District of Columbia Life (Exam 01) , Life-General Knowledge + Life District of Columbia Specific content outlines
The District of Columbia life insurance exam.
The District of Columbia life insurance exam is 80 scored questions, about 10 unscored pretest questions, in 120 minutes, passing at a scaled 70, $75 per attempt, administered by Pearson VUE. We sell study materials and practice exams for it, written from the official District of Columbia outline. The first questions are free, and the full License Pass is $149, yours until you pass. Below are the licensing steps, exactly what the exam covers, and free practice questions written to this state's outline.
At a glance
| Exam | District of Columbia Life (Exam 01) , Life-General Knowledge + Life District of Columbia Specific content outlines |
| Scored questions | 80 |
| Pretest questions | about 10 (unscored) |
| Time limit | 120 minutes |
| Passing score | 70 (scaled score; passing score set by DC DISB) |
| Exam fee | $75 |
| Testing vendor | Pearson VUE |
| Retake rules | Must wait 24 hours before making a reservation for reexamination; new $75 fee each attempt |
| Prelicensing education | not required for the life line |
Verified against official Pearson VUE materials, Content outlines effective September 2, 2025 (#120901, 09/2025); Candidate Handbook September 2022 (#120900). Specs change; confirm when you register.
How to get your District of Columbia life insurance license
- 1
Meet the basics
Be 18 or older and able to pass the background screening. District of Columbia handles licensing through the NIPR system like most states.
- 2
Study the exam outline
District of Columbia does not require prelicensing education for the life line, so your preparation is the whole game. Study the official outline below and drill practice questions until every section holds.
- 3
Book the exam with Pearson VUE
Register at Pearson VUE, pick a test center or online proctoring where offered, and pay the $75 exam fee.
- 4
Pass the exam
Walk in knowing the format, 80 scored questions in 120 minutes, passing at a scaled 70. About 62% of first-time life exam takers pass nationally (NAIC, latest published data).
- 5
Apply for the license and get appointed
Submit the license application (fingerprints where required), then get appointed with carriers so you can write business.
What the District of Columbia exam covers
From the official exam outline, each section's share of the exam and how many of the 80 scored questions it earns.
| Section | Weight | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Types of Policies | 19% | 15 questions |
| Policy Riders, Provisions, Options, and Exclusions | 19% | 15 questions |
| Completing the Application, Underwriting, and Delivering the Polices | 15% | 12 questions |
| Retirement and Other Insurance Concepts | 10% | 8 questions |
| District of Columbia Laws, Rules, and Regulations Common to Life, Accident and Health, Property, and Casualty Insurance | 25% | 20 questions |
| District of Columbia Laws, Rules, and Regulations Pertinent to Life Insurance Only | 12% | 10 questions |
Free District of Columbia practice questions
Original questions written to the District of Columbia outline, the same bank our students drill. Tap a question to check the answer.
Question 1James wants a whole life policy that he pays off completely in 10 years but still keeps for life; which type fits?
- A. Straight whole life
- B. Limited pay whole life
- C. Modified whole life
- D. Term to age 100
Show the answer
Answer: B
Limited pay whole life lets the owner pay premiums for a set shorter period, such as 10 years, while the coverage continues for the insured's whole life. Straight whole life requires premiums until death or maturity. Modified whole life starts with lower premiums that rise later but is not paid off early. Term to age 100 is not permanent whole life with a fixed short payment period.
Types of Policies (General Knowledge) > Traditional whole life products
Question 2Because a variable life insurance policy places cash value in investment subaccounts, a producer selling it in the District of Columbia generally must hold which additional qualification beyond a life insurance license?
- A. A securities registration such as a FINRA registration
- B. A real estate broker license
- C. A property and casualty license
- D. A public adjuster license
Show the answer
Answer: A
Variable life products are treated as securities because the cash value is invested in subaccounts, so the seller must also be securities registered (for example, through FINRA) in addition to holding a life insurance license. A real estate broker license is unrelated, so it is wrong. A property and casualty license covers auto and home insurance, not variable life securities, so it is wrong. A public adjuster license deals with settling claims, not selling variable products, so it is wrong.
