Wisconsin Insurance Exam Guides
Pick the license you're studying for. Each guide covers Wisconsin-specific requirements, fees, and official links — plus a free practice exam. Then scroll down to explore the Wisconsin exam's state-law material, mapped.
Free study resource
What's actually tested on the Wisconsin exam — the state regulations, mapped
Every Wisconsin insurance exam reserves a block of questions for Wisconsin-specific law — the fees, deadlines, limits, and rules that generic national study guides gloss over. This is that material: 116 facts from the TESTivity Wisconsin 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 life policy is incontestable after it has been in force during the insured's lifetime for 2 years (except for nonpayment of premium)
- Grace period for individual life tested31 days for any premium after the first, during which the death benefit stays in force (a claim during the grace period is paid less the unpaid premium)
- Window to reinstate a lapsed policy testedWithin 3 years after the date of premium default, with evidence of insurability and payment of overdue premiums (unless the policy was surrendered for cash value)
- Max interest chargeable on reinstatement, if capped testedOverdue premiums are paid with interest at the rate stated in the policy — Wisconsin does not fix a separate statutory reinstatement-interest cap
- Suicide exclusion period tested2 years — if death is by suicide within 2 years of issue, the insurer's liability is typically limited to a refund of the premiums paid
- Free look for individual life testedAt least 10 days to return an individual life policy for a refund (longer on a replacement)
- Free look for annuities testedAt least 10 days for an annuity (longer on a replacement under Wisconsin's replacement rules)
- Free look when a policy is being replaced testedWisconsin's replacement rules extend the right to return when a life policy or annuity replaces existing coverage (commonly a longer period than a new sale)
- 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 Wisconsin's Standard Nonforfeiture Law
- Registrations required to sell variable products testedVariable life and variable annuities require the Wisconsin Life line plus FINRA registration (a Series 6 or 7 with a Series 63) and a CRD number — they are securities; Wisconsin gives no separate variable exam
- Does the state regulate viatical/life settlements? testedYes — Wisconsin regulates viatical and life settlements; providers and brokers must be licensed by the OCI
- Viator's rescission window testedThe owner has a statutory right to rescind a life-settlement contract within the period fixed by Wisconsin law (commonly within a set number of days after execution or receipt of proceeds)
- Has the state adopted the NAIC best interest standard? testedYES — Wisconsin adopted the NAIC best interest annuity standard (Wis. Stat. §628.347): a producer recommending an annuity must act in the consumer's best interest and complete a one-time annuity training
Health 15 facts
Health coverage rules — continuation, prompt pay, mandates, public programs.
- Has the state expanded Medicaid under the ACA? testedNO — Wisconsin did NOT adopt the ACA Medicaid EXPANSION, but it is unusual: through BadgerCare Plus it covers adults up to 100% of the federal poverty level, so Wisconsin has NO coverage gap despite not expanding
- Effective date of expansion, if expanded testedNot applicable — Wisconsin did not take the ACA expansion; BadgerCare Plus instead covers adults up to 100% of the federal poverty level
- Agency administering Medicaid testedThe Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS); Wisconsin's Medicaid program is branded BadgerCare Plus
- Federal marketplace or state-based exchange testedA FEDERALLY-FACILITATED marketplace (HealthCare.gov) — Wisconsin did not build a state exchange
- Name of the state CHIP program testedBadgerCare Plus — Wisconsin's combined Medicaid/CHIP program covering children, pregnant persons, and adults, administered by DHS
- Clean-claim payment deadline, electronic tested30 days — a claim is overdue if not paid within 30 days after written notice of the claim is furnished to the insurer (Wisconsin's rule applies broadly, not just to health claims)
- Clean-claim payment deadline, paper tested30 days — Wisconsin applies the same 30-day standard whether the claim is paper or electronic
- Does the state distinguish electronic vs paper claims? testedNo — Wisconsin uses a single 30-day overdue standard rather than splitting electronic from paper
- Interest / penalty on late claim payment testedOverdue payments bear SIMPLE interest at 12% per year — a broad Wisconsin rule covering all overdue insurance claims (Wis. Stat. §628.46)
- Is the IRO's external review decision binding on the plan? testedYES — Wisconsin provides an independent external review of adverse health benefit determinations by an Independent Review Organization (IRO), and the IRO's decision is binding on the insurer
- Employer size at which federal COBRA applies testedFederal COBRA applies at 20+ employees; Wisconsin continuation reaches smaller groups
- Employer size range covered by state continuation testedWisconsin group continuation (Wis. Stat. §632.897) applies to group health policies; state continuation chiefly reaches employers not subject to federal COBRA (fewer than 20 employees)
- Duration of state continuation coverage testedUp to 18 months of continued group coverage under Wisconsin's continuation law
- Election period for state continuation testedElected after the insurer/employer's notice of the right to continue; the individual pays the premium
- Max premium as % of group rate testedThe individual pays the premium for continued coverage
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. Wisconsin does not mandate PIP, so it is not a no-fault state.
