South Dakota Insurance Exam Cheat Sheet
Unlock the official South Dakota Life & Health exam cram sheet to master key state regulations, policy definitions, and exam-day metrics. Or, start with our free South Dakota practice questions to test your knowledge.
What's Covered on the South Dakota Life & Health Exam
Key exam lines — know what each one tests
Life Insurance Line
- Term, Whole, Universal & Variable Life policies
- Annuities (fixed, variable, immediate, deferred)
- Beneficiary designations & settlement options
- Policy riders: waiver of premium, AD&D, COLA
- Replacement rules & suitability requirements
- Grace period: 30–31 days | Free-look: 10 days (10–30 days)
Health Insurance Line
- Individual & group health, HMO, PPO, EPO, POS plans
- Medicare Parts A, B, C, D & Medigap supplements
- Medicaid & CHIP eligibility rules
- COBRA, HIPAA, ACA & continuation provisions
- Disability income: STD & LTD elimination periods
- Grace periods: 7 / 10 / 31 days by premium mode
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q:How do I pass the South Dakota Life and Health insurance exam?
Passing the South Dakota insurance exam requires mastering both general insurance fundamentals and state-specific laws under South Dakota Codified Laws (SDCL) Title 58 and Administrative Rules of South Dakota (ARSD) Article 20:06. Begin by studying life insurance policies, provisions, riders, health coverages, annuities, and state regulations administered by the South Dakota Division of Insurance. Because the examination is administered by Pearson VUE, work through realistic Pearson VUE-formatted practice questions and aim to consistently score 80% or higher on practice exams before booking your test.
Q:How many questions are on the South Dakota insurance exam and what score do I need to pass?
The South Dakota combined Life and Health insurance examination administered by Pearson VUE contains 150 multiple-choice questions with a 150-minute (2.5 hour) time limit. Candidates testing for single lines can take the Life Insurance exam (100 questions, 120 minutes) or the Accident & Health exam (100 questions, 120 minutes). To pass any South Dakota insurance exam, you must achieve a scaled score of 70% or higher. We recommend achieving 80%+ on full-length mock exams to ensure a comfortable passing cushion on test day.
Q:What topics are covered on the South Dakota Life and Health insurance exam?
The exam covers national product principles and South Dakota-specific statutes. The life section tests term, whole life, universal life, annuities, policy riders, beneficiary designations, and tax rules. The health section tests major medical, disability income, Medicare supplements, long-term care, and group mandates. The state law portion tests South Dakota Division of Insurance regulatory authority, producer licensing, continuing education rules (10 hours for single line, 20 hours for dual), 10-day standard free-look periods (30 days for replacement), Guaranty Association caps ($300k life death benefit, $100k cash surrender, $500k basic medical), and unfair trade practices.
Q:How much does the South Dakota insurance exam cost and where do I take it?
The South Dakota insurance examination fee is $95 per exam attempt, payable directly to Pearson VUE. Candidates can take the exam in person at Pearson VUE testing centers—such as locations in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Pierre—or choose Pearson VUE OnVUE online proctoring to test remotely from home or office. To schedule an exam, visit pearsonvue.com/us/en/sd/insurance.html or call Pearson VUE candidate services.
Q:What are the pre-licensing education and licensing requirements for South Dakota?
South Dakota does not statutorily require mandatory classroom pre-licensing education hours. However, thorough self-paced study using realistic practice questions is strongly recommended given the technical nature of the test. To obtain an insurance producer license from the South Dakota Division of Insurance, candidate requirements include: passing the official Pearson VUE examination, submitting electronic fingerprints via the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and FBI for a background check, and submitting an electronic license application through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) along with state licensing fees.
Q:What happens if I fail the South Dakota insurance exam and how do retakes work?
If you do not achieve the 70% passing score on a South Dakota Pearson VUE exam, you will receive an immediate diagnostic score report detailing your performance across each content area. You may re-register for the exam through Pearson VUE as soon as results are posted. There is no mandatory statutory waiting period between initial failed attempts, but you must pay the full $95 examination fee for each attempt. Use your score report to target weak areas—such as state law or annuity taxation—prior to re-testing.