South Carolina Life, Accident & Health Insurance License Practice Exam
130 scored questions plus 10 pretest (InsSC-LAH03), 150 minutes. Scaled score of 70 to pass. Wait 48 hours after passing before applying through NIPR. Up to 6 attempts per year.
South Carolina L&H Exam Topics
Drill South Carolina state law (30 scored questions) or practice general L&H concepts. The combined exam (InsSC-LAH03) has 130 scored questions and allows 150 minutes, with a six-attempt limit per year.
Life Insurance
Term, whole life, universal life, variable, annuities, riders, nonforfeiture, settlement options, beneficiaries, viatical/life settlements.
Health & Accident
Individual/group health, disability income, LTC, Medicare supplement (A–N), COBRA, ACA, HMOs, dental, group health conversion rights.
South Carolina State Law
SCDOI, licensing and appointments, Pearson VUE (OnVUE), scaled score 70, 6-attempt limit, no section retake, 48-hr wait before applying, fingerprints (SLED and FBI), SC Life and A&H Guaranty Association, 24 CE hrs.
Policy Provisions
Contract law, insurable interest, grace period, incontestability, entire contract, misstatement of age, taxation, qualified plans, HSA/HRA.
🌟 Full SC L&H Exam
130-question timed exam simulating the Pearson VUE SC InsSC-LAH03 combined Life, A&H exam. 2.5 hours. Scaled 70 to pass. 6-attempt limit per year.
About the South Carolina Life & Health Insurance Exam
The South Carolina Life, Accident and Health producer exam is administered by Pearson VUE for the South Carolina Department of Insurance (SCDOI). South Carolina offers a Life exam (InsSC-Life01), an Accident and Health exam (InsSC-AH02) and the combined Life, Accident and Health exam (InsSC-LAH03). Candidates must first pass the exam for the line they want (S.C. Code § 38-43-100), and the combined exam is scored as a single result, so you must pass the full exam to be licensed in either line. Exams can be taken in person at a Pearson VUE test center or online through OnVUE.
The combined exam has 130 scored questions (100 general knowledge and 30 South Carolina-specific) plus 10 unscored pretest questions, for 140 items in all, and allows 150 minutes. The passing score is 70 on a scale of 0 to 100, which is not the percentage of questions answered correctly. The exam fee is $59, and a passing result is valid for one year. The Department's licensing steps are the exam, the license application through NIPR, and fingerprinting; no pre-licensing course is listed.
South Carolina Life & Health Insurance Exam Topic Breakdown
| Section | Questions / Weight | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|
| I. Life: Types of Policies | 15 | Whole life, interest-sensitive products, term, annuities, joint and survivorship plans |
| II. Life: Riders, Provisions, Options and Exclusions | 15 | Riders, beneficiaries, reinstatement, loans, nonforfeiture, dividends, incontestability, suicide, settlement options, accelerated benefits, war, aviation and dangerous-occupation exclusions |
| III. Life: Application, Underwriting and Delivery | 12 | Application and disclosures, insurable interest, medical information, credit reporting, STOLI and IOLI, delivery, contract law |
| IV. Life: Retirement and Other Concepts | 8 | Third-party ownership, life settlements, group life, qualified and nonqualified plans, needs analysis, Social Security, taxation including MECs |
| V. A&H: Types of Policies | 16 | Disability income, AD&D, medical expense, HMO, PPO and POS, HDHP and HSAs, Medicare supplement, group coverage and COBRA, long-term care, dental, vision, cancer, critical illness |
| VI. A&H: Provisions, Clauses and Riders | 15 | Mandatory provisions, elimination and probationary periods, preexisting conditions, coinsurance, deductibles, copays, maximum benefits, riders, renewability |
| VII. Social Insurance | 6 | Medicare Parts A–D, Medicaid, Social Security |
| VIII. A&H: Other Concepts | 5 | Disability categories, dependent benefits, coordination of benefits, tax treatment, managed care, workers' compensation, subrogation, cost containment |
| IX. A&H: Field Underwriting | 8 | Application, privacy, initial premium and receipt, delivery, replacement, contract law |
| SC — I. Laws Pertinent to All Lines | 18 | Director powers and duties (§ 38-3-60), licensing (Ch. 43), appointments, continuing education (§ 38-43-106), unfair and prohibited practices, premium handling, Life and A&H Insurance Guaranty Association (Ch. 29), privacy (Reg. 69-58) |
| SC — II. Laws Pertinent to Life Insurance | 6 | Replacement and conversion (Reg. 69-12.1), group and individual life provisions and riders (§§ 38-63-40, 38-63-220, 38-65-90) |
| SC — III. Laws Pertinent to Accident and Health | 6 | Individual and group A&H (Title 38, Ch. 71), Medicare supplement (Reg. 69-46), long-term care (Reg. 69-44) |
Counts are from the Pearson VUE South Carolina Insurance Content Outlines (effective September 15, 2026): the combined Life, Accident and Health exam has 100 general knowledge scored questions and 30 South Carolina-specific scored questions, plus 5 unscored pretest questions in each part.
