California Insurance License
The California insurance license exam, in plain numbers.
Everything below is specific to California — the pass mark, the question counts, who runs the exam, and what the state requires before and after you sit it.
What you need to pass in California
| Edition | Scored questions | Correct to pass | Pass mark | Misses allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life & Health | 150 | 90 | 60% | 60 |
| Life only | 75 | 45 | 60% | 30 |
| Health only | 75 | 45 | 60% | 30 |
Administered by PSI Services for the California Department of Insurance. Time limit: 3 hours 15 minutes. Roughly 40 of the scored questions (27%) come from California law — the block national courses cover most lightly.
Prelicensing
A single 12-hour Ethics and California Insurance Code course, including 1 hour of anti-fraud training. AB 943 repealed the line-specific hours effective January 1, 2026.
Continuing education
24 hours, of which 3 must be ethics, and 1 of those 3 must cover California anti-fraud.
License term
2 years
Regulator
The California Department of Insurance oversees licensing, headed by elected statewide.
California Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association (CLHIGA)
If an insurer fails, these are the limits that apply to California policyholders. Verified against the NOLHGA state-by-state table dated 1 June 2025.
| What is protected | Limit |
|---|---|
| Life insurance death benefit | $300,000 |
| Life insurance cash surrender value | $100,000 |
| Hospital, medical, surgical, or major medical | $668,205 |
| Disability income and long-term care | $668,205 |
| Other health insurance benefits | $668,205 |
| Annuity benefits (present value) | $250,000 |
The Study Guide
Written for California, not for everyone.
Every rule explained in ordinary English before the terminology arrives. If two things are easy to confuse, we tell them apart in a sentence. No insurance background assumed.
You get two PDFs: a study guide that teaches the material, and a practice exam whose answer key explains why each answer is right. Printable flashcards, a master sheet of every number worth memorizing, and a four-week study plan are included.
Twisting versus churning. Twisting involves lying to move a customer, usually to a different company. Churning happens inside the same company and is about generating commission. If the question mentions misrepresentation, it is twisting. If it mentions the same insurer, it is churning.
California insurance exam questions, answered
How many questions are on the California insurance license exam?
The combined life and health exam has 150 scored questions. You need 90 correct to pass at 60%, which means you can miss 60.
What is the passing score for the California insurance exam?
60%. That works out to 90 correct answers out of 150 scored questions.
Who administers the California insurance license exam?
PSI Services, on behalf of the California Department of Insurance.
Does California require prelicensing education?
A single 12-hour Ethics and California Insurance Code course, including 1 hour of anti-fraud training. AB 943 repealed the line-specific hours effective January 1, 2026.
How much continuing education does California require?
24 hours, of which 3 must be ethics, and 1 of those 3 must cover California anti-fraud.
Is there a California life-only or health-only exam?
Yes. Life only is 75 scored questions, 45 to pass, Health only is 75 scored questions, 45 to pass.
How much does a California study guide cost?
A single-line guide is $9.99 and the combined life and health guide is $19.99. Each includes a study guide and a practice exam with a full answer key.
These are independent study aids. They are not state-approved prelicensing education courses and do not satisfy any state prelicensing requirement. They are not affiliated with any exam vendor or state insurance regulator. All practice questions are original. We publish no pass-rate claim and make no guarantee of any exam result. Content verified as of August 2026 — confirm current requirements with the California Department of Insurance.