New Hampshire Life & Health Exam Overview
Key Takeaways
New Hampshire does NOT require pre-licensing education for resident Life & Health producer licenses.
PSI Services LLC administers the exam (it replaced the prior vendor effective July 1, 2025); the combined Life, Accident & Health exam has 150 questions and a 150-minute limit.
The passing score is 70% on every line, scored only on scoreable questions (pretest items do not count).
PSI exam fees are $59 for a single line (Life only or Accident & Health only) and $72 for the combination exam.
The resident producer license fee is $210 plus a $5.60 NIPR transaction fee; renewal is biennial on the last day of your birth month.
Continuing education is 24 hours every 2 years, including at least 3 (no more than 10) ethics hours, due 60 days before expiration.
About the New Hampshire Life & Health Exam
Welcome to OpenExamPrep's FREE New Hampshire (NH) Life & Health insurance exam prep guide. This section gives you the exact exam logistics, fees, and application steps so nothing on test day is a surprise. Master these numbers first, then drill the law in the chapters that follow.
The New Hampshire Life & Health insurance examination is administered by PSI Services LLC (PSI) on behalf of the New Hampshire Insurance Department (NHID). PSI became the state's licensing-exam vendor effective July 1, 2025, replacing the prior provider. If you read an older study guide that names a different vendor or a different scheduling phone number, it is out of date — register only through PSI.
Each NH producer exam blends two content areas: a national/general portion (insurance principles, contract law, policy provisions, taxation) and a New Hampshire state law portion (NHID authority, replacement rules, the Guaranty Association, unfair trade practices). You must pass the combined exam as a whole — there is no separate "pass the state part" credit.
Exam Structure and Fees
| Exam Component | Life Only | Accident & Health Only | Combined Life, Accident & Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Testing Vendor | PSI | PSI | PSI |
| Scoreable Questions | 100 | 100 | 150 |
| Time Limit | 120 min | 120 min | 150 min (2.5 hrs) |
| Passing Score | 70% | 70% | 70% |
| PSI Exam Fee | $59 | $59 | $72 |
Trap: A common stale figure is a flat "$50" exam fee. Under PSI, single-line exams cost $59 and the combination exam costs $72. Budget from the current numbers.
The exam may include unscored pretest questions that PSI is field-testing. They are mixed in and unmarked, so treat every item as if it counts. Your 70% is calculated only on the scoreable questions, and PSI delivers a pass/fail score report immediately at the testing center. Failing reports include a diagnostic breakdown by content area — use it to target your retake.
Eligibility and Pre-Licensing Education
No Pre-Licensing Education Required
New Hampshire is one of a minority of states with no mandatory pre-licensing education hours for Life & Health producers. You can register for the exam directly. That lowers the cost of entry but raises the stakes on self-study — the exam is genuinely difficult, and the state offers no classroom safety net.
| Topic | New Hampshire Rule |
|---|---|
| Pre-license course hours | None required |
| Minimum age | 18 years old |
| Residency | NH resident (or principal place of business in NH) for a resident license |
| Background | Fingerprint-based criminal background check via NHID |
Recommendation: Although optional, a structured prep course or a question bank (like OpenExamPrep's free practice set) is strongly advised. Plan on roughly 55-80 hours of study for the combined exam.
License Application Process
- Prepare and pass the PSI exam. Register at psiexams.com or by phone; bring a valid government-issued photo ID; arrive 30 minutes early.
- Complete the fingerprint/background check as directed by NHID.
- Apply through NIPR. Submit the resident producer application at nipr.com within the application window after passing.
- Pay the fees. The resident producer license fee is $210 plus a $5.60 NIPR transaction fee.
- Receive your license electronically from NHID once the application clears.
Retake Policy and Total Cost
New Hampshire allows unlimited retakes. You must wait at least 24 hours between attempts and pay the PSI fee each time.
| Cost Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Optional prep course / materials | $0 - $350 |
| PSI combined exam fee | $72 |
| Resident license fee (NIPR) | $210 + $5.60 |
| Typical total to get licensed | ~$290 - $640 |
Worked example: Maria self-studies with free materials, passes the combined exam on her first try, and applies through NIPR. Her out-of-pocket cost is $72 + $210 + $5.60 = $287.60 — proof that NH's no-pre-licensing rule keeps entry cheap if you prepare well.
