VA Life & Health

Virginia Life & Health Insurance Agent Licensing Examination

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About this exam

The Virginia Life & Health agent license is the credential that lets you solicit, negotiate, and sell life insurance and accident and sickness (health) insurance products in the Commonwealth. Candidates typically pursue it to work as a captive or independent producer, a benefits or Medicare-focused agent, or a financial-services professional who needs the insurance line attached to their practice. The licensing examination is delivered by computer through Pearson Professional Assessments (the company now rebranded from Pearson VUE), which also handles scheduling, test-center and online-proctored delivery, and test accommodations. Content is organized into three roughly equal areas: life insurance concepts and products; health insurance concepts and products; and the Virginia insurance statutes, rules, and regulations that govern producer conduct, marketing, replacement, and consumer protection. Preparation works best in layers: learn the product mechanics first, then layer on Virginia-specific rules, then drill mixed-topic practice questions under timed conditions until accuracy is stable across all three areas. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or published by the Virginia State Corporation Commission, its Bureau of Insurance, or Pearson. Always confirm current exam logistics, fees, and licensing steps directly with the Bureau of Insurance and your exam program's official page before you register.

What you'll study

Common questions

About VA Life & Health preparation

What is the exam format?

It is a computer-delivered, multiple-choice licensing examination administered through Pearson Professional Assessments (formerly Pearson VUE). You can sit for it at a test center or, where the program permits, through online proctored delivery. Confirm the current item count, time allowance, and delivery options on the program's own page before you schedule.

How many questions are there and how long do I have?

Those figures are set by the exam program and are not published on the regulator's general consumer pages, so treat any number you hear secondhand as unverified. Check the current candidate handbook or the program listing on the Pearson Professional Assessments site. Practice with timed sets regardless, so pacing never becomes your limiting factor.

What score do I need to pass?

The passing standard is defined by the licensing program, not by a fixed percentage you can reliably infer from practice scores. Look it up on the official program page rather than relying on forum claims. In practice, aim to be consistently well above the threshold on mixed-topic sets so that one weak domain cannot sink the whole attempt.

If I fail, can I retake it and how soon?

Retakes are permitted, but the waiting period and any repeat-attempt rules are set by the program and change over time. Verify the current policy with the Bureau of Insurance or your program's customer service before assuming a date. Use the score report to identify the weakest domain and rebuild that section before rebooking.

What order should I study the three content areas in?

Learn life products, then health products, then Virginia rules. Product mechanics give you the vocabulary the regulations assume, and many Virginia requirements (replacement, disclosure, producer duties, marketing conduct) apply to both lines. Studying the state material last lets you attach each rule to a product you already understand instead of memorizing it in isolation.

Where do candidates usually lose points?

Two places. First, Virginia-specific rules: candidates study generic insurance concepts and then guess on state requirements. Second, product comparisons: distinguishing similar policies, riders, and payout options under time pressure. Drill the state material until it is as automatic as the product material, and rehearse comparison questions rather than single-fact recall.

Can I get testing accommodations?

Yes. Pearson states that it provides equitable access to testing and offers accommodations such as extra time or a separate room on request. Accommodation requests are handled through the program before your appointment, so start that process early rather than raising it on exam day.

How do I schedule, reschedule, or cancel?

Go to the Pearson Professional Assessments site, find your exam program using the search bar or the A-to-Z list, create or log in to your account, then search for a local test center or check online-testing availability. The program page also carries scheduling, rescheduling, cancellation, and customer-service details specific to your exam.

How do I confirm my license after I pass?

Use the State Corporation Commission's Bureau of Insurance license lookup, which lets you search for license information about an agent, agency, navigator, or company. That lookup is the authoritative record for your license status, so verify there rather than relying on a certificate or an email confirmation alone.