What is the life insurance license exam, and how do I prepare for it?
The life insurance license exam is the state test an applicant must pass to sell life insurance, and each state administers its own rather than using a national exam. Most states contract with Pearson VUE or PSI to deliver it. Test takers typically spend about 35 to 40 hours studying, and the state's exam content outline shows how many questions each section carries. The typical passing score is 70%, though states differ; California producer exams require 60%.
The Alabama life insurance exam is the state test a producer must pass to sell life coverage. It has 125 multiple-choice questions, allows 2.5 hours, and requires 87 correct answers (70%) to pass. The University of Alabama administers it; you must register at least 7 days in advance online or by calling (205) 348-3000, and the fee is $50. Alabama stopped requiring a prelicensing certificate on January 1, 2024, so a prep course is optional, but a passing score is valid for only one year.
Sources: University of Alabama: Alabama insurance testing (state exam administrator); NIPR: Alabama resident individual renewal requirements.
The Alaska life insurance licensing exam, administered by Pearson VUE, qualifies producers for the life line of authority. You pay $89 at reservation and need a scaled score of 70 to pass. The exam has two parts: a general portion with 50 scored questions plus 5 pretest, and an Alaska state portion with 40 scored plus 10 pretest. Pearson VUE publishes content outlines and sells online practice tests for $19.95. Online (OnVUE) testing allows four attempts per exam, with waits of 7, 14, and 30 days after failed attempts.
Sources: Pearson VUE: Alaska insurance candidate handbook; Pearson VUE: Alaska insurance licensing exams; Alaska DOI: Individual application and instructions (form 08-240).
The life insurance license exam is the state test required to sell life insurance; PSI Services administers Arizona's version. In Arizona, the Life exam (Series 13-31) costs $50 and the combined Life, Accident and Health exam (Series 13-33) costs $59, with a 70% passing score. Arizona requires no pre-licensing education, and the Department does not provide study materials or recommend suppliers, so candidates use third-party exam preparation.
Sources: PSI: Arizona insurance candidate information bulletin (revised June 11, 2026).
The Arkansas life insurance licensing exam is a closed-book, computer-based exam administered by PSI, with a general section plus a state section and 2.5 hours allowed; the fee is $50. You need 70% correct to pass, within 90 days of the original approval-to-test date, with up to 3 attempts in that window. To prepare, complete the required 20-hour Life prelicensing course and bring your certificate, which is valid for 2 years, to exam check-in; the exam also includes 5-10 unscored experimental questions.
Sources: Arkansas AID: 23 CAR pt 14 prelicense education for producers and adjusters; PSI: Arkansas insurance candidate information bulletin; Arkansas AID: 23 CAR pt 18 continuing education for producers and adjusters.
The California life agent exam is the qualifying exam the California Department of Insurance (CDI) requires before it can issue a Life-Only Agent license. It has 75 questions, allows 105 minutes, and requires a 60% score to pass. To prepare, study CDI's License Examination Objectives and complete the 12-hour ethics and California Insurance Code course, which must be finished before the license is issued. PSI administers the exam in English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, or Tagalog.
Sources: PSI: California insurance candidate information bulletin (revised March 2026); CA Dept. of Insurance — Exam Info (Examinations: Time Limit and Number of Questions); Cal. Ins. Code 1749: Prelicensing education requirements by license type.
The Colorado life insurance licensing exam is administered by Pearson VUE at test centers or online through OnVUE. The Life exam allows 2 hours and contains 80 scored questions (50 general and 30 state) plus unscored pretest questions; raw scores convert to a 0 to 100 scale, and the Division of Insurance publishes no numeric passing score. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours ahead, and the $41 fee covers up to two exams in one session. Pearson also offers online practice tests for Life.
Sources: Pearson VUE: Colorado Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook (July 2026, #120600).
The Connecticut Life Producer exam is administered by Pearson VUE at a physical test center and consists of 75 scored questions (50 general knowledge plus 25 Connecticut-specific), with a $65 fee and a 2-hour time limit. You need a 70% score to pass, and results are valid for one year, so you must apply for your license within that time. To prepare, use the Candidate Handbook content outlines, Connecticut statutes and regulations, and the Pearson online practice tests, which cost $19.95.
Sources: Connecticut CID: Public adjuster license; Pearson VUE: Connecticut insurance licensing exams (state portal).
