Mississippi P&C Insurance Exam: What to Expect
The Mississippi Property & Casualty Insurance License Exam is administered by Prometric on behalf of the Mississippi Department of Insurance (MDOI). The exam tests your knowledge of property insurance, casualty/liability insurance, auto coverage, and Mississippi-specific regulations that every licensed agent must know.
Mississippi's Gulf Coast location creates unique insurance challenges -- wind pool coverage, hurricane deductibles, and flood exposure dominate the state-specific portion of the exam. Candidates who master these topics have a significant advantage on test day.
Exam Format at a Glance
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Questions | 150 multiple-choice |
| Passing Score | 70% (105 correct answers) |
| Time Limit | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Testing Vendor | Prometric |
| Exam Fee | $42 |
| Pre-licensing Education | 40 hours required |
| Appointment | Schedule at any Prometric center in Mississippi |
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Exam Topic Breakdown
Understanding how the exam is weighted helps you allocate study time where it counts most.
| Topic Area | Approximate Weight | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Property Insurance | ~30% | Homeowners forms, dwelling fire, commercial property |
| Casualty/Liability Insurance | ~25% | CGL, personal liability, workers' comp |
| Auto Insurance | ~20% | PAP, MS minimums 25/50/25, UM/UIM coverage |
| Mississippi Regulations | ~15% | MDOI rules, Title 83, unfair practices |
| Ethics & General Insurance | ~10% | Fiduciary duties, policy concepts, premium handling |
4-6 Week Study Schedule
Spreading your preparation across 4-6 weeks prevents burnout and improves long-term retention. Here is a proven schedule that covers 40-60 total study hours.
| Week | Focus Area | Hours | Key Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Property insurance fundamentals | 8-10 | HO forms, dwelling fire, Coverage A-F |
| Week 2 | Casualty and liability insurance | 8-10 | CGL, umbrella, workers' comp, E&O |
| Week 3 | Auto insurance & MS minimums | 8-10 | PAP, 25/50/25, UM/UIM, SR-22 |
| Week 4 | Mississippi-specific regulations | 8-10 | MWUA, wind pool, MDOI, Title 83 |
| Week 5 | Ethics, general concepts, weak areas | 4-6 | Review flagged topics, premium handling |
| Week 6 | Practice exams and final review | 6-8 | Timed practice tests, last-minute drill |
Total recommended study time: 40-60 hours (in addition to 40 hours of required pre-licensing education)
Top Study Tips by Topic
1. Master Homeowners Policy Forms
Homeowners forms appear heavily on the exam. Know the differences:
| Form | Name | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| HO-2 | Broad Form | Named perils only |
| HO-3 | Special Form | Open perils on dwelling, named perils on personal property |
| HO-4 | Renters | Contents coverage only, no dwelling |
| HO-5 | Comprehensive | Open perils on dwelling and personal property |
| HO-6 | Condo | Covers interior walls, personal property |
| HO-8 | Modified | Older homes, actual cash value coverage |
Study Tip: Focus on HO-3 since it is the most common and most tested. Know the difference between open perils and named perils coverage.
2. Know Mississippi Auto Minimums Cold
Mississippi requires 25/50/25 liability coverage:
- $25,000 per person bodily injury
- $50,000 per accident bodily injury
- $25,000 property damage
Additional auto topics to study:
- Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage -- required in Mississippi
- Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage
- SR-22 filing requirements for high-risk drivers
- Financial responsibility law -- proof of insurance required
- No-fault vs. tort -- Mississippi is a tort (at-fault) state
3. Understand the Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association (MWUA)
The MWUA is the residual market mechanism for wind and hail coverage in Mississippi's coastal counties. This is one of the most heavily tested Mississippi-specific topics.
Key MWUA facts:
- Provides wind and hail coverage for properties in designated coastal areas
- Acts as the insurer of last resort when standard carriers will not write wind coverage
- Covers the six southernmost counties along the Gulf Coast
- Policyholders must first be declined by at least one standard market insurer
- Funded by assessments on all property insurers doing business in Mississippi
- Hurricane deductibles are typically percentage-based (2%-5% of Coverage A)
Study Tip: Know the difference between MWUA (wind only) and NFIP (flood only). The exam frequently tests whether candidates can distinguish wind damage from flood damage for coverage purposes.