What Makes the South Carolina Life & Health Exam Different
Separate or combined exams. South Carolina offers Life (85 items, 120 minutes), Accident and Health (85 items, 120 minutes) and the combined Life, Accident and Health exam (140 items, 150 minutes), each at $59. The combined exam gives a single score, and a candidate who passes one part but fails the other must retake the entire exam (Pearson VUE candidate handbook).
General knowledge dominates. On the combined exam, 100 of the 130 scored questions are general knowledge and 30 are South Carolina law: 18 on laws pertinent to all lines, 6 on life and 6 on accident and health. The all-lines portion covers licensing, appointments, unfair practices and the Guaranty Association.
Retakes and the 48-hour wait. You may take each exam up to six times in a one-year period, must wait 24 hours between attempts, and pay a new $59 fee each time. After you pass, wait 48 hours before applying so that your result can reach NIPR (Pearson VUE candidate handbook).
Fingerprints at initial licensing. Resident applicants submit fingerprints for state (SLED) and FBI criminal background checks at their own cost (S.C. Code § 38-43-100). The Department says fingerprinting is not required at every renewal if you were fingerprinted at initial licensure or for your last compliance period.
Continuing education. Producers complete 24 hours of continuing insurance education every two years. Producers licensed for both property/casualty and life/accident/health must earn at least one-third of the hours in each area, and up to 18 excess credit hours may be carried forward (S.C. Code § 38-43-106).
Appointments. An insurer must file a notice of appointment within 15 days of executing the agency contract or submitting the first application for a producer (S.C. Code § 38-43-50). Appointment questions appear in the all-lines part of the South Carolina outline.
Sample South Carolina Life & Health Insurance Exam Questions
1. How many hours of continuing insurance education must a South Carolina producer complete every two years, and how many excess credit hours may be carried forward?
2. How many times may a candidate take the same South Carolina insurance exam in a one-year period, according to the Pearson VUE candidate handbook?
3. Within what time must an insurer file a notice of appointment for a South Carolina producer?
Study Tips for the South Carolina Life & Health Exam
Learn the all-lines laws first. Eighteen of the 30 South Carolina scored questions cover laws that apply to every line: Director powers (§ 38-3-60), licensing and appointments (Ch. 43), unfair practices (§ 38-43-130 and Ch. 57), premium handling and the Guaranty Association (Ch. 29). Then take the six life and six accident and health state questions.
Spend time on policy types and provisions. In the general part, life types and provisions are 30 of 100 questions, and accident and health types and provisions are 31 of 100. Social insurance (Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security) adds 6.
The passing score is 70 on a 0–100 scale, not 70%. Pearson VUE scales scores, so answering 70% of questions correctly does not guarantee a pass. Aim well above that on practice sets.
Also licensing in property or casualty? See our South Carolina Property & Casualty practice exam. National content is in our life and health practice exam, and our insurance license exam study guide covers exam strategy.
How to Get Your South Carolina Life & Health Insurance License
There are four steps to get your South Carolina insurance producer license for the Life and Accident & Health lines.
