How to get a Illinois life & health license
Requirements, exam, fees and the order to do things in — from the Illinois Department of Insurance and the exam handbook.
Step by step
- Complete pre-licensing education — 20 hours from a Illinois-approved provider.
- Schedule and pass the state exam with Pearson VUE ($92 (covers both general + state exams)). Read the candidate handbook.
- Get fingerprinted if required — Not required.
- Apply for the license through NIPR or the Illinois Department of Insurance ($180).
- Get appointed by an insurance company (agents) and keep up with continuing education — 24 hours per renewal (license term: 2 years).
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 Illinois. Some links may be affiliate links.
Illinois Life & Health requirements
| Life | Accident & Health | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-licensing education | 20 hours | 20 hours |
| Exam vendor | Pearson VUE | Pearson VUE |
| Exam fee | $92 (covers both general + state exams) | $92 (general + state) |
| Questions / time | 81 scored (50 general + 31 state) + pretest · 125 min | 89 scored (50 + 39) + pretest · 130 min |
| License application fee | $180 verify | $180 verify |
| Fingerprints | Not required verify | Not required verify |
| Continuing education | 24 hours · 2 years | 24 hours · 2 years |
Life: Pre-licensing mandatory (certificate valid 12 months); hours 20 per line. Two-part exam: general 75 min + state 50 min.
Accident & Health: Hours. Exam fee includes $50 state administrative fee.
Minimum age 18. Sources: Pearson VUE Illinois Insurance Candidate Handbook · Pearson VUE Illinois Content Outlines. 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 Illinois licenses
Property & Casualty license · Adjuster license · All Illinois insurance licenses
Questions
How long does it take to get a life and health insurance license in Illinois?
The 20 hours of pre-licensing take most people 1–3 weeks. After you pass, license approval usually takes a few days to a few weeks after fingerprints clear.
How much does a Illinois Life & Health license cost?
State fees (exam + application) come to about $544, plus fingerprints and a course if you take one.
Who runs the Illinois insurance exam?
Pearson VUE. Book the exam on the vendor's site after reading the candidate handbook.