Ohio Property & Casualty Insurance License Exam Overview
The Ohio Property & Casualty Insurance License Exam is administered by PSI on behalf of the Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI). Property and Casualty are two separate lines of authority in Ohio, so you can sit the combined Property & Casualty exam (Series 11-36) or take the standalone Property and Casualty exams individually. Ohio is the seventh-largest state by population, with Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati serving as major economic centers across diverse manufacturing and service industries.
Passing this exam qualifies you to sell property insurance, auto insurance, liability coverage, and related products throughout Ohio -- a state with nearly 12 million residents and strong demand for both personal and commercial lines.
Exam Format at a Glance
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam (combined) | Property & Casualty, Series 11-36 |
| Total Questions | 150 multiple-choice |
| Time Limit | 210 minutes (2.5 hours) |
| Passing Score | 70% (at least 105 of 150 correct) |
| Testing Vendor | PSI |
| Exam Fee | $42 per attempt |
| Pre-licensing Education | 40 hours (20 hours per line) |
| Content Split | ~70-75% national, ~25-30% Ohio law |
Prefer to test one line at a time? The standalone Property exam and standalone Casualty exam each contain 100 questions with a 2-hour limit, and each carries its own $42 fee. Most candidates take the combined 11-36 exam to save a trip. Important 2026 change: effective March 10, 2026, PSI no longer offers remote (online-proctored) Ohio insurance exams -- every attempt must be taken in person at a PSI test center.
Why Get P&C Licensed in Ohio?
- Major midwest market — Nearly 12 million potential clients
- Manufacturing hub — Strong commercial insurance demand
- Multiple metros — Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati opportunities
- State-run workers' comp — Unique BWC system expertise valuable
- Competitive compensation — Average P&C agent salary over $60,000
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Ready to begin studying? Our comprehensive, completely free Ohio P&C exam prep covers everything you need to pass.
Key Topics Covered on the Exam
1. Property Insurance (30%)
Homeowners Insurance:
- HO-2, HO-3, HO-4, HO-5, HO-6, HO-8 policy forms
- Coverage A (Dwelling), B (Other Structures), C (Personal Property)
- Coverage D (Loss of Use), E (Personal Liability)
- Dwelling fire policies
Ohio-Specific Property Topics:
- Ohio FAIR Plan (residual market)
- Tornado and severe weather coverage
- Basement flooding considerations
- Lake Erie coastal coverage
Commercial Property:
- Building and personal property coverage forms
- Business income coverage
- Equipment breakdown
- Inland marine coverage
2. Liability Insurance (30%)
Personal Liability:
- Homeowners liability (Coverage E)
- Personal umbrella policies
- Medical payments coverage
Commercial Liability:
- Commercial General Liability (CGL)
- Products and completed operations
- Professional liability (E&O)
- Workers' compensation (Ohio BWC)
Ohio Workers' Compensation (BWC):
- State-run monopolistic fund
- Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation
- Self-insurance options for large employers
- Rate classification system
3. Auto Insurance (25%)
Ohio Auto Insurance Requirements:
| Coverage | Minimum Limit |
|---|---|
| Bodily Injury (per person) | $25,000 |
| Bodily Injury (per accident) | $50,000 |
| Property Damage | $25,000 |
Additional Auto Topics:
- Personal Auto Policy (PAP) coverage parts
- Ohio financial responsibility law
- Uninsured motorist coverage (required)
- Underinsured motorist coverage
- SR-22 requirements
- Commercial auto insurance
4. Ohio Insurance Code and Regulations (10%)
Ohio Revised Code Title 39 Key Provisions:
- Producer licensing requirements
- Unfair trade practices
- Unfair claims settlement practices
- Policy cancellation and nonrenewal rules
- Advertising guidelines
Licensing Requirements:
- Pre-licensing education: 40 hours
- Continuing education: 24 hours every 2 years
- Ethics requirement: 3 hours included in CE
- Background check required
5. Ethics and Professional Conduct (5%)
- Fiduciary duties to insureds
- Premium handling requirements
- Claims reporting obligations
- Privacy and confidentiality
Study Timeline for Success
| Week | Focus Area | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1-2 | Property insurance fundamentals | 10-12 |
| Week 2-3 | Liability insurance and BWC | 10-12 |
| Week 3-4 | Auto insurance and Ohio requirements | 10-12 |
| Week 4-5 | Ohio regulations (ORC Title 39) | 6-8 |
| Week 5 | Practice exams and review | 10-12 |
Total recommended study time: 50-60 hours
🎯 Free Practice Questions Available
Test your knowledge with hundreds of free practice questions designed specifically for the Ohio P&C exam.
