Life Agent (InsTX-Life01 English; InsTX-Life21 Spanish)
The Texas life insurance exam.
The Texas life insurance exam is 80 scored questions, about 10 unscored pretest questions, in 120 minutes, passing at a scaled 70, $39 per attempt, administered by Pearson VUE. We sell study materials and practice exams for it, written from the official Texas 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 | Life Agent (InsTX-Life01 English; InsTX-Life21 Spanish) |
| Scored questions | 80 |
| Pretest questions | about 10 (unscored) |
| Time limit | 120 minutes |
| Passing score | 70 (scaled score; passing score set by the Texas Department of Insurance with Pearson VUE) |
| Exam fee | $39 |
| Testing vendor | Pearson VUE |
| Retake rules | A failed candidate can schedule a new exam within one day; no limit on the number of attempts. License application must be submitted within 12 months of passing or the exam must be retaken. |
| Prelicensing education | not required for the life line |
Verified against official Pearson VUE materials, Outlines document #124401 rev 8/2026; contains the outline effective December 1, 2025 (exams before Sept 1, 2026) AND a new outline effective September 1, 2026. Specs change; confirm when you register.
How to get your Texas life insurance license
- 1
Meet the basics
Be 18 or older and able to pass the background screening. Texas handles licensing through the NIPR system like most states.
- 2
Study the exam outline
Texas 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 $39 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 Texas 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Life - General Knowledge | 63% | 50 questions |
| Life Agent - State Specific | 37% | 30 questions |
Free Texas practice questions
Original questions written to the Texas outline, the same bank our students drill. Tap a question to check the answer.
Question 1Maria wants a permanent policy where she can raise or lower her premium payments and adjust her death benefit as her needs change over time. Which policy fits best?
- A. Level term life
- B. Universal life
- C. Single premium whole life
- D. Decreasing term life
Show the answer
Answer: B
Universal life offers flexible premiums and an adjustable death benefit, matching Maria's needs. Level term is temporary with fixed premiums. Single premium whole life is paid with one lump sum and does not allow ongoing premium flexibility. Decreasing term has a shrinking death benefit and no cash value flexibility.
Life - General Knowledge > Types of Policies
Question 2Under Texas law, a person who solicits, negotiates, or sells life insurance for compensation must first obtain what from the Texas Department of Insurance?
- A. A certificate of authority
- B. A general lines property license
- C. A life insurance agent license
- D. A surplus lines endorsement
Show the answer
Answer: C
To sell life insurance in Texas a person must hold a life insurance agent license issued by the Department. A certificate of authority is what an insurance company (not an agent) receives to do business. A general lines property license covers property and casualty products, not life. A surplus lines endorsement applies to placing coverage with nonadmitted insurers, not to selling ordinary life insurance.
Tex. Ins. Code Chapter 4054 (life agent licensing)
Question 3Devon is replacing his client's existing whole life policy with a new one from a different insurer. Under Texas replacement rules, what must Devon do?
- A. Wait one year before the new policy can take effect
- B. Provide the required replacement notice and submit replacement forms with the application
- C. Refund the client's premiums on the old policy himself
- D. Cancel the old policy before the new one is approved
Show the answer
Answer: B
Texas replacement regulation requires the producer to give the applicant a notice regarding replacement and submit the proper replacement forms with the application so the client makes an informed choice. There is no one-year waiting rule, producers do not personally refund premiums, and the old policy should not be canceled until the new coverage is in force.
Texas Administrative Code, replacement of life insurance regulation
Question 4A policy pays dividends and the owner chooses to use them to buy small amounts of extra permanent coverage; which dividend option is this?
- A. Cash payment
- B. Reduction of premium
- C. Paid-up additions
- D. Accumulation at interest
Show the answer
Answer: C
The paid-up additions option uses dividends to purchase additional small blocks of paid-up permanent insurance that add to the death benefit and cash value. Cash pays the dividend directly, reduction of premium lowers the next bill, and accumulation at interest leaves dividends on deposit to earn interest.
Life - General Knowledge > Policy Options (dividend options)
Question 5Maria applies for a life policy and answers a health question incorrectly by mistake. Who is responsible for making sure the application is accurate and complete?
- A. The applicant, who must review and sign the application
- B. The producer alone
- C. The state insurance department
- D. The medical examiner
Show the answer
Answer: A
The applicant signs the application attesting that the answers are true, so the applicant is responsible for its accuracy. The producer must record answers honestly but does not guarantee the applicant's personal facts. The state department does not review individual applications for accuracy. A medical examiner reports exam findings but does not verify the whole application.
Life General Knowledge outline: Completing the Application
Take the free Texas practice test, every question with the answer and the explanation
Texas exam FAQs
How many questions are on the Texas life insurance exam?
80 scored questions, plus about 10 unscored pretest questions mixed in, with 120 minutes on the clock.
What score passes the Texas exam?
You need a scaled 70 to pass.
How much does the Texas life insurance exam cost?
The exam fee is $39 per attempt, paid to Pearson VUE. Licensing application and fingerprint fees are separate.
What happens if I fail the Texas exam?
A failed candidate can schedule a new exam within one day; no limit on the number of attempts. License application must be submitted within 12 months of passing or the exam must be retaken. 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 Texas require prelicensing education before the exam?
No. Texas 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 Texas 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.