Types of Policies > Interest/market-sensitive/adjustable life products; variable products require securities registration (concept, not a DC-specific number)
Question 3The person whose life the annuity payout is based on is called the:
- A. Annuitant
- B. Beneficiary
- C. Owner
- D. Underwriter
Show the answer
Answer: A
The annuitant is the person whose life is measured for the payout, similar to how the insured is measured in life insurance. The beneficiary receives money at death, not the measuring life. The owner controls the contract but may not be the measuring life. The underwriter works for the insurer and is not a party to the payout.
Types of Policies > Annuities (general concept)
Question 4How does a family maintenance policy differ from a family income policy?
- A. Family maintenance uses level term while family income uses decreasing term
- B. Family maintenance pays no death benefit at all
- C. Family income covers only the children
- D. Family maintenance is not a combination plan
Show the answer
Answer: A
Both are combination plans built on whole life, but family maintenance adds level term so the income period starts at death and runs a full set length, while family income uses decreasing term measured from the policy date. Both pay a death benefit, so that choice is wrong. Family income does not cover only children, and family maintenance is a combination plan, so those are wrong.
Types of Policies (General Knowledge) > Combination plans and variations
Question 5Which statement correctly distinguishes a waiver of premium rider from a payor benefit rider?
- A. Waiver of premium is based on the disability of the insured, while payor benefit is based on the death or disability of the person paying premiums for another insured
- B. Waiver of premium is based on the death of the insured, while payor benefit is based on accidental injury
- C. Both riders pay a cash death benefit and never affect premiums
- D. Waiver of premium applies only to juvenile policies, while payor benefit applies only to adults
Show the answer
Answer: A
Waiver of premium looks to the insured's own total disability to excuse premiums. Payor benefit looks to the death or disability of the payor (often a parent) on a policy insuring someone else, such as a child. Waiver of premium is not triggered by the insured's death, neither rider pays a separate cash death benefit, and neither is limited only to juvenile or only to adult policies as stated.
Policy Riders, Provisions, Options, and Exclusions > Policy riders (general knowledge)
Take the free District of Columbia practice test, every question with the answer and the explanation
District of Columbia exam FAQs
How many questions are on the District of Columbia life insurance exam?
80 scored questions, plus about 10 unscored pretest questions mixed in, with 120 minutes on the clock.
What score passes the District of Columbia exam?
You need a scaled 70 to pass.
How much does the District of Columbia life insurance exam cost?
The exam fee is $75 per attempt, paid to Pearson VUE. Licensing application and fingerprint fees are separate.
What happens if I fail the District of Columbia exam?
Must wait 24 hours before making a reservation for reexamination; new $75 fee each attempt. About 62% of first-time life exam takers pass nationally (NAIC, latest published data). Failing once is common, and the fix is drilling the sections your score report names.
Does District of Columbia require prelicensing education before the exam?
No. District of Columbia does not require prelicensing education for the life line, which means how you study is up to you and practice exams carry more of the load.
What RingReady is, and is not
RingReady sells study materials and practice exams for the life insurance licensing exam. We are not a state-approved prelicensing education provider, and practicing here does not by itself satisfy any state's education requirement.
If your state requires prelicensing education, you must complete it with an approved provider; your state insurance department publishes the approved list. What we do is make sure that when you sit down for the real exam, the questions feel familiar.
Practice the District of Columbia exam until it feels familiar.
Practice questions written to every section of the outline above, full timed practice exams matched to the real format (80 questions, 120 minutes), and a mastery map that shows what to study next.
A free placement plus free practice questions. No card to start.
Take the free District of Columbia practice test · How to pass the exam