US Illinois insurance license exam
Illinois insurance license exam: prelicensing, fees and format.
Illinois is a two-exam state. For each line you pass a General exam and an Illinois State exam within 90 days, after completing 20 hours of prelicensing education. This page uses the August 2026 Pearson handbook and the Illinois Department of Insurance pages. Illinois publishes no current pass-rate report that we could use.
How licensing works
Prelicensing first, then General and State exams within 90 days.
The department says to complete 20 hours of prelicensing per line of authority (7.5 in a classroom; Motor Vehicle is 12.5 hours with 5 in a classroom), then register with Pearson for the General exam and the State exam separately for each line. The two must be passed within 90 days of each other, and you bring proof of prelicensing completion to the test center. Certain designations (for example CLU, ChFC, CIC, CFP and CPCU) are exempt from the prelicensing requirement.
Exam format
Life is 75 minutes general plus 50 minutes state.
- Life: General 50 scored plus 5 pretest, 75 minutes; Illinois State 31 scored plus 5 pretest, 50 minutes.
- Accident and Health: General 50 scored plus 5 pretest, 75 minutes; State 39 scored plus 5 pretest, 55 minutes.
- Property: General 50 plus 5, 75 minutes; State 30 plus 5, 50 minutes.
- Casualty: General 50 plus 5, 75 minutes; State 37 plus 5, 55 minutes.
- Personal Lines: General 75 plus 5, 90 minutes; State 37 scored, 45 minutes.
All exams are available in Spanish. The outlines effective January 1, 2026 and January 1, 2027 list the same counts.
Fees
$92 per exam, with a $92 discount when you pair General and State on one order.
The handbook prices each exam at $92, which includes a $50 Illinois administrative fee, and gives a $92 discount when the two exams for the same line are processed on the same order. If you order them separately you pay $92 each, and the discount does not combine exams across lines. Fees are paid by card or voucher when you reserve and are not accepted at the test center. The handbook lists no separate license fee; the NIPR fee for the license is prorated to your birth-month expiration date.
Passing score
Reported as 70 on a 0 to 100 scale, not 70% correct.
The department sets the passing score and Pearson reports it as 70 for all exams. The handbook says scores should not be read as a percentage or number of correct answers. Passing candidates see a pass result; failing candidates get a numeric score and diagnostic information.
Booking and exam day
Reserve 24 hours ahead, arrive 30 minutes early, bring your certificate.
- Reserve online at Pearson or at (800) 274-0402 at least 24 hours ahead. Walk-ins are not available.
- Cancel or reschedule at least 48 hours ahead without penalty.
- First-time candidates present a current copy of the signed prelicensing certificate (a photo on a phone is acceptable); retake candidates do not need it. The certificate is valid for one year from course completion.
- Bring two forms of current signature ID, one a government-issued photo ID, matching your registration name exactly.
- The Pearson Illinois page says candidates may reserve a physical test center; the handbook describes no remote option.
Retakes
Wait 24 hours before reserving a retake.
For producer exams the handbook states only that you must wait 24 hours before making a reexamination reservation. Waits of 7 and 30 days apply to the Public Adjuster exam, not to producer lines.
After you pass
Wait five days, then apply through NIPR.
Both the department and the handbook say to wait five days after passing before applying online at nipr.com. Prelicensing must be used within 12 months, so you need to obtain the license while it is active. Licenses expire on the last day of your birth month. The pages we fetched do not mention fingerprinting, so confirm that step with the department.
Renewal
24 hours of CE with 3 in ethics.
The department says to complete 24 hours of course study, at least 3 of them ethics taken in a classroom or by webinar, and to be CE compliant at least 10 business days before your renewal date. Renew through the NIPR Licensing Center.
FAQ
Quick answers
How much is the Illinois insurance license exam?
The Pearson handbook prices each exam at $92 and gives a $92 discount when you order the General and State exams for the same line together, so the pair is $92 on one order.
Does Illinois require prelicensing education?
Yes. The Department of Insurance requires 20 hours per line of authority, with at least 7.5 in a classroom. The certificate is valid for one year, and some professional designations are exempt.
How many questions are on the Illinois life insurance exam?
Illinois splits it into two exams. The Life General exam has 50 scored plus 5 pretest questions in 75 minutes, and the Life State exam has 31 scored plus 5 pretest in 50 minutes.
How long do I have to pass both Illinois exams?
The General and State exams must be passed within 90 days of each other.
How long after passing can I apply for an Illinois license?
Wait five days after passing, then apply online through NIPR, according to the department and the handbook.
Keep going
Related free guides and practice
- How hard is the insurance license exam? — official pass-rate reports from Texas and Florida
- How long is the insurance license exam? — time limits, scored items and passing scores
- How to get your insurance license — the steps, in order, with state examples
- Life insurance exam by state — life-line format and pass rates compared
- Insurance license renewal and continuing education — CE hours by state
- Insurance license verification — how to check an agent's license