Virginia Insurance License
The Virginia insurance license exam, in plain numbers.
Everything below is specific to Virginia — 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 Virginia
| Edition | Scored questions | Correct to pass | Pass mark | Misses allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life & Health | 140 | 98 | 70% | 42 |
| Life only | 90 | 63 | 70% | 27 |
| Health only | 90 | 63 | 70% | 27 |
Administered by Prometric for the Virginia State Corporation Commission Bureau of Insurance. Time limit: 150 minutes for the combined exam, 120 minutes for single-line exams. Roughly 40 of the scored questions (29%) come from Virginia law — the block national courses cover most lightly.
Prelicensing
NOT required for the major life and health lines. Virginia repealed mandatory prelicensing by Acts 2001, chapter 706. Only title insurance retains a 16 classroom hour requirement under Va. Code Section 38.2-1814.1.
Continuing education
16 credit hours every two years including 3 ethics hours under Va. Code Section 38.2-1866(C) for an agent holding a life and annuities license, a health agent license, or both. The 24-hour requirement in subsection (G) applies only when you also hold a license in a different category, and then at least 8 hours must be specific to each category.
License term
renewed in odd-numbered years, due 1 May
Regulator
The Virginia State Corporation Commission Bureau of Insurance oversees licensing, headed by a Commissioner of Insurance leading the Bureau within the three-member State Corporation Commission - there is no standalone Virginia Department of Insurance.
Virginia Life, Accident and Sickness Insurance Guaranty Association
If an insurer fails, these are the limits that apply to Virginia 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 | $500,000 |
| Disability income and long-term care | $300,000 |
| Other health insurance benefits | $100,000 |
| Annuity benefits (present value) | $250,000 |
The Study Guide
Written for Virginia, 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.
Virginia insurance exam questions, answered
How many questions are on the Virginia insurance license exam?
The combined life and health exam has 140 scored questions. You need 98 correct to pass at 70%, which means you can miss 42.
What is the passing score for the Virginia insurance exam?
70%. That works out to 98 correct answers out of 140 scored questions.
Who administers the Virginia insurance license exam?
Prometric, on behalf of the Virginia State Corporation Commission Bureau of Insurance.
Does Virginia require prelicensing education?
NOT required for the major life and health lines. Virginia repealed mandatory prelicensing by Acts 2001, chapter 706. Only title insurance retains a 16 classroom hour requirement under Va. Code Section 38.2-1814.1.
How much continuing education does Virginia require?
16 credit hours every two years including 3 ethics hours under Va. Code Section 38.2-1866(C) for an agent holding a life and annuities license, a health agent license, or both. The 24-hour requirement in subsection (G) applies only when you also hold a license in a different category, and then at least 8 hours must be specific to each category.
Is there a Virginia life-only or health-only exam?
Yes. Life only is 90 scored questions, 63 to pass, Health only is 90 scored questions, 63 to pass.
How much does a Virginia 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 Virginia State Corporation Commission Bureau of Insurance.