If you want to sell auto insurance, homeowners insurance, commercial property coverage, general liability insurance, business insurance, or related products in California, you will likely need a California property and casualty insurance license.

California’s official license terminology often refers to Property Broker-Agent and Casualty Broker-Agent authority. In everyday language, most students simply call this a P&C license.

This guide explains how to get licensed, including California’s current education rules, the required 12-hour ethics course, PSI exam details, fingerprinting, fees, application steps, continuing education, and study resources.

California has an important rule change students need to understand. Effective January 1, 2026, the old 20-hour line-specific prelicensing education requirement was removed for property, casualty, personal lines, commercial lines, limited lines automobile, life, and accident and health or sickness applicants. However, California still requires the 12-hour Ethics and California Insurance Code course before the license can be issued. The California Department of Insurance also says the insurance license exams did not change because of this law.

TESTivity does not replace California’s required 12-hour ethics course. For that requirement, we recommend Achievable.me. Once the required course is handled, TESTivity helps you prepare for the California P&C licensing exam itself.

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Quick Facts About the California P&C License

Requirement	California P&C Information
State regulator	California Department of Insurance
Testing vendor	PSI Services LLC
Common license authority	Property Broker-Agent and Casualty Broker-Agent
Required ethics course	12 hours of Ethics and California Insurance Code
Old 20-hour line-specific prelicensing requirement	Repealed for property and casualty producer applicants effective January 1, 2026
Property and Casualty exam	150 questions
Exam time limit	3 hours
Passing score	60% for producer exams
Property-only exam	75 questions, 1.5 hours
Casualty-only exam	75 questions, 1.5 hours
Common filing fee	$188
Common exam fee	$55
Resident Live Scan vendor fingerprint fee	$74
Renewal cycle	Generally two years
CE requirement	Generally 24 hours every two-year license term, including 3 hours of ethics

CDI lists the California Property and Casualty exam as 150 questions with a 3-hour time limit. CDI also lists the Property-only exam and Casualty-only exam as 75 questions with a 1.5-hour time limit each. All producer license examinations require a 60% score to pass.

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How to Get a California Property and Casualty Insurance License in 5 Steps

Step 1: Decide Whether You Need Full P&C or a More Limited License

Before studying, decide what kind of insurance you want to sell.

A full California P&C path is usually best if you want broad authority to sell products such as:

• Auto insurance
• Homeowners insurance
• Renters insurance
• Commercial property insurance
• General liability insurance
• Commercial auto insurance
• Businessowners policies
• Workers compensation-related products, when properly licensed and appointed
• Umbrella and excess liability coverage
• Inland marine and other property/casualty products

California also offers a Personal Lines license, which is more limited and focused mainly on personal auto, homeowners, renters, and similar personal insurance products. If your career goal is broader commercial or business insurance, full property and casualty authority is usually the more flexible route.

For a wider overview of license types, see Insurance Licensing in California: Complete Guide to License Types and Requirements.

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Step 2: Complete California’s Required 12-Hour Ethics and California Insurance Code Course

California changed its prelicensing education rules, but it did not eliminate every education requirement.

Effective January 1, 2026, California removed the old 20-hour line-specific prelicensing education requirement for property and casualty producer applicants. However, the state still requires 12 hours of study on ethics and the California Insurance Code before the license can be issued. CDI states that this 12-hour ethics requirement does not have to be completed before scheduling and taking the exam, but it must be completed before the license is issued.

That means your California P&C licensing path has two different study needs:

1. The required California ethics/code course
2. Preparation for the California P&C licensing exam

TESTivity does not currently offer California’s required 12-hour Ethics and California Insurance Code course. For that requirement, we recommend Achievable.me.

After that required course is handled, TESTivity helps you prepare for the P&C exam with practice questions, exam simulation, flashcards, audio, video, mind maps, learning games, an AI Tutor, and final review tools.

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Step 3: Study for the California Property and Casualty Exam

The 20-hour prelicensing change can make the process sound easier than it really is. But California’s exam did not vanish, shrink, or start handing out licenses like parade confetti.

CDI specifically states that the license examinations will not change because of AB 943, the law that removed the old 20-hour prelicensing requirement. CDI also encourages applicants to study the License Examination Objectives for the exam they plan to take and to find a study course focused on that exam topic.

That makes exam prep more important, not less.

A strong California P&C study plan should cover:

• General insurance concepts
• Insurance contracts
• Property insurance basics
• Casualty insurance basics
• Personal auto insurance
• Homeowners insurance
• Commercial property insurance
• Commercial general liability
• Businessowners policies
• Workers compensation concepts
• Inland marine
• Umbrella and excess liability
• Surety bonds
• California insurance laws and regulations
• Ethics and producer responsibilities
• Policy provisions, exclusions, conditions, and endorsements

For exam-focused help, see How to Pass the Insurance Licensing Exam in California.

