Ohio Insurance Exam Guides
Pick the license you're studying for. Each guide covers Ohio-specific requirements, fees, and official links — plus a free practice exam. Then scroll down to explore the Ohio exam's state-law material, mapped.
Free study resource
What's actually tested on the Ohio exam — the state regulations, mapped
Every Ohio insurance exam reserves a block of questions for Ohio-specific law — the fees, deadlines, limits, and rules that generic national study guides gloss over. This is that material: 114 facts from the TESTivity Ohio 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 — a policy is incontestable after it has been in force for 2 years during the insured's lifetime (except for nonpayment and certain riders)
- Grace period for individual life testedOne month (at least 30 days) for any premium after the first, during which the policy stays in force; an overdue premium is deducted if the insured dies during grace
- Window to reinstate a lapsed policy testedWithin 3 years from the date of default, on satisfactory evidence of insurability and payment of overdue premiums with interest
- Max interest chargeable on reinstatement, if capped testedOverdue premiums are paid with interest at the rate specified in the policy — Ohio fixes no statutory percentage cap
- Suicide exclusion period tested2 years — the customary maximum suicide exclusion (fixed by rule for variable life, and the standard applied to ordinary life)
- Free look for individual life testedAt least 10 days to return an individual life policy for an unconditional refund
- Free look for annuities testedAt least 15 days for an annuity IF the Buyer's Guide and disclosure document were not delivered at or before application (a conditional 'backstop' free look)
- Free look when a policy is being replaced tested30 days to return a life policy or annuity issued in a REPLACEMENT transaction, for an unconditional full refund of premiums
- Free look for long-term care tested30 days for long-term care, from delivery
- Required nonforfeiture options testedCash surrender value, reduced paid-up insurance, and extended term insurance, under Ohio's Standard Nonforfeiture Law
- Registrations required to sell variable products testedVariable life and variable annuities require the Ohio Life line with the variable-products line of authority PLUS FINRA registration (a Series 6 or 7 with a Series 63/66) — they are securities. Fixed annuities need only the Life line.
- Does the state regulate viatical/life settlements? testedYes — Ohio regulates viatical and life settlements under Chapter 3916; providers and brokers must be licensed
- Viator's rescission window testedThe viator has an unconditional right to rescind for at least 15 days after receiving the settlement proceeds; if the insured dies during the rescission period, the contract is deemed rescinded
- Has the state adopted the NAIC best interest standard? testedYES — Ohio adopted the NAIC 2020 best interest annuity standard, effective February 14, 2021 (Ohio Admin. Code 3901-6-13), with the four obligations of care, disclosure, conflict-of-interest, and documentation
Health 15 facts
Health coverage rules — continuation, prompt pay, mandates, public programs.
- Has the state expanded Medicaid under the ACA? testedYES — Ohio expanded Medicaid under the ACA (adults up to 138% of the federal poverty level), effective January 1, 2014
- Effective date of expansion, if expanded testedJanuary 1, 2014
- Agency administering Medicaid testedThe Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM)
- Federal marketplace or state-based exchange testedA FEDERALLY-FACILITATED marketplace (HealthCare.gov) — Ohio did not build a state exchange
- Name of the state CHIP program testedHealthy Start (Ohio's CHIP, administered as part of Ohio Medicaid)
- Clean-claim payment deadline, electronic tested30 days to pay or deny a clean claim submitted electronically
- Clean-claim payment deadline, paper tested45 days for a clean claim submitted on paper
- Does the state distinguish electronic vs paper claims? testedYes — Ohio splits the clean-claim deadline: 30 days electronic, 45 days paper
- Interest / penalty on late claim payment testedInterest of 18% per year accrues on a clean claim not paid on time
- Is the IRO's external review decision binding on the plan? testedYES — Ohio's external review (Chapter 3922), decided by an Independent Review Organization, is BINDING on the health plan; a reversal requires the plan to provide coverage immediately (standard decision within 30 days, 72 hours expedited)
- Employer size at which federal COBRA applies testedFederal COBRA applies at 20+ employees; Ohio continuation reaches smaller groups
- Employer size range covered by state continuation testedOhio continuation applies to groups not subject to federal COBRA (fewer than 20 employees); the person must have been continuously insured for the 3 months before termination
- Duration of state continuation coverage testedUp to 12 months
- Election period for state continuation testedElected within the statutory notice window (about 31 days), after the 3-month prior-coverage requirement
- Max premium as % of group rate testedThe continuant pays the full group premium
Auto 12 facts
Auto insurance — minimum limits, fault system, required coverages.
