How to pass the Virginia Insurance Licensing Exam
Are you considering getting an insurance license in the state of Virginia? If you are, then you probably have a lot of questions about where to go, who to talk to and what to do. Fortunately, America’s Professor has pulled together all of our knowledge and resources to create one comprehensive site with the answers you require. Below you will find sample questions, basics of test format and scoring, pricing, testing locations, how to fully prepare yourself for the exam and more!
We’re here to help you succeed and that means providing you with the best information available. Our courses offer preparation for all types of state insurance licensing exams and they are available to you at the click of a mouse. Read on and enroll today!
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What kind of questions do they put on the Virginia insurance test?
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What score do I need to pass the Virginia insurance exam?
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Are questions grouped by category?
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What is the cost of the Virginia insurance exam?
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How many questions are on the Virginia insurance exam?
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Where can I take the Virginia insurance exam? (Testing center locations)
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How do I sign up to take the Virginia insurance exam?
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Which Virginia insurance test is the toughest?
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Will I have adequate time to complete the Virginia insurance test?
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Is the Virginia insurance exam still given by the “paper and pencil” method?
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What is the best test prep method for the Virginia insurance exam?
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Helpful Links
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General Insurance License Exam Information (Video)
What kind of questions do they put on the Virginia insurance test?
All of the Virginia insurance exam questions are multiple choice. There are no fill-ins (no need to memorize) and no essay (no need to be ready to explain anything) questions.
For example:
A multiple choice test will usually test heavily on definitions (terminology) and numbers (dollar amounts and number of days).
The exam is drawn from a large pool of questions – you will have a different set of questions than the person sitting next to you. If you retake the exam, expect to see very few of the questions repeated on the next exam. Students report that the exams vary greatly in terms of the number of questions on any given topic.
Students report that about 1/3 of the questions are terminology (definitional) questions, 1/3 are number/day questions, and 1/3 are questions where you have to apply the knowledge to reason through a practical situation (story problems – usually short).
What score do I need to pass the Virginia insurance exam?
There are 4 basic exams given in most states – Life, Health, Property, and Casualty. In some states, the exams are combined (Property & Casualty). Some states have a Personal Lines exam for agents selling only homeowner or auto insurance.
In Virginia, you need a score of 70 to pass each exam. But, each exam consists of two parts – the “national” insurance section and the “state rules” section. You will need a score of 70 on each section – the two scores are not averaged together. In Virginia, , you are required to pass the national exam and the state exam at the same time, so if you fail one you must retake both exams (effective 5/2015).
Are questions grouped by category?
Our students always want to know if the questions regarding indemnification (for example) are grouped together. No, questions and topics are randomly scrambled, but that never seems to be a problem for anyone.
What is the cost of the Virginia insurance exam?
The cost is $51 for an examination. You may take up to two exams for that fee. A retake of any portion is the same fee.
How many questions are on the Virginia insurance exam?
The Virginia Property and Casualty exam has 145 questions. The break down is 100 scoreable + 5 pretest questions on national/general content and 35 scoreable + 5 pretest questions on Virginia state specific content.
The Virginia Life, Annuities and Health exam has 150 questions. The break down is 100 scoreable + 5 pretest questions on national/general content and 40 scoreable + 5 pretest questions on Virginia state specific content.
The Virginia Life Only exam has 105 questions. The break down is 50 scoreable + 10 pretest questions on national/general content and 40 scoreable + 5 pretest questions on Virginia state specific content.
The Virginia Health Only exam has 105 questions. The break down is 50 scoreable + 10 pretest questions on national/general content and 40 scoreable + 5 pretest questions on Virginia state specific content.
The Virginia Personal Lines exam has 118 questions. The break down is 75 scoreable + 11 pretest questions on national/general content and 32 scoreable questions on Virginia state specific content.
Pretest questions do not count towards your score. You will not know what questions are real or pre-test questions when taking your exam. It’s very possible the pre-test questions will not even be covered in the Test Content Outline. It’s very important to know that these pre-test questions will be in your exam so you don’t start second guessing yourself when you see a question that you have no idea how to answer (make your best guess and stay calm!).
Where can I take the Virginia insurance exam? (Testing center locations)
* Candidates may test at any test center at no additional charge. Locations and schedules are subject to change.
How do I sign up to take the Virginia insurance exam?
We recommend that you call PearsonVue (the testing company) at 1-888-204-6272. Be sure to call at least 3 days in advance of the date you plan to take the exam. The earlier you sign up, the better your chances of getting the test date of your choice.
Which Virginia insurance test is the toughest?
Each insurance licensing exam presents its own challenge. Between Life, Annuities and Health, students say that the Virginia Health insurance exam is the more difficult. Health insurance policies are simply more complicated than life insurance policies.