Step 4: Schedule and Pass the California P&C Exam Through PSI

California insurance licensing exams are administered through PSI. CDI’s exam chart lists the Property and Casualty exam as 150 questions with a 3-hour time limit. CDI also lists separate Property and Casualty exams as 75 questions each with 1.5-hour time limits. Producer exams require a 60% passing score.

Most students pursuing broad P&C authority take the combined Property and Casualty exam rather than taking Property and Casualty separately.

California P&C Exam Options

Exam	Questions	Time Limit	Passing Score
Property and Casualty	150	3 hours	60%
Property only	75	1.5 hours	60%
Casualty only	75	1.5 hours	60%
Personal Lines	90	2 hours	60%

TESTivity Tip

Do not study property and casualty as two disconnected islands. On exam day, the questions may shift between property coverages, liability concepts, policy language, exclusions, endorsements, state law, and applied scenarios. TESTivity’s multi-tool approach helps you build that cross-topic flexibility instead of memorizing loose fragments.

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Step 5: Submit Fingerprints and Apply for Your California P&C License

After passing the exam and completing the required education, you will need to complete the application and fingerprinting process.

CDI’s 12-hour ethics FAQ tells applicants that after passing the license examination, they must submit fingerprints before submitting the license application. It also reminds applicants to select the correct license types, such as both casualty and property license types, when applying.

California resident applicants must submit fingerprints for a background check. CDI states that all unlicensed applicants are required to submit fingerprint impressions, and new license applicants must submit fingerprints after filing the insurance license application or soon after so CDI receives results from the California DOJ and FBI.

The fingerprinting process generally works like this:

1. Submit your license application or follow CDI’s current application/fingerprint instructions.
2. Access the Capital Live Scan online portal.
3. Register, pay, and schedule your Live Scan appointment.
4. Present your required documents or QR code at the appointment.
5. Have fingerprints electronically captured and submitted.
6. Save your ATI number and Live Scan documentation.

CDI lists the total fee for using the Department’s Live Scan vendor as $74, which includes FBI, DOJ, and CLS fees. CDI also warns that failure to submit fingerprints will delay the application, and fingerprint requirements must be fulfilled before a license can be issued.

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California P&C License Fees

California licensing fees can change, so applicants should always confirm current fees with CDI before applying. As of CDI’s current licensing fee schedule, the Property and Casualty Broker-Agent filing fee is listed at $188, the renewal fee is $188, the late renewal fee is $282, and the examination fee is $55. CDI also states that filing fees are nonrefundable.

Fee Type	Current CDI Amount
Property and Casualty Broker-Agent filing fee	$188
Examination fee	$55
Renewal fee	$188
Late renewal fee	$282
Department Live Scan vendor fingerprint fee	$74

A realistic budget should include the license filing fee, exam fee, fingerprinting fee, required ethics course cost, and any exam-prep materials you choose to use.

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Fingerprinting and Background Check Requirements

California fingerprinting is not just a formality. It is part of the licensing review process.

CDI requires unlicensed applicants to submit fingerprint impressions. Fingerprints are electronically submitted to the California Department of Justice and FBI. CDI also says that if a license is not issued within 12 months after fingerprints are submitted, a new set of fingerprint impressions will be required.

Practical Fingerprinting Tips

• Schedule fingerprints early enough to avoid delays.
• Save your Live Scan paperwork.
• Keep your ATI number.
• Use the official CDI fingerprinting process.
• Make sure your name and identifying information match your application.

Fingerprinting is a small step with an oversized ability to slow things down. Treat it like a gate, not a garnish.

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California P&C License Application Process

California’s P&C application process can feel slightly technical because the state uses official license names rather than the casual phrase “P&C license.”

When applying for full property and casualty authority, make sure you select the appropriate license types. CDI’s FAQ specifically reminds applicants to select both property and casualty license types when they qualify for both.

General California P&C Application Flow

1. Decide that you want property and casualty authority.
2. Complete the required 12-hour Ethics and California Insurance Code course.
3. Study for the California P&C exam.
4. Schedule the exam through PSI.
5. Pass the Property and Casualty exam.
6. Submit fingerprints through the required process.
7. Submit the license application and select the correct license types.
8. Wait for CDI to review and issue the license.

Common Application Mistake

One easy mistake is selecting only one line when you intend to apply for both property and casualty. If your goal is full P&C authority, make sure your application reflects that. Otherwise, you may end up with a licensing hiccup that feels like stepping on a rake in dress shoes.

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California P&C License Renewal and Continuing Education

California insurance producer licenses generally renew every two years. Major producer licensees, including property broker-agents and casualty broker-agents, generally must complete 24 hours of continuing education every two-year license term, including 3 hours of ethics.

California also has product-specific training requirements in certain areas. For example, agents dealing with homeowners insurance valuation or other specialized products may need additional training depending on the products they sell and the duties they perform.

For current renewal and CE requirements, always verify with the California Department of Insurance before your renewal deadline.

