Free insurance exam resources: handbooks, outlines and official pages
Last checked October 18, 2026 · Sources: Pearson VUE Texas candidate handbook (example); state insurance departments via our state pages; NAIC Uniform Licensing Standards; NIPR.
The best free insurance exam resources come from your state and its testing company. Every state’s candidate handbook is free and includes the content outline: the exact topics and weights on your exam, plus the rules for test day. Your state insurance department’s site explains license types and requirements, and NIPR handles most applications. Paid help starts at $19.95 for a Pearson VUE practice test.
Topics, weights, fees and test-day rules for your exam.
→License types, pre-licensing rules and applications.
→Online license applications in most states.
→The national model for lines of authority and licensing.
→Why the candidate handbook matters most
The handbook is written for your state’s exam, so it’s more reliable than any general guide. Pearson VUE’s Texas handbook, for example, lists each exam’s time and fee ($49, 150 minutes for the General Lines exams), explains the scaled score where 70 passes, and sets out the steps from booking to fingerprinting to applying. Its content outline tells you how many questions come from each topic, which is the best way to plan your study.
Where to find your state’s handbook
| State | Testing company | Handbook from |
|---|---|---|
| Texas, Florida, Illinois | Pearson VUE | Pearson VUE’s page for your state’s insurance exams |
| California, New York | PSI | PSI’s page for your state’s insurance exams |
| Other states | Pearson VUE, PSI or Prometric | Your state insurance department names its vendor |
Testing companies from our state pages.
When free isn’t enough
If your state requires a pre-licensing course, you’ll need an approved provider anyway. Otherwise, Pearson VUE’s $19.95 practice tests are a cheap check before test day, and Kaplan’s Basic Life & Health package starts at $139. See our cheapest prep and best courses pages.
Common questions about free insurance exam resources
Where can I get my state's candidate handbook?
From your state’s testing company: Pearson VUE in Texas, Florida and Illinois, and PSI in California and New York, for example.
Is there an official list of what's on the exam?
The content outline in your candidate handbook lists every topic and how many questions it carries.
Are official practice tests free?
Pearson VUE’s are $19.95 each; we didn’t find official free practice exams.
Can I pass with free resources?
In states that don’t require a course, many people study from the handbook and practice tests. Where a course is required, you must take one.
See also our insurance licensing guide and study plan. MockTestPrep is independent and is not affiliated with any testing company or state.