- Fault-based (tort) or no-fault testedTORT (at-fault) — the at-fault driver's liability insurance pays the other party's damages. Ohio is NOT a no-fault state and has no mandatory PIP.
- Minimum bodily injury liability per person tested$25,000 per person
- Minimum bodily injury liability per occurrence tested$50,000 per accident
- Minimum property damage liability tested$25,000 per accident
- The memorizable shorthand (e.g. 30/60/25) tested25/50/25
- Uninsured motorist: mandatory / must be offered & rejectable / not required testedOPTIONAL — Ohio does NOT mandate uninsured motorist coverage, and since 2001 there is no mandatory-offer or written-rejection requirement; the insurer is not required to offer it
- Underinsured motorist status testedOPTIONAL — underinsured motorist coverage is treated the same as UM; when purchased it is reduced (difference-in-limits) by the amounts available from the at-fault driver's liability coverage
- Personal injury protection status testedNot required — Ohio is a tort state with no mandatory PIP (medical payments coverage is optional)
- Contributory / pure comparative / modified comparative negligence testedMODIFIED COMPARATIVE NEGLIGENCE with a 51% bar — a claimant recovers only if their fault is NOT GREATER THAN the combined fault of everyone else, so a claimant exactly 50% at fault still recovers, but one 51% or more at fault recovers nothing; the award is reduced by the claimant's share
- The bar percentage, if modified comparative tested51% bar — a claimant whose fault is greater than the combined fault of the others recovers nothing (a claimant exactly 50% at fault still recovers)
- Assigned risk / residual market plan for auto testedThe Ohio Automobile Insurance Plan (OAIP) — the assigned-risk pool for drivers who cannot obtain coverage voluntarily (administered through AIPSO)
- Any alternative to buying liability insurance (e.g. VA's UMV fee) testedBesides liability insurance, an owner may prove financial responsibility with a surety bond, a cash or securities deposit with the Treasurer, or (for a fleet of 26+ vehicles) a certificate of self-insurance
CE & Renewal 10 facts
Continuing education and renewal rules — the numbers the exam loves.
- How long a license lasts before renewal tested2 years (biennial), due on or before the last day of the licensee's birth month
- What the renewal date keys off (flat term / birthday / birth year) testedBirthday-based — the license renews biennially on or before the last day of the licensee's birth month
- CE hours per renewal period, standard case tested24 CE hours per 2-year renewal period
- CE hours if holding multiple license types (if different) tested24 total each period — a single requirement covering all lines held; it is not stacked per line
- Ethics hours required per period testedAt least 3 hours of approved ethics training each period, within the 24
- Limits on who may provide CE credits testedCourses and providers must be approved by the Department; the biennial renewal fee ($25) is waived for a resident agent who has met the CE requirement
- Initial long-term care training requirement testedSelling annuities requires the best-interest/suitability training under the annuity rule (Ohio Admin. Code 3901-6-13); long-term-care sales require LTC/partnership training. Exact Ohio hour counts were not confirmed from a primary source this edition.
- What happens if CE is not completed (fine / expiry / cancellation) testedIf not renewed by the expiration date, a one-month late window applies (renewal fee if any plus a $50 late fee, license stays active). If still not renewed, the license is automatically suspended on the first day of the second month and all appointments terminate.
- Late renewal / reinstatement tiers testedReinstatement is available within 1 year of the original expiration (satisfy CE, submit the renewal, and pay all fees plus a $100 reinstatement fee); after 1 year the license is canceled and the person must start over as a new applicant
- Any CE exemption (e.g. long-service agents) testedNonresident agents in compliance with their home state, limited-authority-only agents, and agents in Department-granted inactive status are exempt from Ohio CE
Property 7 facts
Property insurance — rate regulation, residual markets, catastrophe exposure.
- Rate regulation system (file-and-use / prior approval / use-and-file) testedFILE-AND-USE — an insurer files rates and forms with the Superintendent, and each filing takes effect after a 30-day review window unless disapproved (a competitive, file-and-use system, not strict prior approval)
- Is insurance credit scoring permitted in personal lines? testedPERMITTED but REGULATED — credit-based insurance scoring is allowed in personal lines subject to Ohio Admin. Code 3901-1-55 (certain factors, such as insurance-related inquiries, disputed items, and medical collections, may not count against the consumer, and adverse-action notice is required)
- Does the state have a FAIR Plan? testedYES — Ohio has a FAIR Plan, the Ohio FAIR Plan Underwriting Association, the property insurer of last resort (at least two Ohio-authorized insurers must have declined the risk)
- Name of the FAIR Plan, if any testedThe Ohio FAIR Plan Underwriting Association — the property insurer of last resort
- Dominant catastrophe perils in the state testedTornadoes and severe thunderstorms, hail and straight-line (derecho) wind, winter storms, and riverine and flash flooding — an inland Midwest profile
- What license you must already hold to write surplus lines testedA surplus lines broker license; coverage may be placed only with eligible surplus lines (nonadmitted) insurers on the Department's list
- Is a diligent-effort search of the admitted market required first? testedYes — a diligent search of the admitted market is required first; a search is 'diligent' if the broker contacted at least FIVE authorized insurers writing that kind of insurance (or as many as it represents, if fewer than five)
Guaranty 10 facts
The safety nets when an insurer fails — and their limits.
- Name of the life & health guaranty association testedThe Ohio Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association (OLHIGA)
- 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 (unallocated annuities up to $1,000,000 per contract holder)
- Health benefit limit tested$500,000 for basic hospital, medical, or major medical; $300,000 for disability income or long-term care; $100,000 for other health
- Aggregate per-individual cap, if any tested$300,000 aggregate per individual (rising to $500,000 where basic hospital, medical, or major medical is involved)
- Does the state follow the standard NAIC model limits? testedYes — Ohio follows the standard NAIC model limits ($300,000 death benefit, $100,000 cash value, $250,000 annuity, tiered health, $300,000 aggregate)
- Name of the P&C guaranty association testedThe Ohio Insurance Guaranty Association (OIGA)
- Per-claim cap testedThe lesser of the policy limit or $300,000 per covered claim (returned unearned premium is capped at $10,000; claims must exceed $100)
- Is using the guaranty association as a sales inducement prohibited? testedYes — using the existence of the guaranty association to advertise or induce the purchase of insurance is prohibited
Workers Comp 7 facts
Who must carry workers' compensation and what it pays.
- Is workers' compensation mandatory for private employers? testedYes — every private employer with one or more employees must secure workers' compensation through the state fund (or by qualifying to self-insure)
- Employee count at which coverage is required testedCoverage is required once an employer has one or more employees
- Agency administering workers' compensation testedThe Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) — which runs the exclusive State Insurance Fund (the Industrial Commission adjudicates disputed claims)
- Temporary total disability wage replacement rate tested72% of the full weekly wage for the first 12 weeks, then 66 2/3% of the average weekly wage thereafter
- Maximum TTD duration testedTemporary total disability is paid while total disability continues, up to the statewide average weekly wage maximum; after 200 weeks the Bureau may examine for permanency, and benefits end at maximum medical improvement or return to work
- Deadline to file a claim tested1
- Ways an employer may comply (insure / self-insure / group) testedTWO paths only: coverage through the Ohio BWC state fund, or BWC-approved self-insurance for large qualifying employers — there is NO private workers' compensation insurance in Ohio
Regulator 5 facts
Who regulates insurance here and what powers the office holds.