The Delaware Life Producer exam is the state licensing exam administered by Pearson VUE for $90. It has two portions, 50 scored general-knowledge questions and 40 scored Delaware-specific questions, plus unscored pretest items. Scores are scaled from 0 to 100; some Delaware exams require 70 to pass and others require 80. Delaware requires no prelicensing course, and Pearson VUE sells online practice tests.
Sources: Pearson VUE: Delaware Insurance Candidate Handbook (June 2025).
The DC life insurance exam is a Pearson VUE test with a required scaled passing score of 70, a 2-hour time limit, and a $75 fee. DC does not require a pre-licensing course, so you can prepare through a prep course provider or self-study; Pearson VUE offers online practice tests for the life line, and the handbook's content outline takes priority over any study material.
Sources: Pearson VUE: District of Columbia insurance candidate handbook.
The Florida life insurance exam is the state exam for the 2-14 Life (Including Annuities & Variable Contracts) license, given by Pearson VUE at physical test centers. It has 85 scored questions plus 15 pretest questions with a 2-hour time limit, and you must answer 70% of the scored questions correctly to pass. The fee is $44 per attempt, with a limit of five attempts in a 12-month period. To prepare, use Pearson VUE's free candidate handbook and content outline, plus the Florida Health & Life study manual from NAIFA-Florida.
Sources: Pearson VUE — Florida Insurance Examination Content Outlines (effective January 1, 2026); Florida DFS: licensing examinations.
The Georgia Life agent exam is the Pearson VUE multiple-choice test covering insurance fundamentals and Georgia insurance law, with 80 scored questions (plus 10 unscored pretest questions) and a 2-hour time limit. You must answer 70% of questions correctly to pass. To prepare, complete an approved 8-hour Life prelicensing course (valid for one year after completion); Pearson VUE also sells online practice tests for $19.95.
Sources: Georgia OCI: Get a resident insurance agent license; Pearson VUE: Georgia insurance licensing exams (state landing page).
The Illinois life insurance exam is the Pearson VUE licensing exam for the Life line, split into a General exam (75 minutes, 50 scored questions) and a State exam (50 minutes, 31 scored questions), both passed within a 90-day period. Each exam costs $92, or $92 total when both are ordered together, and the passing score is 70. To prepare, use Pearson VUE's candidate handbook and content outlines, plus its $19.95 online practice tests.
Sources: Pearson VUE: Illinois Insurance Candidate Handbook (August 2026, incl. examination content outlines); Illinois IDOI: How to become a resident producer (Illinois insurance agent); Illinois IDOI: FAQs – Producer licensing exam changes (Pearson VUE testing); Pearson VUE: Illinois insurance licensing exams (landing page).
The Kansas Life Producer exam is administered by Pearson VUE, lasts 90 minutes, and costs $57 as a single-line exam; the combined Life and Accident & Health exam costs $64 as of July 2026 and allows 150 minutes. Kansas requires no pre-licensing course. To prepare, you can download the Kansas content outlines from the Pearson website and take Pearson's online practice tests. If you fail, you must wait at least seven calendar days before retaking, and there is no limit on attempts.
Sources: Pearson VUE: Kansas Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook (July 2026, #121700).
The Kentucky life insurance license exam is the state-written test required for the life line of authority, and you must answer 70% of the questions correctly to pass. To prepare, complete the required 20 hours of prelicensing education for the life line, which stays valid for one year from completion. You schedule the exam through a Kentucky Department of Insurance eServices account after your application is processed, and the fee is $50.
Sources: Kentucky DOI: Licensing Frequently Asked Questions; NIPR: Kentucky Resident Individual Renewal Requirements.
The life insurance license exam is the PSI Series 101 test Louisiana uses to qualify producers for the Life line of authority, and the fee is $36. You see your result on screen the same day you test. Louisiana requires no prelicensing education, so preparation is up to you; PSI offers an online practice exam you may take an unlimited number of times, paying each time.
Sources: PSI: Louisiana Department of Insurance candidate information bulletin.
The Maine Life Producer exam (12-ME-41) runs 1 hour 45 minutes, costs $55, and has 75 scoreable questions plus 10 unscored pretest questions covering general life insurance knowledge and Maine laws. Passing takes a scaled score of 70 on a 0-100 scale. To prepare, study the content outlines in the Pearson VUE candidate handbook; Pearson VUE also sells online practice tests for the Life exam.
Sources: Pearson VUE: Maine insurance candidate handbook (incl. exam content outlines, March 2026).
