How to get a Kentucky life & health license
Requirements, exam, fees and the order to do things in — from the Kentucky Department of Insurance and the exam handbook.
Step by step
- Complete pre-licensing education — 20 hours from a Kentucky-approved provider.
- Schedule and pass the state exam with Kentucky DOI (in-house; scheduled via eServices) ($50). Read the candidate handbook.
- Get fingerprinted if required — No fingerprints; KY AOC criminal background report (~$20-25) required.
- Apply for the license through NIPR or the Kentucky Department of Insurance ($40 + $40 per line).
- Get appointed by an insurance company (agents) and keep up with continuing education — 24 hours per renewal (license term: 2 years (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 Kentucky. Some links may be affiliate links.
Kentucky Life & Health requirements
| Life | Accident & Health | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-licensing education | 20 hours | 20 hours |
| Exam vendor | Kentucky DOI (in-house; scheduled via eServices) | Kentucky DOI |
| Exam fee | $50 | $50 |
| Questions / time | 50 · 60 min | 50 · 60 min |
| License application fee | $40 + $40 per line | $40 + $40 per line |
| Fingerprints | No fingerprints; KY AOC criminal background report (~$20-25) required verify | No fingerprints; KY AOC criminal background report (~$20-25) required verify |
| Continuing education | 24 hours · 2 years (birth month) | 24 hours · 2 years |
Life: 20 hrs per line (40 for L&H combined); apply via NIPR first, then exam scheduled in DOI eServices; CE 24 hrs incl 3 ethics, min 6 per line.
Accident & Health: KY line is 'Health'.
Minimum age 18. Sources: NIPR Kentucky resident licensing · XCEL Solutions KY requirements (secondary). 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 Kentucky licenses
Property & Casualty license · Adjuster license · All Kentucky insurance licenses
Questions
How long does it take to get a life and health insurance license in Kentucky?
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 Kentucky Life & Health license cost?
State fees (exam + application) come to about $180, plus fingerprints and a course if you take one.
Who runs the Kentucky insurance exam?
Kentucky DOI (in-house; scheduled via eServices). Book the exam on the vendor's site after reading the candidate handbook.