California Life & Health Insurance License Exam Guide (2026)
California’s insurance licensing exams are delivered by PSI under contract with the California Department of Insurance. Since January 1, 2026 the state no longer requires line-specific pre-licensing courses — only a 12-hour Ethics & California Insurance Code course remains, and even that can be completed after you pass.
At a glance
Verified against official sources as of 2026-09-02. Question formats and fees change — always confirm details in the current official candidate handbook (linked below) before scheduling.
Exam format, question counts and fees
| Exam | Scored | Unscored (pretest) | Time limit | Passing score | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life Insurance (Life-Only) | 75 | ≈10% unscored | 105 min | 60% (45 of 75) | $98 |
| Accident & Health | 75 | ≈10% unscored | 105 min | 60% (45 of 75) | $98 |
| Life, Accident & Health (Combined) | 150 | ≈10% unscored | 195 min | 60% (90 of 150) | $98 |
Unscored pretest questions are mixed in with scored questions and are not identified. Where a state reports a scaled score, the passing value is not a percentage of questions answered correctly.
What the official 2024 pass-rate data says
In 2024, the first-attempt pass rate for California insurance exams (all lines) was 64.2%.
Nationwide, the overall first-attempt pass rate for state insurance licensing exams was 59.4% in 2024 (all lines).
Pre-licensing education in California
Under AB 943 (effective January 1, 2026), California abolished the 20-hour per-line pre-licensing course requirement across all lines. What remains is a single 12-hour Ethics & California Insurance Code course (including 1 hour of insurance fraud training). You may take the exam first and complete the 12-hour course afterward — it must be done before your license is issued. Continuing education after licensure is unchanged (24 hours per 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics).
If you fail: retake rules
You may retake the same exam type up to 10 times within 12 months (California Insurance Code §1682). Exceeding the limit bars you from that exam for 12 months. A passed score must be used in a license application within 12 months.
Total cost to get licensed
- Exam fee: $55 (CDI) + $43 (PSI) = $98 per attempt; the $43 PSI fee is waived at the CDI Los Angeles test site but not for remote online proctoring
- License application: $188 for a 2-year term
- Fingerprint Live Scan: $74 (FBI $17 + DOJ $32 + vendor $25)
Practice the national core — free
Roughly 70–80% of every state’s L&H exam is national content: policy types, contract law, annuities, tax treatment, Medicare, PPACA, LTC. Our national core question bank covers exactly that layer — 2,180 questions, every one free with a 3-part explanation, no account required. California state-law drills are live too — the full CA bank includes state-specific questions.
Try a national-core question right now
Free forever — click a question, answer it, and read the full 3-part explanation.
- In a key-person life insurance arrangement, which party is typically the policyowner and the bene…Answer free →Beneficiaries·Difficulty 1/5·National content
- A policyowner who is not the insured dies before the insured. Which statement best describes what…Answer free →Beneficiaries·Difficulty 3/5·National content
- An individual's insurable interest in his or her own life is generally considered to be:Answer free →Beneficiaries·Difficulty 1/5·National content
National-core practice domains
The nationally reusable layer of the California exam — organized by official content domain.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the California life and health insurance exam?
Scored question counts by exam: Life Insurance (Life-Only) — 75 scored questions (plus ≈10% unscored); Accident & Health — 75 scored questions (plus ≈10% unscored); Life, Accident & Health (Combined) — 150 scored questions (plus ≈10% unscored). Unscored pretest questions may be mixed in and are not identified.
How long is the California insurance licensing exam?
Time limits by exam: Life Insurance (Life-Only) — 105 minutes; Accident & Health — 105 minutes; Life, Accident & Health (Combined) — 195 minutes.
What score do you need to pass the California exam?
Passing scores by exam: Life Insurance (Life-Only) — 60% (45 of 75); Accident & Health — 60% (45 of 75); Life, Accident & Health (Combined) — 60% (90 of 150). The figures come from the current official candidate handbook.
How much does the California insurance exam cost?
Current exam fees: Life Insurance (Life-Only) — $98; Accident & Health — $98; Life, Accident & Health (Combined) — $98. Fees are paid at registration and are generally non-refundable.
Does California require pre-licensing education for a life & health license?
No. Under AB 943 (effective January 1, 2026), California abolished the 20-hour per-line pre-licensing course requirement across all lines. What remains is a single 12-hour Ethics & California Insurance Code course (including 1 hour of insurance fraud training).
What happens if I fail the California insurance exam?
You may retake the same exam type up to 10 times within 12 months (California Insurance Code §1682). See the retake section above for the full policy.
The optional $49 Exam Engine (one-time) adds unlimited randomized practice, full exam simulations, timed quizzes and a wrong-answer book around the national core plus California state law.
Official sources for this page
This page is maintained by PassSprint. Data current as of 2026-09-02; report discrepancies to us and we will re-verify against the official document.
L&H exam guides by state
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