Don Harris, Public Information Officer (602) 912-8402

For Immediate Release November 10, 1999

Insurance brokers and agents in southern Arizona can now receive on-the-spot licensing service at the Arizona Department of Insurance office in Tucson.

“In the past, many licensees in Tucson and southern parts of the state chose to travel to Phoenix for their licensing needs,” State Insurance Director Charles R. Cohen said. “I am pleased that we are now able to offer that same on-the-spot service in Tucson.”

Although the actual license still will be printed in Phoenix, applicants who are approved will receive a valid computer printout containing license information from the Tucson office. The hard copy of the license will be mailed to them from Phoenix within a week.

On-the-spot service is offered in both the Phoenix and Tucson offices between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday (except state-observed holidays). The Insurance Department’s Tucson office is located at 400 W. Congress St., Suite 152. The Phoenix office is at 2910 N. 44th St., Suite 210.

The on-the-spot licensing program, which was started in 1995, issued nearly 7,000 licenses during 1998, in an average of less than 20 minutes.

The phone number for the Insurance Licensing Section is (602) 912-8470 in the Phoenix area, or (1-877) 660-0964 to call toll-free from throughout the rest of the state.

The toll-free telephone number was activated earlier this year to make it easier for license applicants who live outside the Phoenix metropolitan area to contact the Insurance Licensing Hotline. The Hotline is in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and provides recorded answers to frequently asked questions. During regular business hours, callers have the option of speaking with a member of the Licensing Section staff.

In addition, the Licensing Section’s redesigned Internet web page (http://www.state.az.us/id/licensing/licensing.htm) contains detailed information and licensing forms.

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