New York Life & Health Exam Overview

About the New York Life, Accident & Health Exam

Welcome to OpenExamPrep's FREE New York Life & Health Insurance exam guide. The New York Life, Accident & Health examination is delivered by PSI Services LLC under contract to the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) — New York merged its old Insurance and Banking departments into DFS in 2011, so there is no separate "Department of Insurance." Expect this naming distinction as a trap question.

The exam blends national insurance principles with New York Insurance Law (the statute) and Regulations (11 NYCRR, the DFS rule numbers). You will be tested on policy types, riders, provisions, beneficiary rules, annuities, accident & sickness coverage, replacement, Regulation 60, the Guaranty Corporation, and ethics/unfair trade practices.

Exam Logistics at a Glance

Trap: A score "report" shows pass/fail plus diagnostic categories on failed attempts — it does not give you a numeric score on a pass. Plan to answer roughly 105 of 150 correct.

Pre-Licensing Education

New York requires DFS-approved pre-licensing education before you may sit the state exam. The hours stack by line of authority.

For live-instruction approvals, at least 50% of hours must be in a supervised classroom. Approved online courses use forced progression — you cannot skip ahead, and timers enforce seat time. Choose one delivery method; you do not double-count.

The Certification Exam (the gatekeeper)

New York is unusual: completing the course is not enough. You must pass a separate, proctored Certification Exam administered by the course provider:

• Passing score: 70% or higher
• Time limit: 90 minutes, single sitting
• Result: the provider issues a Certificate of Completion

You cannot schedule the PSI state exam until you hold this certificate. The certificate is valid for 2 years from issuance — pass the state exam within that window or repeat the education.

Basic Qualifications & Exemptions

Designation exemptions. A CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter) is exempt from pre-licensing and from the principles portion, taking only the New York Laws & Regulations portion. CPCU, FLMI, ChFC, RHU, and CEBS holders may receive partial exemptions; confirm current eligibility with DFS rather than assuming — the list changes.

Application Process & Costs

1. Finish education — complete 40 hours and pass the 90-minute Certification Exam at 70%.
2. Schedule PSI — register online at psiexams.com or by phone, pay the $33 fee, schedule within the 2-year certificate window.
3. Test — bring one valid government photo ID whose name matches your registration; pass at 70%.
4. Apply to DFS — submit the electronic application; pay $80 (full term) or $40 (half term) for residents.

Worked example: Maria finishes a 40-hour online course, scores 82% on the Certification Exam, and earns her certificate on March 1. She must pass PSI by March 1 two years later. She pays $33, scores 74% (111/150) — a pass — then pays the $80 resident fee. Out-of-pocket beyond tuition: $113.

License Maintenance & Continuing Education

Resident producer licenses renew on the holder's birthday every 2 years. Every Life, Accident & Health licensee owes the same 15-hour total per cycle — combining the Life and Health lines does not push the requirement to 30.

Mandatory CE topics every cycle

New York requires three distinct one-hour topics inside the 15 — do not collapse them into one:

CE rules to memorize: carryover of excess hours is not allowed; you cannot repeat the same course for credit in the same cycle; the course final requires 70%; and newly licensed producers are exempt from CE for their first renewal (the first two-year period before the initial renewal). Active-duty military called up during the term receive renewal accommodations as well.

Study Plan

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Anchor facts: 150 questions, 150 minutes, 70% pass, $33 fee, PSI vendor, 40 combined education hours, DFS regulator, birthday-based 2-year renewal. Master these and the logistics questions become free points. Good luck.