Massachusetts Life & Health Insurance License Exam Guide (2026)
Massachusetts has one of the toughest insurance exams in the country: the 2024 first-attempt pass rate was 45.4%, the lowest of the states in this guide. It is also in the middle of an operational transition — on July 22, 2026 the state moved its exam program from Prometric to Pearson VUE, and some exam parameters (including published time limits) are still being finalized on the new platform.
Switched from Prometric to Pearson VUE effective July 22, 2026; in-person testing only. Time limits were not yet republished at verification time.
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) | 80 | 10 unscored | Not yet published | Scaled 70/100 | $37 |
| Accident & Health | 80 | 10 unscored | Not yet published | Scaled 70/100 | $37 |
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 Massachusetts insurance exams (all lines) was 45.4%.
The lowest pass rate of the states in this guide.
Nationwide, the overall first-attempt pass rate for state insurance licensing exams was 59.4% in 2024 (all lines).
Pre-licensing education in Massachusetts
Massachusetts mandates no pre-licensing education hours for Life & Health candidates; the state’s licensing materials contain no course prerequisite. Registration goes directly through Pearson VUE (previously Prometric).
If you fail: retake rules
Retake rules follow the current Pearson VUE Massachusetts handbook. Given the 45.4% first-attempt pass rate, plan your preparation as if a retake is a live possibility and budget the $37 fee accordingly.
Total cost to get licensed
- Exam fee: $37 per exam (Pearson VUE)
- License application: $225 — among the highest in the nation
Outdated numbers to watch out for
Some prep sites say: “100 questions / $39 fee / Prometric registration”
These were the old Prometric-era parameters. Since the July 22, 2026 switch to Pearson VUE, the Life and A&H exams are 80 scored questions plus 10 unscored pretest, at $37. Time limits had not been republished at the time of writing — confirm on the official Pearson VUE Massachusetts page before scheduling.
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. Massachusetts 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.
- Under a life-income settlement option, the beneficiary receives:Answer free →Beneficiaries·Difficulty 2/5·National content
- Under the Internal Revenue Code, a lump-sum life insurance death benefit paid to a named benefici…Answer free →Beneficiaries·Difficulty 2/5·National content
- A beneficiary elects to leave death proceeds with the insurer under an interest-only option and r…Answer free →Beneficiaries·Difficulty 2/5·National content
National-core practice domains
The nationally reusable layer of the Massachusetts exam — organized by official content domain.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Massachusetts life and health insurance exam?
Scored question counts by exam: Life Insurance (Life-Only) — 80 scored questions (plus 10 unscored); Accident & Health — 80 scored questions (plus 10 unscored). Unscored pretest questions may be mixed in and are not identified.
How long is the Massachusetts insurance licensing exam?
Time limits by exam: Life Insurance (Life-Only) — not yet published; Accident & Health — not yet published.
What score do you need to pass the Massachusetts exam?
Passing scores by exam: Life Insurance (Life-Only) — Scaled 70/100; Accident & Health — Scaled 70/100. Note that a scaled score is not a percentage of questions answered correctly.
How much does the Massachusetts insurance exam cost?
Current exam fees: Life Insurance (Life-Only) — $37; Accident & Health — $37. Fees are paid at registration and are generally non-refundable.
Does Massachusetts require pre-licensing education for a life & health license?
No. Massachusetts mandates no pre-licensing education hours for Life & Health candidates; the state’s licensing materials contain no course prerequisite. Registration goes directly through Pearson VUE (previously Prometric).
What happens if I fail the Massachusetts insurance exam?
Retake rules follow the current Pearson VUE Massachusetts handbook. 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/us/en/ma/insurance.html
- https://www.pearsonvue.com/content/dam/VUE/vue/en/documents/publications/122300.pdf
- https://www.pearsonvue.com/content/dam/VUE/vue/en/documents/publications/122301.pdf
- https://www.mass.gov/info-details/insurance-examinations-and-continuing-education
- https://nipr.com/licensing-center/state-requirements/massachusetts-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.
L&H exam guides by state
PassSprint is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with any state insurance department, PSI Services LLC, Pearson VUE or Prometric.