Illinois Life & Health Insurance License Exam Guide (2026)
Illinois runs a two-part licensing structure unlike most states: each line is examined through a separate General section and State section, both delivered by Pearson VUE. Both sections of a line must be passed within 90 days of each other, so plan your sittings close together.
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) | 81 | 10 unscored | 125 min | Scaled 70 | $92 |
| Accident & Health | 89 | 10 unscored | 130 min | Scaled 70 | $92 |
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 Illinois insurance exams (all lines) was 75.7%.
Nationwide, the overall first-attempt pass rate for state insurance licensing exams was 59.4% in 2024 (all lines).
Pre-licensing education in Illinois
Illinois requires 20 hours of approved pre-licensing education per line of authority, of which at least 7.5 hours must be classroom or classroom-equivalent instruction (215 ILCS 5/500-30(b)). The education certificate is valid for 12 months. Beware of prep sites that quote “7.5 hours” as the total requirement — that is only the classroom subset.
If you fail: retake rules
A failed section can be retaken; both sections of a line must be passed within 90 days of each other. Exam fees are paid per attempt.
Total cost to get licensed
- Exam fee: $92 per line (includes the $50 state administrative fee)
- License fee: $215, prorated by birth month via NIPR
- Pre-licensing course: 20h per line (vendor-priced)
Outdated numbers to watch out for
Some prep sites say: “Illinois exams are administered by PSI”
Illinois insurance exams are delivered by Pearson VUE.
Some prep sites say: “$41 exam fee”
The current total is $92 per line, which includes a $50 state administrative component.
Some prep sites say: “7.5 hours of pre-licensing education”
7.5 hours is only the mandatory classroom portion; the total requirement is 20 hours per line.
Every figure on this page is drawn from the current official candidate handbook, content outline or state statute, with sources listed at the bottom. If a prep site disagrees with the official document, the official document wins.
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. Illinois state-specific drills ship as we build each state’s question bank.
Try a national-core question right now
Free forever — click a question, answer it, and read the full 3-part explanation.
- An annuitant dies before receiving all guaranteed payments under a refund annuity. The unpaid amo…Answer free →Beneficiaries·Difficulty 2/5·National content
- An annuitant paid $40,000 into an annuity contract and died before any payout began. The contract…Answer free →Beneficiaries·Difficulty 2/5·National content
- Under a straight life (life-only) annuity with no period-certain or refund feature, if the annuit…Answer free →Beneficiaries·Difficulty 1/5·National content
National-core practice domains
The nationally reusable layer of the Illinois exam — organized by official content domain.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Illinois life and health insurance exam?
Scored question counts by exam: Life Insurance (Life-Only) — 81 scored questions (plus 10 unscored); Accident & Health — 89 scored questions (plus 10 unscored). Unscored pretest questions may be mixed in and are not identified.
How long is the Illinois insurance licensing exam?
Time limits by exam: Life Insurance (Life-Only) — 125 minutes; Accident & Health — 130 minutes.
What score do you need to pass the Illinois exam?
Passing scores by exam: Life Insurance (Life-Only) — Scaled 70; Accident & Health — Scaled 70. Note that a scaled score is not a percentage of questions answered correctly.
How much does the Illinois insurance exam cost?
Current exam fees: Life Insurance (Life-Only) — $92; Accident & Health — $92. Fees are paid at registration and are generally non-refundable.
Does Illinois require pre-licensing education for a life & health license?
Yes — 20h per line, incl. 7.5h classroom. See the pre-licensing education section above for the current statutory requirement.
What happens if I fail the Illinois insurance exam?
A failed section can be retaken; both sections of a line must be passed within 90 days of each other. 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 — other states’ drills ship as their banks are built.
Official sources for this page
- https://www.pearsonvue.com/content/dam/VUE/vue/en/documents/publications/121400.pdf
- https://idoi.illinois.gov/producers/licensescertificationsfaqs/become-resident-producer.html
- https://nipr.com/licensing-center/state-requirements/illinois-resident-licensing-individual
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.
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