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California-Specific P&C Licensing Quirks

1. The Old 20-Hour P&C Prelicensing Requirement Was Repealed

California no longer requires property and casualty producer applicants to complete the old 20-hour line-specific prelicensing education course as of January 1, 2026. This change affects property, casualty, personal lines, commercial lines, limited lines automobile, life, and accident and health or sickness producer applicants.

2. The 12-Hour Ethics and California Insurance Code Course Still Applies

The 12-hour ethics/code course remains required before the license can be issued. This is the key California compliance detail students must not miss.

3. The California P&C Exam Did Not Change

CDI states that the insurance license examinations will not change because AB 943 is specific to prelicensing education requirements. So the exam still needs serious preparation.

4. “P&C License” Means Selecting the Right Authorities

California’s system uses property and casualty license authority. If you want both, make sure you select both property and casualty license types when applying.

5. Fingerprints Can Delay the License

CDI warns that failure to submit fingerprints will delay your application and that fingerprint requirements must be fulfilled before a license can be issued.

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How to Study for the California P&C Exam

The California P&C exam is a content-heavy, multiple-choice exam. Students often struggle because they try to memorize disconnected facts instead of learning how the concepts work together.

A better strategy is to study in layers.

Layer 1: Build the Foundation

Start with a structured study manual. Learn the major categories: property, casualty, personal lines, commercial lines, insurance contracts, policy provisions, and California law.

Layer 2: Drill the Vocabulary

Insurance has its own language. Deductible, indemnity, peril, hazard, liability, subrogation, negligence, endorsement, occurrence, actual cash value, replacement cost, and coinsurance all need to become familiar.

Flashcards are ideal here.

Layer 3: Practice Exam-Style Questions

Reading alone is not enough. You need to practice how questions are written, how answer choices are designed, and how state law is tested.

This is where a strong exam simulator becomes valuable.

Layer 4: Reinforce Weak Areas

If you keep missing questions on commercial property, auto liability, homeowners endorsements, or California law, do not simply reread the whole manual. Target the weak area directly.

TESTivity’s AI Tutor, practice questions, and readiness tools are designed for exactly this kind of cleanup work.

Layer 5: Review Before Test Day

In the final 24 hours, use summary tools, cheat sheets, flashcards, and light practice. The day before the exam is not the time to introduce your brain to brand-new insurance wilderness.

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Why Students Fail the California P&C Exam

Students usually do not fail because they are incapable. They fail because they study in ways that do not match how the exam works.

Common reasons include:

• Underestimating California-specific rules
• Confusing property and casualty concepts
• Memorizing definitions without applying them
• Ignoring policy exclusions and conditions
• Not practicing enough exam-style questions
• Studying only one format, such as reading
• Waiting too long to identify weak areas
• Assuming the 2026 prelicensing change made the exam easier

The California P&C exam rewards familiarity, repetition, and applied understanding. It does not reward last-minute panic-reading with a half-empty coffee and a heroic misunderstanding of liability insurance.

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Related TESTivity Study Tools

Once your California ethics course is handled through Achievable, use TESTivity to prepare for the P&C exam:

• Insurance Exam Prep Course: TESTivity Platinum Study Package
• Insurance Exam Practice Questions / Exam Simulator
• Insurance Exam Study Guide / Study Manual
• Insurance Exam Flashcards
• Insurance Exam Audio Course
• Insurance Exam Video Course
• AI Insurance Exam Tutor
• Insurance Exam Cheat Sheet
• Insurance Exam Mind Maps
• Insurance Exam Learning Games

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TESTivity California P&C Exam Prep

Getting a California P&C license is not just about checking boxes. You need to understand insurance concepts well enough to answer questions under exam pressure.

That is what TESTivity is built for.

TESTivity helps students prepare using a multi-modal study system instead of relying on one giant block of text. You can read the material, hear it, watch it, practice it, drill it, map it, and review it until the concepts stop feeling like floating puzzle pieces.

The TESTivity Platinum Study Package Can Help You:

• Learn the material with a structured online study manual
• Practice with exam-style questions
• Build confidence with the exam simulator
• Review definitions with flashcards
• Reinforce concepts with audio lessons
• Watch difficult topics explained in video
• Organize related concepts with mind maps
• Use learning games for repetition
• Ask questions with the AI Tutor
• Finish with the Test Day Cheat Sheet

California requires the 12-hour Ethics and California Insurance Code course before a license can be issued. We recommend Achievable.me for that requirement.

Then use TESTivity to prepare for the California P&C exam.

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Frequently Asked Questions About the California P&C License

About This California P&C Insurance License Guide

GetTheLicense.org creates insurance licensing guides for students preparing for state insurance exams across the United States. Our goal is to make licensing requirements easier to understand and to help future insurance professionals choose the right study path.

This California P&C guide is based on current information from the California Department of Insurance, including the 2026 prelicensing education change, examination details, licensing fees, fingerprinting requirements, and application guidance. Because state licensing rules can change, applicants should always verify final requirements with the California Department of Insurance before applying, scheduling an exam, or purchasing required education.