Start with the official California Department of Insurance examination objectives, then study life insurance, health insurance, annuities, and California-specific regulations. Complete the required Ethics and California Insurance Code coursework and use practice questions to identify weak areas. Before test day, take a full-length 150-question practice exam with a 195-minute timer and aim to score comfortably above the official 60% passing score.

The combined California Life, Accident and Health or Sickness examination has 150 questions and a 195-minute time limit. You need a score of 60% to pass. California also offers separate Life and Accident and Health or Sickness examinations; each has 75 questions and a 105-minute time limit. We recommend aiming for 80% or higher on practice tests before exam day.

The exam covers life insurance policy types, beneficiaries and settlement options; individual and group health coverage; disability income, long-term care, Medicare and related health products; annuities; and California-specific licensing rules. The state material includes the California Insurance Code, ethics, fiduciary duties, anti-fraud provisions, replacement rules, and required disclosures. Use the current California Department of Insurance examination objectives as your final study checklist.

The California insurance exam fee is $88, paid to the California Department of Insurance. There is an additional convenience fee of $33 for in-person testing or $43 for remote/online proctored testing, making the total cost $121 (in-person) or $131 (remote). The exam is administered exclusively by PSI Services LLC. You can take it at a PSI testing center in California or remotely via PSI's online proctoring system from your home or office. To schedule, visit the PSI website or call (833) 518-7456. If you fail and retake, you pay the full fee again each time.

As of January 1, 2026 (under AB 943), the 20-hour line-specific pre-licensing course is no longer required, though it is still recommended for exam preparation. However, you must complete 12 hours of coursework covering Ethics and the California Insurance Code, which includes 1 hour of mandatory anti-fraud training. This must be completed before a license can be issued. Additional requirements include: you must be 18 years of age or older, submit fingerprints via Capital Live Scan (CDI's approved vendor), and bring a valid government-issued photo ID on exam day. After passing, apply for your license online through Sircon or NIPR.

If you fail the California insurance exam, you can retake it up to 10 times within a 12-month period. The retake schedule includes waiting periods: attempts 1 and 2 have no waiting period (can retake after 24 hours), attempt 3 requires a 30-day wait, attempt 4 has no wait, and attempt 5 requires a 60-day wait. Each retake requires paying the full exam fee ($88 plus the convenience fee). After 10 failed attempts, you are banned from retaking for one year from the date of your last attempt. You'll receive a diagnostic score report showing your strengths and weaknesses by section — use this to focus your additional study on the areas you missed. We recommend upgrading to our premium question bank for targeted practice on your weak areas.