"How many exams do I have to take?" has no national answer. Some states test Property and Casualty as one combined sitting; others require two separate exams with two separate fees. Some offer a single Life, Accident & Health exam covering both lines; others insist on two. We verified the structure for every jurisdiction from official candidate handbooks - here is what your state actually requires.
Property & Casualty: one exam or two?
Our verified data records 22 jurisdictions where Property and Casualty are separate exams, 5 that run a combined exam while explicitly offering separate single-line options (Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio), and 24 whose handbooks describe a combined Property & Casualty exam.
| State | P&C exam structure |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Combined P&C exam |
| Alaska | Separate Property + Casualty exams |
| Arizona | Combined, separate options available |
| Arkansas | Combined P&C exam |
| California | Combined P&C exam |
| Colorado | Separate Property + Casualty exams |
| Connecticut | Combined P&C exam |
| Delaware | Separate Property + Casualty exams |
| District of Columbia | Separate Property + Casualty exams |
| Florida | Combined P&C exam |
| Georgia | Combined, separate options available |
| Hawaii | Separate Property + Casualty exams |
| Idaho | Separate Property + Casualty exams |
| Illinois | Separate Property + Casualty exams |
| Indiana | Combined P&C exam |
| Iowa | Separate Property + Casualty exams |
| Kansas | Separate Property + Casualty exams |
| Kentucky | Combined P&C exam |
| Louisiana | Separate Property + Casualty exams |
| Maine | Separate Property + Casualty exams |
| Maryland | Separate Property + Casualty exams |
| Massachusetts | Separate Property + Casualty exams |
| Michigan | Combined, separate options available |
| Minnesota | Separate Property + Casualty exams |
| Mississippi | Separate Property + Casualty exams |
| Missouri | Combined, separate options available |
| Montana | Separate Property + Casualty exams |
| Nebraska | Combined P&C exam |
| Nevada | Combined P&C exam |
| New Hampshire | Combined P&C exam |
| New Jersey | Separate Property + Casualty exams |
| New Mexico | Combined P&C exam |
| New York | Combined P&C exam |
| North Carolina | Separate Property + Casualty exams |
| North Dakota | Separate Property + Casualty exams |
| Ohio | Combined, separate options available |
| Oklahoma | Combined P&C exam |
| Oregon | Combined P&C exam |
| Pennsylvania | Combined P&C exam |
| Rhode Island | Separate Property + Casualty exams |
| South Carolina | Combined P&C exam |
| South Dakota | Combined P&C exam |
| Tennessee | Separate Property + Casualty exams |
| Texas | Combined P&C exam |
| Utah | Combined P&C exam |
| Vermont | Combined P&C exam |
| Virginia | Combined P&C exam |
| Washington | Combined P&C exam |
| West Virginia | Combined P&C exam |
| Wisconsin | Separate Property + Casualty exams |
| Wyoming | Combined P&C exam |
Two states put it beyond doubt in their own words: North Carolina and New Jersey both state there is no combined P&C exam at all - you sit Property and Casualty separately. Note also that where a state runs separate exams, each one is shorter: North Carolina's are 60 questions each, against Florida's single 175-question General Lines exam.
Why the structure changes your study plan
- **Two exams means two fees.** In a separate-exam state you pay the sitting fee twice, and each can be failed and retaken independently.
- **Two exams means two shorter tests.** Some candidates find this easier - less stamina required, and a bad day only costs you half the licence.
- **A combined exam means one long sitting.** You must hold focus across the full paper, and one score decides both lines. Practising at full length matters much more here.
- **The content is broadly the same either way.** Splitting the exam does not shrink the syllabus; it distributes it.
Life and Health: the combined-exam option
Several states let you cover both life and health in a single sitting. Ohio offers the Life, Accident and Health Insurance Agent exam (Series 11-35): 150 questions in 2.5 hours at a 70% passing score. Michigan runs the Life, Accident & Health Producer - Combined exam (16-80): 150 questions in 2.5 hours at a 75% cut score, which sits between its standalone life (72%) and health (76%) requirements. In both states the combined route requires prelicensing for both lines where prelicensing applies.
Choosing the combined route, honestly
The combined exam is efficient if you genuinely intend to sell both lines - one appointment, one fee, one preparation cycle. It is a poor choice if you only need one line now, because you carry the risk of the other line's material on a single score. A practical rule: if you would not be studying health insurance were it not on the paper, sit the standalone exam.
Frequently asked questions
If I pass one half of a separate-exam pair, do I keep it?
Yes - in separate-exam states each exam stands alone, and passing results are typically valid for a defined period (commonly 12 months) while you complete the licensing process. Your state's bulletin gives the exact window.
Does a combined exam cost less than two separate ones?
Usually yes, since you pay one sitting fee rather than two, though the combined exam itself is longer. Compare your state's figures in our guide to what the exam costs.
Find your state in the table, then open its practice page - for example Texas, Michigan or North Carolina - for the verified question count, time limit, fee and a link to the official handbook. Verification details: Sources & Updates.