The New York insurance exam is administered by PSI on behalf of the New York State Department of Financial Services. Candidates are tested on general insurance concepts, policy provisions, and New York-specific laws and regulations for the license authority they are pursuing.
The exam uses multiple-choice questions and requires a 70% passing score. Life and Accident & Health exams contain 100 scored questions with a two-hour time limit, while the combined Life, Accident & Health exam contains 150 scored questions with a 2½-hour time limit. Exams may also include 5 to 10 unscored experimental questions.
Our New York Insurance Courses provide state-approved pre-licensing education, exam preparation, and practice exams designed to help you succeed.
Is the New York Insurance Exam Difficult?
The New York insurance exam can be challenging because candidates must understand insurance concepts and apply them to multiple-choice questions rather than rely only on memorization.
Several answer choices may appear similar, so careful reading is important. Small differences in wording can change which response is correct, particularly when questions involve policy provisions or New York-specific laws and regulations.
Practicing with exam-style questions can help you become more familiar with the format and identify subjects that require additional review before test day.
How Is the New York Insurance Exam Structured?
The New York insurance licensing exam is administered electronically by PSI Services on behalf of the New York State Department of Financial Services. Candidates can schedule an in-person exam at an authorized PSI testing center or select remote proctoring when that option is available for the exam being scheduled.
For the Life and Health licensing paths offered by National Online Insurance School:
- Life Agent/Broker (17-51): 100 scored questions, 2-hour time limit
- Accident and Health Agent/Broker (17-52): 100 scored questions, 2-hour time limit
- Life, Accident and Health Agent/Broker (17-55): 150 scored questions, 2½-hour time limit
Each exam may also include 5 to 10 experimental questions that are not scored. Because experimental questions are mixed into the exam and are not identified, answer every question as though it counts toward your score.
A score of 70% is required to pass, and exam results are displayed at the end of the exam.
For a detailed breakdown, read our How Many Questions Are on the New York Insurance Exam? article.
For a complete overview of the licensing process, including education requirements and application steps, see our New York Insurance License Requirements guide.
What Is Covered on the New York Insurance Exam?
The exam is based on content established by the New York State Department of Financial Services and measures the knowledge required to properly serve insurance consumers.
Common areas of testing include:
- Insurance principles and terminology
- Policy provisions and contract law
- Life insurance products
- Health insurance products
- Annuities
- New York insurance laws and regulations
- Agent duties and responsibilities
- Ethics and professional conduct
Rather than relying solely on memorization, many questions require candidates to analyze situations and determine the most appropriate response.
What Score Do You Need to Pass the New York Insurance Exam?
A score of 70% is required to pass the New York insurance licensing exam.
Your score is displayed on screen at the end of the exam, and PSI emails a score report after testing. If you do not pass, the score report includes diagnostic information showing your strengths and weaknesses by exam type.
To learn more about scoring requirements, read our What Score Do You Need to Pass the New York Insurance Exam? article.
How to Prepare for the New York Insurance Exam
Effective preparation should combine learning the required material with practice applying that knowledge to exam-style questions.
A strong study plan includes:
- Complete the required state-approved pre-licensing education.
- Review course lessons until the underlying concepts are understood.
- Practice with different sets of exam-style questions.
- Take full-length practice exams under timed conditions.
- Review missed questions and their explanations.
- Spend additional study time on weaker subjects.
National Online Insurance School recommends averaging at least 80% on 100-question timed practice exams, with consistent performance across different subjects and question sets, before scheduling the state exam.
Practice exams should be used to measure understanding and identify areas that still need work rather than simply memorizing repeated questions.
What to Expect on Exam Day
New York insurance exams are administered electronically by PSI. Depending on the exam and available testing options, candidates may test at an authorized PSI testing center or through PSI’s remote proctoring system.
Plan to arrive about 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment to allow enough time for check-in and identification verification. PSI requires candidates to arrive at least 15 minutes before the appointment. Bring the required identification and make sure the name on your identification exactly matches the name used when registering for the exam.
If you are testing remotely, complete PSI’s computer compatibility checks before exam day and review the remote testing requirements carefully. PSI requires remote candidates to meet specific computer, webcam, testing-space, and proctoring requirements before the exam can begin.
The exam is administered by computer. Your score is displayed on screen when you finish, and PSI also emails a score report.
For more information about testing locations, remote testing, and scheduling, see our Where Do You Take the New York Insurance Exam? article.
Frequently Asked Questions
How hard is the New York insurance exam?
The New York insurance exam can be challenging because candidates must understand insurance concepts and New York-specific laws and apply that knowledge to multiple-choice questions. Preparing with varied exam-style questions and timed practice exams can help you become familiar with the format before test day.
What score do you need to pass the New York insurance exam?
A score of 70% is required to pass the New York insurance licensing exam.
Who administers the New York insurance exam?
PSI Services administers New York insurance licensing exams on behalf of the New York State Department of Financial Services.
Do you need pre-licensing education before taking the New York insurance exam?
Yes. New York requires candidates pursuing Life, Accident & Health, or combined Life and Accident & Health authority to complete the applicable state-approved pre-licensing education before taking the licensing exam.
Can you take the New York insurance exam online?
Yes. PSI offers remote proctored testing in addition to in-person testing at authorized test centers for eligible New York insurance exams. Available testing formats are shown when scheduling through PSI.
Can you retake the New York insurance exam?
Yes. If you do not pass, you may schedule another exam after paying the required exam fee. PSI does not allow a new appointment to be made on the same day as an unsuccessful exam attempt, and the next available testing date depends on appointment availability.
Next Step: Start Preparing for the New York Insurance Exam
Preparing for the New York insurance exam starts with completing the required pre-licensing education, understanding the tested concepts, and applying that knowledge through varied practice questions and timed exams. Use practice results to identify weaker subjects and continue reviewing until your performance is consistent across different topics and question sets.
Before scheduling your exam, review the New York Insurance License Requirements to understand the complete licensing process. When you are ready to begin, explore our New York Insurance Courses to complete the required pre-licensing education and prepare for the state exam.
