IC-38 Life
IC-38 Life Insurance Agent Examination
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ExploreAbout this exam
The IC-38 Examination is the pre-licensing examination pathway used in India for individuals who wish to be appointed as insurance agents. On the Insurance Institute of India's site, the IC-38 material and the "Grace Passing Marks - IC -38 Examination" link appear in several separate portals: Insurance Agent, Corporate Agents, Insurance Marketing Firm and Web Aggregators. That structure matters for candidates, because the study track and the registration route differ depending on the entity through which you intend to be appointed. The Institute publishes a Revised IC 38 Course material, with a separate study material and model question bank for each of those four categories, so you should confirm which version applies to you before you begin. Preparation is best built around the official study material for your category, followed by the model question bank to test recall and identify weak chapters. The Institute also publishes help manuals and a FAQ section covering registration, photo and signature upload, training completion certificates and examination receipts; use these for procedural questions rather than relying on hearsay. Note that the Institute has announced new and revised study course materials effective from September 2026 for online examinations, and a revision of professional examination fees from 1 April 2026, so verify current details on the Institute's pages before you register or pay.
What you'll study
About IC-38 Life preparation
Which IC-38 study material should I use?
It depends on your route. The Institute lists four separate sets: Insurance Agent, Corporate Agent, Insurance Marketing Firm and Web Aggregators, each with its own study material plus a model question bank. Confirm your category before studying, because content and question banks are not interchangeable across these four tracks.
Is the IC-38 exam conducted online?
The Institute's home page refers to online examinations, and the notices about revised study course materials are explicitly tied to online examination sessions. Registration, training and examination steps are handled through the Institute's online portals. Check the current examination schedule and your category's help manual for the exact mode and slot.
What is the passing score for IC-38?
The Institute publishes a dedicated page titled "Grace Passing Marks - IC -38 Examination" linked from each distribution channel's section. The source page does not state the marks or percentage, so read that page directly for the current figure rather than relying on second-hand numbers, which are frequently outdated.
How long is the exam and how many questions are there?
The source page does not state the duration or question count for IC-38. These details are published in the examination schedule and the relevant help manual for your category. Treat any duration or question count you hear informally with caution and verify it on the Institute's site before exam day.
Are the study materials changing?
Yes. The Institute has announced new and revised study course materials from September 2026 for online examinations, and separately notes introduction of revised study course materials from June 2026 online examination. If you are preparing across those dates, check which revision applies to your session so you do not study superseded content.
What does IC-38 training involve for corporate agents and IMFs?
The portals for Corporate Agents and Insurance Marketing Firms describe fresh and renewal online training, single and bulk registration, training completion certificates, and a restriction on training payment after 210 days from URN creation. Complete training and download your certificate before proceeding to examination registration.
How do I avoid problems with registration and payment?
Use the help manuals listed for your category: single registration, bulk registration, photo and signature upload, online payment and web wallet. The Institute also publishes circulars on Aadhaar number and URN validity, and on web/mobile app based training. Read the circular applicable to your channel before paying.
What are common reasons candidates get stuck?
Recurring friction points visible in the Institute's own help listings are photo and signature upload, duplicate records, URN validity, and payment timing relative to training. Candidates also study the wrong category's material. Work through your channel's help manual and FAQ before starting, and keep your registration details consistent.
Where can I confirm fees and dates?
The Institute's home page carries notices, including revision of professional examination fees with effect from 1 April 2026 and 5% GST on e-books from 20 March 2026. Fee structures and qualification requirements are published separately for each category. Always confirm on the Institute's site, since figures change between sessions.