Ohio-Specific Exam Tips
1. Know Ohio Auto Minimums
Ohio requires 25/50/25 liability coverage:
- $25,000 per person bodily injury
- $50,000 per accident bodily injury
- $25,000 property damage
2. Understand Ohio BWC
Ohio's unique state-run workers' compensation system:
- Monopolistic state fund — Most employers must use BWC
- Self-insurance — Available for qualifying large employers
- Rate groups — Based on industry classification
- Safety programs — Discount opportunities
3. Understand the FAIR Plan
Ohio FAIR Plan provides property insurance for:
- High-risk properties unable to get private coverage
- Basic fire and extended coverage
- Essential property protection
4. Key Numbers to Remember
| Topic | Ohio Requirement |
|---|---|
| Auto minimums | 25/50/25 |
| WC requirement | BWC (monopolistic) |
| Pre-licensing | 40 hours |
| CE requirement | 24 hours/2 years |
| Passing score | 70% |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing BWC system — Ohio is monopolistic state-fund
- Not knowing auto minimums — Ohio is 25/50/25
- Skipping workers' comp — BWC is heavily tested
- Ignoring tornado coverage — Important for Ohio
- Not practicing timed exams — 2.5 hours for 150 questions
- Cramming last minute — Spread study over 5-6 weeks
Score Reporting, Retakes, and Validity Windows
PSI scores the exam immediately and gives you a printed result with a diagnostic breakdown by content area -- use that report to target a retake. If you do not pass, you must wait at least 24 hours before booking another attempt, and each attempt costs the $42 fee again. Two windows matter: your Certificate of Completion from the prelicensing course is valid for 180 days, and a passing exam score is valid for 6 months for your NIPR application. Miss those windows and you may have to retake the course or the exam.
On test day, arrive 30 minutes early and bring two valid IDs (one government-issued photo ID) plus your printed Certificate of Completion. No personal items or study materials are allowed in the testing room.
After Passing Your Exam
- Complete fingerprint background check -- via the Ohio Attorney General's WebCheck system (request the direct copy be sent to ODI); budget about $70.
- Apply for your license -- submit through NIPR within 6 months of passing.
- Pay the license fee -- $10 per line of authority ($20 for both Property and Casualty), plus a small NIPR transaction fee.
- Get appointed by a carrier -- an insurer must appoint you before you can write its business.
- Maintain CE compliance -- 24 hours every 2-year renewal cycle, including 3 hours of ethics.
- Renew on schedule -- Ohio resident producer licenses renew biennially by the last day of your birth month; the renewal fee is waived for resident agents subject to CE.
2026 Ohio Updates
For 2026, be aware of:
- In-person only: as of March 10, 2026, remote-proctored Ohio insurance exams are discontinued
- BWC rate changes and group-rating program updates
- Auto insurance rate and consumer-protection regulation updates
- Always confirm current fees and CE rules with ODI before you schedule
Start Your Ohio P&C Insurance Career Today
The Ohio P&C license opens doors to one of the Midwest's largest insurance markets. With proper preparation, you can pass the exam on your first attempt.
Our free study materials include:
- ✅ Complete topic coverage
- ✅ Practice questions with explanations
- ✅ Ohio-specific regulations (ORC Title 39)
- ✅ Study guides and summaries
- ✅ AI-powered study assistance
Don't pay for expensive prep courses when everything you need is available FREE.
How to Verify the Rules Before You Schedule
Use this guide for exam strategy, then confirm the current licensing steps with official sources before you pay for an appointment. Property and casualty licensing is state-administered, and administrative details can change even when the insurance concepts stay the same. Check the Ohio insurance department first, then the testing vendor candidate handbook, then the application path used after passing. The NAIC state insurance department directory is the safest way to find the current regulator site, and NIPR state requirements can help you confirm post-exam application steps where NIPR is used.
