How to get a District of Columbia life & health license
Requirements, exam, fees and the order to do things in — from the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) and the exam handbook.
Step by step
- Study for the exam — District of Columbia doesn't require a pre-licensing course for this license, but most first-time candidates take an exam-prep course.
- Schedule and pass the state exam with Pearson VUE ($75). Read the candidate handbook.
- Get fingerprinted if required — Required (application deferred; DISB sends scheduling instructions); cost not published.
- Apply for the license through NIPR or the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) ($100).
- Get appointed by an insurance company (agents) and keep up with continuing education — 24 per 2 yrs (min. 6 per line) hours per renewal (license term: 2 years, ends birth month).
Pre-licensing & exam prep courses
- Kaplan Financial Education — state-approved pre-licensing and exam prep, the long-running market leader
- ExamFX — pre-licensing and exam prep with a pass guarantee
- AceableAgent — mobile-first pre-licensing courses
- XCEL Solutions — low-cost online pre-licensing and exam prep
Pick a course approved in District of Columbia. Some links may be affiliate links.
District of Columbia Life & Health requirements
| Life | Accident & Health | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-licensing education | — | — |
| Exam vendor | Pearson VUE | Pearson VUE |
| Exam fee | $75 | $75 |
| Questions / time | 120 min | 120 min |
| License application fee | $100 | $100 |
| Fingerprints | Required (application deferred; DISB sends scheduling instructions); cost not published verify | Required (application deferred; DISB sends scheduling instructions); cost not published verify |
| Continuing education | 24 per 2 yrs (min. 6 per line) hours · 2 years, ends birth month | 24 per 2 yrs (min. 6 per line) hours · 2 years, ends birth month |
Life: Handbook: no 40-hr mandate, but candidates must show proof of a pre-licensing course of study (hours unspecified) - ambiguous. All exams single-line (no combos).
Accident & Health: Health exam separate.
Minimum age 18. Sources: DC Insurance Candidate Handbook (Pearson VUE) · NIPR District of Columbia resident individual licensing requirements. Checked 2026-10. Values marked verify haven't been confirmed against an official source yet.
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Life & Health license rules across the US
Other District of Columbia licenses
Property & Casualty license · Adjuster license · All District of Columbia insurance licenses
Questions
How long does it take to get a life and health insurance license in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia has no required pre-licensing hours, so many candidates sit the exam within 1–3 weeks of studying. After you pass, license approval usually takes a few days to a few weeks after fingerprints clear.
How much does a District of Columbia Life & Health license cost?
State fees (exam + application) come to about $350, plus fingerprints and a course if you take one.
Who runs the District of Columbia insurance exam?
Pearson VUE. Book the exam on the vendor's site after reading the candidate handbook.