New York Life & Health Insurance License Exam Guide (2026)
New York’s licensing exams are delivered by PSI under contract with the Department of Financial Services. New York is one of the few states that still requires a state-approved pre-licensing course before you may sit for the exam — and one of the few that publishes a clean, explicit pass line: 70% of questions correct.
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) | 100 | — | 120 min | 70% | $40 |
| Accident & Health | 100 | — | 120 min | 70% | $40 |
| Life, Accident & Health (Combined) | 150 | — | 150 min | 70% | $40 |
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 New York insurance exams (all lines) was 57.4%.
Nationwide, the overall first-attempt pass rate for state insurance licensing exams was 59.4% in 2024 (all lines).
Pre-licensing education in New York
New York requires an approved pre-licensing course before taking the corresponding exam: 20 hours for Life, 20 hours for Accident & Health, or 40 hours for the combined Life/A&H license (NY Insurance Law series 17-51, 17-52, 17-55). Your course provider issues a School Certificate that is valid for life — but you must have completed the course before you can test. CLU/CLUA designation holders and certain other licensees may qualify for waivers.
If you fail: retake rules
You cannot book a new appointment on the same day you tested, but you can call the next day and retest as soon as the day after, subject to seat availability. Scores are shown on screen at the end of the exam; failing candidates receive a diagnostic report by email.
Total cost to get licensed
- Exam fee: $40 per attempt (forfeit if you do not test within 1 year of payment)
- Pre-licensing course: 20h/line or 40h combined (vendor-priced)
- License application: submit within 2 years of passing
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. New York 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.
- A person's spouse, parents, and children are presumed to have an insurable interest in that perso…Answer free →Beneficiaries·Difficulty 2/5·National content
- A 'primary beneficiary' under a life insurance policy is:Answer free →Beneficiaries·Difficulty 1/5·National content
- A contingent (secondary) beneficiary receives the death proceeds when:Answer free →Beneficiaries·Difficulty 1/5·National content
National-core practice domains
The nationally reusable layer of the New York exam — organized by official content domain.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the New York life and health insurance exam?
Scored question counts by exam: Life Insurance (Life-Only) — 100 scored questions; Accident & Health — 100 scored questions; Life, Accident & Health (Combined) — 150 scored questions. Unscored pretest questions may be mixed in and are not identified.
How long is the New York insurance licensing exam?
Time limits by exam: Life Insurance (Life-Only) — 120 minutes; Accident & Health — 120 minutes; Life, Accident & Health (Combined) — 150 minutes.
What score do you need to pass the New York exam?
Passing scores by exam: Life Insurance (Life-Only) — 70%; Accident & Health — 70%; Life, Accident & Health (Combined) — 70%. The figures come from the current official candidate handbook.
How much does the New York insurance exam cost?
Current exam fees: Life Insurance (Life-Only) — $40; Accident & Health — $40; Life, Accident & Health (Combined) — $40. Fees are paid at registration and are generally non-refundable.
Does New York require pre-licensing education for a life & health license?
Yes — 20h/line (40h combined) — required BEFORE exam. See the pre-licensing education section above for the current statutory requirement.
What happens if I fail the New York insurance exam?
You cannot book a new appointment on the same day you tested, but you can call the next day and retest as soon as the day after, subject to seat availability. 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://test-takers.psiexams.com/nyins
- https://www.dfs.ny.gov/apps_and_licensing/agents_and_brokers
- https://www.dfs.ny.gov/apps_and_licensing/agents_and_brokers/prelicensing_education
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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