New York Insurance Exam Guides
Pick the license you're studying for. Each guide covers New York-specific requirements, fees, and official links — plus a free practice exam. Then scroll down to explore the New York exam's state-law material, mapped.
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What's actually tested on the New York exam — the state regulations, mapped
Every New York insurance exam reserves a block of questions for New York-specific law — the fees, deadlines, limits, and rules that generic national study guides gloss over. This is that material: 112 facts from the TESTivity New York 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, during the insured's lifetime (a benefit increase requiring evidence of insurability carries its own new 2-year period)
- Grace period for individual life tested31 days (a full month) for a fixed-premium policy; 61 days for a flexible-premium (universal life-type) policy
- Window to reinstate a lapsed policy testedWithin 3 years of the date of default, on written application with evidence of insurability, payment of overdue premiums with interest, and repayment of any indebtedness (unless the policy was surrendered for cash value or an extended-term period has expired)
- Max interest chargeable on reinstatement, if capped testedOverdue premiums bear interest at a rate not exceeding 6% per year, compounded annually
- Suicide exclusion period tested2 years — a suicide exclusion may not apply after the 2nd anniversary of issue; on an excluded suicide death the insurer refunds the premiums paid
- Free look for individual life testedNot less than 10 nor more than 30 days to return an individual life policy for a full refund (the insurer sets the exact length within that range); a mail-order policy must give 30 days
- Free look for annuities testedNot less than 10 nor more than 30 days for an annuity (30 days for a mail-order contract)
- Free look when a policy is being replaced tested60 days to return a life policy or annuity issued in a REPLACEMENT transaction, for an unconditional full refund of all premiums and considerations (New York Regulation 60)
- Free look for long-term care tested30 days for long-term care, from policy delivery
- Required nonforfeiture options testedCash surrender value, reduced paid-up insurance, and extended term insurance, under New York's Standard Nonforfeiture Law
- Registrations required to sell variable products testedVariable life and variable annuities require the New York Life line with variable authority PLUS FINRA registration (a Series 6 or 7 with a Series 63) — they are securities
- Does the state regulate viatical/life settlements? testedYes — New York regulates life settlements (viatical settlements) under Insurance Law Article 78; brokers and providers must be licensed by DFS
- Viator's rescission window testedThe owner may rescind until 15 days after receiving the settlement proceeds (extended to 30 days if written notice of the rescission right was not given)
- Has the state adopted the NAIC best interest standard? testedYES — New York was the FIRST state to extend a best interest standard to BOTH annuities AND life insurance, under Regulation 187 (annuities effective August 1, 2019; life insurance February 1, 2020; upheld by the New York Court of Appeals in 2022)
Health 15 facts
Health coverage rules — continuation, prompt pay, mandates, public programs.
- Has the state expanded Medicaid under the ACA? testedYES — New York expanded Medicaid under the ACA (adults up to 138% of the federal poverty level), administered by the State Department of Health
- Effective date of expansion, if expanded testedJanuary 1, 2014
- Agency administering Medicaid testedThe New York State Department of Health (DOH)
- Federal marketplace or state-based exchange testedA STATE-BASED exchange — NY State of Health, the Official Health Plan Marketplace (which also enrolls Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and the Essential Plan)
- Name of the state CHIP program testedChild Health Plus (New York's CHIP program, administered by the Department of Health)
- Clean-claim payment deadline, electronic tested30 days to pay a clean claim submitted electronically
- Clean-claim payment deadline, paper tested45 days for a clean claim submitted on paper or by other non-electronic means
- Does the state distinguish electronic vs paper claims? testedYes — New York splits the clean-claim deadline: 30 days electronic, 45 days paper
- Interest / penalty on late claim payment testedInterest of 12% per year accrues on a clean claim not paid on time
- Is the IRO's external review decision binding on the plan? testedYES — New York's external appeal, administered by DFS and decided by a certified independent external appeal agent, is BINDING on the health plan; a member files within 4 months of the final adverse determination, with a decision in 30 days (72 hours expedited)
- Employer size at which federal COBRA applies testedFederal COBRA applies at 20+ employees; New York state continuation reaches smaller groups and extends the total duration
- Employer size range covered by state continuation testedNew York continuation applies to groups with fewer than 20 employees (and others not subject to federal COBRA), and it also extends federal COBRA for larger groups
- Duration of state continuation coverage testedUp to 36 months of total continuation — for ALL qualifying events, regardless of employer size (New York tops up the federal 18- and 29-month periods to a full 36)
- Election period for state continuation testedWithin 60 days of the qualifying event or notice
- Max premium as % of group rate testedUp to 102% of the group rate
Auto 12 facts
Auto insurance — minimum limits, fault system, required coverages.
