by Devon Morton.  

Here is everything you wanted to know about the
Idaho insurance licensing exam!

What kind of questions do they put on the Idaho insurance license exam?

All of the Idaho insurance exam questions are multiple choice. There are no fill-ins (no need to memorize) and no essay (no need to be ready to explain anything) questions.

For example:

Chance of loss is the definition of:

a. risk
b. peril
c. indemnity
d. hazard

A multiple choice test will usually test heavily on definitions (terminology) and numbers (dollar amounts and number of days).

The exam is drawn from a large pool of questions – you will have a different set of questions than the person sitting next to you. If you retake the exam, expect to see very few of the questions repeated on the next exam. Students report that the exams vary greatly in terms of the number of questions on any given topic.

Students report that about 1/3 of the questions are terminology (definitional) questions, 1/3 are number/day questions, and 1/3 are questions where you have to apply the knowledge to reason through a practical situation (story problems – usually short).

What score do I need to pass the Idaho insurance exam?

There are 4 basic exams given in most states – Life, Health, Property, and Casualty. In some states, the exams are combined (Property & Casualty). Some states have a Personal Lines exam for agents selling only homeowner or auto insurance.

In Idaho, you need a score of 70 to pass each exam. But, each exam consists of two parts – the “national” insurance section and the "state rules" section. You will need a score of 70 on each section – the two scores are not averaged together. In Idaho, you can pass one section (say, the national), fail the other section, and then be required to retake only the failed section. Some states require a retake of both sections.

Are questions grouped by category?

Our students always want to know if the questions regarding indemnification (for example) are grouped together. No, questions and topics are randomly scrambled, but that never seems to be a problem for anyone.

What insurance exams are given in Idaho and what do they cost?

Exam Code	Exam Name	Exam Length	Exam Fee*
01	Life Producer	2 hours	$60
02	Disability Producer	2 hours	$60
03	Property Producer	1.75 hours	$60
04	Casualty Producer	1.75 hours	$60
55	Personal Lines	2 hours	$60
14	Adjuster	1.25 hours	$60
17	Public Adjuster	1.25 hours	$60
23	Bail Bond	1 hour	$60
31	Crop Hail Adjuster	45 min.	$60
81	Surety Producer	45 min.	$60
87	Workers Compensation Adjuster	1 hour	$60

*Personal checks and cash will not be accepted.

Where can I take the Idaho insurance exam?

Location*	Schedule
Boise, ID (Code 1320)	Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Coeur d'Alene, ID (Code 1321)	2nd and 4th Saturday
Pocatello, ID (Code 1322)	Wednesday and Saturday
Spokane, WA (Code 4817)	Tuesday - Saturday
Midvale, UT (Code 4517)	Tuesday - Saturday
Las Vegas, NV (Code 2914)	Tuesday - Saturday
Reno, NV (Code 2915)	Twice a week

*Locations of the insurance exam and schedules are subject to change. Please call 1-888-204-6218 for up-to-date information.

What is the cost of the Idaho insurance exam?

The cost is $60 for an examination. You may take up to two exams for that fee. A retake of any portion is the same fee. First time resident test takers have to pay a one time fingerprinting fee of $60 which will be conducted by the testing center. Make sure you sign up for it when signing up for the exam.

How do I sign up to take the Idaho insurance exam?

We recommend that you call PearsonVue (the testing company) at 1-888-204-6218. Be sure to call at least 3 days in advance of the date you plan to take the exam. The earlier you sign up, the better your chances of getting the test date of your choice.

Which Idaho insurance exam is the most difficult?

Each insurance licensing exam presents its own challenge. Between Life and Health, students say that the Idaho Health insurance exam is the more difficult. Health insurance policies are simply more complicated than life insurance policies.

The Property insurance exam is easier than the Casualty insurance exam. Property insurance deals with easy to understand issues – fire, flooding, earthquake, etc. On the other hand, Casualty insurance deals primarily with Liability insurance – protection against lawsuits. Casualty insurance is a more conceptual topic and one that is more difficult for students to grasp – particularly if you have never been sued.

The state portion of the Idaho insurance exam is very detailed and presents its own challenges. The state topics tend to cover trivial details relating to complicated state regulations. None of this is easy, but that is why we work so hard to make the material both understandable and memorable.

This is a challenging exam. Put yourself on a strict schedule as you do your exam prep work. Be focused and disciplined as you do your insurance test prep.

Will I have adequate time to complete the Idaho insurance exam?

Yes. We have never had students say that they ran out of time to complete the exam. Most students finish in about half of the allotted time (up to 3 1/2 hours). The only students who ever report that they ran out of time were those who were trying to memorize questions in the event they had to repeat the exam.

Is the Idaho insurance exam still given by the “paper and pencil” method?

No, this is a computerized exam. Virtually all of the students say the proctors were helpful, the room was quiet, and the computer worked well. The proctors will give you the opportunity to complete a practice exam to learn how to use the system. When you are done, you will NOT be given a copy of the exam, nor will you be given the opportunity to review particular questions and their answers. The exam will be scored immediately and you will know your results when you leave.

What is the best test prep method for the Idaho insurance license exam?

There is no alternative to knowing the material. There are no shortcuts to learning but there are more effective and less frustrating ways to learn. We recommend that you follow a 4-step process:

• watch and listen to the lecture;
• highlight key concepts in the text;
• review questions in the test bank; and
• send AP an email if you have any questions.

Helpful Links:

• Idaho Department of Insurance: http://www.doi.idaho.gov/
• Idaho Resident Producer Information (DOI): http://www.doi.idaho.gov/produ cer/res_agent.aspx
• Idaho Candidate Handbook & Content Outlines: http://www.asisvcs.com/indhome .asp?CPCAT=1213INS
• NAIC Website: http://www.naic.org/