Idaho Insurance Exam Guides
Pick the license you're studying for. Each guide covers Idaho-specific requirements, fees, and official links — plus a free practice exam. Then scroll down to explore the Idaho exam's state-law material, mapped.
Free study resource
What's actually tested on the Idaho exam — the state regulations, mapped
Every Idaho insurance exam reserves a block of questions for Idaho-specific law — the fees, deadlines, limits, and rules that generic national study guides gloss over. This is that material: 98 facts from the TESTivity Idaho regulations curriculum, organized the way we teach them. Open a branch, explore, and let the structure do some of the remembering for you.
Every fact below carries its source citation and the date we last verified it (most recently July 2026) — and is re-checked on a schedule. Facts marked tested are ones you should expect to see on the exam.
Life 14 facts
The life insurance rules that differ by state — free look, grace, reinstatement.
- Incontestability period tested2 years from the date of issue (except for nonpayment of premium)
- Grace period for individual life testedOne month (not less than 30 days)
- Window to reinstate a lapsed policy testedWithin 3 years of premium default, on evidence of insurability and payment of overdue premiums
- Max interest chargeable on reinstatement, if capped testedOverdue premiums bear interest not exceeding 8% per year — higher than the 6% common in many states
- Suicide exclusion period testedUp to 2 years from the date of issue (sane or insane) — after that, suicide is no defense
- Free look for individual life tested20 days for individual life AND annuities — return within 20 days for a refund
- Free look for annuities tested20 days (the same 20-day right applies to annuities)
- Free look when a policy is being replaced tested20 days on a replaced life policy or annuity, with an unconditional refund of all premiums
- Free look for long-term care tested30 days for long-term care (Idaho Code § 41-4605); 30 days for Medicare supplement (IDAPA 18.04.10)
- Required nonforfeiture options testedCash surrender value, reduced paid-up insurance, extended term insurance
- Registrations required to sell variable products testedThe Life line plus FINRA securities registration is required to sell variable contracts
- Does the state regulate viatical/life settlements? testedYes — the Idaho Life Settlements Act
- Viator's rescission window tested20 days from execution of the settlement contract
- Has the state adopted the NAIC best interest standard? testedYES — adopted the NAIC best interest standard, effective July 1, 2021. A producer recommending an annuity must act in the consumer's best interest.
Health 14 facts
Health coverage rules — continuation, prompt pay, mandates, public programs.
- Has the state expanded Medicaid under the ACA? testedYES — Idaho expanded Medicaid after voters passed Proposition 2 in 2018; coverage began January 1, 2020
- Effective date of expansion, if expanded testedJanuary 1, 2020 (via Proposition 2, 2018)
- Agency administering Medicaid testedIdaho Medicaid, administered by the Department of Health and Welfare
- Federal marketplace or state-based exchange testedA STATE-BASED exchange — Your Health Idaho. Idaho runs its own full state-based marketplace (notably, one of the few conservative-leaning states to do so).
- Name of the state CHIP program testedIdaho Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
- Clean-claim payment deadline, electronic tested30 days to pay or deny an electronic clean claim
- Clean-claim payment deadline, paper tested45 days to pay or deny a paper clean claim
- Does the state distinguish electronic vs paper claims? testedYes — 30 days electronic, 45 days paper
- Interest / penalty on late claim payment testedInterest at the statutory rate (12% per year) from the due date, plus an administrative fine of up to $5,000 for violations
- Is the IRO's external review decision binding on the plan? testedYES — under Idaho's Health Carrier External Review Act, an Independent Review Organization's decision is final and binding on the carrier
- Employer size at which federal COBRA applies testedFederal COBRA applies at 20+ employees; Idaho has no general private-sector state continuation, only a disability-triggered extension of benefits
- Employer size range covered by state continuation testedIdaho has NO general mini-COBRA. The only state continuation is a 12-month extension of benefits for an insured who is totally disabled when group coverage ends — there is no employer-size trigger or premium-percentage formula.
- Duration of state continuation coverage testedUp to 12 months, but only as an extension of benefits for someone totally disabled when coverage ends
- Max premium as % of group rate testedNot applicable — the disability extension is an extension of benefits, not a premium-based continuation
Auto 11 facts
Auto insurance — minimum limits, fault system, required coverages.
- Fault-based (tort) or no-fault testedFault-based (tort). Idaho has no no-fault system and no mandatory PIP.
