Standard: Current 2026 Testing Standards
Study topics and practice questions aligned to the official TexasCerts exams.
Browse all TexasCerts certification exams · Study guides and code resources
The Texas Life and Health insurance license exam is a 130-question, proctored test administered by Pearson VUE on behalf of the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI). It covers two major areas: Life insurance products and planning concepts, and Health insurance including Medicare, Medicaid, disability income, and long-term care. To pass, you need a scaled score of 70 or higher — roughly 91 correct answers on the scored portion. The exam also includes 15 unscored pretest questions you won't be able to identify, so treat every question as if it counts. Unlike the California insurance exams administered by PSI, Texas uses Pearson VUE at testing centers across the state, and you can schedule online after TDI approves your application.
Exam details
The Texas Life and Health exam is administered by Pearson VUE at testing centers across Texas. You must schedule your exam only after TDI processes your application and issues a candidate authorization — walk-ins are not permitted. The exam covers general insurance knowledge and Texas-specific statutes and regulations. All questions are multiple-choice with four answer choices. Results are displayed immediately at the testing center. A scaled score of 70 is required to pass. If you fail, you may retake the exam after 24 hours with no limit on the number of attempts, though each attempt costs the full exam fee. Candidates must also complete a fingerprint background check before applying for their license through Sircon or NIPR.
This link downloads a pre-generated PDF when available for this certification.
Three areas generate the most wrong answers on the Texas Life and Health exam. First, annuity settlement options — candidates consistently confuse straight life, life with period certain, installment refund, and joint and survivor options. The key is understanding that straight life pays the most per month but offers no guarantee, while period certain options trade higher income for beneficiary protection. Second, the distinction between own-occupation and any-occupation disability definitions trips up candidates who memorize definitions without understanding the practical difference: own-occupation pays even if you can work in another field, while any-occupation pays only if you cannot work at all. Third, the Texas-specific statutes section catches out-of-state candidates off guard — rebating, twisting, the 10-day free-look requirement, and the claim payment timeframes are tested directly and cannot be skipped.
145 total questions — 130 scored and 15 unscored pretest questions. The pretest questions are not identified, so you must treat every question as if it counts toward your score.
A scaled score of 70 is required to pass. Texas uses a scaled scoring system rather than a raw percentage, so your score reflects your performance relative to the exam's difficulty. Results are displayed immediately at the Pearson VUE testing center.
Texas does not require pre-licensing education hours for the Life and Health exam unless you are applying for a temporary 90-day license, which requires sponsorship by an insurer. Without a temporary license, you can study independently and sit for the exam without completing an approved course first.
Schedule through Pearson VUE at pearsonvue.com/tx/insurance after TDI approves your application and authorizes you to test. You can book online or by phone at 888-754-7667. Testing centers are available in Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and other major Texas cities.
2 years. Renewal requires 24 hours of continuing education including at least 3 hours of ethics. Renewal is completed through TDI or an approved CE provider.
Yes, but only for your first attempt. Texas permits one online proctored attempt through Pearson VUE. All subsequent retakes must be taken in person at a Pearson VUE testing center.
Texas offers a standalone Life exam (80 scored questions) and a combined General Lines Life, Accident, Health and HMO exam (130 scored questions). The combined license is more valuable because it authorizes you to sell both life insurance and health insurance products including disability income, long-term care, and Medicare supplement policies.
You must wait 24 hours before retaking the exam. There is no limit on the number of attempts. Each retake costs the full Pearson VUE exam fee, and your first online attempt counts as one of your attempts.
Yes. To sell variable life insurance or variable annuities in Texas, you must hold both a Texas life insurance license and a FINRA securities registration (typically Series 6 or Series 7). The Texas exam tests this distinction directly.
The Texas Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association protects policyowners if a licensed Texas insurer becomes insolvent. It covers life insurance death benefits, health insurance claims, and annuity values up to statutory limits. Producers are prohibited from using the guaranty association as a selling point.
Topics and blueprint percentages come from our topic bank; practice sessions allocate questions using those shares when set.
Start practicing free — no account required. The first two questions in each topic are unlocked so you can try the format before committing. Our 130 practice questions are built from the official Pearson VUE content outline and cover all five exam topics.