Insurance licensing is regulated state by state, so the exam you sit depends entirely on where you are applying. The national content is largely consistent; almost everything else - question count, time limit, passing standard, fee, prelicensing hours, and even how many exams you must take - varies. Here is how to read your own state's requirements.
The pieces that change by state
Number of exams
Some states combine Property and Casualty into a single exam. Others test them as two completely separate exams and licenses. A handful, such as Illinois, split each line further into a general knowledge exam and a state law exam that are scheduled together. Knowing which structure applies changes how much you study and how much you pay.
Question count and time limit
Exams commonly range from roughly 60 to 150 questions, with time limits from about 75 minutes to over three hours. Most exams include unscored pretest questions mixed in with the scored ones; you cannot tell them apart, so treat every question as if it counts.
Passing standard
Two systems are in use, and confusing them causes real anxiety on exam day:
- Percentage scoring - you need a stated percentage correct, most often 70 percent, though some states differ
- Scaled scoring - your raw score is converted to a 0 to 100 scale where 70 is typically the pass mark, and the number is not a percentage of questions answered correctly
Several states publish no numeric passing standard at all and simply report pass or fail.
Prelicensing education
This is where states differ most. Some require 20 to 40 hours per line from an approved provider, with a certificate you must present at the test center. Others require none. A few have eliminated requirements recently, so guidance more than a year or two old is often wrong.
Fees
Exam fees generally run from the mid-thirties to the high nineties per attempt, paid to the vendor when you reserve. The license application fee is separate and paid to the state, and fingerprinting is an additional cost in many states.
Who administers your exam
Most states contract with one of three vendors: PSI, Pearson VUE, or Prometric. A few states are unusual - Kentucky administers its own exams, and Alabama's are run through a state university. Vendors change: several states have switched providers recently, which is why an out-of-date handbook is worse than no handbook.
How to find your state's real requirements
- Open your state's page on this site. Each one lists the verified exam details we have confirmed against the official candidate handbook, with the source cited.
- Follow the link to your state insurance department for licensing rules, fees, and application steps.
- Download the current candidate handbook from your exam vendor. This is the authoritative document for question counts, timing, identification rules, and test-center policy.
- Confirm the prelicensing requirement before paying for a course you may not need - or discovering you needed one at the test center.
The pattern behind every state exam
Whatever the structure, exams are built from a published content outline that splits into two parts: national insurance concepts, which are broadly the same everywhere, and a state law section covering your state's licensing rules, producer duties, and consumer protections. That is good news - the largest part of your studying transfers across states, and it is exactly what our practice tests cover.
Practical advice
- Verify requirements yourself before scheduling. Third-party summaries, including prep-course marketing pages, are frequently out of date.
- If your state uses scaled scoring, stop trying to convert your practice percentage into a scaled score. Aim comfortably high instead.
- Passing results usually expire - often within 6 to 12 months - so apply for the license promptly.
- Retake rules vary, from unlimited attempts to a capped number within a year followed by a waiting period.
Find your state and license line in the state directory to see the verified details and start practicing.