- 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$10,000 per accident
- The memorizable shorthand (e.g. 30/60/25) tested25/50/10
- Uninsured motorist: mandatory / must be offered & rejectable / not required testedMANDATORY — every Wisconsin auto policy must include uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage at limits of at least 25/50 (Wis. Stat. §632.32)
- Underinsured motorist status testedUnderinsured motorist coverage must be OFFERED (Wisconsin insurers must make a written offer) but is optional; the insured may accept or decline it
- Personal injury protection status testedWisconsin does not mandate PIP, but MEDICAL PAYMENTS coverage of at least $1,000 must be INCLUDED in an auto liability policy unless the insured rejects it in writing (Wis. Stat. §632.32)
- Contributory / pure comparative / modified comparative negligence testedMODIFIED COMPARATIVE NEGLIGENCE — a claimant recovers only if their negligence is NOT GREATER THAN that of the person they seek recovery from; at 51% or more they recover nothing. Damages are reduced by the claimant's share. (Wisconsin compares the claimant to EACH tortfeasor individually.)
- The bar percentage, if modified comparative testedA claimant who is 51% or more at fault (compared with the person from whom recovery is sought) is barred; one who is 50% or less still recovers (reduced by their share)
- Assigned risk / residual market plan for auto testedThe Wisconsin Automobile Insurance Plan (WAIP, the assigned-risk plan) — a producer submits an application on the driver's behalf when voluntary coverage cannot be found
- Any alternative to buying liability insurance (e.g. VA's UMV fee) testedWisconsin requires proof of financial responsibility; most comply by buying auto insurance, though a bond or cash deposit is available under the Financial Responsibility framework (Wis. Stat. ch. 344)
CE & Renewal 10 facts
Continuing education and renewal rules — the numbers the exam loves.
- How long a license lasts before renewal testedA Wisconsin intermediary license runs on a two-year (biennial) term
- What the renewal date keys off (flat term / birthday / birth year) testedRenew every two years; Wisconsin assigns a license expiration/renewal date and CE must be completed before the renewal application
- CE hours per renewal period, standard case tested24 CE credit hours every 2 years
- CE hours if holding multiple license types (if different) tested24 total each cycle regardless of how many lines you hold
- Ethics hours required per period tested3 hours of ethics within the 24
- Limits on who may provide CE credits testedCourses and providers must be approved by the OCI; Wisconsin tracks CE through Sircon/SBS
- Initial long-term care training requirement testedLong-term care: producers must complete LTC training before selling LTC. Annuities: a one-time annuity best-interest/suitability training under Wisconsin's adoption of the NAIC standard.
- What happens if CE is not completed (fine / expiry / cancellation) testedA producer who fails to complete CE by the renewal deadline cannot renew, and the license is revoked or lapses
- Late renewal / reinstatement tiers testedA revoked/lapsed license may be reinstated within the statutory window on completion of CE and payment of a penalty; after that, reapplication (and re-examination) may be required
- Any CE exemption (e.g. long-service agents) testedLimited-lines producers carry reduced or no CE, and nonresidents generally satisfy Wisconsin CE by meeting their home-state requirement
Property 8 facts
Property insurance — rate regulation, residual markets, catastrophe exposure.
