The Pennsylvania Life insurance license provides authority to sell life insurance and annuity products in Pennsylvania. Applicants must pass the Pennsylvania Life licensing examination and complete the state’s application and licensing requirements.
This guide explains what the Pennsylvania Life insurance license allows you to sell, how the state exam works, how to prepare, and the requirements to become licensed.
For the complete licensing process, including application, fingerprinting, fees, and state procedures, review our Pennsylvania Insurance License Requirements page.
What Is the Pennsylvania Life Insurance License?
Pennsylvania’s Life line of authority allows an insurance producer to sell life insurance and annuity products.
Products may include:
- Term life insurance
- Whole life insurance
- Universal life insurance
- Fixed annuities
- Other life insurance products
Additional licensing, registration, training, or appointment requirements may apply to certain products. Variable life insurance and variable annuities require additional securities registration.
Unlike the Pennsylvania Life and Health Insurance License, the Life license does not provide Accident and Health authority.
Is Pre-Licensing Education Required for a Pennsylvania Life License?
No. Pennsylvania does not require applicants to complete a state-mandated pre-licensing education course before taking the Life insurance licensing exam.
Applicants can prepare for and take the required Life examination without completing a specific number of state-required education hours.
Because there is no required course-hour requirement, exam preparation should focus on the material contained in the Pennsylvania Life examination content outline and consistent performance on exam-style questions.
Pennsylvania Life Insurance Exam
The Pennsylvania Life insurance licensing examination is administered by PSI. The Life examination is exam series 16-01.
The exam tests general Life insurance concepts, annuities, and Pennsylvania-specific insurance laws and regulations. A minimum score of 70% is required to pass.
Pennsylvania applicants may take the examination at a PSI testing center or through remote proctoring.
What Pennsylvania Life Insurance Exam Prep Covers
Pennsylvania Life exam preparation should follow the state’s examination content outline and prepare applicants for both general Life insurance concepts and Pennsylvania-specific material.
Topics include:
- Life insurance fundamentals
- Life insurance policy types
- Policy provisions and riders
- Beneficiary designations
- Annuities
- Premiums and policy values
- Pennsylvania insurance laws and regulations
- Agent responsibilities and consumer protections
Our Pennsylvania Life Insurance Exam Prep includes exam-style practice questions and timed practice exams to reinforce the material and help you determine when you are ready for the licensing exam.
How Long Should You Prepare for the Pennsylvania Life Exam?
Many applicants prepare for the Pennsylvania Life insurance exam within one to three weeks when studying consistently.
Rather than scheduling the exam based only on the number of days you have studied, use your understanding of the material and performance on comprehensive practice exams to determine when you are ready to test.
Pennsylvania Life Insurance Licensing Requirements
The licensing process generally follows these steps:
- Prepare for the Pennsylvania Life insurance licensing exam
- Schedule and pass the Life insurance exam through PSI
- Submit the Pennsylvania resident producer license application
- Register for and submit electronic fingerprints
- Receive approval from the Pennsylvania Insurance Department
The order of the application and fingerprinting steps is important. Pennsylvania instructs new resident applicants to pass the required examination and submit the license application before submitting fingerprints. Fingerprints submitted without a corresponding license application are not accepted.
For detailed application, fingerprinting, fees, and licensing instructions, review our Pennsylvania Insurance License Requirements page.
Pennsylvania Life vs. Life and Health
The difference between the Pennsylvania license options is the authority each provides:
- Life: Life insurance and annuity authority
- Life and Health: Both Life and Accident and Health authority
- Health: Accident and Health authority
Applicants who plan to sell only Life insurance and annuity products can pursue the Life line individually. Those who expect to work with both Life and Health products can pursue both lines through Pennsylvania’s combined Life, Accident and Health examination.
For information about obtaining both lines, review our Pennsylvania Life and Health Insurance License Guide.
Choosing Pennsylvania Life Insurance Exam Prep
Because Pennsylvania does not require state-mandated pre-licensing education, applicants can choose exam preparation based on how effectively it prepares them for the Life licensing examination.
Look for Pennsylvania-specific instruction, exam-style practice questions, timed practice exams, and feedback that identifies areas requiring additional review.
National Online Insurance School’s Pennsylvania Life course is designed specifically for exam preparation and does not represent a state-required education-hour requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Pennsylvania require pre-licensing education for a Life insurance license?
No. Pennsylvania does not require a specific pre-licensing education course or number of education hours before taking the Life insurance licensing examination.
What exam do you take for a Pennsylvania Life insurance license?
Applicants pursuing the Life line take the Pennsylvania Life Insurance examination, PSI exam series 16-01.
What score do you need to pass the Pennsylvania Life insurance exam?
A minimum score of 70% is required to pass the Pennsylvania Life insurance examination.
What can you sell with a Pennsylvania Life insurance license?
The Pennsylvania Life line provides authority for life insurance and annuity products. Additional requirements apply to certain products, including variable life insurance and variable annuities.
Can you sell health insurance with a Pennsylvania Life license?
No. The Life license does not provide Accident and Health authority. Applicants who plan to sell both Life and Health insurance can pursue both lines and take the combined Life, Accident and Health examination.
When should you submit fingerprints in Pennsylvania?
New resident producer applicants should pass the required examination and submit the license application before completing fingerprinting.
Next Steps
If you plan to become a Life insurance agent in Pennsylvania, the next step is preparing for the Pennsylvania Life insurance licensing examination.
Review our Pennsylvania Life Insurance Exam Prep to prepare for the Pennsylvania state exam.