Steps to Get Your South Carolina Life & Health Insurance License
| Step | What to Do |
|---|---|
| 1. Register for the Exam | The Department's steps start with the exam; no pre-licensing course is listed. Register with Pearson VUE online or at 877-759-5226, give your legal name exactly as on your ID, and pay the $59 exam fee. Take it in person or through OnVUE. |
| 2. Pass the Exam | The combined exam allows 150 minutes for 140 items. You need a scaled score of 70, you must pass the full combined exam to be licensed in both lines, and a passing result is valid for one year. |
| 3. Apply Through NIPR | Wait 48 hours after passing so the result reaches NIPR, then apply and pay for your license at nipr.com. The producer license fee is $25. |
| 4. Get Fingerprinted and Maintain | Resident applicants submit fingerprints for SLED and FBI checks. Renew every two years and complete 24 hours of continuing insurance education in each two-year period. |
South Carolina Life & Health Insurance License Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exams | Life (InsSC-Life01), Accident and Health (InsSC-AH02), Life, Accident and Health (InsSC-LAH03) |
| Combined exam | 130 scored questions (100 general and 30 South Carolina) plus 10 pretest; 140 items in 150 minutes |
| Passing score | 70 on a scale of 0–100; not a percentage of correct answers; one score for the combined exam |
| Pre-license education | None listed in the Department's licensing steps; the exam is the statutory qualification (S.C. Code § 38-43-100) |
| Exam fee | $59 per attempt, paid at reservation |
| Exam vendor | Pearson VUE (in person or online through OnVUE) |
| Retakes | Up to six attempts in one year; 24-hour wait; new fee each time |
| Score validity | A passing result is valid for one year |
| Wait before applying | 48 hours after passing, then apply at NIPR |
| Fingerprinting | SLED and FBI checks for resident applicants at initial licensing; not required at every renewal |
| License fee | $25 for an initial producer license and $25 biennial renewal (S.C. Code § 38-43-80) |
| Continuing education | 24 hours every two years; up to 18 excess hours carry forward |
| Valid ID | Unexpired government-issued photo ID with a signature; the name must match your registration exactly |
| Licensing authority | South Carolina Department of Insurance |
Verified against the Pearson VUE South Carolina candidate handbook and content outlines, the South Carolina Department of Insurance producer license page, and the South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 38. Fees and times change; confirm current figures with the Department and Pearson VUE before you apply.
Our free South Carolina Life & Health practice exam covers general and South Carolina content. You can also try the national life and health practice exam or the insurance license exam study guide.
Interested in where this license leads? See our guide to insurance careers — including salary ranges, how to break in, and what the career looks like day to day.
Frequently Asked Questions — South Carolina Life & Health Insurance Exam
How many questions are on the South Carolina Life, Accident and Health exam?
The combined exam has 130 scored questions, made up of 100 general knowledge and 30 South Carolina-specific questions, plus 10 unscored pretest questions. That is 140 items in all, with 150 minutes allowed.
Are Life and Accident & Health separate exams in South Carolina?
South Carolina offers a Life exam (85 items), an Accident and Health exam (85 items) and a combined Life, Accident and Health exam (140 items). The combined exam is one score, so you must pass the full exam to be licensed in either line.
What is the passing score for the South Carolina insurance exam?
70 on a scale of 0 to 100. Pearson VUE's handbook notes that scores are not percentages of correct answers. The passing score is 70 for all South Carolina exams.
How much does the South Carolina insurance exam cost?
$59 per attempt, paid by credit card, debit card or voucher when you reserve. Fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable except under the change and cancel policy. The initial producer license fee is $25.
Does South Carolina require pre-licensing education?
The Department's licensing steps list only the exam, the license application and fingerprints, and S.C. Code § 38-43-100 makes the written exam the qualification. No pre-licensing course is listed.
Do I need fingerprints for a South Carolina producer license?
Yes for resident applicants at initial licensing: fingerprints are used for state (SLED) and FBI background checks at the applicant's cost. The Department says fingerprinting is not required at every renewal.
How many times can I retake the South Carolina exam?
Each exam can be taken six times in a one-year period. You must wait 24 hours after an attempt and pay a new exam fee each time.
What are the continuing education requirements in South Carolina?
24 hours of continuing insurance education every two years. Producers licensed in both life/health and property/casualty must earn at least one-third of the hours in each area, and up to 18 excess hours can be carried forward.
Practice Exam Questions — South Carolina Life & Health
4 state-specific questions based on official sources. Correct answer highlighted in green.
Which company administers the South Carolina insurance producer exams for the Department of Insurance?
- Pearson VUE
- PSI
- Prometric
- The Department itself
What is the passing score on the South Carolina producer exams?
- 70 on a scale of 0 to 100
- 70% of questions answered correctly
- 75 on a scale of 0 to 100
- 65 on a scale of 0 to 100
How long should a candidate wait after passing before applying for the license through NIPR?
- 48 hours
- 24 hours
- 10 days
- 30 days
How long is a passing South Carolina exam result valid?
- One year
- Six months
- Two years
- It does not expire