- Fault-based (tort) or no-fault testedNO-FAULT — New York's Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Insurance Reparations Act requires personal injury protection (No-Fault / 'basic economic loss'), which pays the insured's own medical and lost-wage costs regardless of fault; a lawsuit for pain and suffering requires crossing the 'serious injury' threshold
- Minimum bodily injury liability per person tested$25,000 for bodily injury per person ($50,000 if the injury results in death)
- Minimum bodily injury liability per occurrence tested$50,000 for bodily injury per accident ($100,000 if the injuries result in death of two or more people)
- Minimum property damage liability tested$10,000 for property damage per accident
- The memorizable shorthand (e.g. 30/60/25) tested25/50/10
- Uninsured motorist: mandatory / must be offered & rejectable / not required testedMANDATORY — uninsured motorist (UM) bodily-injury coverage is required on every New York auto policy, at least at the 25/50 minimum
- Underinsured motorist status testedSupplementary Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists (SUM) coverage is OPTIONAL and must be offered, up to the policy's liability limits (capped at $250,000/$500,000)
- Personal injury protection status testedMANDATORY — No-Fault 'basic economic loss' of $50,000 per person (unlimited-duration medical; 80% of lost earnings up to $2,000/month for up to 3 years; up to $25/day incidental for 1 year; plus a $2,000 death benefit). An optional additional PIP (OBEL) of $25,000 is available.
- Contributory / pure comparative / modified comparative negligence testedPURE comparative negligence in general — a claimant recovers even if 99% at fault, reduced by their share (CPLR §1411). BUT a 2026 amendment created a MODIFIED bar for motor-vehicle No-Fault cases: in a personal-injury action subject to Article 51, a claimant whose fault is GREATER THAN the combined fault of the defendants recovers nothing
- The bar percentage, if modified comparative testedNone for general negligence (pure comparative). For motor-vehicle No-Fault cases, a claimant more at fault than the defendants combined (greater than 50%) is barred — a 2026 change
- Assigned risk / residual market plan for auto testedThe New York Automobile Insurance Plan (NYAIP) — the assigned-risk residual market; an assigned insurer must cover the driver for 3 years before nonrenewing
- Any alternative to buying liability insurance (e.g. VA's UMV fee) testedNone — New York requires liability insurance to register and operate a vehicle; there is no fee-in-lieu or self-certification alternative for ordinary drivers
CE & Renewal 10 facts
Continuing education and renewal rules — the numbers the exam loves.
- How long a license lasts before renewal tested2 years (biennial)
- What the renewal date keys off (flat term / birthday / birth year) testedBirthday-based — a producer license expires on the licensee's birthday, in an even-numbered year if born in an even year and an odd-numbered year if born in an odd year (a true 2-year cycle); renew within 180 days before expiration
- CE hours per renewal period, standard case tested15 CE credit hours every 2 years
- CE hours if holding multiple license types (if different) tested15 total each cycle — a single requirement covering all lines held; it is not stacked per line
- Ethics hours required per period testedAt least 1 hour of ethics and professionalism each cycle (within the 15) — New York also requires 1 hour of Insurance Law and 1 hour of diversity, inclusion and the elimination of bias, plus flood-insurance training for property/casualty producers
- Limits on who may provide CE credits testedCourses must be taken from a DFS-approved provider. New York's mandated topics within the 15 hours: 1 hour Insurance Law, 1 hour ethics, 1 hour diversity/inclusion, plus 1 hour of flood insurance for any property/casualty licensee (3 hours of enhanced flood training if the producer sells NFIP flood).
