Indiana Surplus Lines

It is a multiple-choice, computer-based exam delivered at a proctored test center or through online remote proctoring, and it is scored pass/fail. The state's contracted exam vendor administers scheduling, identification requirements, and score reporting; current details are posted on the Indiana Department of Insurance licensing pages and the vendor's candidate handbook.

Those figures are set by the state and are updated periodically, so check the current candidate handbook published by the Indiana Department of Insurance and its exam vendor rather than relying on secondhand numbers. Confirm the question count and appointment length when you schedule so you can pace yourself during practice.

Most candidates who already hold a property and casualty license find the concepts familiar and the difficulty comes from state-specific detail. Questions are often scenario-based, asking whether a placement was permissible or a notice was timely. Memorizing definitions without understanding the diligent-search sequence is the usual reason for a failing score.

Start with the Indiana statutory and regulatory framework, then diligent search and placement, because those two domains underpin everything else. Move next to licensing and recordkeeping, then premium tax and reporting, then eligible insurer standards and the export list, and finish with disclosure and consumer-protection notices. This order mirrors how the topics build on each other.

The Indiana Department of Insurance and its exam vendor publish the current passing standard, waiting periods, retake limits, and any fees. Those figures change, so verify them directly with the state or vendor before you sit. A failed attempt typically requires a new appointment and fee.

In practice, yes. Surplus lines authority is layered on top of a producer license, and the qualifying exam assumes working knowledge of property and casualty coverage, rating, and underwriting. Candidates who attempt the surplus lines content without that foundation struggle with coverage-based scenario questions.

Two recurring causes: treating the diligent search as a definition to memorize rather than a documented sequence of steps, and ignoring premium tax, stamping, and reporting mechanics until the last week. Disclosure timing also trips people up. Build a timeline of who must be told what, and when, for a typical non-admitted placement.

Expect light calculation, mainly premium tax computation, taxable premium basis, and fee treatment on a surplus lines transaction. You will not need advanced math, but you should be comfortable applying a percentage to a premium figure and recognizing which charges are included in the taxable base.

It is Indiana-specific. While some concepts track national non-admitted insurance practice, the questions are written to Indiana statutes, regulations, and departmental expectations. Study Indiana law and departmental guidance as your primary source, and use national material only as background context.

Most working producers need a few weeks of focused study rather than a single weekend. Budget time for one full read of the state materials, a second pass on diligent search and tax, and repeated practice with scenario questions. Schedule the exam only once your practice scores are consistently comfortable.