- Name of the state insurance regulator testedThe Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI)
- Title of the person who heads it testedSuperintendent of Insurance (who is also the Director of the Department) — Ohio does not use the title 'Commissioner'
- How the commissioner is chosen: elected / appointed by governor / appointed by other body testedAPPOINTED by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, serving at the Governor's pleasure — not elected
- Where the state's insurance law is codified testedTitle 39 of the Ohio Revised Code (Insurance), with producer licensing in Chapter 3905 and the Superintendent's powers in Chapter 3901; rules are in Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3901
- Does the regulator sit somewhere unusual (e.g. inside a constitutional commission)? testedNo — the Department of Insurance is a standalone, executive-branch department headed by the Superintendent (who also holds the title of Director); Ohio uses an appointed regulator, not an elected commissioner
Cancellation 8 facts
When and how policies can be canceled or nonrenewed — heavily tested.
- Initial window during which an insurer may cancel more freely testedOhio auto policies are written for a guaranteed two-year term, and mid-term cancellation is limited to enumerated grounds from inception — there is no distinct 60-day 'free cancellation' underwriting window
- Notice days to cancel a homeowners policy inside the initial window testedFor a personal-lines property policy, cancellation for nonpayment takes effect at least 10 days after notice; other mid-term homeowners cancellation timing is largely governed by the policy form
- Notice days to cancel a personal auto policy inside the initial window testedAt least 30 days' notice to cancel a personal auto policy for a reason other than nonpayment (the notice must state the reason and the right to Superintendent review)
- Notice days for cancellation for nonpayment tested10 days' notice for cancellation for nonpayment of premium (auto and personal-lines property)
- Notice days for cancellation for other permitted causes testedAt least 30 days for cancellation of a personal auto policy for a permitted cause (10 days for nonpayment); after inception, auto cancellation is limited to enumerated grounds
- Notice days required for nonrenewal testedAt least 30 days before expiration for nonrenewal (the notice is also mailed to the insured's agent); if mailed late, coverage continues until 30 days after mailing
- Must the reason be stated proactively, on request, or not at all? testedYes — an auto cancellation notice must state the reason and the information it is based on, or offer to furnish it in writing within 5 days of the insured's request, and advise of the right to Superintendent review
- Restrictions on nonrenewing because of claims (e.g. weather claims excluded) testedOhio limits the grounds for mid-term auto cancellation (nonpayment, license suspension of the insured or a regular driver, or material misrepresentation/fraud) under a guaranteed two-year policy, and gives the insured a right to Superintendent review
Licensing 26 facts
How you get and keep the license — exams, fees, applications, background checks.
- Is there a standalone life license/exam? testedYes — Life is a line of authority (Life includes annuities). Note that Ohio's producer EXAM combines Life with Accident & Health (Series 11-35).
- Is there a standalone health license/exam? testedYes — Accident and Health is a line of authority. Ohio's producer exam combines it with Life (the Series 11-35 Life, Accident & Health exam).
- Is there a combined life+health license/exam? testedYes — Ohio's default producer exam is the combined Life, Accident & Health exam (Series 11-35), which requires both the Life and the Accident & Health pre-licensing certificates
- Is there a personal lines license/exam? testedYes — a Personal Lines line of authority (property and casualty sold to individuals and families for noncommercial purposes)
- Is P&C one combined license, or split into Property and Casualty? testedBOTH — Ohio offers separate Property (Series 11-46) and Casualty (Series 11-47) exams AND a combined Property & Casualty exam (Series 11-36); a narrower Personal Lines line is also offered
- Does the life license cover annuities? testedYes — the Life line covers annuities. VARIABLE life and variable annuities require the variable-products line of authority plus FINRA registration (they are securities); fixed annuities need only the Life line.
