New York insurance license: pre-licensing hours, PSI exam and fees
New York’s Department of Financial Services (DFS) licenses insurance agents and brokers, and PSI runs every licensing exam. New York law requires a Department-approved pre-licensing course before you’re licensed: at least 90 hours for property and casualty and 40 for personal lines.
From DFS’s agent and broker licensing pages. Life and health hours are as reported by course sellers. Checked October 12, 2026. Confirm with DFS.
Pre-licensing hours
New York requires approved pre-licensing education before the exam, and the hours depend on the license: 20 hours for Life only or Accident and Health only, 40 for Life, Accident and Health or Personal Lines, and at least 90 for Property and Casualty. The table in the next section shows each license with its exam fee and passing score.
The New York insurance exam
PSI runs New York’s insurance exams at test centers and, according to approved schools, by remote proctoring. There’s a separate exam for each license type, and each needs 70% to pass. Several approved schools put the exam fee at $40 per attempt. To change or cancel an appointment, PSI requires at least 48 hours’ notice, or you forfeit the fee, according to ExamFX’s New York requirements page.
| License | Pre-licensing | Exam fee | To pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life only | 20 hours | $40 | 70% |
| Accident and Health only | 20 hours | $40 | 70% |
| Life, Accident and Health | 40 hours | $40 | 70% |
| Property and Casualty | 90 hours | $40 | 70% |
| Personal Lines | 40 hours | $40 | 70% |
Pre-licensing hours as reported by NYDFS-approved schools; exam fee and passing score as reported by schools citing PSI. Confirm with DFS and PSI.
What a New York insurance license costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Pre-licensing course | Varies by provider |
| PSI exam | $40 per attempt |
| DFS license (two years) | $80 |
| Exam and license, first-time pass | $120 plus your course |
Exam and license fees as reported by approved schools; course prices vary. Totals are our sums.
The path
Take a Department-approved pre-licensing course for your line of authority.
Register and test with PSI, at a center or by remote proctoring. Pass within two years of applying for your license.
Apply through DFS or NIPR.
Most licenses need 15 credits of continuing education to renew.
Common questions
Who runs the New York insurance exam?
PSI, which provides all examination services for New York insurance licenses, per DFS.
Can I skip the property and casualty course?
Holders of the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation can waive the education requirement for a property and casualty agent or broker license and take the laws and regulations exam instead.
How much is the New York insurance exam?
$40 per attempt, paid to PSI, according to several approved schools.
What score do you need to pass?
70% on each exam, according to schools citing PSI’s exam outlines.
How much is the New York license fee?
$80 for a two-year license for New York residents, according to approved schools.
Can I take the New York insurance exam online?
Yes. Approved schools report that PSI offers remote proctored testing as well as test centers.
See our Insurance Licensing guide, and compare with California, Florida and Texas. We first checked these sources on October 12, 2026 and rechecked them on October 17, 2026. MockTestPrep is independent and is not affiliated with DFS or PSI.