(a) For the protection of the people of this state, the Commissioner shall not issue, continue, or permit to exist any license, except in compliance with this chapter and except as provided in Code Sections 33-23-12, 33-23-13, 33-23-14, 33-23-16, 33-23-17, and 33-23-29. The Commissioner shall not issue a license to any applicant for a license other than an agency license who does not meet or conform to qualifications or requirements set forth in paragraphs (1) through (8) of this subsection:

(1) The applicant must be a resident of this state who will reside and be present within this state for at least six months of every year or an individual whose principal place of business is within this state; provided, however, in cities, towns, or trade areas, either unincorporated or comprised of two or more incorporated cities or towns, located partly within and partly outside the state, requirements as to residence and principal place of business shall be deemed met if the residence or place of business is located in any part of the city, town, or trade area and if the other state in which the city, town, or trade area is located in part has established like requirements as to residence and place of business;

(2) If applying for an agent's license for property and casualty insurance, the applicant must not use or intend to use the license for the purpose of obtaining a rebate or commission upon controlled business; and the applicant must not in any calendar year effect controlled business that will aggregate as much as 25 percent of the volume of insurance effected by such applicant during such year, as measured by the comparative amounts of premiums;

(3) If applying for an agent's license, the applicant must have been appointed an agent by an authorized insurer subject to issuance of the license;

(4) If applying for a subagent's certificate of authority, the applicant must have been appointed a subagent by a licensed agent subject to issuance of the certificate of authority;

(5) The applicant must be of good character;

(6) The applicant must pass any written examination required for the license by this article;

(7) If applying for a license as counselor, the applicant must show that he or she has had five years' experience acting as either an agent, subagent, or adjuster or in some other phase of the insurance business which in the opinion of the Commissioner has qualified the applicant to act as such counselor; and the applicant shall pass such examination as shall be required by the Commissioner; and

(8) If applying for an agent's license, subagent's license, counselor's license, or adjuster's license, except as provided in subsection (c) of this Code section and in Code Sections 33-23-12, 33-23-13, 33-23-14, 33-23-16, 33-23-17, and 33-23-29, no applicant shall be qualified therefor or be so licensed unless he or she has: (A) Successfully completed classroom courses in insurance satisfactory to the Commissioner at a school which has been approved by the Commissioner; or

(B) Completed a correspondence course in insurance approved by the Commissioner and has had at least six months of responsible insurance duties as a substantially full-time bona fide employee of an agent or insurer or the managers, general agents, or representatives of the insurer in the kind or kinds of insurance for which such applicant seeks to be licensed.

(b) Where the applicant's qualifications as required in subparagraph (a)(8)(B) of this Code section are based in part upon the periods of employment at responsible insurance duties, the applicant shall submit with this application for license on a form prescribed by the Commissioner an affidavit setting forth the period of such employment, stating that the employment was substantially full time, and giving a brief abstract of the nature of the duties performed by the applicant.

(c) An individual who was qualified to sit for an agent's or adjuster's examination at the time such individual was employed by the Commissioner and who while so employed was employed in responsible insurance duties as a full-time bona fide employee shall be permitted to take an examination if application for such examination is made within 90 days after the date of termination of employment with the Commissioner.

(d) This Code section shall not apply as to any temporary license provided for in Code Section 33-23-13.