Washington Insurance License
The Washington insurance license exam, in plain numbers.
Everything below is specific to Washington — 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 Washington
| Edition | Scored questions | Correct to pass | Pass mark | Misses allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life & Health | 150 | 105 | 70% | 45 |
| Life only | 100 | 70 | 70% | 30 |
| Health only | 100 | 70 | 70% | 30 |
Administered by PSI Services for the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Time limit: 195 minutes (3 hours 15 minutes). Roughly 38 of the scored questions (25%) come from Washington law — the block national courses cover most lightly.
Prelicensing
NOT required. Prelicensing education has not been required to take a Washington insurance exam since 23 July 2023, when HB 1061 eliminated the requirement formerly at RCW 48.17.090 and WAC 284-17-175.
Continuing education
24 hours every two years including 3 hours of ethics. Additional training applies to annuities, long-term care and flood products. Nonresidents follow their home state's requirements.
License term
2-year renewal cycle through the OIC
Regulator
The Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner oversees licensing, headed by an ELECTED Insurance Commissioner heading the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
Washington Life and Disability Insurance Guaranty Association
If an insurer fails, these are the limits that apply to Washington policyholders. Verified against the NOLHGA state-by-state table dated 1 June 2025.
| What is protected | Limit |
|---|---|
| Life insurance death benefit | $500,000 |
| Life insurance cash surrender value | $500,000 |
| Hospital, medical, surgical, or major medical | $500,000 |
| Disability income and long-term care | $500,000 |
| Other health insurance benefits | $500,000 |
| Annuity benefits (present value) | $500,000 |
The Study Guide
Written for Washington, 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.
Washington insurance exam questions, answered
How many questions are on the Washington insurance license exam?
The combined life and health exam has 150 scored questions. You need 105 correct to pass at 70%, which means you can miss 45.
What is the passing score for the Washington insurance exam?
70%. That works out to 105 correct answers out of 150 scored questions.
Who administers the Washington insurance license exam?
PSI Services, on behalf of the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
Does Washington require prelicensing education?
NOT required. Prelicensing education has not been required to take a Washington insurance exam since 23 July 2023, when HB 1061 eliminated the requirement formerly at RCW 48.17.090 and WAC 284-17-175.
How much continuing education does Washington require?
24 hours every two years including 3 hours of ethics. Additional training applies to annuities, long-term care and flood products. Nonresidents follow their home state's requirements.
Is there a Washington life-only or health-only exam?
Yes. Life only is 100 scored questions, 70 to pass, Health only is 100 scored questions, 70 to pass.
How much does a Washington 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 Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner.