Your Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a New York Life, Accident and Health Insurance Agent or Broker
A New York life and health insurance license can open the door to a career helping individuals, families, and businesses protect against some of life’s biggest financial risks: death, illness, injury, disability, long-term care expenses, and retirement income concerns.
In New York, this license path is usually called Life, Accident & Health. Depending on your career goals, you may pursue the combined Life, Accident & Health authority, Life Only, Accident & Health Only, or the broker version of those authorities.
But New York is not a “watch a few videos and go take the test” state. The New York State Department of Financial Services, or NYDFS, requires approved prelicensing education before the exam. For the combined Life, Accident & Health authority, candidates must complete at least 40 hours of Department-approved prelicensing education. Life Only and Accident & Health Only candidates need at least 20 hours for the applicable line. NYDFS also states that candidates must pass the licensing exam administered by PSI Services within two years of applying for the license.
For the required New York prelicensing course, we recommend Achievable.me. After that, use TESTivity’s New York-specific Life and Health exam prep tools to reinforce what you learned, practice PSI-style questions, identify weak areas, and prepare for the actual exam screen.
New York Life and Health Insurance License Quick Facts
| Category | New York L&H Requirement |
|---|---|
| Regulator | New York State Department of Financial Services |
| Testing vendor | PSI Services |
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Prelicensing required? | Yes |
| Life, Accident & Health prelicensing | 40 hours |
| Life Only prelicensing | 20 hours |
| Accident & Health Only prelicensing | 20 hours |
| Life, Accident & Health Broker prelicensing | 40 hours |
| Exam vendor | PSI Services |
| Application timing | Pass exam within 2 years of applying |
| Individual resident license fee | $80 full fee / $40 half fee |
| License term | Up to 2 years |
| Continuing education | 15 credits when required |
NYDFS lists the prelicensing minimums for Life, Accident & Health Agent, Life Agent, Accident & Health Agent, and related broker authorities on its official prelicensing education page.
What Can You Do With a New York Life and Health Insurance License?
A New York Life, Accident & Health license allows you to work with insurance products that protect people from financial loss related to death, sickness, injury, disability, medical expenses, and related life events.
Depending on your specific authority, appointments, and product training, this may include:
- Life insurance
- Term life insurance
- Whole life insurance
- Universal life insurance
- Accident insurance
- Health insurance
- Disability income insurance
- Long-term care insurance
- Group life and health coverage
- Medicare-related products, when properly certified
- Annuities, when properly licensed and trained
- Variable life and variable annuity products, if additional securities requirements are met
NYDFS notes that a candidate applying for variable life or variable annuity authority must provide proof of passing the applicable FINRA Series 6, 7, or 63 examination.
This license path can support many career directions: agency sales, benefits advising, financial services, Medicare-related work, employee benefits, final expense, retirement income planning, or independent brokerage.
It is a people-centered license. You are not just memorizing policy parts. You are learning how financial protection works when life gets messy.
New York Life, Accident & Health Agent vs. Broker
New York distinguishes between insurance agents and insurance brokers.
A Life, Accident & Health Agent generally represents one or more insurance companies and may need appointments from insurers to transact business.
A Life, Accident & Health Broker generally represents the insurance buyer rather than a specific insurance company. Broker authority can be useful for professionals who want to compare products or work more independently across markets, subject to New York rules.
For licensing purposes, both agent and broker paths require you to complete the correct prelicensing education, pass the applicable exam, and submit the correct application. NYDFS lists Life, Accident & Health Agent and Life, Accident & Health Broker as separate prelicensing categories, each requiring 40 hours for the combined authority.
Before enrolling in a course, make sure the course matches the exact New York license class and authority you want.
How to Get a New York Life and Health Insurance License in 5 Steps
Step 1: Choose the Right New York Life and Health License Type
Start by deciding what you want to sell.
If you want the broadest common life and health authority, choose the combined Life, Accident & Health path.
If you only plan to work with life insurance, you may choose Life Only.
If you only plan to work with accident and health insurance, you may choose Accident & Health Only.
New York’s minimum prelicensing hours vary by authority:
| License Authority | Required Prelicensing Hours |
|---|---|
| Life, Accident & Health Agent | 40 hours |
| Life Agent Only | 20 hours |
| Accident & Health Agent Only | 20 hours |
| Life, Accident & Health Broker | 40 hours |
| Life Broker Only | 20 hours |
| Accident & Health Broker Only | 20 hours |
These minimums are published by NYDFS.
For most students who want flexibility, the combined Life, Accident & Health path is the more complete option. It gives you more room to grow than choosing one line too narrowly.
Step 2: Complete the Required New York L&H Prelicensing Course
New York requires approved prelicensing education before you take the licensing exam.
