California Insurance Prelicensing Requirements

Register for your California insurance prelicensing exam prep here:

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Updated June 27, 2024

ExamFX Provider #161124

 

CALIFORNIA INSURANCE PRELICENSING INFORMATION

California requires producer licensing candidates to take and complete a state-approved prelicensing course. You will also need to apply for your license with the state insurance department and register for the state licensing exam. Make sure to register for all 3 (prelicensing course, license application, state exam) using the personally identifiable information exactly as it appears on your government issued ID. Discrepancies will delay the licensing process.

In combination with the required hours per line of authority, you must take and complete 12 hours of Code and Ethics. You must only complete this requirement once.

 

LINE OF AUTHORITYREQUIRED HOURS OF STUDY
 
Life20 hours
Accident and Health or Sickness20 hours
Life and Accident and Health or Sickness40 hours
Property and Casualty40 hours
Personal Lines (includes Code and Ethics)32 hours
Limited Lines Automobile Agent20 hours
Code and Ethics12 hours
Life (includes Code and Ethics)32 hours
Accident and Health or Sickness (includes Code and Ethics)32 hours
Life, Accident and Health or Sickness (includes Code and Ethics)52 hours
Property and Casualty (includes Code and Ethics)52 hours

A state reporting fee of $6.00 per course will be charged when you place your order.

HOW DO I COMPLETE MY EXAMFX PRELICENSING EDUCATION COURSE?

To earn your certificate of completion:

  • Spend the total amount of the required hours in the course study materials. Time spent within the course will be tracked.
  • Read every chapter and take the end-of-chapter quiz.

DON'T FORGET YOUR READINESS EXAM!

ExamFX is so confident in the quality of its material that we offer our customers a first-time pass guarantee. If you don’t pass the first time around, we will refund your money. To qualify for this offer, you must pass our Readiness Exam with a score of 80% to determine maximum exam readiness. While completing this portion of your online course is not required, we highly recommend taking this extra step.

HOW DO I GET MY LICENSE?

Step 1: Complete a prelicensing course that has been approved by the Department of Insurance. Once you have completed your course, ExamFX will issue a certificate of completion which you may download and print from your online ExamFX account.

Step 2: Schedule your exam with your state’s testing provider, PSI Exams. The fastest way to schedule your exam is to do so online or call (833) 518-7456. Your exam may be taken at a physical PSI examination center or via a remote online proctored exam.

Security measures are taken for all testing methods. Restrictions on what you may bring with you to the testing center, into the testing room, and what you may wear will be enforced. For more detailed information about the security measures that will be taken during your testing appointment, please read and review the candidate bulletin offered at PSI Exams.

California requires fingerprinting and background checks with your insurance agent licensing application. Fingerprinting requirements may be met before the exam is taken. You have a number of fingerprinting options. Please go to the California Insurance Department website to determine which option works best for you.

Fingerprinting is an important part of the licensing process. ExamFX highly recommends completing your fingerprinting requirement at or before the time of your exam as it will help ensure efficient processing of your licensing application.

Step 3: Take and pass your state licensing exam. On the day of your appointment, you must bring with you one valid form of government-issued identification (driver’s license, passport, military I.D., etc.) that must contain your name and photograph. If you cannot provide the required identification, call (833) 518-7456 at least 21 days prior to your scheduled appointment. You will not be able to take your exam if these requirements are not met.

Once you have passed your examination you will receive an examination letter. Keep this, as it is important in the licensing process.

Step 4: Apply for your license online at Sircon or NIPR and create an account and then submit your application. You may use the Check License Application Status Service (CLASS) to check the status of your license application.

Step 5: Maintain your license by being aware of your continuing education requirements. Most insurance licenses must be maintained by completing a certain number of credit hours of continuing education each licensing period. ExamFX offers continuing education courses that will help you comply with your state’s requirements. Click here to view your state’s education rules and stay on top of your license.

 

EXAMS AND STUDY MATERIALS IN OTHER LANGUAGES

California insurance licensing exams may be taken in Chinese (Simplified), Korean, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese.

The following ExamFX courses include the option to study in both English and Spanish:

  • Life
  • Health
  • Life & Health
  • Code & Ethics (12 hour)

 

ExamFX prelicensing courses include links to the California Educational Objectives in Chinese (Simplified), Korean, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese to assist candidates studying for those exams.

 

WHAT WILL MY EXAM BE LIKE?

Your exam experience is dependent on the line of authority you are testing for. Review the exam summaries below. More information and the exam content outlines can be found on the testing provider's website.

The breakdown of testing topics can be found here.

  1. The number of questions on your exam
  2. The time limit
  3. The score that you must achieve to pass the exam

 

California Life Agent Examination

75 Total Questions
Time Limit: 90 Minutes
Passing Score: 60%

Train for your test with our California Life exam prep course.


California Accident and Health Agent Examination

75 Total Questions
Time Limit: 90 Minutes
Passing Score: 60%

Train for your test with our California Health exam prep course.


California Property Broker-Agent Insurance Examination

75 Total Questions
Time Limit: 98 Minutes
Passing Score: 60%

 

California Casualty Broker-Agent Insurance Examination

75 Total Questions
Time Limit: 98 Minutes
Passing Score: 60%

Train for your test with our California Property and Casualty exam prep course.


California Limited Lines Auto Examination

60 Total Questions
Time Limit: 105 Minutes
Passing Score: 60%

Train for your test with our California Limited Lines Automobile exam prep course.


California Personal Lines Broker-Agent Insurance Examination

90 Total Questions
Time Limit: 135 Minutes
Passing Score: 60%

Train for your test with our California Personal Lines exam prep course.


For licensing questions:
California Department of Insurance
Phone: (800) 967-9331
Email: Click here to submit a request form to the CA DOI
Website: https://www.insurance.ca.gov

For questions about the examination:
PSI Services LLC (PSI)
PSI
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (833) 518-7456

The information displayed above is for informational purposes only. ExamFX is not responsible for the accuracy of the information on this page. All steps have been taken to make sure that the information relayed on this page is accurate; however, information is subject to change without notice. It is the responsibility of the producer to be compliant with their state's requirements.


Register for your California insurance prelicensing exam prep here:

Register Now