- The exam is Series 16-03, 150 scored questions in 170 minutes, plus up to 10 unscored pretest items.
- You need 70% to pass, and the combined-line exam is graded as one single score, not per domain.
- Insurance Regulation is the largest domain at 21% - master it before anything else.
- Act 142 of 2024 removed the old 24-hour pre-licensing education requirement.
Exam Snapshot: The Numbers You Must Memorize
Before you touch a single domain outline, lock down the operational facts about the Pennsylvania Life, Accident & Health Insurance Producer Exam. These numbers show up in scheduling decisions, budget planning, and test-day expectations - and they're easy to mix up if you're studying from generic insurance-exam content instead of Pennsylvania-specific material.
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Exam code | Series 16-03 (combined Life, Accident & Health) |
| Testing vendor | PSI, on behalf of the Pennsylvania Insurance Department |
| Scored questions | 150 multiple-choice |
| Time allowed | 170 minutes |
| Unscored pretest items | 5 to 10 (mixed in, not identified) |
| Passing score | 70%, one overall combined-line score |
| Exam fee | $55 |
| Minimum age | 18 |
For a full breakdown of how that 70% threshold is calculated and why it matters for your study order, see PA-LAH Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass. If you're still deciding whether the exam is worth the time investment, How Hard Is the PA-LAH Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 walks through what makes it challenging beyond raw memorization.
Registration, Fees & Eligibility Mechanics
Pennsylvania's process is unusually streamlined compared to states that still mandate classroom hours. Here's exactly what applies to the PA-LAH exam right now:
- No pre-exam education requirement: Act 142 of 2024 eliminated the former 24-hour preexamination education mandate. You can self-study and go straight to scheduling.
- Minimum age: 18 years old at the time of application.
- Exam fee: $55, paid to PSI when you schedule.
- Testing formats: You may sit at a PSI test center or test remotely from home or office.
- Remote-testing restrictions: No breaks and no scratch paper are permitted during remote sessions - a detail that trips up candidates who assume remote means more flexibility.
Filing After You Pass
Passing the exam is only step one. New resident applicants must file the license application and complete IdentoGO fingerprinting after passing.
- Application must be filed within one year of your passing exam date
- Resident individual producer application fee: $55
- Fingerprinting is handled separately through IdentoGO
For the complete eligibility checklist, including what happens if you miss the one-year filing window, read PA-LAH Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify. And if you want a line-item cost comparison covering the exam fee plus the application fee, check PA-LAH Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Domain Weights at a Glance
The current outline takes effect March 1, 2026, and spreads 150 scored questions across 13 domains. Weight percentages tell you roughly how many questions to expect from each area - use this table as your study-time allocation guide.
| Domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1. Insurance Regulation | 21% |
| 2. General Insurance Concepts | 7% |
| 3. Life, Accident and Health Insurance Basics | 14% |
| 4. Types of Life Insurance Policies | 8% |
| 5. Life Insurance Policy Provisions, Options, and Riders | 13% |
| 6. Annuities | 9% |
| 7. Individual Accident and Health Insurance Policy Provisions | 7% |
| 8. Disability Income and Related Insurance | 4% |
| 9. Medical Plans | 4% |
| 10. Group Health Insurance | 3% |
| 11. Dental Insurance | 1% |
| 12. Health Insurance for Senior Citizens and Special Needs Individuals | 7% |
| 13. Federal Tax Considerations for Life and Health Insurance | 2% |
Notice that the top five domains - Insurance Regulation, Life/Accident/Health Basics, Policy Provisions/Options/Riders, Annuities, and Types of Life Insurance Policies - account for the clear majority of your scored questions. That's where your review time belongs. For a full domain-by-domain content breakdown with sub-topics, see PA-LAH Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 13 Content Areas.
High-Value Domains: What to Drill Hardest
Not all domains deserve equal attention. Here's what to prioritize based purely on weight and typical candidate weak spots.
Domain 1: Insurance Regulation (21%)
The single largest domain on the exam. Expect questions on licensing rules, producer conduct, unfair trade practices, and the Pennsylvania Insurance Department's authority.
