The eligibility criteria to become an IRDA approved agent, includes: a 10th standard certificate for a candidate hailing from a rural location with population of less than 5000 or an Intermediate certificate for those from urban areas. An insurance company must sponsor the candidate for 50 hours of training from an IRDA approved training institute. On successful completion of the mandatory 50 hours of training, covering all 13 modules, the candidate has to pass the examination conducted by the Insurance Institute of India or any other testing institute approved by IRDA. The candidate becomes a licensed agent of the sponsoring company upon qualifying in the examination.