The Maryland Life Producer exam (Prometric code 2027) tests insurance regulation, life insurance basics, policies, provisions, annuities, and tax rules, with 80 scored questions plus 10 unscored in a 1-hour 45-minute time limit. Since October 1, 2024, Maryland no longer requires a prelicensing course, so you can prepare using Prometric's exam content outlines and your own study materials. You must score 70% or higher to pass.
Sources: Prometric: Property and Casualty Producer — Combo exam outline (Series 20-32).
The Life Producer exam is the Massachusetts licensing test for the Life line of authority. It has 80 scored questions, 50 on general knowledge and 30 on Massachusetts law, plus unscored pretest questions, and you pass with a scaled score of 70. You may use study materials of your choice, since the Division of Insurance does not approve or endorse specific providers; Pearson offers online practice tests for the general portion. Reserve at least 48 hours ahead and take the exam in person at a Pearson test center.
Sources: Pearson VUE: Massachusetts insurance candidate handbook.
The Michigan Life Producer licensing exam (Series 16-65) has 100 items, a 2-hour time limit, and a cut score of 72%. PSI administers it at its testing centers for a $41 fee. To prepare, you must first complete 20 hours of pre-licensing education from a Michigan-approved provider, either in a classroom or by self-study, and you must pass the exam within 12 months of the course completion date.
Sources: PSI: Michigan insurance candidate information bulletin; PSI Candidate Information Bulletin – Michigan Insurance Examinations; Michigan DIFS: How to become licensed as a resident producer.
The Mississippi Life Producer exam is administered by Pearson VUE and allows 120 minutes of seat time, with a 65% passing score and a $50 fee paid at the time of reservation; you can take it at a test center or online through OnVUE. To prepare, download the free candidate handbook and content outline from Pearson VUE, since the exam is based on the content outline. You must also complete the required 20-hour prelicensing course before testing.
Sources: Pearson VUE: Mississippi insurance candidate handbook (PDF, July 2025).
The Montana life insurance exam is the Pearson VUE licensing test with 86 scoreable questions: 50 on general knowledge and 36 on Montana law, plus unscored pretest questions. You must score at least 75 to pass, the $65 exam fee is paid at reservation, and scores are valid for one year. To prepare, review the Candidate Handbook and content outline Pearson VUE publishes; Montana requires no prelicensing course, and Pearson VUE sells online practice tests for $19.95.
Sources: Pearson VUE: Montana insurance candidate handbook (June 2025); Pearson VUE: Montana insurance licensing exams.
The Nebraska Life exam is administered by PSI and costs $43 with a 70% passing score. The state does not provide or approve pre-licensing study materials, so you may prepare with any materials you choose. Free resources include the Nebraska exam outlines, which show the percentage of questions per topic, and PSI's practice exams. There is no limit on exam attempts and no waiting period between them.
Sources: PSI: Nebraska Insurance Licensing Examination Candidate Information Bulletin.
The New Hampshire life insurance license exam is PSI series 12-61, which costs $59 and covers insurance regulation, general insurance concepts, life insurance basics, policy types, provisions, options and riders, annuities, and federal tax considerations. New Hampshire requires no prelicensing course and no official study manual, so you may prepare with materials of your choosing. The exam fee is valid for one year from payment, and if you do not pass, you can retest as soon as the next business day depending on space.
Sources: PSI: New Hampshire insurance candidate information bulletin.
The New Jersey life insurance exam is a multiple-choice test administered by PSI Services LLC, and you must score at least 70% to pass. To sit for it, you must first complete 20 hours of approved prelicensing education and present your course completion certificate at the test center. The exam fee is $38, and passing scores are valid for one year.
Sources: New Jersey DOBI: Producer licensing FAQs; PSI: New Jersey insurance candidate information bulletin.
The life insurance license exam is the state test New York uses to qualify life insurance agents and brokers, administered by PSI Services at computer test centers or by remote proctoring. The Life exam (17-51) has 100 questions with a 2-hour time limit, and you must answer 70% correctly to pass. To prepare, complete a Department-approved prelicensing course of at least 20 hours for the life-only authority (40 hours for the combined life, accident & health authority), then schedule the exam with PSI. The exam fee is $40, and passing scores are valid for 2 years.
