ISMP Certification and ISP Appointment in Pune for Insurance Marketing Firms

For an Insurance Marketing Firm (IMF) operating in Pune, an Insurance Sales Person (ISP) is the IRDAI-certified individual who actually solicits and services insurance on the firm's behalf. ISMP (Insurance Service / Marketing Personnel) certification is the training-plus-exam track that makes a person eligible to be appointed as an ISP. Here is the quick view.

• An ISP is the IRDAI-certified individual who solicits and services insurance on behalf of an Insurance Marketing Firm; every IMF must have at least one ISP per office at all times.
• Certification = 50 hours of IMF training (25 hours if III / Institute of Actuaries / CII London or IIRM-Hyderabad qualified) plus passing the IMF examination conducted by the Insurance Institute of India.
• Minimum ISP eligibility is a Class 12 pass, plus the training and exam; the ISP must be a resident of the state in which the IMF is registered.
• ISPs are employees on a fixed salary - commission-only structures are not permitted for ISPs; the Principal Officer also completes 50hr/25hr training and the IMF exam.
• Patron handles the full cycle - training enrolment, exam, certificate management and IRDAI ISP appointment - from INR 24,999 (Exl GST and Govt. Charges).

Pune is one of Maharashtra's largest financial and services hubs, with a deep pool of graduates, retired bankers, mutual fund distributors and POSP agents who are well placed to staff an Insurance Marketing Firm. For promoters setting up an IMF in Pune, the ISMP/ISP layer is what turns the licence into a working distribution business - without certified ISPs an IMF cannot lawfully solicit insurance. Learn more about the wider IMF Services Patron offers.

This page focuses specifically on getting your people certified and appointed: the Principal Officer and every ISP. If you are still establishing the firm itself, start with IMF Business Registration in Pune or the step-by-step IMF IRDAI Registration in Pune, then return here to certify and appoint your sales team.

Content is reviewed quarterly for accuracy against the latest IRDAI notifications.

New IMF Promoters: Anyone setting up an Insurance Marketing Firm in Pune must certify a Principal Officer and appoint at least one ISP per office before the firm can solicit insurance. Pair this with IMF Business Registration in Pune.

Existing IMFs Adding Offices or Staff: Firms opening additional offices in Pune or scaling their sales team need a certified ISP for every office and fresh appointments filed on imf.irda.gov.in.

POSP and Corporate Agents Graduating to IMF: Agents moving up to run their own distribution typically certify themselves and their team as ISPs. See IMF for Insurance Agents in Pune.

Firms Facing an ISP Exit: When an ISP dies, is terminated or resigns, IRDAI requires a replacement to be appointed not later than 60 days while policyholder service continues uninterrupted.

Principal Officers Needing Certification: The PO must complete the 50hr/25hr training and the IMF exam, unless a valid broker, corporate-agent or web-aggregator exam was passed within the preceding five years.

IMFs on a Compliance Retainer: Firms that outsource ongoing compliance often bundle certificate renewals and replacement-ISP management. See IMF Compliance Retainer in Pune.

Insurance Sales Person (ISP):

• Minimum qualification of a Class 12 pass from a recognised board
• Completion of the prescribed IMF training - 50 hours, or 25 hours for holders of a qualifying III / Institute of Actuaries / CII London / IIRM-Hyderabad qualification
• Passing the IMF examination conducted by the Insurance Institute of India
• Residency in the state in which the IMF is registered (Maharashtra for a Pune-based firm); an ISP operates only within that registered state
• Engagement as an employee on a fixed monthly salary - commission-only structures are not permitted for ISPs
• A Fit and Proper declaration

Principal Officer (PO):

• An Associate/Fellow of the Insurance Institute of India, Institute of Actuaries, or CII London; or a postgraduate qualification in insurance or risk management; or a graduate with five years of insurance experience or ten years in financial services
• 50 hours of IRDAI training (25 hours for qualifying candidates) plus the IMF examination
• Exemption from the exam where a valid broker, corporate-agent or web-aggregator examination was passed within the preceding five years

• Class 12 (or higher) mark sheet / certificate of the candidate
• PAN card of the candidate
• Aadhaar / address proof showing residency in Maharashtra (the IMF's registered state)
• Passport-size photographs
• IMF training-completion certificate from the Insurance Institute of India
• IMF examination pass certificate
• Fit and Proper declaration
• For the Principal Officer: qualification certificates, or evidence of a valid broker/corporate-agent/web-aggregator exam passed within the preceding five years for exemption

All fees and charges listed are indicative only and do not constitute a binding offer. Final amounts may vary depending on the number of candidates and the complexity involved.

Patron's professional fee covers eligibility assessment, training and exam coordination, document preparation, and the IRDAI appointment filing. The Insurance Institute of India training and examination charges are statutory and payable directly; we confirm the exact, current III fees before you enrol.

Get a free ISMP/ISP consultation - Call +91 945 945 6700 or WhatsApp us. No-obligation assessment.

Patron offers the full IMF lifecycle for Pune-based firms:

• IMF Services - the complete directory of Insurance Marketing Firm services
• IMF Business Registration in Pune - MCA incorporation plus IRDAI registration, end-to-end
• IMF IRDAI Registration in Pune - the step-by-step IRDAI registration for existing entities
• IMF Compliance Retainer in Pune - ongoing IRDAI returns, renewals and certificate management
• IMF for Insurance Agents in Pune - for POSP and corporate agents graduating to an IMF

Governing Regulations:

• IRDAI (Registration of Insurance Marketing Firm) Regulations, 2015 - the framework for IMFs, ISPs and the Principal Officer
• Filings are made on the IRDAI IMF portal at imf.irda.gov.in
• Training and the IMF examination are conducted by the Insurance Institute of India

Key Conditions:

• ISP: minimum Class 12, prescribed IMF training (50 / 25 hours) and the IMF exam; resident of the IMF's registered state; at least one ISP per office at all times
• ISP remuneration is a fixed salary - commission-only structures are not permitted
• Replacement of an exiting ISP not later than 60 days, with continuity of policyholder service
• Principal Officer: prescribed qualification plus 50 / 25 hours training and the IMF exam, with exemption where a valid broker/corporate-agent/web-aggregator exam was passed within five years

Recent Context:

• IMF registration has been perpetual since 5 February 2026 (Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha / Amendment of Insurance Laws Act 2025), replacing the earlier three-year renewal cycle

An Insurance Marketing Firm cannot lawfully solicit insurance without a certified ISP, and every office must have at least one ISP at all times. If an ISP exits, IRDAI requires a replacement within 60 days while policyholder service continues. Patron certifies your Principal Officer and ISPs and files the IRDAI appointment so there is no compliance gap.

Get started - Call +91 945 945 6700 or WhatsApp us.

ISMP certification and ISP appointment are the operational backbone of any Insurance Marketing Firm in Pune - they turn an IRDAI licence into a working distribution business under the IRDAI (Registration of Insurance Marketing Firm) Regulations, 2015. Your Principal Officer and every ISP must complete the prescribed IMF training and pass the Insurance Institute of India exam before appointment.

Patron Accounting manages the full cycle - eligibility assessment, training enrolment, the IMF examination, certificate management and the IRDAI appointment on imf.irda.gov.in - from INR 24,999 (Exl GST and Govt. Charges). With 10,000+ businesses served and a priority track for 60-day replacements, your Pune IMF stays compliant from the first appointment onward.