- Initial long-term care training requirement testedSelling annuities requires best-interest/suitability training under Regulation 187; long-term-care and LTC-partnership sales require separate LTC training. The exact New York hour counts were not confirmed from a primary source this edition.
- What happens if CE is not completed (fine / expiry / cancellation) testedCE must be completed before renewal. A license that has been expired for up to 2 years can be relicensed online; if expired more than 2 years, a resident must retake the qualifying exam. CE is not required for the first 2-year term — only once the license has been in effect more than 2 years.
- Late renewal / reinstatement tiers testedA license expired up to 2 years may be reinstated (relicensed) online; after 2 years, a resident must re-qualify by examination. The renewal window opens 180 days before expiration.
- Any CE exemption (e.g. long-service agents) testedCE is not required for the first 2-year license term (only after the license has been in effect more than 2 years). Nonresidents who meet their home-state CE are treated as compliant by reciprocity.
Property 8 facts
Property insurance — rate regulation, residual markets, catastrophe exposure.
- Rate regulation system (file-and-use / prior approval / use-and-file) testedMIXED — PRIOR APPROVAL for private-passenger motor-vehicle (auto) rates (deemed approved if not disapproved within 30 days); most other property/casualty lines default to a 'no prior approval' file-and-use system under Insurance Law §2305
- Is insurance credit scoring permitted in personal lines? testedPERMITTED but RESTRICTED — an insurer may not take adverse action based solely on credit, and may not use income, gender, race, religion, marital status, ZIP code, nationality, or the absence of credit history; scoring models must be filed with DFS at least 45 days before use
- Does the state have a FAIR Plan? testedYES — New York has a FAIR Plan, the New York Property Insurance Underwriting Association
- Name of the FAIR Plan, if any testedThe New York Property Insurance Underwriting Association (NYPIUA) — the FAIR Plan and residual property market for owners who cannot obtain coverage voluntarily
- Coastal windstorm pool, if any (e.g. TWIA) testedThe Coastal Market Assistance Program (C-MAP) — a referral program (administered via NYPIUA) that helps shore-area homeowners find voluntary coverage; New York has no separate coastal windstorm insurer
- Dominant catastrophe perils in the state testedCoastal windstorm and hurricanes (Long Island and the downstate coast — Superstorm Sandy), nor'easters and severe winter storms, and inland and coastal flooding
- What license you must already hold to write surplus lines testedAn Excess Line Broker license (on top of a broker license) — New York calls surplus lines 'excess line'
- Is a diligent-effort search of the admitted market required first? testedYes — a diligent effort is required: the broker must obtain declinations from three authorized insurers, file an affidavit, and submit the placement to the Excess Line Association of New York (ELANY)
Guaranty 9 facts
The safety nets when an insurer fails — and their limits.
- Name of the life & health guaranty association testedThe Life and Health Insurance Company Guaranty Corporation of New York
- Life death benefit limit tested$500,000 — but note New York uses a single $500,000 AGGREGATE cap per individual life (death benefit, cash value, individual annuity, and individual health combined), not separate sub-limits
- Life cash surrender / withdrawal value limit testedIncluded within the $500,000 aggregate per individual life (New York does not set a separate cash-value sub-limit)
- Annuity benefit limit testedIncluded within the $500,000 aggregate per individual life; unallocated group annuity / funding agreements are covered up to $1,000,000 per contract
- Aggregate per-individual cap, if any tested$500,000 aggregate per individual life — the single cap covering life death benefit, cash value, individual annuity, and individual health combined ($1,000,000 for an unallocated group annuity/funding agreement)
- Does the state follow the standard NAIC model limits? testedNO — New York exceeds and departs from the NAIC model. Instead of separate limits ($300,000 death / $250,000 annuity), New York applies a single $500,000 aggregate per individual life, with no cap on group health
- Name of the P&C guaranty association testedThe New York Property/Casualty Insurance Security Fund — a state-administered fund (run through the New York Liquidation Bureau/DFS), NOT an independent guaranty association; a separate Public Motor Vehicle Liability Security Fund covers for-hire/public-vehicle claims
- Per-claim cap testedUp to $1,000,000 per claim from the Property/Casualty Insurance Security Fund (no payment to a person owning or controlling 10% or more of the insolvent insurer)
- Is using the guaranty association as a sales inducement prohibited? testedYes — using the existence of the guaranty corporation to advertise, solicit, or induce the purchase of insurance is expressly prohibited
Workers Comp 7 facts
Who must carry workers' compensation and what it pays.
