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South Dakota · State licensing

Pass the South Dakota Life & Health insurance license exam.

South Dakota requires no state pre-licensing education and its combined Life, Accident and Health Pearson VUE exam has 145 questions with a 150 minute limit and a 70 percent passing score.

Quick answer: The South Dakota Life & Health insurance license exam is administered by Pearson VUE as a 145-question combined exam with a 150-minute limit, and you need 70% to pass. South Dakota does not require pre-licensing education before you sit. The exam fee is $95 per attempt.

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Quick facts

Testing vendor
Pearson VUE
Passing score
70%
Pre-licensing hours
Not required
Application fee
$25
Exam fee
$95 per attempt
Combined exam length
145 Q · 150 min

Source: dlr.sd.gov. Confirm before you register. State schedules change.

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What's on the South Dakota L&H exam.

The South Dakota L&H exam is administered by Pearson VUE. The combined exam runs 145 questions with a 150-minute time limit. Passing requires 70%.

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 South Dakota.

Plan for roughly $160–$195 in mandatory South Dakota state and vendor fees before any study materials.

License application
$25
Exam fee
$95 per attempt
Fingerprinting / background check
~$40–$75
Pre-licensing education
Not required

A retake means paying the $95 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.

South Dakota exam FAQ.

Does South Dakota require pre-licensing education for a life and health license?
No, South Dakota does not require any pre-licensing education to obtain a resident producer license, though a study course is recommended.
How much does the South Dakota combined life and health exam cost?
The combined Life, Accident and Health exam fee is 95 dollars per attempt, while a single-line exam is 85 dollars.
What score do I need to pass the South Dakota insurance exam?
You need to answer 70 percent of questions correctly to pass the South Dakota insurance licensing exam.

Licensing in other states too?

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