Series 16-01 Producer's Examination for Life Insurance
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%, $45 per attempt, administered by PSI Exams. We sell study materials and practice exams for it, written from the official Pennsylvania 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 | Series 16-01 Producer's Examination for Life Insurance |
| Scored questions | 100 |
| Pretest questions | about 10 (unscored) |
| Time limit | 120 minutes |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Exam fee | $45 |
| Testing vendor | PSI Exams |
| Retake rules | No waiting period. Rebook the next day and retest when a seat opens. Full fee each attempt. |
| Prelicensing education | not required for the life line |
Verified against official PSI Exams materials, effective 3/1/2026. Specs change; confirm when you register.
How to get your Pennsylvania life insurance license
- 1
Meet the basics
Be 18 or older and able to pass the background screening. Pennsylvania handles licensing through the NIPR system like most states.
- 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%. 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 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% | 14 questions |
| General Insurance Concepts | 10% | 10 questions |
| Life Insurance Basics | 20% | 20 questions |
| Types of Life Insurance Policies | 17% | 17 questions |
| Life Insurance Policy Provisions, Options, and Riders | 22% | 22 questions |
| Annuities | 12% | 12 questions |
| Federal Tax Considerations for Life Insurance | 5% | 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 allow continued servicing of an existing business for a limited time in situations like a producer's death or disability
- B. To let someone sell insurance permanently without passing an exam
- C. To let insurers avoid appointing producers
- D. To license adjusters instead of producers
Show the answer
Answer: A
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. A fixed multi-year term set by the department, requiring periodic renewal
- B. One month
- C. It never expires once issued
- D. Only as long as an appointment is active
Show the answer
Answer: A
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.
40 P.S. 310.6 (license term and renewal); note: exact term length set by department
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. Suspend or revoke Dana's license and impose a penalty
- B. Give Dana a verbal warning with no further action required
- C. Increase Dana's appointment count as a corrective measure
- D. Refer Dana only to the federal government since state law does not apply
Show the answer
Answer: A
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 exchange a contract of insurance by any means for money or its equivalent on behalf of an insurer
- B. To design new insurance products
- C. To review a policy for regulatory compliance
- D. To notify a policyholder of a rate increase
Show the answer
Answer: A
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. Adopting regulations to carry out the insurance laws
- B. Writing new tax legislation for the General Assembly
- C. Presiding over private contract disputes between two neighbors
- D. Certifying election results in the state
Show the answer
Answer: A
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% 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?
No waiting period. Rebook the next day and retest when a seat opens. Full 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 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 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 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.
A free placement plus free practice questions. No card to start.
Take the free Pennsylvania practice test · How to pass the exam