How many questions are on the Iowa Property exam?

81 scored questions (50 general and 31 on Iowa law) plus unscored pretest questions mixed in, with a 2-hour limit.

What is the passing score for the Iowa insurance exam?

Pearson's handbook does not state it. It says the Iowa Insurance Division determines the passing score and that scores are based on the number of questions answered correctly.

Is there a penalty for guessing on the Iowa exam?

No. The handbook says there is no penalty for incorrect answers, so it is always better to guess than to leave a question unanswered.

How much does the Iowa insurance exam cost?

$44 for each of the Life, Accident and Health, Property, Casualty, Personal Lines and Commercial Lines exams.

Can I take the Iowa insurance exam online?

Yes. The handbook says candidates can register to take their exams online or at a physical Pearson VUE testing location.

Iowa Insurance Exam: Questions, Scoring and What's Tested

Iowa's insurance exams are given by Pearson VUE for the Iowa Insurance Division. Each has a general section and an Iowa-specific section. Here is what the handbook and outlines say.

Quick answer: The Life, Property, Casualty and Personal Lines exams each have a 2-hour limit and cost $44. Life has 77 scored questions, Property 81, Casualty 83 and Personal Lines 112. Pearson's handbook does not state a passing score, so this guide gives none. If you do not pass, you wait 24 hours before reserving another attempt.

The exams at a glance

Pearson's July 2025 handbook lists the length and fee, and the outlines (effective January 1, 2026) list the scored questions:

Exam	General	Iowa law	Scored total	Unscored pretest	Length	Fee
Life	50	27	77	5 + 5	2 hours	$44
Property	50	31	81	5 + 5	2 hours	$44
Casualty	50	33	83	5 + 5	2 hours	$44
Personal Lines	75	37	112	5 + 5	2 hours	$44
Commercial Lines	50	32	82	5 + 5	2 hours	$44

The handbook's exam list does not include a combined Property and Casualty exam. It also notes that candidates must have passed the Personal Lines exam before taking Commercial Lines.

How the scoring works

The handbook does not state a passing score. It says the Iowa Insurance Division determines it, and that scores are based on the number of questions answered correctly.
There is no penalty for guessing. The handbook says it is always better to guess than to leave a question unanswered.
Your report says pass or fail. If you pass, it includes information on how to apply. If you fail, it includes a numeric score and diagnostic information for both the general and the state portions.
Wait 24 hours before making a reservation to retake the exam. Reservations for re-examination are not made at the test center.

What's on each exam

The general portion is national content. Life is types of policies 15, policy riders, provisions, options and exclusions 15, completing the application, underwriting and delivering the policy 12 and retirement and other insurance concepts 8. Property is types of policies 22, terms and related concepts 15 and policy provisions and contract law 13. Casualty is 23, 15 and 12. Personal Lines is types of property policies 10, types of casualty policies 13, property and casualty terms and concepts 28 and policy provisions and contract law 24.

The Iowa portion is split between laws common to all lines and laws for the line:

Exam	Common to all lines	Line-specific
Life	15	12 life only
Property	25	6 property
Casualty	25	8 casualty
Personal Lines	25	6 property only + 6 casualty only
Commercial Lines	25	2 property + 5 casualty

Iowa law is between about 35% and 40% of each of the Life, Property and Casualty exams, for example 27 of 77 on Life and 33 of 83 on Casualty.

Booking and test-day rules from the handbook

Reserve online at least 24 hours ahead. Walk-in exams are not available. You can take your exam online or at a physical Pearson VUE test center.
Bring two forms of ID. The primary ID must be government-issued with your photo and signature, and the secondary must contain a valid signature. The name must exactly match your registration.
Arrive 30 minutes early. Your ID and documents are reviewed, and you are photographed for the score report.
Change or cancel 48 hours before the exam to transfer or refund your fee. Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable otherwise.
After you pass, allow 3 to 4 business days for your result to upload to NIPR before you submit your application and license fee.

A study plan that follows the questions

Learn the Iowa "all lines" section first. It is 25 questions on Property, Casualty, Personal Lines and Commercial Lines and 15 on Life.
Pace yourself. The Personal Lines exam has 112 scored questions in 2 hours, about 64 seconds each.
Never leave a question blank. There is no penalty for incorrect answers.
Mind the order for Commercial Lines. You must have passed Personal Lines first.

See how to get your Iowa insurance license for what comes after the exam.

Figures come from Pearson VUE's July 2025 handbook and its outlines (effective January 1, 2026) as of October 2026 and can change. Check Pearson VUE before you book.

Ready to start your Iowa license?

Start the Iowa Property & Casualty course → — built around the Iowa exam outline, with timed practice exams and a state-law section.

Start the Iowa Life Only course → — the same approach for the life exam.

Both are one flat price per license line: pay once, keep lifetime access, no subscription, and backed by our Pass Guarantee. Not sure which line to pick? Compare everything on the Iowa page, or book a 1-on-1 tutoring session and we'll help you choose and build a study plan.