For the combined New York Life, Accident & Health authority, you must complete at least 40 hours of Department-approved prelicensing education. For Life Only or Accident & Health Only, the requirement is at least 20 hours for the applicable line.
For the required course, we recommend Achievable.me. Before enrolling, confirm that the course is approved for your exact New York license type and line of authority.
This gives you a clean two-part licensing strategy:
- Achievable.me helps you complete the required New York prelicensing course.
- TESTivity helps you prepare for the New York PSI exam after you complete the course.
The prelicensing course gives you the required foundation. TESTivity helps you turn that foundation into recall, speed, confidence, and exam-day performance.
Step 3: Schedule and Prepare for the New York Life and Health Exam
After you complete the required prelicensing course, you need to pass the applicable New York licensing exam.
NYDFS states that candidates must pass the licensing exam administered by PSI Services within two years of applying for the license.
This is where students often underestimate the exam. They finish the prelicensing course and think, “I recognize these terms. I’m probably fine.”
Recognition is not the same as readiness.
The New York Life and Health exam may test your understanding of:
- New York insurance regulation
- General insurance concepts
- Life insurance basics
- Life insurance policy types
- Policy provisions, options, and riders
- Beneficiaries and ownership rights
- Annuities
- Federal tax considerations
- Qualified plans
- Accident and health insurance basics
- Individual health policy provisions
- Disability income insurance
- Medical expense insurance
- Long-term care insurance
- Group health insurance
- Government health insurance programs
- Producer responsibilities and prohibited practices
That is a lot of territory. And PSI-style questions may ask you to apply a concept, not merely define it.
That is why TESTivity’s New York Life and Health Exam Simulator is built to help you practice in a way that feels closer to the real PSI exam. Over 20+ years of helping insurance students prepare, TESTivity has learned that testing vendors have different rhythms, wording habits, and recurring question patterns.
A PSI exam does not feel exactly like a Pearson VUE exam. A Pearson VUE exam does not feel exactly like a Prometric exam.
The worst thing you can do is study with material that does not represent what you will actually see on the screen in the testing center.
Why Exam Prep Matters in New York
New York gives candidates flexibility by not requiring where they get their mandatory prelicensing hours. But flexibility can become a trap if it leads to scattered studying.
The New York L&H insurance exam is a content-heavy multiple-choice exam. You are not just memorizing definitions. You need to recognize policy language, understand how coverages work, identify exclusions and conditions, and apply insurance law to exam-style scenarios.
That is why TESTivity uses a multi-tool study system instead of relying on one flat textbook.
The TESTivity Platinum Study Package includes:
Step 4: Pass the Exam and Apply for Your New York L&H License
After passing the exam, you must submit your license application to NYDFS.
NYDFS states that candidates must pass the applicable New York State exam within two years of applying for the license. The Life, Accident & Health licensing page also states that applicants must pass the PSI exam within two years of applying.
The basic application flow is:
- Complete your required New York prelicensing education.
- Pass the applicable PSI licensing exam.
- Submit your license application to NYDFS.
- Pay the required licensing fee.
- Print your license once issued.
- Obtain carrier appointment or other activation steps if required for your role.
Do not treat your passing exam result as a “someday I’ll file this” document. In licensing, someday is where paperwork goes to grow cobwebs.
Step 5: Maintain Your License With Renewal and Continuing Education
Once licensed, you need to keep your license active.
NYDFS states that New York insurance licenses must be renewed online before expiration. If continuing education is required to renew the license, the CE requirement must be completed before submitting the renewal application.
New York requires 15 credits of continuing education to renew or relicense certain insurance licenses once the license has been in effect for more than two years and for every later renewal or relicensing period.
New York resident licensees must complete CE courses offered by Department-approved provider organizations.
The short version: pass the exam, get licensed, then build a renewal routine before the deadline starts breathing on your neck.
New York Life and Health Exam Details
The New York Life and Health exam is a PSI-administered licensing exam designed to test whether you understand life insurance, accident and health insurance, insurance regulation, and New York-specific producer rules.
The combined Life, Accident & Health exam may cover both national insurance concepts and New York law, including:
- Insurance regulation
- Licensing and producer responsibilities
- General insurance principles
- Life insurance products
- Life policy provisions
- Riders and options
- Annuities
- Tax treatment
- Accident and health insurance
- Disability income
- Medical expense coverage
- Group health
- Long-term care
- Government health programs
- New York-specific rules and definitions
Because the exam spans so many topic families, students need more than one study method. Reading is important, but reading alone often creates a false sense of confidence.
A stronger approach is layered:
- Read the concept.
- Hear the concept.
- Drill the concept.
- Practice the concept in a question.
- Review what you missed.