- Minimum bodily injury liability per person tested$25,000
- Minimum bodily injury liability per occurrence tested$50,000
- Minimum property damage liability tested$15,000
- The memorizable shorthand (e.g. 30/60/25) tested25/50/15
- Uninsured motorist: mandatory / must be offered & rejectable / not required testedMust be OFFERED; the insured may reject uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in writing (or by electronic record)
- Underinsured motorist status testedOffered with UM and rejectable in writing (Idaho Code § 41-2502)
- Personal injury protection status testedNo PIP — Idaho is a tort state. Medical payments coverage is available but optional.
- Contributory / pure comparative / modified comparative negligence testedModified comparative negligence — a 50% bar. A claimant recovers only if their negligence is NOT AS GREAT AS the defendant's, so a claimant 50% or more at fault recovers nothing; damages are reduced by the claimant's share.
- The bar percentage, if modified comparative tested50% bar — a claimant 50% or more at fault recovers nothing
- Assigned risk / residual market plan for auto testedThe Idaho Automobile Insurance Plan (assigned risk), for drivers who cannot obtain coverage voluntarily
CE & Renewal 7 facts
Continuing education and renewal rules — the numbers the exam loves.
- How long a license lasts before renewal testedTwo years — the license expires on the last day of the licensee's birth month
- What the renewal date keys off (flat term / birthday / birth year) testedBiennial, tied to the last day of the licensee's birth month
- CE hours per renewal period, standard case tested24 hours of Idaho-approved CE every two years
- CE hours if holding multiple license types (if different) testedStill 24 total — holding multiple lines does not multiply the hours
- Ethics hours required per period testedAt least 3 of the 24 hours in ethics
- What happens if CE is not completed (fine / expiry / cancellation) testedA license may not be renewed until CE is satisfied; a license not renewed lapses
- Any CE exemption (e.g. long-service agents) testedNonresidents are exempt from Idaho CE if they are compliant with their home state's requirement
Property 6 facts
Property insurance — rate regulation, residual markets, catastrophe exposure.
- Rate regulation system (file-and-use / prior approval / use-and-file) testedOPEN COMPETITION (competitive rating) — Idaho does not require prior approval or a rate filing before use; the market sets rates, and the Director acts only against rates that are excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory. This is one of the most deregulated rating systems in the country.
- Is insurance credit scoring permitted in personal lines? testedPermitted with restrictions — an insurer may not use credit information 'primarily' (as the sole or dominant basis) to raise a premium, cancel, nonrenew, or decline coverage
- Does the state have a FAIR Plan? testedNO — Idaho has NO FAIR Plan or residual property market. Property owners who cannot obtain coverage rely on the surplus lines market.
- Dominant catastrophe perils in the state testedWILDFIRE above all — Idaho's dominant catastrophe peril — plus winter storm and earthquake. No specific wildfire underwriting or nonrenewal rule was located in statute.
- What license you must already hold to write surplus lines testedAn active Idaho property and casualty producer license, plus a separate Surplus Lines broker license
- Is a diligent-effort search of the admitted market required first? testedYes — a diligent effort to place the risk in the admitted market first
Guaranty 10 facts
The safety nets when an insurer fails — and their limits.
- Name of the life & health guaranty association testedIdaho Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association
- Life death benefit limit tested$300,000
- Life cash surrender / withdrawal value limit tested$100,000 net cash surrender value
- Annuity benefit limit tested$250,000 present value of annuity benefits
- Health benefit limit tested$500,000 for major medical (basic hospital/medical/surgical); $300,000 for other health; $100,000 for health cash values
- Aggregate per-individual cap, if any tested$300,000 aggregate per life — except up to $500,000 where major medical coverage is involved
- Does the state follow the standard NAIC model limits? testedYes — standard NAIC model limits, with tiered health
- Name of the P&C guaranty association testedIdaho Insurance Guaranty Association
- Per-claim cap testedCovered claims up to $300,000 per claim (workers' compensation claims are paid without the cap; unearned premium refunds are capped at $10,000 per policy). There is no per-claim deductible.
- Is using the guaranty association as a sales inducement prohibited? testedYes — using the existence of the guaranty association to solicit or induce a sale is prohibited
Workers Comp 6 facts
Who must carry workers' compensation and what it pays.
- Is workers' compensation mandatory for private employers? testedYes — every employer must secure the payment of compensation (effectively from the first employee)
- Employee count at which coverage is required testedOne or more employees — Idaho requires coverage from the first employee. Exemptions include household domestic service, casual labor, certain family members, elective sole proprietors/partners/officers, real estate agents paid by commission, and agricultural pilots.