- Is workers' compensation mandatory for private employers? testedYes — workers' compensation is mandatory for virtually all New York employers; failing to carry it exposes the employer to penalties and stop-work orders
- Employee count at which coverage is required testedCoverage is required from the first employee — including part-time employees; New York has no numeric threshold
- Agency administering workers' compensation testedThe New York State Workers' Compensation Board (WCB)
- Temporary total disability wage replacement rate testedTwo-thirds (66 2/3%) of the worker's average weekly wage, multiplied by the percentage of disability, subject to a statewide maximum (2/3 of the New York State Average Weekly Wage, reset each July 1)
- Maximum TTD duration testedTemporary disability is paid for the duration of the disability; the maximum weekly benefit is tied to the state average weekly wage (about $1,222 for injuries in the year to June 30, 2026, and higher thereafter). Permanent partial (non-schedule) awards are capped by a weeks schedule tied to loss of wage-earning capacity.
- Deadline to file a claim tested2
- Ways an employer may comply (insure / self-insure / group) testedBuy from a private carrier, buy from the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF), or qualify as an approved self-insurer (with a security deposit)
Regulator 5 facts
Who regulates insurance here and what powers the office holds.
- Name of the state insurance regulator testedThe New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS)
- Title of the person who heads it testedSuperintendent of Financial Services
- How the commissioner is chosen: elected / appointed by governor / appointed by other body testedAPPOINTED by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the State Senate — not elected
- Where the state's insurance law is codified testedThe New York Insurance Law (Consolidated Laws), with the Department itself established under the Financial Services Law, and regulations in Title 11 of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations (11 NYCRR); producer licensing is in Insurance Law Article 21
- Does the regulator sit somewhere unusual (e.g. inside a constitutional commission)? testedYES — insurance is regulated inside the Department of Financial Services (DFS), a single agency that oversees banking, insurance, AND financial services, headed by the Superintendent; it was created in 2011 by merging the former Insurance and Banking Departments
Cancellation 8 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 a personal auto or homeowners policy is in effect, the insurer may cancel for almost any non-discriminatory reason (the notice must still state the reason); after 60 days cancellation is limited to enumerated grounds
- Notice days to cancel a homeowners policy inside the initial window testedAfter the first 60 days, a homeowners policy may be canceled only on enumerated grounds (nonpayment; fraud or material misrepresentation; a conviction or physical change that increases the hazard; or a Superintendent determination). For nonpayment, payment within 15 days of the mailed notice prevents cancellation.
- Notice days to cancel a personal auto policy inside the initial window testedAfter the first 60 days, a personal auto policy may be canceled only for nonpayment, for suspension/revocation of the named insured's (or a regular operator's) driver's license, or for fraud or material misrepresentation
- Notice days for cancellation for nonpayment tested15 days — a cancellation for nonpayment is avoided if the premium is paid within 15 days after the insurer mails the notice
- Notice days for cancellation for other permitted causes testedEvery cancellation notice must state the specific reason; if the insurer conditions continuation on reduced coverage in lieu of canceling, it must give at least 20 days' written notice
- Notice days required for nonrenewal testedAt least 45 but not more than 60 days before the end of the policy period, with the specific reason stated
- Must the reason be stated proactively, on request, or not at all? testedYes — the specific reason must be stated in (or accompany) every cancellation, conditional-renewal, and nonrenewal notice; a notice missing a required element is ineffective
- Restrictions on nonrenewing because of claims (e.g. weather claims excluded) testedNew York protects renewals: personal lines carry a 3-year 'required policy period' (auto has a shorter required period) during which nonrenewal or conditional renewal is allowed only on cancellation-eligible grounds, and for AUTO an insurer may nonrenew or conditionally renew at most 2% of its policies per rating territory per year
Licensing 24 facts
How you get and keep the license — exams, fees, applications, background checks.