- Repeat until weak areas stop squeaking.
That is exactly how TESTivity’s New York Life and Health study system is designed to work.
New York Life and Health License Fees
New York individual resident insurance licenses are generally issued for up to two years. NYDFS lists the resident individual full fee as $80 and the resident individual half fee as $40 on its licensing pages.
| Fee Item | New York Amount |
|---|---|
| Resident individual full license fee | $80 |
| Resident individual half license fee | $40 |
| Duplicate license print request | Check current NYDFS fee schedule |
A full fee generally applies when a license is issued for more than one year. A half fee generally applies when a license is issued for one year or less. Always confirm the exact amount shown during the NYDFS application process before paying.
Fingerprinting and Background Check Information
For standard New York resident Life, Accident & Health agent and broker licensing, fingerprinting is not emphasized by NYDFS as a standard step in the same way it is for certain other insurance license types.
However, requirements can vary by license class and applicant circumstance. Always follow the instructions shown by NYDFS for your specific application.
The safe rule is simple:
Follow the NYDFS checklist for your exact New York license type.
Do not borrow requirements from a different license category, a different state, or someone’s “my cousin did this in 2019” licensing legend.
New York Life and Health License Application Process
Once you complete the required prelicensing education and pass the exam, you can move into the license application stage.
Basic Application Flow
- Complete your New York-approved Life, Accident & Health prelicensing course.
- Pass the applicable PSI-administered New York exam.
- Submit the license application to NYDFS.
- Pay the required license fee.
- Print the license once issued.
- Complete appointment or product-specific requirements where applicable.
NYDFS states that Life, Accident & Health applicants must complete Department-approved prelicensing education and pass the PSI-administered licensing exam within two years of applying for the license.
If you plan to work with variable life or variable annuity products, remember that New York requires proof of the applicable FINRA examination for variable authority.
New York L&H License Renewal and Continuing Education
New York insurance licenses must be renewed online before expiration. NYDFS explains that if CE is required, it must be completed before submitting the renewal application.
NYDFS requires 15 CE credits to renew or relicense certain insurance licenses once the license has been in effect for more than two years and for every later renewal or relicensing period.
New York CE requirements include specific required components. Depending on the license, CE may need to include subjects such as:
- Insurance law
- Ethics and professionalism
- Diversity, inclusion, and elimination of bias
- Line-specific approved coursework
Because CE rules can change and may depend on your license authority, always check the current NYDFS continuing education page before selecting courses.
New York-Specific L&H Licensing Quirks
New York has several details that L&H candidates should understand before they start.
New York Requires Approved Prelicensing Education
You cannot skip the prelicensing requirement. For the combined Life, Accident & Health authority, New York requires 40 hours of approved prelicensing education. For Life Only or Accident & Health Only, the requirement is 20 hours.
Life Only and Accident & Health Only Are Separate Options
Some students do not need the full combined license right away. New York allows separate Life Only and Accident & Health Only paths, each with a 20-hour prelicensing requirement.
That can be useful, but it may also limit your product options. Choose based on your career plan, not just the shortest course.
Variable Products Require Additional Securities Proof
If you want variable life or variable annuity authority, New York requires proof of passing the applicable FINRA Series 6, 7, or 63 examination.
That requirement is separate from the standard insurance licensing exam.
The PSI Exam Format Matters
New York uses PSI for its insurance licensing exams. TESTivity’s New York-specific tools are designed around the reality that PSI-style exam questions can feel different from questions written for other testing vendors.
Generic national practice questions may help with vocabulary, but they often fail to prepare students for the rhythm and trap-door wording of the actual exam.
Prelicensing Completion Is Not the Same as Exam Readiness
Completing the required course is necessary. It is not the finish line.
You still need to practice, review, reinforce, and prove you can answer exam-style questions under test conditions.
How to Study for the New York Life and Health Exam
A strong New York Life and Health study plan should happen in two stages.
Stage 1: Complete the Required Course
Use Achievable.me for your required New York Life, Accident & Health prelicensing education. Confirm that the course is approved for your specific New York license type before enrolling.
During the course, focus on understanding the main categories:
- Life insurance basics
- Policy types
- Policy provisions and riders
- Beneficiaries and ownership
- Annuities
- Tax considerations
- Accident and health insurance
- Disability income
- Medical expense coverage
- Long-term care
- Group health
- Government health programs
- New York insurance law
Your goal during prelicensing is to build the foundation.
Stage 2: Use TESTivity to Become Exam-Ready
After the course, use TESTivity to transform that foundation into performance.
