District of Columbia Life & Health Exam Overview
Key Takeaways
- DC requires NO pre-licensing education, but the exam covers a general (national) section plus a DC-specific state section.
- Pearson VUE (now Pearson Professional Assessments) administers the exam; the fee is $75 per attempt and the passing score is 70%.
- Life and Accident & Health are SEPARATE exams in DC — there is no combined L&H test; each runs ~80–90 multiple-choice questions in a 2-hour window.
- Resident producers must complete fingerprinting through Fieldprint (roughly $31.50–$50 depending on line) before DISB will issue the license.
- Licenses renew every 2 years on the last day of the licensee's birth month; renewal needs 24 CE hours (21 general + 3 ethics) and a $100 fee per line.
About the DC Life & Health Exams
Welcome to OpenExamPrep's FREE District of Columbia Life & Health prep guide. The District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) — the agency that regulates insurance, securities, and banking in the District — licenses producers under the DC Insurance Producer Licensing Act. Exams are delivered by Pearson VUE (now branded Pearson Professional Assessments) at testing centers and via online proctoring.
A critical structural rule: DC offers NO combined Life & Health exam. Life Insurance and Accident & Health (or Sickness) are two distinct exams. To sell both product types you sit, pay for, and pass each one separately. Each exam mixes a general (national) section — core insurance concepts that transfer across states — with a state law section of DC-specific statutes, rules, and producer duties.
Exam Logistics at a Glance
| Item | Life Insurance | Accident & Health |
|---|---|---|
| Administrator | Pearson VUE | Pearson VUE |
| Question count | ~80–90 multiple choice | ~80–90 multiple choice |
| Time limit | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Passing score | 70% | 70% |
| Exam fee | $75 per attempt | $75 per attempt |
| Sections | General + DC state law | General + DC state law |
Trap: Candidates assume DC mirrors states that bundle "Life, Accident & Health" into one sitting. It does not. Budget two $75 fees and two exam appointments if you want full L&H authority.
Results print immediately at the test center. The 70% threshold is a raw percentage of scored items — unscored pretest questions, if present, do not count for or against you, but you cannot identify them, so answer every question.
No Pre-Licensing Education — But Plan Like There Is
DC does NOT mandate any pre-licensing course hours. You may register and sit for the exam directly. That freedom is a double-edged sword: there is no classroom safety net, so self-directed candidates fail the state-law section most often. Treat a prep program as mandatory in practice even though it is optional in law.
Self-Study Plan (6-Week Model)
| Week | Focus | Suggested Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Life fundamentals: contract law, riders, dividends, policy provisions | 15–20 |
| 3–4 | Health fundamentals: major medical, disability income, LTC, Medicare supplements | 15–20 |
| 5 | DC state law: DISB authority, guaranty association, Health Link, replacement rules | 10–15 |
| 6 | Full-length practice exams; review at 80%+ before testing | 10–15 |
Why the State Section Bites
The national content is identical to other Pearson VUE jurisdictions, so a generic study book gets you most of the way. The DC-specific items — DISB enforcement powers, the DC Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association coverage caps, DC Health Link marketplace rules, and replacement/free-look mandates — are where unprepared candidates lose points. This guide concentrates on exactly that DC layer.
Tip: Score a consistent 80%+ on full practice exams before booking. The 70% pass line leaves little margin once nerves and unfamiliar state items are factored in.
From Passing to Licensed: The Full Pathway
Passing the exam is step one, not the finish line. DISB issues the license only after fingerprinting and an approved application.
Step-by-Step
- Prepare — self-study or a voluntary prep course; target 80%+ on practice exams.
- Register with Pearson VUE online or by phone at (800) 274-0610; pay the $75 fee per exam.
- Test — bring a valid government photo ID; pass each exam at 70%; results are immediate.
- Fingerprint — resident applicants submit prints through Fieldprint for an FBI/criminal background check (about $31.50 for P&C, $50 for Life).
- Apply to DISB (typically via NIPR), paying the license fee and uploading required documents.
- Receive license — valid for 2 years, renewable on the last day of your birth month.
2025 Regulatory Updates
- Exam exemption for new residents (eff. Feb 14, 2025): A producer relocating to DC may waive the DC exam if they apply within 90 days of canceling the former resident-state license in good standing.
- Extended renewal window (eff. Mar 14, 2025): Producers may file renewal up to 90 days before expiration (previously 60), allowing more lead time for CE.
Maintenance & Renewal
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| CE hours | 24 every 2 years |
| Ethics within CE | 3 of the 24 hours |
| Non-resident DC-specific CE | 4 hours |
| License term | 2 years (birth-month anchor) |
| Renewal fee | $100 per line of authority |
| CE carryover | Not permitted; excess hours and excess ethics do not roll forward |
Late Renewal Consequences
| Timing | Result |
|---|---|
| 1–30 days late | $200 late fee via NIPR |
| After 30 days | License lapses |
| Within 365 days of lapse | Reinstatement available via NIPR |
Trap: Holding multiple lines (e.g., L&H plus P&C) does not double your CE — it stays 24 hours total — but the $100 renewal fee applies per line of authority. Don't confuse CE hours (shared) with renewal fees (per line).
DISB Contact
| Resource | Detail |
|---|---|
| Website | disb.dc.gov |
| Address | 1050 First Street NE, Suite 801, Washington, DC 20002 |
| Phone | (202) 727-8000 |
With the logistics locked in, Chapter 1 turns to DISB's regulatory structure and the DC producer licensing code in depth.
How many hours of pre-licensing education does the District of Columbia require before sitting for the Life or Health exam?
A candidate wants both Life and Accident & Health authority in DC. What must they do regarding the exam?
What is the continuing education requirement to renew a DC Life & Health producer license?
What happens if a DC producer fails to renew within 30 days after the license expiration date?