance agent?
You risk paying for a policy that doesn't exist, isn't valid, or was placed with an unlicensed insurer, and you lose the protections that come with regulation. Acting as an insurance agent without a licence is an offence under Ontario's Insurance Act, and FSRA asks the public to report anyone claiming to be an agent who isn't listed.
How do you become an insurance agent or broker in Ontario?
How to become an insurance agent in Ontario
The requirements depend on the licence class:
- General insurance agent: you must be sponsored by a licensed insurer, meet FSRA's education requirement and complete a criminal background check.
- Life or accident and sickness agent: you complete the required life licensing education and exams, then apply to FSRA through its licensing system.
See FSRA's licensing pages for current insurance agent requirements in Ontario.
How to become an insurance broker in Ontario
To become an entry-level broker, known as a RIBO Level 1 licensee, you study for and pass RIBO's licensing exam, which is administered by the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO) and the Insurance Institute of Canada, then apply for your licence, typically once you have a position with a RIBO-licensed brokerage. RIBO reported a 51% pass rate on its Level 1 exam in 2024-2025. Higher levels (Level 2 and Level 3) add experience and further exams for technical and management roles.
Where BrokerUnion fits in Ontario's insurance market
BrokerUnion is one of the many licensed firms behind the RIBO figures above: an independent, RIBO-licensed brokerage headquartered in Pickering, with offices in Pickering, Barrie, Mississauga, Whitby, Sudbury and Kitchener. No insurer owns BrokerUnion, and our brokers act on the client's behalf rather than for a single company. You can read more about BrokerUnion.
For a client, working with a licensed broker usually follows five stages:
- Quote. A licensed broker gathers your details once: drivers, vehicles, property, business or other needs.
- Compare. The broker approaches insurers the brokerage has agreements with and lines up offers on the same coverage.
- Choose. You pick the option that fits, with the trade-offs in limits, deductibles and exclusions explained.
- Renewal. The broker reviews your coverage and pricing each year and can re-market it if needed.
- Claims support. If you have a loss, your broker helps you through the claim with the insurer.
BrokerUnion's RIBO-licensed brokers place auto, home, business, commercial, travel and VIP or high-value insurance, and FSRA-licensed life advisors associated with BrokerUnion handle life insurance and group benefits. Explore all BrokerUnion insurance options, or read our guide on how to choose an insurance broker in Ontario.
Frequently asked questions
How many licensed insurance agents are there in Ontario?
FSRA regulated or registered 75,615 insurance agents as of March 31, 2026. This figure covers FSRA-licensed agents and doesn't include RIBO-licensed brokers.
How many insurance brokers are licensed in Ontario?
RIBO reported 22,747 licensed individuals and 1,694 licensed firms as of July 31, 2025.
What is the difference between an insurance agent and a broker in Ontario?
An agent is licensed by FSRA and generally represents the insurer that sponsors them. A broker is licensed by RIBO, works on the client's behalf, and can compare policies from multiple insurers the brokerage works with.
Who regulates insurance agents in Ontario?
FSRA, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario, licenses and regulates insurance agents, corporate agencies, adjusters and insurance companies.
Who regulates insurance brokers in Ontario?
RIBO, the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario, regulates the licensing, competence and conduct of general insurance brokers.
Are insurance brokers regulated in Ontario?
Yes. General insurance brokers must hold a RIBO licence, renew it every year, meet continuing education requirements and follow RIBO's code of conduct.
What licence do you need to sell insurance in Ontario?
It depends on what you sell and how. Brokers selling general insurance need a RIBO licence. Agents need an FSRA licence in the right class: general, life (including accident and sickness), or accident and sickness.
How do I verify an insurance broker's licence?
Search the person or firm on RIBO's online Broker Search, which shows whether they currently hold a valid licence.
Why should I use a licensed insurance broker?
A licensed broker is accountable to RIBO, works on your behalf, and can compare options from several insurers, which helps when you want choices or have a harder-to-place risk.
Speak with a licensed BrokerUnion broker
Now you know how many licensed insurance agents are in Ontario, and the difference between an agent and a broker. If you need coverage, a licensed BrokerUnion broker can review your situation and compare available options from the insurers we work with.
- Request a quote: get an insurance quote
- Call: (905) 492-7070
- Email: info@brokerunion.ca
- Keep reading: the BrokerUnion blog
Licensing categories, regulatory classifications and statistics can change. The figures in this article reflect the latest official data available at the time of writing; please verify current information directly with FSRA or RIBO.