Washington life line
The Washington life insurance exam.
The Washington life insurance exam is 100 scored questions, about 10 unscored pretest questions, in 150 minutes, passing at 70 percent, $38 per attempt, administered by PSI Exams. We sell study materials and practice exams for it, written from the official Washington outline. The first 20 study questions are free, and the full License Pass is $79, yours until you pass.
At a glance
| Exam | Washington Life Producer |
| Scored questions | 100 |
| Pretest questions | about 10 (unscored) |
| Time limit | 150 minutes |
| Passing score | 70 percent |
| Exam fee | $38 |
| Testing vendor | PSI Exams |
| Retake rules | You cannot rebook on the day you fail, while scores process. You can schedule the next day and retest as soon as a seat opens, so if you fail on a Wednesday you can call Thursday and retest Friday. No attempt limit is stated, and the fee is due 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 Washington life insurance license
- 1
Meet the basics
Washington sets its own age, background check and application rules. The Washington insurance department lists them, so read them before you book.
- 2
Study the exam outline
Washington 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 $38 exam fee.
- 4
Pass the exam
Walk in knowing the format, 100 scored questions in 150 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 Washington 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Laws and Regulations | 2 percent | 2 questions |
| Washington Laws, Rules, and Regulations | 30 percent | 30 questions |
| General Insurance Concepts | 9 percent | 9 questions |
| Life Insurance Basics | 13 percent | 13 questions |
| Types of Life Insurance Policies | 14 percent | 14 questions |
| Life Insurance Policy Provisions, Options, and Riders | 20 percent | 20 questions |
| Annuities | 8 percent | 8 questions |
| Federal Tax Considerations for Life Insurance | 4 percent | 4 questions |
Free Washington practice questions
Original questions written to the Washington outline, the same bank our students drill. Tap a question to check the answer.
Question 1Under 18 USC Section 1033, what is a person who has been convicted of a crime involving dishonesty or breach of trust prohibited from doing without written consent?
- A. Engaging in the business of insurance affecting interstate commerce
- B. Serving on a jury in an insurance case
- C. Filing a claim on their own policy
- D. Buying any insurance policy for personal use
Show the answer
Answer: A
Section 1033 makes it a crime for a person convicted of a felony involving dishonesty or breach of trust to engage in the business of insurance affecting interstate commerce unless they first get written consent. Buying insurance for yourself or filing your own claim is not engaging in the business of insurance, so those are wrong. Jury service is unrelated to this law.
18 USC Section 1033
Question 2A student confuses two ideas: how does the established business relationship (EBR) exception differ from prior express written consent under the Do Not Call rules?
- A. An EBR arises automatically from a purchase or inquiry and lasts a limited time, while written consent is an affirmative signed agreement to be called
- B. They are the same thing with different names
- C. An EBR requires the consumer's signature, while written consent is automatic
- D. Written consent lasts only a few months, while an EBR never expires
Show the answer
Answer: A
An EBR is created automatically by a transaction or inquiry and lasts only for a defined period afterward, while prior express written consent is a deliberate, signed permission from the consumer. They are not the same thing. It is written consent, not the EBR, that needs the consumer's signature. Written consent generally continues until revoked, while an EBR expires after a set time, which is the opposite of the last choice.
Question 3During a market conduct examination, the Commissioner requests documents from an insurer. What is the insurer generally required to do?
- A. Provide free access to its records for examination
- B. Charge the Commissioner a fee to review records
- C. Only provide records to another insurer
- D. Refuse until subpoenaed by a court
Show the answer
Answer: A
Insurers must give the Commissioner free access to their accounts, records, and files for examination purposes. A court subpoena is not a precondition; the Commissioner has statutory examination authority. Records are provided to the regulator, not diverted to other insurers. The insurer cannot bill the Commissioner for the examination access.
Question 4An out of state company begins mailing life insurance offers to Washington residents and collecting premiums without a certificate of authority; what is the main problem?
- A. It only needs a producer license, not a certificate of authority
- B. It must simply notify the beneficiaries first
- C. It is transacting insurance in Washington without authorization
- D. Nothing, because mailings from out of state are exempt
Show the answer
Answer: C
Soliciting and collecting premiums are acts of transacting insurance, and an insurer must hold a certificate of authority to do so in Washington. A company itself needs a certificate of authority, not a producer license, so choice two is wrong. Out of state mailings that solicit Washington residents are not exempt, so choice three is wrong. Notifying beneficiaries does not cure unauthorized transacting, so choice four is wrong.
Question 5For the Washington guaranty association to cover a claim, what must generally be true about the insured person?
- A. The insured must have held the policy for at least ten years
- B. The insured must have purchased the policy in cash
- C. The insured must be a licensed insurance producer
- D. The insured is generally a resident of the state at the relevant time
Show the answer
Answer: D
Coverage generally depends on the insured being a resident of the state, which is what ties the protection to this state's association. Paying by cash has nothing to do with eligibility. There is no requirement that the insured be a licensed producer. There is no ten year holding requirement for coverage to apply.
Washington Life and Disability Insurance Guaranty Association Act, persons covered (RCW 48.32A)
Take the free Washington practice test, every question with the answer and the explanation
Washington exam FAQs
How many questions are on the Washington life insurance exam?
100 scored questions, plus about 10 unscored pretest questions mixed in, with 150 minutes on the clock.
What score passes the Washington exam?
You need 70 percent to pass.
How much does the Washington life insurance exam cost?
The exam fee is $38 per attempt, paid to PSI Exams. Licensing application and fingerprint fees are separate.
What happens if I fail the Washington exam?
You cannot rebook on the day you fail, while scores process. You can schedule the next day and retest as soon as a seat opens, so if you fail on a Wednesday you can call Thursday and retest Friday. No attempt limit is stated, and the fee is due 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 Washington require prelicensing education before the exam?
No. Washington 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 Washington 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, 150 minutes), and a mastery map that shows what to study next.