Glossary · Insurance agency commissions
National Producer Number (NPN)
A National Producer Number (NPN) is the unique identifier NIPR assigns to each licensed insurance producer, individual or business entity, that links the producer’s licenses in every state to one record; it is separate from each state’s license number.
What it means
NIPR, the National Insurance Producer Registry, describes it in its help article Find a National Producer Number (NPN): “A National Producer Number (NPN) is a unique identifier assigned to licensed insurance producers (individuals and business entities).” A producer, in the NAIC’s glossary, is “an individual who sells, services, or negotiates insurance policies either on behalf of a company or independently.” The NPN stays the same when a producer adds a nonresident license in another state.
What it means for commission: NIPR lists commissions among the NPN’s uses, “Frequently used to match policies to the writing producer for commission payment and reporting.” Carriers use it to check license status before an appointment and to attribute business; inside the agency, the NPN of the writing producer is what ties a policy to the right producer split.
How it shows on a commission statement
Some carrier statements and producer reports print a producer number or NPN beside each policy; most P&C agency statements are issued per agency code instead. A policy credited to the wrong producer number is paid to the agency but split to the wrong person.
In reconciliation, and what Lapidar does
Lapidar does not read NPNs or calculate producer splits. It checks the commission on each line against the book and schedule for that carrier; who in the agency gets a share is outside its checks.
Example
| Identifier | Issued by | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| NPN EX-0098123 | NIPR | One record across all states |
| License EX-WA-55120 | Washington | Resident license |
| License EX-OR-77031 | Oregon | Nonresident license |
| Agency code EX-AC-0412 | Carrier | Statement and payment |
Common mistakes to check
- Giving a carrier a state license number where it asked for the NPN.
- Setting up a new producer in the AMS without the NPN, so business is attributed to the wrong person.
- Assuming a business entity uses its owner’s NPN; agencies have their own.
Questions
How do I find my NPN?
With NIPR’s NPN lookup, by Social Security number, license number or, for an agency, its FEIN.
Is my NPN the same as my license number?
No. NIPR says license numbers are issued by each state, while the NPN is one nationwide identifier for your producer record.
Does an insurance agency have an NPN?
Yes. NIPR assigns NPNs to business entities as well as individuals.
Can my NPN change?
NIPR says that, typically, once assigned an NPN is intended to stay the same.
Sources
- NIPR (National Insurance Producer Registry), Find a National Producer Number (NPN), help article. Retrieved October 14, 2026.
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Glossary of Insurance Terms, entry for producer. Retrieved October 14, 2026.
Lapidar is commission reconciliation software for independent insurance agencies, in its founding pilot. Related: resident vs nonresident license.