Accident & Health

It is a multiple-choice exam delivered on a computer at a testing center or, in some states, through remote proctoring. Each question has one best answer, and there is no penalty for guessing, so answer every item before submitting.

Question counts and time limits are set by your state and its testing vendor, and they change periodically. The official body publishes the current figure on its website and in the candidate handbook you receive when you schedule.

Most candidates find it moderate. The concepts are not mathematically difficult, but the wording is precise and many questions turn on a single distinguishing phrase. People who fail usually did not practice enough application-style questions rather than lacking the underlying knowledge.

Passing scores are set by the state, and many jurisdictions use a scaled score rather than a raw percentage. The official body publishes the current figure, so check your state department of insurance or designated testing vendor for the passing standard that applies to you.

Most states allow you to retake the exam after a waiting period, and some require a new attempt fee each time. Retake rules, waiting periods, and any limits on the number of attempts are state-specific, so confirm them with your testing vendor before rescheduling.

License terms and continuing education requirements are set by each state, commonly on a two-year cycle. Most states require ethics hours as part of the total, and you should verify your specific renewal deadline and hour requirements with your state regulator.

Start with policy provisions, riders, and exclusions, then medical expense and managed care, since together they carry the most weight. Follow with disability income and group health, then regulation, government programs, general concepts, annuities, and ethics as shorter final passes.

Confusing similar provisions such as elimination periods versus probationary periods, mixing up coordination-of-benefits rules, and skimming the regulation and ethics material because it seems easy. Weak candidates also memorize definitions without practicing how those definitions appear in scenario questions.

Most states require a prelicensing education course before you can sit for the exam, though the required hours vary widely. A few states waive it for certain applicants. Check your state's requirement before paying for any course.

Yes. The exam is a prerequisite to licensure, not a substitute for it. After passing, you typically must submit a license application, complete a background check, and often have a sponsoring insurer or agency before the state issues the license.