- Rate regulation system (file-and-use / prior approval / use-and-file) testedFILE-AND-USE (largely competitive) — Wisconsin insurers file property & casualty rates with the OCI and may use them; Wisconsin relies heavily on competition, with rates that may not be excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory
- Is insurance credit scoring permitted in personal lines? testedPERMITTED with restrictions — Wisconsin allows credit-based insurance scoring in personal-lines underwriting and rating, subject to consumer-protection limits (a credit score may not be the sole basis for an adverse action)
- Does the state have a FAIR Plan? testedYES — Wisconsin has a property residual mechanism: the Wisconsin Insurance Plan (WIP), which provides basic property insurance to applicants who cannot obtain it in the voluntary market
- Name of the FAIR Plan, if any testedThe Wisconsin Insurance Plan (WIP) — Wisconsin's property residual/last-resort program (its FAIR-Plan equivalent)
- Coastal windstorm pool, if any (e.g. TWIA) testedNone — Wisconsin is landlocked and has no coastal wind pool or beach plan; the Wisconsin Insurance Plan is its property residual mechanism
- Dominant catastrophe perils in the state testedTornadoes and severe thunderstorms, hail and straight-line wind, flooding, and severe winter storms and ice — Wisconsin's exposure is severe-convective and winter weather (no coastal hurricane risk)
- What license you must already hold to write surplus lines testedA Wisconsin surplus lines license, held to place business with nonadmitted insurers on top of property & casualty authority
- Is a diligent-effort search of the admitted market required first? testedYes — before placing coverage with a nonadmitted insurer, the surplus lines licensee must make a diligent search of the admitted market and document that the risk could not be placed with admitted insurers
Guaranty 10 facts
The safety nets when an insurer fails — and their limits.
- Name of the life & health guaranty association testedThe Wisconsin Insurance Security Fund — a UNIFIED fund that (uniquely) covers life, annuity, health/HMO AND property & casualty insurance through a single organization
- Life death benefit limit tested$300,000 in life insurance death benefits per insured life
- Life cash surrender / withdrawal value limit testedUp to $300,000 in net cash surrender/withdrawal value for life insurance (Wisconsin's unified fund limits differ in structure from the NAIC model)
- Annuity benefit limit testedUp to $300,000 in the present value of annuity benefits per contract owner
- Health benefit limit testedUp to $500,000 for basic hospital, medical, and surgical or major medical health insurance (including HMO coverage); lower limits apply to other health coverage
- Aggregate per-individual cap, if any tested$300,000 aggregate per individual life for all life/annuity coverages ($500,000 where major-medical health is involved), through the single Wisconsin Insurance Security Fund
- Does the state follow the standard NAIC model limits? testedNo — Wisconsin does not use the standard separate-association NAIC structure: it uses a single UNIFIED Insurance Security Fund for all lines, with limits set by Wis. Stat. ch. 646
- Name of the P&C guaranty association testedThe Wisconsin Insurance Security Fund — the SAME unified fund also pays property & casualty (and workers' compensation) claims of insolvent admitted insurers
- Per-claim cap testedThe Wisconsin Insurance Security Fund pays covered property & casualty claims (with statutory limits and deductibles under Wis. Stat. ch. 646); workers' compensation claims are paid without the standard per-claim cap
- Is using the guaranty association as a sales inducement prohibited? testedYes — using the existence of the Insurance Security Fund to sell 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 — a covered Wisconsin employer must carry workers' compensation, purchased in a COMPETITIVE private market (Wisconsin has no monopolistic state fund); the program is administered by the Department of Workforce Development
- Employee count at which coverage is required testedCoverage is required once an employer has THREE or more employees; an employer with fewer than three is still required if it pays $500 or more in wages in any calendar quarter (and the requirement then begins the next quarter). Farm employers have a separate 6-employee threshold.
