The next step after completing all your pre-license coursework is to take the insurance exam. You will take one exam for each line of insurance you wish to carry. Property, Casualty, Life, and Accident & Health are a total of four lines.
You must pass your exams within one year of completing your pre-license education course. If you pass one part of an exam, you have ninety days to pass the other part of the exam.
This is a proctored test, which means that you will be in a controlled environment with a person watching you. If you have not taken a test in such an environment before and feel like this could be stressful, you may need work on taming your nerves prior to sitting for the exam.
NOTICE: The IL Insurance Pre-Licensing Program has been notified that the State’s license testing provider, Pearson Vue, will begin to allow online proctored testing as of August 3, 2021. There has been much confusion and very little communication from Pearson Vue. We know that online and in-person testing will be available going forward. Click here for additional information.
You may make a reservation by visiting Pearson Vue. You should make a reservation online at least twenty-four (24) hours before the desired examination date. Walk-in examinations are not available. First-time users are required to create an account. You will need to fill in all required fields, which are preceded by an asterisk (*), on the online form in order to create an ID and be assigned a password. Step-by-step directions are available as you go through the setup process.
Before making a reservation, you should have the following:
- Legal name, address, social security number, daytime telephone number, and date of birth
- The name of the examination(s)
- The preferred examination date and test center location
With the exception of the Personal Lines examination, candidates may take up to two examinations at one session. This is referred to as ‘back to back’ scheduling, for which the candidate is currently offered two exams and will be required to pay for both exams. Candidates who wish to take more than two examinations must schedule additional sessions.
You must bring two (2) forms of current signature identification. The primary identification must be current, government-issued and photo-bearing with a signature and the secondary identification must contain a valid signature. Identification must be in English.
Primary ID (photograph and signature, not expired)
- Government-issued Driver’s License
- U.S. Dept. of State Driver’s License
- U.S. Learner’s Permit (plastic card only with photo and signature)
- National/State/Country Identification Card
- Passport
- Passport card
- Military ID
- Military ID for spouses and dependents
- Alien Registration Card (Green Card, Permanent Resident Visa)
Secondary ID (signature, not expired)
- U.S. Social Security Card
- Debit (ATM) or Credit card
- Any form of ID on the Primary list
- You must report to the exam center at least thirty (30) minutes before the examination and check-in with the test center administrator.
- No personal items are allowed in the testing room including cell phones, watches, wallets, purses, firearms or other weapons, hats, bags, coats, books, and/or notes, pens or pencils.
- Studying is not allowed in the test center.
- Upon entering and being seated in the testing room you will be provided materials to make notes or calculations. You may not write on these items before the exam begins or remove these items from the testing room.
- No eating, drinking, chewing gum, smoking, and/or making noise that creates a disturbance for other candidates is prohibited during the exam.
- Candidates are given the option to take a tutorial on the computer in which the exam will be given. This is an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the computer and the system. The time used on this tutorial will not reduce the examination time.
Each major line exam is given in a multiple-choice format.
The exam consists of two parts. The general section deals with basic insurance product knowledge. The state section deals with insurance laws, rules, regulations and practices which are unique to Illinois.
Each exam contains “pretest” questions which are mixed in with the scored questions and are not identified. Pretest questions may not be covered in your educational materials and do not affect your final score! The passing score on each exam is 70.
When you complete the exam, you will receive a score report marked “pass or fail.” If you happen to fail, you will receive a score report which includes a numeric score, diagnostic and re-testing information. Candidates can schedule another exam but must wait 24 hours before making a reservation.
The fee for all examinations is $92. The fee must be paid at the time of reservation by credit card, debit card, voucher or electronic check. Fees will not be accepted at the test center. Examination fees are non-refundable and nontransferable, except as detailed in Pearson VUE’s Change/Cancel Policy. The examination fee includes the state of Illinois administrative fee ($50 for all exams). See the Illinois Department of Insurance’s Licensing Candidate Handbook for more information.