California Property & Casualty Insurance Exam 2026
Everything you need to know about getting your California Property & Casualty Broker-Agent license — from pre-licensing education requirements to PSI exam structure, automobile and homeowners coverages, California Insurance Code regulations, and passing on your first attempt.
What This License Is
The California Property & Casualty Broker-Agent license authorizes you to write coverage for residential properties, personal and commercial motor vehicles, commercial buildings, umbrella liability, workers' compensation, and inland marine insurance across the state of California.
Under California Insurance Code (CIC) § 1625, a Property and Casualty Broker-Agent acts on behalf of an insurance company or represents clients in transacting property and casualty insurance policies.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Must complete CDI-approved pre-licensing education (or qualify for a waiver based on prior license/designations like CPCU or CIC).
- Must submit fingerprint impressions for criminal history background check through Live Scan.
- Must pass the California Property & Casualty Broker-Agent licensing examination administered by PSI.
Pre-Licensing Education
California requires candidates to complete approved pre-licensing coursework before taking the PSI licensing exam:
Property Insurance
20 Hours
Homeowners, Dwelling, Commercial Property & Fire
Casualty Insurance
20 Hours
Auto, Liability, Workers' Comp & Commercial Lines
Code & Ethics
12 Hours
California Insurance Code, Ethics & Anti-Fraud
Total for combined Property & Casualty license: 52 Hours. If you are taking Property-only or Casualty-only, you need 20 hours for the line + 12 hours Code & Ethics (32 hours total).
Fingerprinting & Background
Fingerprinting must be completed at a Live Scan vendor located in California. Candidates outside California can submit hard card fingerprinting (Form FD-258).
P&C License Options
Property & Casualty Broker-Agent (Combined)
150 Questions | 3 Hours | $131 Fee
Covers both property and casualty risks. Recommended for general insurance producers.
Property-Only Broker-Agent
75 Questions | 1.5 Hours
Covers real and personal property, homeowners, dwelling, and inland marine.
Casualty-Only Broker-Agent
75 Questions | 1.5 Hours
Covers automobile liability, commercial general liability, and workers' compensation.
Exam Content & Topics
The California P&C examination tests knowledge across five core insurance domains:
Automobile Insurance
Personal Auto Policy (PAP), California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan (CAARP), Financial Responsibility Laws.
Homeowners & Dwelling Policies
HO-2, HO-3, HO-4, HO-6 policy forms, property coverage limits, deductibles, and endorsements.
Commercial Lines Coverage
Commercial General Liability (CGL), Commercial Package Policy (CPP), Businessowners Policy (BOP).
Workers' Compensation & Umbrella
California Workers' Comp regulations, employer liability, and personal/commercial umbrella policies.
California Insurance Code & Ethics
Producer duties, unfair trade practices, insurance definitions, license renewal, and disciplinary actions.
Scheduling with PSI
The California Department of Insurance (CDI) contracts exclusively with PSI Services LLC to administer all insurance producer licensing examinations.
In-Person & Remote Testing Options
You can take your exam at a PSI testing center located throughout California or remotely online via the PSI Bridge proctoring system from your home or office.
How to Schedule
Schedule online at the PSI Exam Portal or call PSI candidate services at (833) 518-7456.
Fee Breakdown
California insurance producer licensing involves fees for the state exam, test administration, fingerprinting, and your initial license application:
| Fee Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| CDI Examination Fee | $88 per attempt |
| PSI Convenience Fee (Remote / Online) | $43 per attempt |
| Total Exam Fee (Remote) | $131 per attempt |
| Live Scan Fingerprinting | ~$49 – $75 |
| CDI Initial License Application Fee | $188 (2-year license) |
Exam Day Rules
Follow these critical testing rules on exam day to ensure your exam score is accepted without issue:
Passing Score & Retakes
The passing score for the California P&C Broker-Agent exam is 60%.
• Combined P&C Exam: 150 total questions — you must answer at least 90 questions correctly.
• Single Line Exam (Property or Casualty): 75 total questions — you must answer at least 45 questions correctly.
Retake Policy: You may retake the exam up to 10 times within a 12-month period. There is no waiting period for your second attempt, a 30-day wait after a 3rd attempt, and a 60-day wait after a 5th attempt. Each retake requires paying the full exam fee ($131).
Applying via FLASH
Once you pass the exam and complete Live Scan fingerprinting, apply for your California license online through the CDI's FLASH / Licensing portal:
1. Log in to FLASH
Access flash.insurance.ca.gov or apply via NIPR / Sircon.
2. Submit Application & Background Details
Complete the license application questions and verify your passed exam results.
3. Pay License Application Fee
Pay the $188 initial 2-year license application fee online.
Application processing typically takes 2 to 4 weeks after exam results and Live Scan reports are received.
Continuing Education
To maintain your California P&C license, you must complete 24 hours of continuing education (CE) every 2 years before your license expiration date.
At least 3 hours must cover Ethics and California Insurance Code.
The remaining 21 hours can cover property, casualty, or general insurance topics.
The biennial license renewal fee is $188.
P&C Study Strategy
Candidates typically prepare over 3 to 5 weeks. Focus your study on these core areas:
1. Master California Insurance Code & Ethics
Ethics & California Insurance Code accounts for ~15% of your exam score. Memorize key statutory definitions and producer duties under CIC § 1625.
2. Memorize Key Policy Forms & Coverage Limits
Know Homeowners forms (HO-2, HO-3, HO-4, HO-6), Personal Auto Policy (PAP) coverages, Commercial General Liability (CGL), and Workers' Compensation rules.
3. Take Timed Practice Exams
Practice with 150-question mock exams under a 3-hour timer. Aim for a score of 80%+ on practice tests before taking the official PSI exam.
Quick Reference
| Minimum Age | 18 years old |
| Pre-Licensing Education | 52 hours (20 property + 20 casualty + 12 code/ethics) |
| Combined Exam Format | 150 questions, 3 hours |
| Property or Casualty Only | 75 questions, 90 minutes |
| Passing Score | 60% (90/150 correct) |
| CDI Exam Fee | $88 per attempt |
| PSI Convenience Fee | $43 remote / $33 in-person |
| Total Exam Cost | $131 per attempt |
| Fingerprinting | Live Scan (~$49–$75) |
| License Application Fee | $188 (initial 2-year license) |
| License Application Portal | FLASH (flash.insurance.ca.gov), Sircon, or NIPR |
| Processing Time | 2–4 weeks after submission |
| Continuing Education | 24 hours every 2 years (3 hrs Ethics) |
| License Renewal Fee | $188 every 2 years |
Official Links
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