License Maintenance and Continuing Education
A New Hampshire producer license is valid for a biennial (2-year) term that expires on the last day of your birth month. To renew, you must satisfy continuing education (CE) and pay the renewal fee through NIPR.
CE Requirements
| Requirement | New Hampshire Rule |
|---|---|
| Total CE hours | 24 hours every 2 years |
| Ethics | At least 3 hours, no more than 10 hours of the 24 |
| Completion deadline | 60 days before license expiration |
| Carryover | NOT allowed — excess hours do not roll forward |
| Repeat courses | A course cannot be counted twice in the same reporting period |
| Roster (reporting) fee | $1.00 per CE credit hour |
| Renewal fee | $210 biennially (resident producer) |
Trap: Producers often miss the 60-day-before-expiration CE deadline, assuming they have until the expiration date itself. Completing CE late triggers penalties even if you finish before the license technically lapses.
Special Training
- Annuity Best Interest training is required before selling annuities, reflecting the NAIC Suitability in Annuity Transactions Model (Best Interest standard) adopted in New Hampshire.
- Long-term care (LTC) training is required for producers selling LTC and partnership LTC policies (initial 8 hours, then ongoing refreshers).
CE Exemptions
- First renewal: Newly licensed producers are generally exempt from CE for their first renewal.
- Non-residents: A non-resident producer in good standing in their home state satisfies NH CE through home-state reciprocity — no separate NH hours required.
Quick-Reference Facts to Memorize
- Passing score: 70% | Pre-license education: none
- Vendor: PSI (since July 1, 2025) | Combined exam: 150 Q / 150 min
- Exam fee: $59 single / $72 combo | License fee: $210 + $5.60
- CE: 24 hrs / 2 yrs, 3-10 ethics, due 60 days early
- Retakes: unlimited, 24-hour wait between attempts
The rest of this guide drills the New Hampshire statutes and rules that appear on the state portion: NHID powers, producer duties and prohibited practices, standard life and health policy provisions, the Guaranty Association, replacement regulation, Medicare supplement and LTC rules, and the Unfair Insurance Trade Practices Act. Anchor those topics on the logistics above and you will sit the exam with confidence.
Which statement about pre-licensing education for a New Hampshire resident Life & Health producer license is correct?
A 20-hour pre-licensing course is mandatory before scheduling the exam
An 8-hour ethics course must be completed before testing
A 40-hour course is required only for the combined exam
No pre-licensing education is required, though self-study is strongly advised
How many scoreable questions and how much time does the combined New Hampshire Life, Accident & Health exam allow, and what score is needed to pass?
100 questions, 120 minutes, 75% to pass
120 questions, 150 minutes, 70% to pass
150 questions, 120 minutes, 65% to pass
150 questions, 150 minutes, 70% to pass
Under PSI, what does it cost to sit for the combined New Hampshire Life, Accident & Health exam, and what is the resident license fee through NIPR?
$72 exam fee; $210 license fee plus a $5.60 transaction fee
$59 exam fee; $215 license fee
$50 exam fee; $150 license fee
$72 exam fee; $300 license fee
A New Hampshire producer's license expires at the end of their birth month. By when must continuing education be completed, and how much is required?
60 days before expiration; 24 hours including 3-10 hours of ethics
On the expiration date; 20 hours including 5 hours of ethics
30 days after expiration; 30 hours with no ethics requirement
By December 31; 15 hours including 2 hours of ethics
After failing the New Hampshire producer exam, how soon may a candidate retake it, and is there a limit on attempts?
Must wait 24 hours; unlimited attempts, paying the PSI fee each time
Must wait 7 days; limited to five lifetime attempts
Must wait 30 days; limited to three attempts per year
May retake immediately the same day at no additional charge
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.