For exam content, keep two buckets separate. The national bucket includes property policies, casualty policies, liability principles, negligence, risk management, policy structure, exclusions, conditions, endorsements, and claims concepts. The Ohio bucket includes regulator authority, producer licensing, unfair practices, cancellation and nonrenewal rules, state auto requirements, residual market mechanisms, and local compliance duties. When a question includes a deadline, dollar limit, filing duty, required notice, or licensing step, ask whether it is a general insurance concept or a Ohio rule.
What to Master for Property Questions
Property questions reward careful reading. Know the difference between named-peril and open-peril coverage, replacement cost and actual cash value, direct and indirect loss, vacancy and unoccupancy, and first-party property coverage versus third-party liability. Homeowners forms are a frequent source of points because the forms look similar but solve different problems. Practice identifying who is insured, what property is covered, which location qualifies as the residence premises, and whether the loss is excluded before an endorsement changes the answer.
Do not treat deductibles, limits, and valuation as afterthoughts. A question may describe a covered loss but test whether the settlement is reduced by deductible, limited by a sublimit, valued at actual cash value, or excluded because the cause of loss is not covered. Commercial property questions add business personal property, business income, extra expense, equipment breakdown, inland marine, and builder's risk concepts. For commercial forms, focus on why a business would need the coverage and what exposure remains if it does not have it.
What to Master for Casualty and Liability Questions
Casualty questions often turn on liability logic. Before choosing an answer, identify the claimant, the insured, the alleged injury or damage, and the legal theory. Negligence questions usually require duty, breach, causation, and damages. Liability policy questions ask whether the policy responds to bodily injury, property damage, personal and advertising injury, medical payments, or a specifically excluded exposure.
For auto, separate personal auto policy structure from state financial responsibility requirements. You need to know liability, medical payments or personal injury protection where relevant, uninsured and underinsured motorist concepts, damage to your auto, covered auto definitions, exclusions, and endorsements. For commercial auto, pay attention to covered auto symbols, hired and non-owned autos, business use, and garage exposures. For workers' compensation, separate statutory benefits from employer liability and remember that workers' compensation is not ordinary negligence coverage.
Final Two-Week Study Plan
In the first week, rotate by coverage family: homeowners and dwelling property, commercial property, personal auto, commercial auto, general liability, workers' compensation, and Ohio law. After every practice set in /study-guides/oh-property-casualty, write down whether each miss was caused by vocabulary, form structure, state rule, or careless reading. Vocabulary misses need flashcards. Form structure misses need diagrams. State-rule misses need a one-page Ohio checklist. Careless reading needs slower question markup.
In the second week, stop studying by chapter only. The actual exam mixes topics, so your practice should mix them too. Use timed sets and force yourself to decide quickly whether the question is asking about coverage trigger, excluded cause, valuation, limit, condition, producer conduct, or state filing rule. Review explanations immediately. The review is where your score improves; simply taking more questions without fixing the reason for misses mostly measures the same weakness again.
Common P&C Exam Traps
One trap is choosing the coverage that sounds familiar instead of the coverage that fits the loss. A flood loss, an employee injury, a professional advice claim, a business income interruption, and a personal auto collision may all involve money damages, but they do not belong in the same policy part. Another trap is ignoring who owns the property or who is legally liable. Property insurance usually protects the insured's financial interest in property; liability insurance responds to claims made by others against the insured.
Cancellation and nonrenewal questions also deserve attention. The exam may test required notice, permitted reasons, timing, or who has authority to act. If the question is state-specific, do not rely on a generic national rule. Unfair trade practice questions work the same way: rebating, twisting, misrepresentation, false advertising, unfair claims handling, and fiduciary misuse of premiums are tested because they show whether a producer can operate lawfully after the exam.
Exam-Day Workflow
Confirm your appointment, identification, remote-proctoring rules, allowed materials, and reschedule deadline before test day. At check-in, your legal name should match the exam registration. During the test, take the easy points first. If a scenario is long, identify the policy, the insured, the covered property or claimant, the cause of loss, and the question's command word. If two answers are legally true, choose the one that answers the exact fact pattern.
If you miss the passing score, use the report as a map. Rebuild the two weakest content areas, then retest with mixed questions. Candidates often improve fastest by mastering policy architecture: declarations, insuring agreement, conditions, exclusions, definitions, and endorsements. Once you can locate where a rule lives inside the policy, unfamiliar questions become easier to reason through.
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