The Property insurance part of the exam is easier than the Casualty insurance part of the exam. Property insurance deals with easy to understand issues – fire, flooding, earthquake, etc. On the other hand, Casualty insurance deals primarily with Liability insurance – protection against lawsuits. Casualty insurance is a more conceptual topic and one that is more difficult for students to grasp – particularly if you have never been sued.
The state portion of the Virginia insurance exam is very detailed and presents its own challenges. The state topics tend to cover trivial details relating to complicated state regulations. None of this is easy, but that is why we work so hard to make the material both understandable and memorable.
This is a challenging exam. Put yourself on a strict schedule as you do your exam prep work. Be focused and disciplined as you do your insurance test prep.
If you are getting a Property and Casualty license you must take the Property and Casualty exams at the same time. If you are getting Life, Annuities and Health licenses then you may take the Life & Annuities exam at a different time than the Health exam. For some people it is easier to get one exam out of the way at a time.
Will I have adequate time to complete the Virginia insurance test?
Yes. We have never had students say that they ran out of time to complete the exam. Most students finish in about half of the allotted time (up to 3 1/2 hours). The only students who ever report that they ran out of time were those who were trying to memorize questions in the event they had to repeat the exam. If English is not your first language you can request extra time by filling out Pearson VUE’s English as a Second Language (ESL) Request Form. Keep in mind that this form needs to be submitted to Pearson VUE, and approved, before scheduling your exam. You will also need to submit a a letter (on official letterhead) from an instructor, like America’s Professor, or employer that verifies English is your second language.
Is the Virginia insurance exam still given by the “paper and pencil” method?
No, this is a computerized exam. Virtually all of the students say the proctors were helpful, the room was quiet, and the computer worked well. The proctors will give you the opportunity to complete a practice exam to learn how to use the system. When you are done, you will NOT be given a copy of the exam, nor will you be given the opportunity to review particular questions and their answers. The exam will be scored immediately and you will know your results when you leave.
What is the best test prep method for the Virginia insurance exam?
There is no alternative to knowing the material. There are no shortcuts to learning but there are more effective and less frustrating ways to learn. We recommend that you follow a 4-step process:
- watch and listen to the lecture;
- highlight key concepts in the text;
- review questions in the test bank; and
- send AP an email if you have any questions.
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| Virginia Online Video Courses | Virginia Sample Insurance Questions |
Helpful links:
- Virginia Department of Insurance – Licensing/Renewals: https://www.scc.virginia.gov/boi/pro/ag_lic.aspx
- Virginia Candidate Handbook and Content Outlines: http://www.pearsonvue.com/va/insurance/
- NAIC Website: http://www.naic.org/
- America’s Professor Insurance Courses for Virginia: https://americasprofessor.com/course_cat/virginia-insurance-exam-prep-courses/
General Insurance License Exam Information:
If I purchase this course, and pass, does it meet the requirements to take the Virginia State Exam?
Hello Dennis, The only exam in Virginia that requires you to take an approved pre-licensing course is for Title insurance. Our Virginia Property, Casualty, Life, Annuities and Health courses will prepare you to pass the Virginia insurance exams for those respective lines. Please let us know if you have any other questions. Thanks and have a great day.
I have been told that the passing score for P&C is 80… Are you 100% positive that it is 70?
Hi Jordan, The pass score is still a 70 and I am 100% on that (verified with the state). 😉
I am told I need a personal lines license in my resident state of Virginia to be paid referral fees by one of the multiple quote auto and home insurance companies. I am confused as to how the exam is different from the Property and Casualty licensing exam. Is it essentially the same study material and is the personal lines exam any easier than p/c exam?
Hi Jefro, A full Property and Casualty license includes commercial insurance as well as the personal lines. As you can imagine, there can be pretty good commissions with commercial policies. If a student takes a full Property and Casualty course from us we can tell them which chapters (commercial) to not study. Although we would recommend you just complete the whole course and have a full license so that you are not limited in the future on any PC commissions. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Why them change almost all the words in the questions I didnt understand too many of them thats not ok too many words I never hear
Hi Allendy,
It’s very important that you know the test content (course material) inside and out. The test centers get paid each time you have to take the exam so yes, the exams are difficult. For the best possible chance of passing it’s very important that you follow our course study guide and fully complete the course before testing. Please call in (1-800-870-3130) and let us know if you have any questions. Thanks and have a great day!
I have a Life and Annuities License for the state of Virginia. I need amend my license to add on Personal Lines. How do I go about this correctly? And how would I do reciprocity for another state?
Hi Larry, you first need to get a Personal Lines license by studying up (unfortunately we only have full Property and Casualty courses) then taking the Personal Lines exam with Pearson VUE. After passing the exam you will apply for the license with the state of Virginia (as you did with your Life and Annuities license). After you have your license you will want to call the insurance department in the states you would like have reciprocity with and inquire as requirements change from state-to-state. Good luck!
