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California · State licensing

Pass the California Life & Health insurance license exam.

California is one of the few states using a 60% passing score and a 12-hour ethics requirement layered on top of 20/20 pre-licensing hours. PSI is the only testing vendor.

Quick answer: The California Life & Health insurance license exam is administered by PSI as a 150-question combined exam with a 180-minute limit, and you need 60% to pass. California requires 40 hours of pre-licensing education before you can sit. The exam fee is $72 per attempt.

Try the free California practice exam →

Quick facts

Testing vendor
PSI
Passing score
60%
Pre-licensing hours
40h combined
Application fee
$188
Exam fee
$72 per attempt
Combined exam length
150 Q · 180 min

Source: www.insurance.ca.gov. Confirm before you register. State schedules change.

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What's on the California L&H exam.

The California L&H exam is administered by PSI after you finish a state-approved 40-hour pre-licensing course. The combined exam runs 150 questions with a 180-minute time limit. Passing requires 60%.

Content roughly follows the NAIC L&H outline: general concepts, life products, annuities, federal tax treatment, health products, social insurance, ethics, and a state-specific law section. The state law portion is where most candidates lose points, it's the section a generic national bank cannot cover well.

What it costs to get licensed in California.

Plan for roughly $300–$335 in mandatory California state and vendor fees before any study materials, plus the cost of the required 40-hour pre-licensing course.

License application
$188
Exam fee
$72 per attempt
Fingerprinting / background check
~$40–$75
Pre-licensing education
40 hours required

A retake means paying the $72 exam fee again, so a first-time pass is the cheapest path. See the full cost breakdown by state and how hard the exam is.

California exam FAQ.

What's the passing score for the California L&H exam?
60%, lower than most states, but the question pool leans heavier on California-specific code than the NAIC average.
How many pre-licensing hours does California require?
20 hours of education per line (life and accident-health) plus a separate 12-hour California Ethics & Code course before you can sit the exam.
Who administers the California L&H exam?
PSI Services. You schedule online at PSI's California portal after your pre-licensing certificate is on file with the CDI.
How much does it cost to get licensed in California?
Roughly $260 in mandatory fees before any prep materials: $188 application fee + $72 exam fee per attempt. Fees and hours change frequently. Confirm the latest figures on your state insurance department's site before you register.

Licensing in other states too?

Each state has its own vendor, hours, and fee schedule.