CA Property & Casualty
California Property and Casualty Broker-Agent License Examination
More study resources
Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
The California Property and Casualty Broker-Agent license is the combined credential that allows a licensed individual or business entity to transact both property insurance (such as homeowners, commercial property, and inland marine) and casualty insurance (such as auto, general liability, and workers' compensation) in California. It is issued by the California Department of Insurance and is the license most new producers pursue because it opens the widest range of personal and commercial lines.
Candidates do not have to sit two separate tests. According to the Department, an applicant selects both the Property Broker-Agent and the Casualty Broker-Agent license types when scheduling the license examination at PSI and when filing the new license application; applicants who check both license types on the application pay one filing fee and take one examination covering both license types.
The examination is multiple choice and is organized into four content areas: insurance principles and concepts, property insurance basics, casualty insurance basics, and California insurance law and regulations. Expect a mix of terminology, policy-provision analysis, coverage comparisons, and California-specific rules on licensing, marketing, and consumer protection. Preparation typically means completing a prelicensing course, then drilling practice questions area by area and finishing with timed mixed sets that mirror the four-part structure.
What you'll study
About CA Property & Casualty preparation
Do I have to pass two separate exams to hold both the property and casualty qualifications?
No. The California Department of Insurance states that applicants who check both the Property Broker-Agent and Casualty Broker-Agent license types on the application pay one filing fee and take one examination for both license types. You select both license types when scheduling the exam at PSI and again when filing the application.
How do I actually apply and schedule the test?
Two separate steps. First, schedule the license examination with PSI, selecting both the Property Broker-Agent and Casualty Broker-Agent license types. Second, file the new license application submitted to the California Department of Insurance (the Department's page directs applicants to sircon.com), again selecting both license types so the combined license is issued.
What is the exam format?
It is a multiple-choice examination covering four content areas: insurance principles and concepts, property insurance basics, casualty insurance basics, and California insurance law and regulations. The Department's licensing pages do not publish the item count or time limit; those details appear in the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin referenced on the Department's site.
How many questions are on the exam and how long do I have?
The California Department of Insurance pages describing this license do not state a question count or a time limit, so treat any specific number you see elsewhere with caution. Download the current Candidate Information Bulletin from PSI, which administers the examination, for the official item count, appointment length, and testing rules.
What score do I need to pass?
The Department's license pages do not publish a passing score for this examination. The current pass mark and scoring explanation are set out in the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin. Confirm the figure there before your appointment rather than relying on study guides or forum posts, which often quote outdated passing standards.
What happens if I fail - how soon can I retake it?
The Department's pages do not describe a retake waiting period or a limit on attempts. Retake rules, fees, and scheduling windows are handled through PSI's examination scheduling process. Check the Candidate Information Bulletin and your PSI account for the current policy before assuming a specific waiting period applies.
What order should I study the four content areas in?
Build the foundation first: insurance principles and concepts, since risk, indemnity, policy structure, and producer/agency authority reappear in every other section. Then work property and casualty side by side so coverage comparisons stay fresh, and leave California insurance law and regulations for last, drilling it in short repeated sessions.
Where do candidates most often lose points?
Three patterns dominate. Weak vocabulary - confusing coinsurance with deductibles, or occurrence with claims-made forms. Skipping California-specific law because it feels like rote memorization. And reading coverage questions too quickly, missing exclusion or limitation language that changes the correct answer. Slow down on policy-provision items and always read all four options.
Is the Property and Casualty Broker-Agent license the same as the Fire and Casualty Broker-Agent license?
Yes. The Department's requirement page for this credential is titled "Fire and Casualty Broker-Agent" while the body describes applying for a "Property and Casualty Broker-Agent" license by selecting both the Property Broker-Agent and Casualty Broker-Agent license types. The names refer to the same combined qualification; use whichever label appears on the form you are completing.