Are there more then one correct answer on some of the questions on the test?
You could get questions that have “better” correct answers than others. So it’s possible to have a question with multiple correct answers but the “best” answer will only be counted as correct. It’s very important to read the entire question before answering!
I have a property and casualty insurance license in the states of Oregon and Washington, I probably will move to Virginia, do I need to take the test in Virginia too??
Most states will allow you to move your license if it’s in good standing although sometimes they require you take the state specific part of the licensing exam. Just to make sure I would call the licensing department in Virginia (804-371-9631). Good luck!
Do I only need to take the title test to be able to be a title underwriter?
Hi Brittany, As an underwriter I don’t think you do, but I think it would help tremendously. You should probably call the Virginia licensing department at 804-371-9631 and ask them specifically. Often companies will want you licensed from a liability standpoint, but not all. In Virginia there is only one Pearson VUE license exam that requires an approved pre-licensing class/course… and that’s the Title exam. So if you go the license route (recommended) Yes, you must take a test with Pearson VUE and the test must be preceded with an approved 16-hour Title pre-licensing course (Which we do not have). The Virginia Department of insurance has a licensing FAQ sheet (here) that says:
You can do a Google search for approved Title pre-licensing courses as I don’t see where the state provides a list. Good luck in your searches!
I just want to sell Final Expense Life Insurance VA, Do I have to take all the other test as well? P&C, etc.
Hello Steve, No, you will only need to take the Life and Annuities exam and get that license. Most states don’t highlight “annuities” as it’s included in the Life material but Virginia does. Please give us a call if you have any questions. Have a great day!
I passed the Life, Health, and Annuities exam, and received my license about 10 years ago. Unfortunately I didn’t keep up the continuing education. I’m sure it has expired. Do I need to retake the exam again or is there a way to make up the credits needed to bring the license(s) to current status?
Hi Barbara, Beings you are 10 years out you would need to start over and take the state licensing exam again. Most states only allow you to make up the CE credits and pay a reinstatement fee if you are within 1 year of license expiration. It might not hurt to call the state licensing department (804-371-9631) to see if they could help you out though. Good luck!
Can I use my study notes during the licensing exam?
Hello Jan, No you are not allowed to take anything in with you unfortunately. They are pretty strict at the test center.
If you fail your life insurance and annuities exam in Virginia how long before you can take it again?
Hello Doug, 24 hours before you can sign up again. Good luck!
I’m trying to get a job selling health and life insurance will “any” course be counted as the credit I need to be eligible for the final exam or only specific courses?
Hello! There is not a pre-licensing course requirement for Life or Health testing in Virginia (only Title insurance) so you don’t have to worry about credit or certificates of completion. Just be sure to choose a course students are have great success with and that matches your learning style. Here is a link to our online video Virginia Life Health license course. Please let us know if you have any other questions. Thanks!
I am a used car dealer in Virginia and I am also in selling the best comparable auto Insurance to my customers. what course should I choose to study and what exam should I be taking?
Hello Ron, You will need a Property and Casualty (PC) license to sell auto insurance. We have a great Virginia Property and Casualty course that will prepare you for the licensing exam. You will then want to research auto insurance companies and see which one of them will allow you to sell their policies. Let us know if you have any other questions. Thanks!
Hello I currently work as a unlicensed service agent and want to sell auto, House home and condo in Virginia. Which of your courses would help me obtain these licenses
Hello Brandon, You would want to get your Property and Casualty (PC) license to sell home and auto types of policies. Here is a link to our VA PC course. Please let us know if you have any other questions. Thanks and have a great day!
Hello, I enjoyed reading all Q and A…but to take P & C exam…in case I don’t pass, how many trues do I have…? Plz advise,
Thx
Diane
Hello Diane, If you fail the insurance license exam in Virginia 3 times you must wait 30 days before you can take the exam again. I don’t think there is really a limit to the amount of times you can take it but in most situations a student is able to pass within those 3 attempts. My guess is that if you fail three times the state wants you to take another course and be better prepared for your next (and hopefully last) attempt. Please let us know if you are in need of a great Virginia P & C exam course. Take care!
What course and test is required to sell mortgage protection insurance?
Hello Lorinda, You will need to have your Virginia Life and Annuities License to sell mortgage protection insurance. So you would take a Life and Annuities course and then the Life and Annuities licensing exam. Please let us know if you have any other questions. Thanks!
I currently hold a 220 P&C License and a 218 Life & Hlth License in Florida. What would be required of me to get a VA License and what are the costs?
Hi Sabrina, If you are looking to pick up a non-resident license in Virginia you can look at NIPR’s Virginia page for the process and fees. Good luck!