- Is there a standalone life license/exam? testedYes — a standalone Life exam and line of authority (Life includes fixed annuities)
- Is there a standalone health license/exam? testedYes — a standalone Accident and Health exam and line of authority
- Is there a combined life+health license/exam? testedYes — New York offers a combined Life, Accident & Health exam and license, in addition to the individual Life and Accident & Health exams
- Is there a personal lines license/exam? testedYes — a Personal Lines line (its own exam), covering property and casualty sold to individuals for primarily personal, noncommercial purposes
- Is P&C one combined license, or split into Property and Casualty? testedCOMBINED — New York issues a single Property & Casualty license (one exam), not separate Property and Casualty licenses. A narrower Personal Lines line is also offered.
- Does the life license cover annuities? testedYes — FIXED annuities are sold under the Life line. VARIABLE life and variable annuities require the Life line plus variable authority and FINRA registration (they are securities).
- Does the P&C license already include personal lines authority? testedYes — the combined Property & Casualty license covers personal-lines risks; the standalone Personal Lines line is a narrower, personal-only authority
- Full list of exam-based agent license types testedNew York producer licenses include Life · Accident and Health · combined Life, Accident & Health · Property and Casualty · Personal Lines — plus Life Settlements Broker, Excess Line Broker, Public Adjuster, and Variable (with FINRA registration)
- Exam administrator (Prometric / PSI / Pearson VUE) testedPSI Services (PSI) administers New York producer exams under contract with DFS
- Exam fee testedAbout $49 per examination
- License application fee tested$40 for each year (or fraction of a year) of the license period — $80 for the standard 2-year term
- Fee per insurer appointment testedNo producer appointment fee — New York charges nothing per appointment; the insurer simply files a notice of appointment within 15 days
- Passing score tested70%
- Minimum age to be licensed tested18
- Is pre-licensing education required? testedYES — and New York's hours are high: 20 hours for Life, 20 for Accident & Health, 40 for combined Life/Accident & Health, 40 for Personal Lines, and 90 hours for Property & Casualty
- Pre-licensing hours and any exceptions (e.g. Title, adjusters) tested20 hours for Life; 20 for Accident & Health; 40 for combined Life, Accident & Health; 40 for Personal Lines; 90 for Property & Casualty. Classroom, webinar, or self-study all qualify. Pre-licensing is WAIVED for holders of CPCU, CLU, CLUA, ChFC, or MSFS designations (the exam is still required), and brokers/public adjusters may waive it based on qualifying work experience via a Statement of Employer.
- Fingerprints, state police report, or none testedNONE for producers — New York does NOT fingerprint agent/broker applicants. (Fingerprinting is required only of adjuster and bail-bond-agent applicants.) Character is reviewed through the application's disclosure questions.
- Deadline to apply after passing the exam testedApply within 2 years of passing the exam — the passing score report is valid for two years
- How long a passed exam remains valid testedA passing exam result is valid for 2 years
- Waiting period before retaking a failed exam testedNo fixed waiting period stated — you re-register and retest at the next available session (pay each attempt)
- Notice required to reschedule/cancel without forfeiting the fee testedCancel or reschedule at least 2 days before the appointment to avoid forfeiting the fee
- Where you apply (Sircon / NIPR / state portal) testedResidents apply through the DFS Portal (myportal.dfs.ny.gov); nonresidents apply through NIPR (nipr.com)
- Are temporary licenses available? testedNO — New York does not issue a temporary agent or broker (producer) license. (Only a Temporary Independent Adjuster's Permit exists, for catastrophe/emergency work.)
- Temporary license duration and training requirement testedNone for producers — the only temporary credential is the Temporary Independent Adjuster's Permit (insurer-sponsored, for catastrophe or emergency situations)