- Agency administering workers' compensation testedThe Idaho Industrial Commission
- Temporary total disability wage replacement rate tested67% of the average weekly wage, capped at 90% of the state average weekly wage (with a floor of 45% of the state AWW)
- Deadline to file a claim testedGive the employer notice as soon as practicable, no later than 60 days; file a claim within 1 year of the accident (or death)
- Ways an employer may comply (insure / self-insure / group) testedInsure with a licensed carrier, or qualify as an approved self-insurer
Regulator 5 facts
Who regulates insurance here and what powers the office holds.
- Name of the state insurance regulator testedThe Idaho Department of Insurance (which also houses the State Fire Marshal)
- Title of the person who heads it testedDirector of the Department of Insurance
- How the commissioner is chosen: elected / appointed by governor / appointed by other body testedAppointed by the Governor to a four-year term — not elected
- Where the state's insurance law is codified testedTitle 41 of the Idaho Code (the Insurance Code), with regulations in IDAPA 18
- Does the regulator sit somewhere unusual (e.g. inside a constitutional commission)? testedNo — a conventional Department of Insurance headed by an appointed Director (the Department also administers the State Fire Marshal)
Cancellation 7 facts
When and how policies can be canceled or nonrenewed — heavily tested.
- Initial window during which an insurer may cancel more freely tested60 days — during the first 60 days of a new auto policy the insurer may cancel more freely; after that, cancellation is limited to enumerated grounds
- Notice days to cancel a homeowners policy inside the initial window testedAt least 30 days' notice to cancel homeowners (10 days for nonpayment, with the reason)
- Notice days to cancel a personal auto policy inside the initial window testedAt least 20 days' notice to cancel auto; 10 days for nonpayment (with the reason)
- Notice days for cancellation for nonpayment tested10 days for nonpayment of premium (auto and homeowners)
- Notice days for cancellation for other permitted causes tested20 days for permitted causes (auto)
- Notice days required for nonrenewal testedAt least 30 days' advance notice of nonrenewal for auto, with the reason stated; the property nonrenewal notice period is not fixed by statute
- Must the reason be stated proactively, on request, or not at all? testedYes for auto — a reason must be stated for cancellation and nonrenewal, and only enumerated grounds are permitted (Idaho Code § 41-2507)
Licensing 18 facts
How you get and keep the license — exams, fees, applications, background checks.
- Is there a standalone life license/exam? testedYes — a Life line with its own exam
- Is there a standalone health license/exam? testedYes — a Disability/Health (Accident & Health or Sickness) line with its own exam
- Is there a combined life+health license/exam? testedNo single combined Life & Health exam — each line of authority is its own separate test. A candidate pursuing both sits the Life exam and the Disability/Health exam separately.
- Is there a personal lines license/exam? testedYes — a Personal Lines line with its own exam
- Is P&C one combined license, or split into Property and Casualty? testedSeparate lines — Idaho offers Property and Casualty as SEPARATE exams and lines of authority, plus a Personal Lines line and a Surety line. There is no single combined P&C exam; note that holding both Property and Casualty exempts you from the Surety exam.
- Does the life license cover annuities? testedYes — annuities are sold under the Life line (variable products also require FINRA registration)
- Does the P&C license already include personal lines authority? testedNo — Personal Lines is its own line, but holding Property and Casualty covers personal-lines risks
- Full list of exam-based agent license types testedOne Idaho producer license listing any of: Life · Disability/Health · Property · Casualty · Personal Lines · Surety — plus separate Bail Agent, Public Adjuster, and Independent Adjuster credentials
- Exam administrator (Prometric / PSI / Pearson VUE) testedPearson VUE — by OnVUE online proctoring or at a test center; each exam is $65
- Exam fee tested$65 per exam (each line of authority is a separate exam)
- License application fee tested$80 for the resident producer license ($80 to renew, or $60 filed electronically)
- Passing score tested70%
- Minimum age to be licensed tested18
- Is pre-licensing education required? testedNO — Idaho does NOT require pre-licensing education for producers. Only the Pearson VUE exam is required.
- Pre-licensing hours and any exceptions (e.g. Title, adjusters) testedNone — no pre-licensing course is required. Candidates study the Pearson VUE content outlines (posted by the DOI for each line) and sit the exam directly.
- Fingerprints, state police report, or none testedFingerprinting is REQUIRED for all resident applicants — electronic ($65) or hard-card ($61.25) — with a CHRI Request & Release form returned to the DOI
- Who takes the prints / issues the report testedPearson VUE handles the fingerprint capture; results and the CHRI form go to the Idaho DOI
- Where you apply (Sircon / NIPR / state portal) testedNIPR (nipr.com), via the DOI licensing pages