Colorado Property & Casualty Exam Overview
Key Takeaways
- Property and Casualty are two separate Pearson VUE exams: Property has 75 scored questions, Casualty has 81 scored questions, plus unscored pretest items on each.
- You get 120 minutes per exam (240 minutes if you sit both back-to-back) and must score at least 70% on each, scored independently.
- Pre-licensing education is 50 hours, whether Property alone, Casualty alone, or a combined Property-and-Casualty course; one 50-hour combined course satisfies both lines (12 Property + 12 Casualty + 10 Principles/Legal/Ethics, plus electives).
- Test-center delivery is $41 for both exams in one session; OnVUE online proctoring is $31 per exam with no multi-exam discount.
- Colorado is a tort (fault) state with 25/50/15 minimum auto liability limits; effective March 1, 2026, DORA updated its licensing fee schedule.
Welcome to OpenExamPrep's FREE Colorado Property & Casualty Insurance exam prep guide. This chapter maps the exact logistics, costs, and licensing path you must navigate to become a licensed Colorado P&C producer in 2026.
Who Administers the Exam
The Colorado Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance examinations are delivered by Pearson VUE under contract with the Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI), a division of the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). DORA writes the rules; Pearson VUE delivers the test; the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) and Sircon process your license application after you pass.
Colorado treats Property and Casualty as separate lines of authority, so most producers sit two distinct exams. You may schedule both in a single test-center session, but each is scored on its own.
Exam Format and Question Counts
Unlike a generic "national" insurance exam, each Colorado line has its own blueprint and its own question count. Memorize these numbers:
| Exam | Scored Questions | Time Limit | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property | 75 scored | 120 minutes | 70% |
| Casualty | 81 scored | 120 minutes | 70% |
| Both back-to-back | 156 scored | 240 minutes | 70% each |
Trap: Each exam also contains a small number of unscored pretest (beta) questions mixed throughout. They are indistinguishable from scored items, so answer every question as if it counts. A candidate seeing "more than 75 questions" on the Property exam is seeing pretest items, not an error.
Every exam is multiple choice with four options each, delivered on-screen. Results are immediate — a printed pass/fail report (with a diagnostic breakdown by topic on fails) is handed to you at the test center, or shown on screen for OnVUE.
Pre-Licensing Education
Colorado requires state-approved pre-licensing education before you test. The Division of Insurance sets the same total — 50 hours — whether you take Property alone, Casualty alone, or the combined Property-and-Casualty course. Combined candidates do not stack two 50-hour courses; one 50-hour combined course satisfies both lines, which is the common money-saving path. Always confirm the exact course structure with your DOI-approved provider, because schools allocate the elective hours differently.
| Component (combined 50-hour P&C course) | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| Property line content | 12 |
| Casualty line content | 12 |
| Principles of Insurance | 3 |
| Legal Concepts & Regulations (incl. Colorado law) | 4 |
| Ethics | 3 |
| Provider electives to reach the 50-hour total | balance |
Fees and Cost Planning
The single biggest savings is the back-to-back test-center session: both exams for $41 total. The online OnVUE option is $31 per exam with no multi-exam discount, so two OnVUE exams cost $62 — more than the test center.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Both exams (Pearson VUE test center, one session) | $41 |
| Each exam, OnVUE online proctoring | $31 |
| License application (NIPR/Sircon) | $44 per line + NIPR transaction fee |
| Pre-licensing course (per provider) | $150-$350 |
2026 update: Effective March 1, 2026, DORA updated its initial and renewal licensing fee schedule. Electronic applications were paused February 27-28, 2026, resuming March 1. Confirm current dollar amounts on the DORA/DOI site before paying.
Step-by-Step Process
- Complete pre-licensing education with a DOI-approved provider and obtain your certificate.
- Register and schedule at pearsonvue.com — book Property and Casualty in one session to claim the $41 rate.
- Pass both exams at 70% each; each is scored independently, so failing one does not void the other.
- Apply within 12 months of passing through NIPR or Sircon, including a background/fingerprint check where required.
- DORA DOI review typically completes in 3-5 business days, then your license is issued.
Colorado-Specific Coverage You Must Know
Colorado is a tort (fault) state — the at-fault driver's insurer pays. Statutory minimum auto liability limits are 25/50/15:
| Coverage | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily Injury per person | $25,000 |
| Bodily Injury per accident | $50,000 |
| Property Damage | $15,000 |
Property candidates should expect questions on the Colorado FAIR Plan (the state's insurer of last resort, created to place wildfire- and risk-exposed property that the voluntary market declines), wildfire and mountain-risk underwriting, and National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) rules. Producers who sell flood coverage must complete a 3-hour NFIP course by the end of their first renewal period, and it counts toward CE.
Casualty candidates face heavy questioning on workers' compensation, commercial general liability, and uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, which must be offered to every Colorado auto buyer in writing even though it is not mandatory.
Continuing Education and Renewal
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total CE | 24 hours every 2 years |
| Ethics | 3 hours (within the 24) |
| Renewal timing | Birth-month-based 2-year cycle |
Key Numbers to Memorize
- Property exam: 75 scored / 120 min; Casualty exam: 81 scored / 120 min.
- Pass: 70% each, scored separately. Both back-to-back: $41; OnVUE: $31 each.
- Auto minimums: 25/50/15. CE: 24 hours / 2 years incl. 3 ethics.
- Apply within 12 months; DORA review 3-5 business days.
How many scored questions does the Colorado Casualty insurance exam contain, and how long do you have?
A candidate sits both exams in one Pearson VUE test-center session. What is the testing fee?
What minimum passing score does Colorado require, and how is it applied across the two P&C exams?
Which statement about Colorado auto insurance is correct for the P&C exam?
A producer plans to sell flood coverage in Colorado. What additional training is required?