- Know the difference between suitability standards and unfair claims practices
- Understand producer license maintenance rules, since these tie directly to the two-year renewal cycle
- Review how state regulation interacts with federal requirements for life and health products
Domain 3: Life, Accident and Health Insurance Basics (14%)
This is foundational vocabulary and concept territory - insurable interest, risk classification, underwriting basics, and how life/health contracts are structured.
- Master the terminology before moving to policy-specific domains
- Expect scenario questions testing application, not just definitions
Domain 5: Life Insurance Policy Provisions, Options, and Riders (13%)
Riders, nonforfeiture options, settlement options, and standard policy provisions live here. This domain rewards memorization paired with scenario practice.
- Know grace periods, reinstatement, and incontestability clauses cold
- Be able to distinguish riders (waiver of premium, accidental death, guaranteed insurability) from base policy features
Domain 6: Annuities (9%)
Fixed vs. variable annuities, accumulation vs. payout phases, and surrender charges are common test points.
- Understand annuity taxation basics, which also connects to Domain 13
- Practice distinguishing annuity purpose (income) from life insurance purpose (protection)
Test Day Logistics: PSI Center vs. Remote
You have two paths to sit for the Series 16-03 exam, and each comes with tradeoffs:
- PSI test center: Standard proctored environment; typical center amenities apply.
- Remote testing: Convenient, but no breaks and no scratch paper are allowed during the session - plan your pacing across all 150 questions without assuming you can pause.
With 170 minutes for 150 scored questions (plus up to 10 unscored ones you won't be able to identify), you're working with roughly a minute per question on average. That pace is manageable if you've internalized the high-weight domains, but it leaves little room for guessing on unfamiliar territory. Review realistic scheduling windows and how far in advance to book in PA-LAH Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Key Takeaway
If you're testing remotely, do at least one full-length timed practice run without any breaks so the no-pause, no-scratch-paper format doesn't catch you off guard.
After You Pass: Licensing Timeline
Passing the Series 16-03 exam doesn't automatically make you a licensed producer. Here's the sequence:
- Pass the exam (70% or higher, combined score).
- File the resident individual producer license application - the $55 application fee applies here, separate from the $55 exam fee.
- Complete IdentoGO fingerprinting as part of the background check process.
- Submit everything within one year of your passing date, or you'll need to retest.
Once licensed, your credential runs on a two-year renewal cycle, and you'll need 24 continuing-education hours to renew. Building CE tracking into your calendar now - right after you pass - saves scrambling later. If you're weighing whether the licensing effort pays off long-term, Is the PA-LAH Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and PA-LAH Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis are useful next reads, and PA-LAH Jobs covers where licensed producers typically find work in Pennsylvania.
One-Week Cheat Sheet Review Plan
If you've already done deep studying and just need a compressed final review, allocate your last week by domain weight rather than by chapter order.
Insurance Regulation + Life, Accident and Health Basics
- Rebuild flashcards for licensing rules, unfair practices, and core terminology
- Run 50 practice questions focused only on these two domains
Policy Provisions, Riders, Types of Life Insurance, Annuities
- Drill nonforfeiture options, riders, and annuity phase distinctions
- Compare fixed vs. variable annuity mechanics side by side
Accident, Health, Disability, Medical, Group, and Senior Plans
- Focus on individual A&H provisions and disability income basics
- Review senior/special-needs health coverage rules, a 7% domain often underestimated
Full Timed Practice + Small Domains
- Sit one full 170-minute timed practice exam
- Cram Dental Insurance and Federal Tax Considerations last - small weight, quick review
For a more comprehensive multi-week plan that starts from zero rather than compressing review into a final week, see PA-LAH Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. Running full-length timed sets on our practice test platform is the fastest way to confirm your pacing works within the 170-minute limit before exam day.
FAQ
No. Series 16-03 is a combined-line exam evaluated as one overall score. You need 70% across all 150 scored questions, not 70% in each line separately.
No. Act 142 of 2024 eliminated the former 24-hour preexamination education requirement, so you can schedule the exam without completing that coursework.
The exam fee is $55, and the resident individual producer application fee is an additional $55, plus IdentoGO fingerprinting costs. For a full cost breakdown, see the certification cost guide linked above.
Yes, PSI offers remote testing as an alternative to a physical test center. Remote sessions do not allow breaks or scratch paper, so plan your 170 minutes accordingly.
One year from your passing date. After that window, you'd need to retake the exam before applying for licensure.