Pennsylvania Life & Health Insurance Exam: Complete Guide

The Pennsylvania Life and Health insurance exam is your gateway to a Pennsylvania insurance career — and walking in unprepared is one of the biggest mistakes new candidates make. Pennsylvania's exam covers substantial general insurance content plus distinctive Pennsylvania-specific topics including the state's regulatory structure, Pennsylvania-specific consumer protection requirements, and Pennsylvania's role as a major healthcare insurance market through Pennie (Pennsylvania's state-based health insurance exchange).

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

Who Administers the Exam

Pennsylvania insurance licensing exams are administered by PSI Services LLC on behalf of the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. You register and schedule through PSI's website at psiexams.com/test-takers/ or by phone at 1-888-818-5822.

Where You'll Take the Exam

PSI offers two testing options for Pennsylvania:

PSI Testing Centers. Physical testing locations throughout Pennsylvania with appointments typically available within 1-2 weeks of booking.

Online Proctored Testing. Pennsylvania permits online proctored testing through PSI for many insurance exams, providing flexibility for candidates with compatible computers and quiet test environments.

Pennsylvania Exam Structure

Pennsylvania offers various exam types matched to license types. Passing score is 70% on every exam.

Single-line exams:

100 questions

2 hours (120 minutes)

Examples: Producer's Life Insurance (16-01), Producer's Accident and Health Insurance (16-02)

Combined-line exams:

150 questions

2 hours 50 minutes (170 minutes)

Example: Producer's Property and Casualty Insurance

Common Pennsylvania Exam Codes:

The specific exam codes and details are published in the PSI Pennsylvania Candidate Information Bulletin — review this before scheduling your exam.

Exam fee: $43 per exam, paid to PSI at registration.

Exam validity: Your passing score is valid for 12 months — you must apply for licensure within this window.

The Two-Section Format

Pennsylvania exams have two content areas combined into one test:

General Knowledge. Insurance principles applicable in any state — concepts like risk management, contract law, life insurance products, health insurance plans, and federal regulations.

State Law (Pennsylvania-Specific). Pennsylvania-specific insurance laws, rules, regulations, and practices unique to Pennsylvania.

You receive a single combined score for the entire exam.

Major Content Areas — General Knowledge

The General Knowledge section covers:

General Insurance Concepts. Risk and insurance 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 the 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 (Pennsylvania Medical Assistance), long-term care insurance, disability income insurance.

Federal Regulation. HIPAA, ERISA, ACA provisions, COBRA, USA PATRIOT Act, and federal rules affecting insurance.

Major Content Areas — Pennsylvania State Law

The State Law section covers:

Pennsylvania Insurance Code. Title 40 of Pennsylvania Statutes, including producer regulations, agent and broker provisions, and consumer protection rules.

Pennsylvania Licensing Requirements. Residency, age, application requirements, lines of authority. Note that PLE was eliminated by Act 142 of 2024 effective April 29, 2025.

Producer Conduct Standards. Honest representation, fiduciary duty, disclosure requirements, documentation.

Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices. Misrepresentation, twisting, churning, rebating, defamation, coercion, intimidation, unfair discrimination.

Pennsylvania Replacement Rules. Specific requirements for replacing life insurance and annuity contracts in Pennsylvania.

Pennie. Pennsylvania's state-based health insurance exchange, established in 2020.

Pennsylvania Medical Assistance. Pennsylvania's Medicaid program.

Pennsylvania CHIP. Children's Health Insurance Program.

Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Requirements. Specific LTC training and policy requirements.

Pennsylvania Continuing Education. 24 hours every 2 years (3 hours Ethics + 2 hours Flood for P&C/Personal Lines).

Pennsylvania Insurance Department Authority. Powers and procedures of the Department.

What's Weighted Heaviest

The most heavily weighted sections on the Pennsylvania exam typically include:

Life insurance policies and provisions

Accident and Health policies and provisions

Pennsylvania-specific laws (typically 15-25% of exam)

Annuities

Medicare and specialized coverage

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

What to Expect on Test Day

Arrive at least 30 minutes early at your PSI testing center.

Bring valid identification. A U.S. government-issued document (passport) or a state-issued driver's license or identification card. Names must match your registration exactly.

No phones, notes, books, or study materials in the testing room.

Scratch paper and pencil are typically provided.

On-screen calculator is available for basic math.

Results appear within 24 hours, with most candidates receiving results within minutes of completing the exam.

After the Exam

If you pass: Your result reports electronically to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. You can apply for your license immediately at the testing center kiosk through Sircon or NIPR (bring a credit card!).

If you fail: You receive a score report showing performance areas. You can retake the exam — pay another $43 fee and reschedule. There's no required wait between attempts in Pennsylvania, though scheduling availability is typically a few days minimum.

5 Frequently Asked Questions

• How many questions are on the Pennsylvania Life and Health combined exam? 100 questions for combined Life and Health, with 2 hours to complete them. Single-line exams (Life only or Health only) also have 100 questions and 2 hours.
• What's the passing score? 70% on Pennsylvania insurance license exams.
• How much does the Pennsylvania insurance exam cost? $43 per exam, paid to PSI at registration.
• What identification do I need at the testing center? A valid form of government-issued identification — passport, state-issued driver's license, or state-issued ID card. Names must exactly match your registration.
• Can I retake the Pennsylvania exam if I fail? Yes. Pennsylvania doesn't impose a required waiting period between attempts (though scheduling availability typically requires a few days). Each attempt requires another $43 exam fee.

Walk Into the Pennsylvania Exam Prepared

Knowing what to expect removes half the stress. At JustInsurance, our Pennsylvania prelicense course (Provider Approval #147815) is built around the Pennsylvania exam content outline — including the Pennsylvania-specific laws and recent regulatory updates.

Enroll today and prepare for the Pennsylvania exam the right way.