- Agency administering workers' compensation testedThe Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD), Worker's Compensation Division
- Temporary total disability wage replacement rate testedTwo-thirds (66 2/3%) of the employee's average weekly wage, subject to a statutory maximum tied to the state average weekly wage and a minimum
- Maximum TTD duration testedTemporary total disability is paid during the healing period while the worker recovers; the maximum weekly benefit is tied to the state average weekly wage and set by statute
- Deadline to file a claim tested2
- Ways an employer may comply (insure / self-insure / group) testedBuy a policy from a private carrier (the market is competitive), or qualify as an approved self-insurer — Wisconsin has no monopolistic state fund
Regulator 5 facts
Who regulates insurance here and what powers the office holds.
- Name of the state insurance regulator testedThe Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI)
- Title of the person who heads it testedCommissioner of Insurance
- How the commissioner is chosen: elected / appointed by governor / appointed by other body testedAPPOINTED by the Governor (serving at the Governor's pleasure), not elected
- Where the state's insurance law is codified testedChapters 600 to 655 of the Wisconsin Statutes (Insurance) — a distinctively reorganized, plain-language insurance code — with producer licensing in Chapter 628 and rules in Chapter Ins of the Wisconsin Administrative Code
- Does the regulator sit somewhere unusual (e.g. inside a constitutional commission)? testedNo — a standalone Office of the Commissioner of Insurance led by a Commissioner appointed by the Governor (the mainstream appointed-commissioner model)
Cancellation 8 facts
When and how policies can be canceled or nonrenewed — heavily tested.
- Initial window during which an insurer may cancel more freely testedDuring the first 60 days a new policy may be canceled for any reason on 10 days' notice; after 60 days, midterm cancellation is limited to statutory grounds (chiefly nonpayment)
- Notice days to cancel a homeowners policy inside the initial window testedProperty: a midterm cancellation is effective no sooner than 10 days after notice; NONRENEWAL takes at least 60 days' notice before expiration, and the notice must state the reason
- Notice days to cancel a personal auto policy inside the initial window testedAuto: a midterm cancellation is effective no sooner than 10 days after written notice (midterm cancellation is limited to statutory grounds, chiefly nonpayment)
- Notice days for cancellation for nonpayment testedAt least 10 days' notice for a cancellation based on nonpayment of premium (the 60-day rule does not apply to nonpayment)
- Notice days for cancellation for other permitted causes testedA midterm cancellation for a permitted cause is effective no sooner than 10 days after written notice stating the reason
- Notice days required for nonrenewal testedNonrenewal (and anniversary-date cancellation) takes at least 60 days' written notice before expiration, stating the reason
- Must the reason be stated proactively, on request, or not at all? testedYes — a Wisconsin cancellation or nonrenewal notice must state the actual reason, and midterm cancellation is limited to statutory grounds
- Restrictions on nonrenewing because of claims (e.g. weather claims excluded) testedAfter the initial underwriting window, a Wisconsin personal-lines policy may be canceled midterm only for the grounds allowed by statute (nonpayment, material misrepresentation, substantial change in the risk, license/registration suspension, and similar) — not merely because a claim was filed
Licensing 27 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 (PSI Series 22-01) and line of authority (Life includes annuities)
- Is there a standalone health license/exam? testedYes — a standalone Accident and Health or Sickness exam (PSI Series 22-03) and line of authority
- Is there a combined life+health license/exam? testedNo — Wisconsin does NOT offer a combined Life & Accident/Health exam. Life (22-01) and Accident and Health or Sickness (22-03) are separate exams and separate lines of authority.
- Is there a personal lines license/exam? testedYes — a Personal Lines exam (PSI Series 22-09) and line, covering property and casualty sold to individuals for personal, noncommercial purposes
- Is P&C one combined license, or split into Property and Casualty? testedSEPARATE — Wisconsin gives Property (22-05) and Casualty (22-07) their own separate exams and lines of authority; there is NO combined Property & Casualty exam. A narrower Personal Lines exam (22-09) is also offered.
