Texas Life & Health Insurance License Exam Guide (2026)
Texas has one of the most demanding insurance licensing exams in the country: the Life-only first-attempt pass rate was 46.8% in 2024, well below the national average. Since 2003, Texas has required no pre-licensing education, which means there is no official course path — disciplined self-study with a question bank is how most candidates prepare.
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 | 120 min | Scaled 70 | $39 |
| Life, Accident & Health (Combined) | 130 | 15 unscored | 150 min | Scaled 70 | $49 |
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 Texas insurance exams (all lines) was 55.5%.
Life-only first-attempt pass rate: 46.8% — the lowest 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 Texas
Texas abolished its pre-licensing education requirement in 2003. There is no mandatory course, no required classroom hours, and no education certificate to present at the test center. You may sit for the exam at any time after registering with Pearson VUE. This is why Texas, alongside Pennsylvania, North Carolina and a growing list of states, is a pure self-study market: your preparation resources are your official path.
If you fail: retake rules
A candidate who fails can schedule a new exam within one day, and there is no limit on the number of attempts. A passed score must be converted into a license application within 12 months. There is no penalty for guessing — always answer every question.
Total cost to get licensed
- Exam fee: $49 (combined L&H) or $39 (Life-only), paid to Pearson VUE at registration
- License application: $50 per license type (non-refundable)
- Electronic fingerprints via IdentoGO/IDEMIA (required with application)
Outdated numbers to watch out for
Some prep sites say: “150 questions in 180 minutes”
The Pearson VUE content outline (effective September 1, 2026) specifies 130 scored questions (100 national + 30 Texas state law) plus 15 unscored pretest questions — 145 administered in 150 minutes. Many prep sites conflate the 150-minute time limit with the question count, then invent a longer duration.
Some prep sites say: “$64 exam fee”
The official TDI/Pearson VUE fee schedule lists $49 for the combined L&H exam and $39 for Life-only.
Some prep sites say: “70% to pass”
Texas reports a scaled score of 70, which is not a percentage and not the number of questions you answered correctly.
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. Texas 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 employer purchases a life insurance policy on a key employee. The employer's insurable interes…Answer free →Beneficiaries·Difficulty 2/5·National content
- In an individual life insurance policy, the party who holds the right to exercise ownership right…Answer free →Beneficiaries·Difficulty 1/5·National content
- A life insurance policy is owned by an irrevocable life insurance trust. Who has the authority to…Answer free →Beneficiaries·Difficulty 2/5·National content
National-core practice domains
The nationally reusable layer of the Texas exam — organized by official content domain.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Texas life and health insurance exam?
Scored question counts by exam: Life Insurance (Life-Only) — 80 scored questions (plus 10 unscored); Life, Accident & Health (Combined) — 130 scored questions (plus 15 unscored). Unscored pretest questions may be mixed in and are not identified.
How long is the Texas insurance licensing exam?
Time limits by exam: Life Insurance (Life-Only) — 120 minutes; Life, Accident & Health (Combined) — 150 minutes.
What score do you need to pass the Texas exam?
Passing scores by exam: Life Insurance (Life-Only) — Scaled 70; Life, Accident & Health (Combined) — Scaled 70. Note that a scaled score is not a percentage of questions answered correctly.
How much does the Texas insurance exam cost?
Current exam fees: Life Insurance (Life-Only) — $39; Life, Accident & Health (Combined) — $49. Fees are paid at registration and are generally non-refundable.
Does Texas require pre-licensing education for a life & health license?
No. Texas abolished its pre-licensing education requirement in 2003. There is no mandatory course, no required classroom hours, and no education certificate to present at the test center.
What happens if I fail the Texas insurance exam?
A candidate who fails can schedule a new exam within one day, and there is no limit on the number of attempts. 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/124400.pdf
- https://testcenterguides.pearsonvue.com/PVTC_ExamSponsorGuide/ta_guides/TX_Department_of_Insurance_TA_Guide.htm
- https://www.tdi.texas.gov/licensing/index.html
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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