4. Flood Insurance and NFIP
Mississippi has significant flood exposure beyond the coast. Key points:
- National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provides most flood policies
- Standard 30-day waiting period before coverage takes effect
- Maximum residential coverage: $250,000 dwelling / $100,000 contents
- Elevation certificates are critical underwriting documents
- Flood insurance is not included in standard homeowners policies
- Private flood insurance is a growing alternative to NFIP
5. Commercial Lines Basics
The exam tests fundamental commercial property and casualty concepts:
- Business Owners Policy (BOP) -- package policy for small businesses
- Commercial General Liability (CGL) -- occurrence vs. claims-made forms
- Commercial Property -- building, business personal property, business income
- Workers' compensation -- required for employers with 5+ employees in Mississippi
- Inland marine -- covers property in transit or at temporary locations
- Surplus lines -- coverage from non-admitted insurers for hard-to-place risks
6. Mississippi Insurance Regulations (Title 83)
The regulatory portion tests your knowledge of MDOI rules:
- Pre-licensing education: 40 hours required
- Continuing education: 24 hours every 2 years (includes 3 hours of ethics)
- Unfair trade practices: Misrepresentation, twisting, rebating
- Unfair claims settlement: Failure to acknowledge, investigate, or pay claims promptly
- Policy cancellation/nonrenewal: Specific notice requirements
- Producer licensing: Background check, application, appointment by insurer
Areas Where Candidates Struggle Most
Based on exam pass rate data and candidate feedback, these are the topics that cause the most difficulty:
1. Mississippi Wind Pool (MWUA) Details
Many candidates confuse MWUA coverage with standard homeowners coverage. Remember:
- MWUA covers wind and hail only -- not all perils
- It is a residual market -- you must be declined first
- Hurricane deductibles are separate from standard deductibles
- Named storm deductibles may apply
2. Surplus Lines Requirements
Surplus lines questions trip up candidates unfamiliar with non-admitted insurers:
- Used when coverage is unavailable in the admitted market
- Must show diligent search of admitted insurers
- Surplus lines brokers must be separately licensed
- Premium taxes apply differently than for admitted insurers
3. Adjustor Licensing Requirements
Mississippi has specific rules for insurance adjustors:
- Independent adjustors must be licensed
- Staff adjustors (employed by an insurer) have different requirements
- Catastrophe adjustors may work under temporary licenses after declared emergencies
- Continuing education requirements apply
4. Workers' Compensation Nuances
- Required for 5 or more employees
- Agricultural and domestic workers are exempt
- Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission oversees claims
- Competitive state -- employers purchase from private insurers
- Understand the difference between scheduled and unscheduled injuries
Exam Day Tips
Before the Exam
- Complete all 40 hours of pre-licensing education and keep your certificate
- Schedule at a convenient Prometric center -- arrive 30 minutes early
- Bring two forms of ID -- one must be government-issued photo ID
- Get a full night's sleep the night before
During the Exam
- Read every question carefully -- look for words like "except," "not," and "all of the following"
- Budget your time -- 150 questions in 150 minutes means roughly 1 minute per question
- Flag difficult questions and return to them after completing easier ones
- Eliminate wrong answers first -- even ruling out one option improves your odds
- Trust your preparation -- do not second-guess answers unless you find a clear reason
After the Exam
If you pass:
- Apply for your license through the MDOI
- Complete background check requirements
- Get appointed by at least one insurance carrier
- Maintain CE compliance -- 24 hours every 2 years
If you do not pass:
- Review your score report to identify weak areas
- Wait the required period before retaking (check Prometric scheduling)
- Focus study on failed topic areas rather than re-studying everything
- Take more practice exams under timed conditions
Free Study Resources
Take advantage of these free resources to supplement your pre-licensing education:
- FREE Mississippi P&C Practice Questions -- Hundreds of questions with detailed explanations
- FREE Insurance Practice Exams -- Timed practice tests that simulate the real exam
- All Insurance Exam Blog Posts -- Study guides and tips for every state
- AI-Powered Study Help -- Use our AI assistant to get instant explanations of any insurance concept
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Starting with regulations instead of fundamentals -- Learn property, casualty, and auto concepts first, then layer on Mississippi-specific rules
- Ignoring the MWUA -- Wind pool coverage is unique to coastal states and appears heavily on the exam
- Confusing wind damage and flood damage -- These require different policies (MWUA vs. NFIP)
- Memorizing without understanding -- The exam tests application of concepts, not just definitions
- Skipping practice exams -- Timed practice reveals weak areas and builds exam stamina
- Cramming the night before -- Spread study over 4-6 weeks for better retention
Start Studying for the Mississippi P&C Exam Today
The Mississippi P&C license opens the door to a rewarding insurance career in a state where catastrophe expertise is highly valued. With 40 hours of pre-licensing education and 40-60 hours of focused study using our free resources, you can pass the exam on your first attempt.
Our free study materials include:
- Complete topic coverage for all exam sections
- Practice questions with detailed explanations
- Mississippi-specific regulations and MWUA coverage
- AI-powered study assistance for any concept you find confusing
Don't pay for expensive prep courses when everything you need is available FREE.