What This License Is
A Texas General Lines — Life, Accident, Health & HMO license lets you sell life insurance, annuities, accident, health, and HMO products to people and businesses in Texas. It is issued by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) and is required before you solicit, negotiate, or sell any of those products in the state.
Texas is one of the largest insurance markets in the country, and General Lines L&H is the entry point most new producers start with. Once you hold it, you can pursue non-resident licenses in other states through reciprocity.
Eligibility Requirements
You must be at least 18 and have a Social Security Number (or FEIN for business entities). You do not need to be a U.S. citizen, but you do need to be authorized to work in the United States.
A criminal history does not automatically disqualify you, but felonies involving fraud, dishonesty, or breach of trust can lead to denial. TDI reviews each application individually. Answer every background question on the application truthfully — misrepresentation is itself grounds for denial.
Pre-Licensing Education
Texas does not require pre-licensing education for a permanent license — you may schedule the Pearson VUE exam as soon as you are ready. Most candidates take a prep course anyway because the exam is difficult and expects fluency in concepts you cannot pick up from the Texas Insurance Code alone.
The exception is if you want a temporary 90-day license, which lets you start working under an agency or carrier sponsor before passing the permanent exam. Temporary licensees must complete 40 hours of TDI-approved prelicensing within 14 days of the temporary application.
Exam Options & Format
Pearson VUE administers the Texas exam at testing centers across the state and via online proctoring (OnVUE). Schedule at home.pearsonvue.com/tx/insurance — you will need your TDI candidate ID, which you receive after starting your application through TDI's online portal.
Most producers take the combined General Lines L&H exam (130 questions, 2.5 hours) — one exam, all three lines (Life, Accident, Health, and HMO). Single-line Life Agent and Health Agent exams exist for narrower roles; verify current question counts and time limits in the Pearson VUE Texas candidate handbook.
What the Exam Covers
The Texas General Lines L&H exam splits into a general section (national insurance concepts — life products, health products, annuities, principles, contracts) and a state section (Texas Insurance Code, TDI regulations, producer duties).
Texas-specific law content is where preparation matters most. Generic national study material will get you the bulk of the exam, but the Texas Insurance Code questions are where unprepared candidates lose points. Replacement rules, free-look windows, Texas-specific notice requirements, and TDI complaint procedures all show up regularly.
What It Costs
Texas is a relatively low-cost state for licensing — the required state fees come in around $130–$155 total. Here is the breakdown:
Passing Score
You need 70% to pass. Your result appears on screen the moment you finish, and Pearson VUE reports it to TDI within 1–2 business days.
Texas does not limit retakes — you can re-register and re-pay the exam fee as many times as needed. Each attempt is another $33–$55, though, so aim for a consistent 80% on practice exams before scheduling the real one. That buffer is the single best predictor of a first-attempt pass.
If You Pass — and If You Don't
If you pass: apply through NIPR or Sircon (whichever you started your application on). Pay the $50 application fee plus the $5.60 transaction fee. Make sure your IdentoGO fingerprints have been submitted (service code 11G6QF) — TDI will not process your application until they receive your prints from the Texas DPS. Processing typically takes 1–5 business days after fingerprints clear.
If you don't pass: Pearson VUE provides a diagnostic report on your weak areas. Use it. Re-register, re-prepare, and come back. There is no waiting period between attempts.
Keeping Your License Active
Important CE details: 3 hours must be ethics/consumer protection. At least 50% (12 hours) must be classroom or classroom-equivalent (live webinar with interaction). No carry-over, no repeating a course in the same cycle. A one-time 4-hour annuity certification course is required before selling annuities. The 20-year continuous-license CE exemption is available via TDI form FIN517 (does not waive annuity, LTC, or Medicare specialty training).
Once licensed, Texas requires 24 hours of continuing education every 2 years, with 3 hours in ethics/consumer protection and at least 12 hours in classroom or classroom-equivalent (live webinar with interaction) format. Renewal is tied to the last day of your birth month, every two years. No CE hours carry over between cycles.
Two product-specific rules also apply: a one-time 4-hour annuity certification course before selling annuities, and specialty CE for LTC and Medicare if you sell those products.
A useful detail for long-tenured producers: Texas grants a permanent CE exemption after 20 years of continuous licensure (via TDI form FIN517). The exemption does not waive specialty training (annuity, LTC, Medicare), but it removes the general 24-hour requirement.
How to Actually Prepare
Most people who pass put in 60–100 hours over three to six weeks. Because Texas does not require a prelicensing course, everything depends on the prep you choose to do — there is no required baseline.
Quick Reference
Official Links
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