Pennsylvania life line
The Pennsylvania life insurance exam.
The Pennsylvania life insurance exam is 100 scored questions, about 10 unscored pretest questions, in 120 minutes, passing at 70 percent, $45 per attempt, administered by PSI Exams. We sell study materials and practice exams for it, written from the official Pennsylvania outline. The first 20 study questions are free, and the full License Pass is $79, yours until you pass.
At a glance
| Exam | Pennsylvania Series 16-01 Producer's Examination for Life Insurance |
| Scored questions | 100 |
| Pretest questions | about 10 (unscored) |
| Time limit | 120 minutes |
| Passing score | 70 percent |
| Exam fee | $45 |
| Testing vendor | PSI Exams |
| Retake rules | There is no waiting period. You rebook the next day and retest when a seat opens, and you pay the full fee each attempt. |
| Prelicensing education | not required for the life line |
Checked against PSI Exams' official materials. Specs change, so confirm them when you register.
How to get your Pennsylvania life insurance license
- 1
Meet the basics
Pennsylvania sets its own age, background check and application rules. The Pennsylvania insurance department lists them, so read them before you book.
- 2
Study the exam outline
Pennsylvania 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 PSI Exams
Register at PSI Exams, pick a test center or online proctoring where offered, and pay the $45 exam fee.
- 4
Pass the exam
Walk in knowing the format, 100 scored questions in 120 minutes, passing at 70 percent. About 57 percent of first-time life exam takers pass nationally (NAIC, 2025 results).
- 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 Pennsylvania exam covers
From the official exam outline, each section's share of the exam and how many of the 100 scored questions it earns.
| Section | Weight | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance Regulation | 14 percent | 14 questions |
| General Insurance Concepts | 10 percent | 10 questions |
| Life Insurance Basics | 20 percent | 20 questions |
| Types of Life Insurance Policies | 17 percent | 17 questions |
| Life Insurance Policy Provisions, Options, and Riders | 22 percent | 22 questions |
| Annuities | 12 percent | 12 questions |
| Federal Tax Considerations for Life Insurance | 5 percent | 5 questions |
Free Pennsylvania practice questions
Original questions written to the Pennsylvania outline, the same bank our students drill. Tap a question to check the answer.
Question 1What is the main purpose of a temporary insurance producer license in Pennsylvania?
- A. To let someone sell insurance permanently without passing an exam
- B. To license adjusters instead of producers
- C. To allow continued servicing of an existing business for a limited time in situations like a producer's death or disability
- D. To let insurers avoid appointing producers
Show the answer
Answer: C
A temporary license lets a designated person continue servicing an existing book of business for a limited time in circumstances such as the death, disability, or military service of a licensed producer. It is not a permanent license, does not replace exam requirements for regular licensure, is unrelated to appointment avoidance, and does not cover adjusters.
40 P.S. 310.7 (temporary license)
Question 2What is the general duration of a Pennsylvania resident producer license before it must be renewed?
- A. One month
- B. It never expires once issued
- C. A fixed multi-year term set by the department, requiring periodic renewal
- D. Only as long as an appointment is active
Show the answer
Answer: C
Pennsylvania producer licenses are issued for a set term and must be renewed periodically to remain valid. A one-month term is far too short. Licenses do not last forever; renewal is required. A license and an appointment are separate; the license does not automatically end just because an appointment ends.
Question 3Dana, a licensed producer, keeps a client's premium payment for personal use instead of forwarding it to the insurer; which action is the Commissioner most likely to take?
- A. Give Dana a verbal warning with no further action required
- B. Suspend or revoke Dana's license and impose a penalty
- C. Refer Dana only to the federal government since state law does not apply
- D. Increase Dana's appointment count as a corrective measure
Show the answer
Answer: B
Misappropriating premiums is serious misconduct that supports suspension or revocation plus a fine. A mere verbal warning understates the violation, appointments are unrelated to discipline, and state insurance law clearly applies to a state-licensed producer.
40 P.S. 310.11 (grounds for discipline) and 40 P.S. 310.91 (penalties)
Question 4Which of the following best describes 'sell' under Pennsylvania insurance law?
- A. To notify a policyholder of a rate increase
- B. To exchange a contract of insurance by any means for money or its equivalent on behalf of an insurer
- C. To design new insurance products
- D. To review a policy for regulatory compliance
Show the answer
Answer: B
Under 40 P.S. 310.1, 'sell' means to exchange a contract of insurance by any means, for money or its equivalent, on behalf of an insurance company. Designing products is an actuarial and underwriting function. Compliance review and rate-increase notices are administrative acts, not selling.
40 P.S. 310.1 (definition of sell)
Question 5Which action falls within the Commissioner's rulemaking and enforcement authority rather than being outside the Commissioner's role?
- A. Writing new tax legislation for the General Assembly
- B. Adopting regulations to carry out the insurance laws
- C. Presiding over private contract disputes between two neighbors
- D. Certifying election results in the state
Show the answer
Answer: B
The Commissioner may adopt regulations needed to administer and enforce the insurance laws. Writing tax legislation is the job of the General Assembly. Private neighbor disputes and election certification are entirely outside insurance regulation. Only adopting insurance regulations fits the Commissioner's powers.
40 P.S. 310.2
Take the free Pennsylvania practice test, every question with the answer and the explanation
Pennsylvania exam FAQs
How many questions are on the Pennsylvania life insurance exam?
100 scored questions, plus about 10 unscored pretest questions mixed in, with 120 minutes on the clock.
What score passes the Pennsylvania exam?
You need 70 percent to pass.
How much does the Pennsylvania life insurance exam cost?
The exam fee is $45 per attempt, paid to PSI Exams. Licensing application and fingerprint fees are separate.
What happens if I fail the Pennsylvania exam?
There is no waiting period. You rebook the next day and retest when a seat opens, and you pay the full fee each attempt. About 57 percent of first-time life exam takers pass nationally (NAIC, 2025 results). Failing once is common, and the fix is drilling the sections your score report names.
Does Pennsylvania require prelicensing education before the exam?
No. Pennsylvania 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 prelicensing education provider on any state's list, and practicing here does not by itself satisfy any state's education requirement.
If your state requires prelicensing education, you must complete it with a provider your state insurance department lists. The department publishes that list. What we do is help the questions feel familiar when you sit down for the real exam.
Practice the Pennsylvania exam until it feels familiar.
Practice questions written to every section of the outline above, full timed practice exams matched to the real format (100 questions, 120 minutes), and a mastery map that shows what to study next.