State departments of insurance (exams via Pearson VUE or PSI; licensing through NIPR)

Life & Health Insurance Exam

Life and Health Insurance Producer Licensing Exam

The state licensing exam required to sell life and health insurance products as an insurance producer. Includes national/general insurance content plus a state-law portion, and is administered through vendors such as Pearson VUE or PSI.

Varies by state (commonly 2–3 hours)Required to practice

What's on the exam

Typical state Life & Health producer content outline (verify against your state's exam content outline)

General Insurance Concepts

~10%

Risk and insurance principles · Insurer types and marketing systems · Producer roles and authority · Contract law basics · Underwriting fundamentals

Life Insurance Basics and Policies

~20%

Term, whole, and universal life · Policy provisions and options · Riders · Nonforfeiture and dividends · Group life

Annuities

~10%

Fixed and variable annuities · Accumulation and payout phases · Annuity uses and suitability · Tax treatment · Settlement options

Health Insurance Basics and Policies

~20%

Medical expense plans · Disability income insurance · Long-term care · Policy provisions and exclusions · Group health

Government and Senior Programs

~10%

Medicare and Medicaid · Medicare Supplements · ACA and HSAs · Social Security basics · Senior product suitability

Taxation, Retirement, and Ethics

~12%

Tax treatment of life and health · Qualified plans and IRAs · Suitability and replacement · Fiduciary duty and ethics · Privacy and anti-fraud

State Laws, Rules, and Regulations

~18%

Commissioner duties and licensing · Unfair trade practices · Marketing and advertising rules · Continuing education and renewal · Penalties and disciplinary actions

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Life & Health Insurance Exam cost?

Fees vary. Exam fees commonly run $40–$120 per state, plus separate license/application fees processed through NIPR.

How long is the Life & Health Insurance Exam and how many questions does it have?

Varies by state (commonly 100–150 questions across both portions) — Varies by state (commonly 2–3 hours).

What do you need to pass the Life & Health Insurance Exam?

Varies by state; commonly around 70%.

Can you retake the Life & Health Insurance Exam?

Permitted after a state-set waiting period; rules vary by state.

What is the best way to study for the Life & Health Insurance Exam?

Study the official blueprint, not random material: the exam is weighted by domain (General Insurance Concepts ~10%, Life Insurance Basics and Policies ~20%, Annuities ~10%, Health Insurance Basics and Policies ~20%, Government and Senior Programs ~10%, Taxation, Retirement, and Ethics ~12%, State Laws, Rules, and Regulations ~18%). Spaced-repetition flashcards built domain-by-domain against that blueprint are the most time-efficient way to cover everything the exam tests.

Program in development

We're building a blueprint-complete program for this exam. Meanwhile, explore live programs across 11 exam.

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