What's the Passing Score for the New York Insurance Exam?
New York asks 150 questions. Have 150 answers.
Mobile-first prep built around what the DFS actually tests.
Quick Answers:
- You need a 70% overall score to pass any New York insurance licensing exam, across every line of authority.
- Exams are multiple choice, administered by PSI Services on behalf of the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS), and range from roughly 40 to 150 questions depending on license type.
- Results appear on screen immediately, and if you need another attempt, you can retest after a short waiting period.
If you are preparing for a New York insurance licensing exam, the first thing to know is the target: answer at least 70% of the scored questions correctly and you pass. The New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) sets the standards, and PSI ServicesCandidate.psiexams.com administers every insurance licensing exam in the state. Here is the full breakdown of the format, the passing rules, and what test day actually looks like, drawn from the same details we build into our New York courses.
What Score Do You Need to Pass the New York Insurance Exam?
You must correctly answer at least 70% of the scored questions. This applies to every line of authority, whether you are testing for Life, Accident and Health, Property and Casualty, or Personal Lines. Your score is based only on the number of questions you answer correctly, and there is no penalty for guessing, so answer every single question.
Watch for unscored pretest questions
Each exam mixes unscored pretest questions in with the real ones. They are not identified during the exam, so treat every question as if it counts. If a question feels unusually hard or unfamiliar, it may be a pretest item, so do not let it rattle you. Our guide to study strategiesPre License How To Study Insurance Licensing Exam Resources covers how to build the consistency that makes the 70% threshold feel comfortable rather than close.
How Is the New York Insurance Exam Structured?
Every New York insurance exam is multiple choice, taken on a computer at a PSI testing center or through PSI's remote proctoring platform. Each exam has two sections: a national section covering general insurance principles and a state section focused on New York insurance laws, rules, and regulations. According to the New York DFSAgents_and_brokers Home Apps_and_licensing, the major exams break down like this:
Life, Accident and Health Agent/Broker (Series 17-55)
150 questions with a two and a half hour time limit. This is the longest exam, covering life insurance fundamentals, policy types, annuities, health insurance basics, and New York specific regulation. Life only (Series 17-51) and Accident and Health only (Series 17-52) are also available as separate, shorter paths.
Property and Casualty
150 questions with a two and a half hour time limit, covering property coverage, casualty coverage, commercial lines, and the New York laws that govern them.
Personal Lines (Series 17-54)
100 questions with a two hour time limit, focused on auto, homeowners, and personal umbrella policies plus state specific rules.
Specialty exams, such as Public Adjuster or Bail Bond, run shorter, some as few as 40 questions with proportionally reduced time limits. Exam fees are set by PSI and paid when you schedule; check the current fee schedule on PSI's site when you book.
Choose a State and Course
New York agents earn differently by line. Pick yours with data.
The Salary Guide breaks down income by license type and experience.
What Happens After You Finish the Exam?
Your result appears on screen immediately after you submit. Pass, and you receive a score report confirming it. Fall short, and you receive a diagnostic report breaking down your performance by section, which is genuinely useful for targeting your next round of study. You can retake the exam after a 24 hour waiting period, with no cap on attempts, though the exam fee applies each time. That per-attempt cost is exactly why front-loading your exam preparation is the cheapest path through the process. Once you pass, you have two years to apply for your license before the result expires; our walkthrough of the New York application covers that next step.
What Can Slow Down the Licensing Process in New York?
- Scheduling backlogs at PSI testing centers during peak months
- Missing the 70% threshold and waiting out the retake period
- Incomplete pre-licensing education before attempting the exam
- Letting the two year window after passing lapse before applying
- Fingerprinting delays if your application is not submitted promptly after your IdentoGO appointment
How Does New York's Exam Compare to Other States?
The 70% passing score is standard across most states, so New York is not an outlier on difficulty threshold. Where it stands out is length: 150 questions for the major lines versus 100 to 120 in many states, and a state law section with real teeth. A few states set different passing scores by line, and some do not require pre-licensing education at all. New York's combination of mandatory pre-licensing hours and a comprehensive exam means preparation matters more here, not less.
How Do You Walk In Ready for a First-Attempt Pass?
Focus on understanding concepts rather than memorizing isolated facts, because the New York exam leans on application questions that test how principles work in real scenarios. Give the state section the respect it deserves: New York Insurance Law, free look periods, and state mandated coverages come up constantly. Practice exams that mirror the real format are the highest leverage tool available, and our beginner questions guide puts the whole licensing journey in context. If you are still mapping the career itself, start with what agents actually do and what your license is worth.
Ready to Pass Your New York Insurance Exam?
The passing score is fixed. Your preparation is the variable. Aceable Insurance New York pre-licensing courses are state approved and built to help you understand the material rather than memorize it, so you walk into PSI ready to clear 70% with room to spare. Start today and make your first attempt your only attempt.
70% is the target. New York is the prize.
Aceable's state-approved courses get you past PSI with room to spare.