- Does the P&C license already include personal lines authority? testedYes — the Property and Casualty lines together cover personal-lines risks; standalone Personal Lines is a narrower, noncommercial-only line
- Full list of exam-based agent license types testedOhio lines of authority include Life · Accident and Health · Property · Casualty · Personal Lines — plus Title, Surety Bail Bond, Public Adjuster, and Variable (with FINRA registration). Property and Casualty may be taken as standalone exams (Series 11-46 and 11-47) or as a combined Property/Casualty exam (11-36); Life and Accident & Health may be taken standalone or combined (11-35).
- Exam administrator (Prometric / PSI / Pearson VUE) testedPSI Services (PSI) administers Ohio producer exams under contract with the Department (program code OHINS)
- Exam fee tested$49 per examination (non-refundable; valid one year from payment)
- License application fee tested$10 per line of authority (each major line); plus a small NIPR transaction fee
- Fee per insurer appointment testedUp to $20 per agent appointment (and per annual renewal), paid by the insurer
- Passing score tested70%
- Minimum age to be licensed tested18
- Is pre-licensing education required? testedYES — 20 hours of approved pre-licensing education per major line of authority (so 40 hours for the combined Life/Accident & Health exam, and 40 for the combined Property/Casualty exam)
- Pre-licensing hours and any exceptions (e.g. Title, adjusters) tested20 hours per major line (Life; Accident & Health; Property; Casualty; Personal Lines) — 40 hours in total for the combined Life/Accident & Health or Property/Casualty exam. Classroom, online, or self-study qualify, and the certificate is valid 180 days. Pre-licensing is WAIVED for an insurance degree or an approved designation (Life: CLU, ChFC, CFP, CEBS, CIC, FLMI, LUTCF; Health: RHU, CEBS, REBC, HIA; P&C/Personal Lines: AAI, ARM, CIC, CPCU).
- Fingerprints, state police report, or none testedElectronic (WebCheck) fingerprinting for a state and federal (Ohio BCI and FBI) criminal background check, required of all resident license applicants (not for renewals)
- Who takes the prints / issues the report testedThe Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and the FBI, captured electronically through National WebCheck (all PSI exam centers are approved WebCheck sites; the fingerprint fee at PSI is $72.25)
- How long the background report stays valid testedThe criminal background check is valid for 1 year and may be reused for additional license types while still valid
- Deadline to apply after passing the exam testedApply promptly after passing — the pre-licensing certificate is valid 180 days and the exam eligibility is valid 1 year; there is no separate statutory post-pass deadline
- How long a passed exam remains valid testedThe exam fee and eligibility are valid for 1 year from the date of payment
- Waiting period before retaking a failed exam testedNo limit on retakes — you cannot rebook the same day you tested, but may retest as soon as the next available day (the pre-licensing certificate must still be within its 180 days)
- Notice required to reschedule/cancel without forfeiting the fee testedCancel or reschedule at least 2 days before the appointment to keep the fee; arrive 30 minutes early (not starting within 15 minutes forfeits the fee)
- Where you apply (Sircon / NIPR / state portal) testedNIPR (nipr.com), reached through the ODI 'Apply or Renew Agent License' portal; you may also apply at the exam-center kiosk immediately after passing
- Are temporary licenses available? testedYes — but only in limited servicing situations (death or disability of an agent, a member of a licensed agency, or an agent entering active military service, or where the public interest is served); a temporary licensee must be sponsored
- Temporary license duration and training requirement testedUp to 180 days, with no exam, issued only to service an existing insurance business (not a 'work while you study' license)