Sources: PSI: New York DFS insurance candidate information bulletin; New York DFS: Life, accident and health agent and broker licensing; New York DFS: Agent and broker prelicensing education; New York DFS: Property and casualty / personal lines agent or broker licensing.
The North Carolina Life exam (code 01) is a two-part, multiple-choice test administered by Pearson VUE, with 55 scored questions plus 5 pretest questions in 1 hour 15 minutes. You must apply and pay all fees at www.nipr.com first, then wait for Pearson VUE's email authorization before scheduling. The fee is $45 per attempt, and the passing score is 70 on a 0-100 scale. Prelicensing education is no longer required for applications submitted on or after October 1, 2025, so preparation is up to you.
Sources: Pearson VUE: North Carolina insurance candidate handbook (October 2025).
The life insurance license exam in North Dakota is the Life and Annuity exam administered by PSI, the state's exam vendor. It costs $64, allows 150 minutes, and requires a 70% passing score. North Dakota requires no prelicensing courses, so you may prepare by self-study or classroom instruction; prep courses are optional and not state-regulated. You can schedule the exam online through PSI's North Dakota page or by phone.
Sources: North Dakota NDID / PSI: Insurance licensing examination candidate information bulletin (Dec 27, 2024).
The Ohio life insurance exam is the Series 11-44 exam administered by PSI Services LLC; it has 100 questions, a 2-hour time limit, and a minimum passing score of 70%. To prepare, complete 20 hours of pre-licensing education from an Ohio approved provider, which earns the course completion certificate you must bring to the test center. The exam fee is $49, and you must pass within 180 calendar days of your course completion date.
Sources: PSI: Ohio insurance candidate information bulletin; Ohio ODI: Pre-licensing education; Ohio ODI: Exam reservation and scheduling.
The Oregon life insurance license exam is the PSI Series 12-01, which costs $45 and requires a score of at least 70% to pass. To qualify to sit for it, you must first complete 20 hours of prelicense education and hold a valid Certificate of Completion, which expires one year to the day from issuance; you must pass the exam and apply for licensure before that date. Oregon accepts prelicense training by classroom, supervised video or audio lecture, or verifiable online self-study.
Sources: Oregon DFR: Fees and forms; Oregon DFR: Producer licensing.
The Pennsylvania life insurance license exam (exam 16-01, Life Insurance) is a multiple-choice test administered by PSI, the state's exam vendor; you must score at least 70% to pass, and the exam fee is $45. You register through PSI's Pennsylvania exam site or by phone at 888-818-5822. Prelicensing education is no longer required, because Act 142 of 2024 removed that requirement effective April 29, 2025, so you can prepare however you choose, though many candidates still take an optional exam-prep course.
Sources: PSI: Pennsylvania Insurance Licensing Examination Candidate Information Booklet.
The life insurance license exam in Rhode Island is the Pearson VUE Life Producer exam, made up of a general (national) section and a state section on Rhode Island law; a scaled score of 70 passes. You reserve online or by phone at (800) 274-3739 at least 24 hours ahead and pay the $80 fee at reservation. The state's candidate handbook contains the content outlines, and Pearson VUE sells a practice test for $19.95.
Sources: 230-RICR-20-50-2: Continuing education for insurance producers; Pearson VUE: Rhode Island insurance content outlines (effective May 28, 2026).
In South Carolina, the life insurance license exam is the state test required for the life line of authority, administered by Pearson VUE. The Life Insurance Producer exam (InsSC-Life01) has 85 items and a 120-minute time limit, and passing requires a score of 70 on a 0-100 scale, which is not a percentage of correct answers. South Carolina has no prelicensing education requirement, but most candidates take a study course to prepare. You can register online through Pearson VUE or by phone at 877-759-5226.
Sources: Pearson VUE: South Carolina Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook.
In South Dakota, the life insurance exam is the written test a resident applicant must pass before receiving a producer license for the life line of authority. The Division of Insurance contracts with Pearson VUE to administer exams, and the resident exam fee is $25. The Division does not specify an official study material, so candidates may use any materials of their choice, with testing outlines available on the Division's exam page.
Sources: SDCL 58-2-29: Division of Insurance fee schedule.
The Tennessee life insurance license exam is a Pearson VUE test with a 70% minimum passing score and a $55 fee. The exam pairs a national section with a Tennessee-specific section covering state insurance law. To prepare, complete the required 20 hours of pre-licensing education through a state-approved provider, or hold an exempting designation such as Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU). If you fail, a waiting period applies before retaking, and you must pass within 6 months of your first attempt or repeat the pre-licensing education.