- Does the life license cover annuities? testedYes — the Life line covers life insurance and annuities. VARIABLE life and variable annuities require the Life line plus FINRA registration (they are securities; Wisconsin issues no separate Variable exam).
- Does the P&C license already include personal lines authority? testedYes — holding both the Property and the Casualty lines covers personal-lines risks; standalone Personal Lines is a narrower, personal-only line
- Full list of exam-based agent license types testedWisconsin offers separate Life · Accident and Health or Sickness · Property · Casualty · Personal Lines exams — plus Title, Credit, Navigator, Public Adjuster, and (no-exam) Crop, Legal Expense, Surety, Travel, and Variable Life & Annuity lines. There is NO combined Life & Health or Property & Casualty exam.
- Exam administrator (Prometric / PSI / Pearson VUE) testedPSI Services LLC administers Wisconsin producer exams (at a PSI test center or via remote proctoring) on behalf of the OCI
- Exam fee tested$75 per exam (all lines except the Public Adjuster exam, which is $50)
- License application fee testedThe resident intermediary (producer) license fee, paid through NIPR when you apply
- Fee per insurer appointment testedWisconsin uses a 'listing' system: the insurer lists (appoints) the agent and pays the listing fee; Wisconsin's fee structure differs from the classic appointment model
- Passing score tested70% (Wisconsin producer exams are scored; 70% is the passing standard)
- Minimum age to be licensed tested18
- Is pre-licensing education required? testedYES — Wisconsin DOES require pre-licensing education for the exam-based lines: you must complete a Wisconsin-approved pre-licensing course and bring the completion certificate to the exam (the certificate is valid for one year)
- Pre-licensing hours and any exceptions (e.g. Title, adjusters) testedA Wisconsin-approved pre-licensing course is required for the exam-based lines (Life, Accident & Health, Property, Casualty, Personal Lines); bring the completion certificate to the exam. The certificate is valid for only one year.
- Fingerprints, state police report, or none testedFingerprint-based criminal background check — every resident applicant is fingerprinted through Fieldprint (code FPWIOCIINSURANCE) for a state and federal (FBI) criminal history check
- Who takes the prints / issues the report testedFingerprints are captured through Fieldprint Wisconsin (about $36, code FPWIOCIINSURANCE); the results are valid for 180 days
- How long the background report stays valid testedFingerprinting results are valid for only 180 days, so schedule fingerprints close to your application; a continuously licensed producer is not re-fingerprinted at renewal
- Deadline to apply after passing the exam testedApply through NIPR within 6 months (180 days) of passing — Wisconsin exam results are valid for only 180 days (Wis. Adm. Code Ins 6.59(4)(c)); you must wait 48-72 hours after passing before applying
- How long a passed exam remains valid testedExam results are valid for only 180 days (six months); missing that window means re-taking the exam and re-paying
- Waiting period before retaking a failed exam testedIf you fail, you must re-register with PSI and pay the exam fee again before retaking
- Limit on number of attempts, if any testedWisconsin does not publish a fixed cap on attempts; you re-register and pay the fee for each attempt
- Notice required to reschedule/cancel without forfeiting the fee testedChange or cancel an exam appointment in advance under PSI's standard policy to avoid forfeiting the fee (generally at least two business days ahead)
- Where you apply (Sircon / NIPR / state portal) testedNIPR (nipr.com) — apply online and pay the fees (wait 48-72 hours after passing for scores to post). Exam scheduling is through PSI.
- Are temporary licenses available? testedYes — Wisconsin provides temporary intermediary licenses in limited business-servicing situations (such as the death or disability of an agent), not as a general 'work while you study' license
- Temporary license duration and training requirement testedIssued without an exam to service an existing insurance business (for example after an agent's death or disability); the Commissioner may limit its authority and duration