Pennsylvania Insurance Exam: Questions, Passing Score and What's Tested
October 28, 2026 · PassReadyPro Team
Pennsylvania's insurance exams are run by PSI, and the Insurance Department sets the content. Here is what is on the two exams most new producers take, how they are scored, and how to spend your study time.
Quick answer: You need 70% to pass. The Property & Casualty exam has 150 items and a 170-minute limit ($55). The Life exam has 100 items and a 120-minute limit ($45). On the P&C exam, Insurance Regulation (Pennsylvania and federal law) is the single largest topic at 20%.
The exams at a glance
PSI's booklet lists a separate exam for each line, plus combined exams. These are the common ones:
| Exam | Series | Items | Time limit | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Property & Casualty | 16-06 | 150 | 170 minutes | $55 |
| Life | 16-01 | 100 | 120 minutes | $45 |
| Personal Lines | 16-16 | 100 | 120 minutes | $45 |
| Property | 16-04 | 100 | 120 minutes | $45 |
| Casualty | 16-05 | 100 | 120 minutes | $45 |
Every question is multiple choice with four options. Fees are paid to PSI when you book and are not refundable or transferable.
How the exam is scored
PSI's booklet states that you must achieve a minimum score of 70% to pass. Your result shows on screen when you finish, and PSI emails a score report. If you do not pass, that report includes a diagnostic showing your strengths and weaknesses by examination type.
A small number of experimental items (5 to 10, according to the booklet) may be added on top of the items in the outline. They are not scored, you cannot tell which they are, and the exam time allows for them. Answer every question as if it counts.
You can go back to any question and change your answer as long as time has not run out, so flag the ones you are unsure of and return to them.
What's on the Property & Casualty exam
The outline (effective March 1, 2026) weighs the 150 items like this:
| Section | Weight |
|---|---|
| Insurance Regulation | 20% |
| Property and Casualty Insurance Basics | 14% |
| Personal Automobile Policy | 10% |
| General Insurance Concepts | 8% |
| Other Types of Property and Casualty Insurance | 8% |
| Homeowners Policy Concepts | 7% |
| Commercial Property Policies | 7% |
| Commercial General Liability | 7% |
| Commercial Automobile Policy | 5% |
| Workers' Compensation Insurance | 5% |
| Dwelling Policy Concepts | 4% |
| Businessowners Policy (property) | 3% |
| Commercial Crime | 2% |
The Insurance Regulation section is where Pennsylvania law lives. The outline points to producer licensing (40 P.S. §§ 310.1 and 310.3 to 310.14, among others), appointments and their termination, license renewal and continuing education, discipline and penalties, unfair insurance practices (40 P.S. §§ 1171.1 to 1171.5, including rebating, twisting, misrepresentation and misappropriation of funds), unfair claims settlement practices, privacy, and insurance fraud. It also covers federal rules: the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1033 and 1034, Gramm-Leach-Bliley privacy, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act and the Motor Carrier Act.
The rest is national coverage content, and it is split in a way that is useful for planning:
- Foundations (42%): regulation, basics and general concepts.
- Personal lines policies (21%): dwelling, homeowners and personal auto.
- Commercial lines policies (29%): commercial auto, commercial property, general liability, crime, businessowners property and workers' compensation.
- Other coverages (8%): purposes and general characteristics of other lines.
What's on the Life exam
The Life outline (also effective March 1, 2026) has 100 items:
| Section | Weight |
|---|---|
| Life Insurance Policy Provisions, Options and Riders | 22% |
| Life Insurance Basics | 20% |
| Types of Life Insurance Policies | 17% |
| Insurance Regulation | 14% |
| Annuities | 12% |
| General Insurance Concepts | 10% |
| Federal Tax Considerations for Life Insurance | 5% |
Here the biggest block is policy provisions: ownership, grace period, free look, incontestability, reinstatement, beneficiaries, settlement and nonforfeiture options, loans, dividends and riders. Pennsylvania-specific items appear throughout the outline, not only in the regulation section. The regulation section includes the replacement rules (31 Pa. Code Ch. 81), while the product sections add the life insurance disclosure statement and illustrations, the Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association, and annuity suitability (Act 48 of 2018).
Test-day rules from PSI's booklet
- Arrive 30 minutes early. Late arrivals may not be admitted and forfeit the fee.
- Bring one valid, unexpired ID with your photo and signature. The name must match the name you registered with. A driver's license, state ID, passport or military ID qualifies.
- Leave the extras outside. Reference materials, phones, watches, handheld calculators, hats and bulky outerwear are prohibited.
- A tutorial comes first. Up to 15 minutes of tutorial and sample questions do not count against your exam time.
- Remote option. You can test remotely with a proctor. There are no breaks and no scratch paper in a remote session, and you forfeit your fee if you do not start within 15 minutes of your booked time.
- Cancel at least 2 days before your appointment to keep your fee.
A study plan that follows the weights
Time per question is tight but fair: the P&C limit works out to about 68 seconds per item, the Life limit to about 72. Practice at that pace.
- Start with Pennsylvania law. It is the largest section on the P&C exam and cannot be reasoned out; you have to know it.
- Learn the personal lines forms first (dwelling, homeowners, personal auto — 21% of P&C), then the commercial forms.
- For Life, drill policy provisions and basics — together they are 42% of the exam.
- Take timed practice exams until you pass comfortably, and review every miss against the outline.
Passing the exam is the first of several steps. See how to get your Pennsylvania insurance license for fingerprints, the application and the one-year window after you pass.
Figures come from PSI's booklet and content outlines as of October 2026 and can change. Check PSI before you book.
Ready to start your Pennsylvania license?
Start the Pennsylvania Property & Casualty course → — built around the Pennsylvania exam outline, with timed practice exams and a state-law section.
Start the Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania page, or book a 1-on-1 tutoring session and we'll help you choose and build a study plan.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Pennsylvania Property & Casualty exam?+
The P&C exam (series 16-06) has 150 items with a 170-minute limit. PSI may also include 5 to 10 unscored experimental items, and the exam time allows for them.
What score do you need to pass the Pennsylvania insurance exam?+
PSI's booklet says you must achieve a minimum score of 70%.
Is there a separate Pennsylvania state law exam?+
No. Pennsylvania law is the Insurance Regulation section inside each exam: 20% of the Property & Casualty exam and 14% of the Life exam.
Can I use a calculator on the Pennsylvania exam?+
PSI's prohibited items list includes handheld calculators. Ask PSI what tools or scratch materials are provided at your test center before test day.
How soon can I take the exam again if I don't pass?+
You cannot book a new appointment on the same day. PSI's booklet gives the example of testing on a Wednesday and retesting as soon as Friday, depending on seat availability. Each attempt costs the exam fee again.
Ready to start studying?
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See Pennsylvania CoursesThis article is for general informational purposes and reflects our understanding of Pennsylvania's licensing process at the time of writing. Requirements and procedures change — always verify current details with the Pennsylvania Insurance Department or your exam administrator before relying on anything here.