Sources: Pearson VUE — Tennessee Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook (October 2026 edition, #124300); Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-01-56: Licensing Requirements for Insurance Producers; TN TDCI — Continuing Education Requirements.
The Texas life insurance exams are administered by Pearson VUE at test centers and have two parts: a general section on insurance products and a Texas state section on state law. The Life Agent exam has 80 scoreable questions in 120 minutes with a $39 fee; the General Lines Life, Accident and Health exam has 130 scoreable questions in 150 minutes with a $49 fee. The passing score is a scaled 70 on a 0-100 scale, not a raw percentage. Texas does not require prelicensing education, so preparation is up to you, though many candidates take a prep course.
Sources: Texas TDI: life agent license management (renewal); Pearson VUE: Texas insurance licensing candidate handbook (October 2024).
The Utah life insurance license exam is Prometric series 17-01, the Producer's Life exam: 100 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours, with a $32 registration fee. Utah does not require any pre-licensing education, so you prepare on your own with study materials, which the state does not review or approve. You register with Prometric online or at 888-226-8740, and you may test at a Prometric center or remotely through Prometric's remote proctoring service.
Sources: Prometric: Utah Insurance Department Licensing Information Bulletin (effective September 25, 2025).
The Vermont life insurance license exam is the Prometric Series 14-25 ($52), or Series 14-29 ($67.60) if you want Life plus Accident and Health; the combined exam has 150 scored questions with a 2.5-hour time limit. Vermont requires no prelicensing education, so you can prepare with Prometric's free practice exams and the published content outlines. After passing, wait 48 hours before applying through NIPR; exam scores are valid for 2 years.
Sources: Prometric: Vermont insurance licensing information bulletin; Prometric: Vermont insurance Life, A&H and HMO exam outline (Series 14-29); Vermont DFR: Producer license; NIPR: Vermont resident individual renewal requirements.
Virginia administers its life insurance exams through Prometric. You can take the Series 11-05 Life & Annuities exam (105 total questions, 2 hours) or the combined Series 11-01 Life, Annuities & Health exam (150 total questions, 2.5 hours). Each exam costs $35, and you register online or by phone with Prometric. Virginia does not require a prelicensing course for these exams, so preparation is your choice: review the Prometric content outline, which lists every tested topic, and use the free practice exams on Prometric's website.
Sources: Prometric — Virginia Life and Annuities Insurance Examination Content Outline (Series 11-05), administered for the Virginia Bureau of Insurance; Prometric: Virginia Bureau of Insurance Licensing Information Bulletin (effective December 13, 2024).
The life insurance license exam is the test Washington requires before issuing a producer license with the life line of authority. PSI Services administers it; the Life Producer exam costs $38, has 100 questions, allows 150 minutes, and requires a 70% score to pass. Pre-licensing education has not been required since July 23, 2023, so you can prepare on your own or with a voluntary exam prep course from the state regulator's provider list.
Sources: PSI Services LLC — Washington OIC Insurance Candidate Information Bulletin; PSI: Washington OIC insurance license exam candidate information bulletin.
The life insurance exam is the Pearson VUE test for the Life line of authority: 90 questions in 120 minutes, with a passing score of 70 on a 0-100 scale and an $84 fee. You must bring a paper copy of your pre-licensing course completion certificate to the test center, and it is valid for 6 months. You can prepare with a state-approved 20-hour Life pre-licensing course and Pearson's online practice tests ($19.95). Candidates are limited to 8 attempts per line of authority.
Sources: Pearson VUE: West Virginia Insurance Candidate Handbook (September 2026); West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner fee schedule and Pearson VUE West Virginia Insurance Candidate Handbook (September 2026); West Virginia OIC: How to Apply for a Resident Producer License; Pearson VUE: West Virginia Insurance licensing exams (scheduling page).
The life insurance license exam is the Wyoming Insurance Licensing Exam for the Life (and Accident and Health or Sickness) lines of authority, a computer-based test taken through Pearson VUE. Wyoming requires no prelicensing course, so your preparation is up to you; the Wyoming Department of Insurance (DOI) lists providers with study materials but endorses none of them. Most candidates study for several weeks before testing.
Sources: Wyoming DOI: producer licensing requirements, fees and FAQs; Wyoming DOI: adjuster licensing requirements, fees and FAQs.