Alabama Life & Health Insurance Exam: Complete Guide

The Alabama Life and Health insurance exam is one of the most important hurdles in your journey to becoming a licensed producer. Unlike many states, Alabama doesn't require prelicense education — but the exam itself is still rigorous, and you need serious preparation to pass. Understanding exactly what you're facing lets you prepare strategically.

Here's your complete guide to the Alabama Life and Health insurance exam.

Who Administers the Alabama Exam

Alabama is unique among U.S. states — its insurance licensing exams are administered by The University of Alabama, not Pearson VUE or PSI. The University partners with the Alabama Department of Insurance (ALDOI) to deliver exams at testing centers and through online proctored options.

Registration: training.ua.edu/insurance-testing Phone: (205) 348-3000 Email: insurance@ua.edu

Register at least 7 days (5 business days) before your desired exam date. Exam fees are paid at registration by credit or debit card.

Alabama Exam Structure by License Type

Alabama offers separate exams for different lines of authority:

Most new agents pursuing life and health careers take the combined Life and Health exam.

The 70% Passing Score

Alabama requires a score of 70% to pass. For the 150-question combined Life and Health exam, that's 105 correct answers minimum.

70% sounds forgiving, but Alabama's exam is designed to test genuine understanding — not surface recall. Questions frequently use scenario-based framing that requires applying knowledge, not just recognizing definitions.

What's Tested on the Life & Health Exam

The combined Life and Health exam covers several major content domains:

General Insurance Concepts. Risk principles, insurable interest, contract law basics, agent authority, regulatory framework.

Life Insurance Basics. Types of life insurance (term, whole, universal, variable), how each works, cash value, dividends, and purposes life insurance serves.

Life Insurance Policies, Provisions, and Riders. Grace periods, reinstatement, incontestability, beneficiaries, policy loans, settlement options, and common riders.

Annuities. Fixed, variable, immediate, deferred. Accumulation and payout phases. Tax treatment. Suitability.

Accident and Health Insurance Basics. HMOs, PPOs, POS, EPOs. Individual vs. group coverage. Plan funding structures.

Accident and Health Policies and Provisions. Deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, out-of-pocket maximums, coordination of benefits, pre-existing condition rules.

Medical Plans and Specialized Coverage. Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care insurance, disability income insurance.

Federal Regulation. HIPAA, ERISA, ACA provisions, and federal rules affecting Alabama agents.

Alabama Insurance Laws and Regulations. State-specific laws, ALDOI regulations, Alabama producer conduct, and Alabama-specific consumer protections.

Ethics. Fiduciary duty, fair dealing, confidentiality, agent conduct standards.

Content Area Weighting

Each content area has a specific weighting on the exam. The most heavily weighted sections typically include:

Life insurance policies and provisions

Accident and Health policies and provisions

Alabama-specific laws

Annuities

Medicare and specialized coverage

Strong performance in these areas is often the difference between passing and failing.

Exam Day: What to Expect

Arrive 15-20 minutes before your exam time to complete paperwork and check in.

Bring proper ID. Valid government-issued photo ID matching the name on your registration.

Leave personal items outside the testing area. No purses, study materials, books, calculators, or cell phones are permitted.

Scratch paper and pencil are typically provided at the testing center.

On-screen calculator may be available through the testing platform for basic math.

Grading is immediate. Your examination is graded upon submission. If you pass, you receive a passing certificate on-site certifying exam completion and providing instructions for completing the application process.

Remote Testing Options

Alabama offers remote online testing options for certain exams. Remote testing allows you to take your exam from any location with proper equipment and environment.

Requirements for remote testing:

Webcam

Reliable internet connection

Quiet, private testing environment

Valid government-issued photo ID

Approval through the Alabama support process

For online testing, wait 24-48 business hours after registering to receive an email invitation from alabamasupport@adjusterpro.com with instructions for starting the online testing process.

After You Pass

Your passing certificate is valid for 1 year from the exam date. You must file your online license application with the ALDOI within that window — otherwise you'll need to retake the exam.

Passing grades are reported electronically to the ALDOI within 3-5 days.

Next steps after passing:

Complete fingerprinting through Gemalto Cogent Systems (time it carefully — fingerprints are valid 30 days only)

Submit license application through NIPR or SBS

Pay application fee

Wait for ALDOI to issue your license (typically within 5 business days)

Print your license from aldoi.gov

If You Don't Pass

Don't panic. Many now-successful Alabama agents failed their first attempt.

Review your score report to identify weak content areas

Wait at least 1-2 weeks before retaking — use the time for focused review

Re-register with the University of Alabama and schedule your retake

Pay the retake fee

Come back with stronger preparation

Why Alabama's Approach Matters

Alabama's partnership with The University of Alabama for exam administration reflects the state's long-standing commitment to rigorous, academically-grounded licensing. Unlike some states that have moved to purely commercial testing providers, Alabama maintains this partnership to emphasize the quality and seriousness of the licensing process.

For you as a candidate, this means:

Testing environments are professional and well-organized

Exam content is carefully developed and reviewed

Results are reliable and promptly reported

The passing certificate carries significant weight

5 Frequently Asked Questions

• How many questions are on the Alabama Life and Health exam? The combined Life and Health exam has 150 questions. Life-only has 125, Health-only has 100.
• What's the passing score? 70%. You need to answer at least 70% of questions correctly to pass.
• Where do I take the Alabama insurance exam? Alabama's exams are administered by The University of Alabama through their testing network. Register at training.ua.edu/insurance-testing.
• Can I take the exam online? Yes, remote online testing is available for many Alabama exams. Requirements include a webcam, reliable internet, and proper environment.
• How long is my passing certificate valid? 1 year. You must file your license application with the ALDOI within 1 year of passing, or you'll need to retake the exam.

Walk Into the Alabama Exam Prepared

Knowing what to expect gives you a significant advantage. At JustInsurance, our Alabama-focused exam prep covers exactly what the state exam tests — in the proportions it's actually tested.

Enroll today and prepare for your Alabama Life and Health exam with confidence.