TESTivity’s New York Life and Health study tools are designed to help you:
- Review New York-specific exam content
- Practice PSI-style questions
- Strengthen recall through repetition
- Identify weak areas
- Understand confusing policy provisions
- Drill terminology and definitions
- Build confidence before test day
The TESTivity study system includes:
- New York Life and Health Study Manual
- New York L&H Exam Simulator
- Insurance Exam Flashcards
- Audio Course
- Video Instruction
- Mind Maps
- Learning Games
- Test Day Cheat Sheet
- AI Insurance Exam Tutor
- Platinum Study Package
Each tool reinforces the material from a different direction. That matters because Life and Health content is full of terms that look familiar until the exam asks them sideways.
TESTivity helps you prepare for that moment.
Recommended Study Timeline for New York L&H Candidates
During Your Prelicensing Course
Focus on building the framework. Do not panic if every detail does not stick the first time.
Pay special attention to:
- Policy ownership
- Beneficiaries
- Riders
- Nonforfeiture options
- Dividend options
- Annuity payout options
- Disability income definitions
- Medical plan cost-sharing
- Long-term care triggers
- Group health rules
- New York-specific producer duties
After Completing Prelicensing
Move into TESTivity’s New York Life and Health study system:
- Read the New York L&H Study Manual.
- Use flashcards for terminology and definitions.
- Listen to the audio course for repetition.
- Use mind maps to connect policy parts.
- Practice topic quizzes in the exam simulator.
- Review missed questions carefully.
- Retake weak areas until scores improve.
- Complete full-length simulator exams.
- Use the Test Day Cheat Sheet for final review.
Final 24–48 Hours
Your final review should be strategic, not frantic.
Focus on:
- Weak areas from your simulator results
- New York law and producer duties
- Policy provisions
- Riders and options
- Health policy definitions
- Annuities and tax treatment
- Missed practice questions
- The Test Day Cheat Sheet
Do not try to swallow the whole textbook the night before the exam. That is not studying. That is academic speed-eating.
Related New York Insurance Licensing Tools
Use these related pages to continue your New York licensing plan:
- Insurance Exam Practice Questions / Exam Simulator
Learn how realistic practice questions help you prepare for the timing, wording, and structure of licensing exam questions. - Insurance Exam Study Guide / Study Manual
Build your foundation with organized, state-specific insurance exam content. - Insurance Exam Flashcards
Drill definitions, policy terms, coverage distinctions, riders, provisions, and New York law. - Insurance Exam Audio Course
Reinforce key topics while commuting, walking, exercising, or reviewing away from your desk. - TESTivity Platinum Study Package
Get the full study system: manual, simulator, audio, flashcards, mind maps, games, video instruction, cheat sheet, AI tutor, and readiness tracking.
New York L&H Licensing Resources
Use these official resources to verify requirements and complete your licensing steps:
- New York State Department of Financial Services: Life, Accident and Health Agent and Broker Licensing
- NYDFS Agent and Broker Prelicensing Education
- NYDFS Individual Agent and Broker License Application
- NYDFS Continuing Education Requirements
- NYDFS Agent and Broker License Renewal
- PSI Exams Online
FAQ: New York Life and Health Insurance License
About This New York L&H Insurance License Guide
This New York Life and Health licensing guide was created by the TESTivity team to help future insurance professionals understand the licensing process and prepare for the exam with confidence.
TESTivity has spent more than 20 years helping students prepare for insurance licensing exams. Over that time, we have learned that passing an insurance exam usually takes more than completing the required course. Students need realistic practice, state-specific study material, repeated exposure, and exam questions that reflect the testing provider’s style.
For New York Life and Health candidates, that means completing the required prelicensing course first, then preparing with tools designed around the New York PSI exam experience.
About the author
Matt Williams
Matt Williams has been teaching insurance pre-licensing curriculum for over 20 years and has helped thousands of people pass their exams on their first attempt. Matt holds Life & Health, Property & Casualty, and Adjuster insurance licenses along with the Series 7, 8, 24, 63, and 65 FINRA/NASAA designations, and the CLU, ChFC, and CFP® professional credentials. He is a certified trainer in adult education and the founder of TESTivity.
The TESTivity Platinum Study Package is built around exactly this map: video lessons weighted to the actual exam outline, mind maps that show how coverage types relate to each other, a full-length exam simulator that mirrors the New York PSI format, and a pass guarantee. Built by the people who teach the exam — used by the candidates who pass it!
Ready to Get Your New York Life and Health Insurance License?
Start by completing your required New York Life, Accident & Health prelicensing course through Achievable.me, and confirm the course is approved for your license type.
Then use TESTivity’s New York-specific Life and Health exam prep tools to sharpen recall, practice PSI-style questions, fix weak areas, and prepare for exam day.
New York’s Life and Health exam covers a wide range of terms, products, rules, and policy provisions. Do not rely on generic study material and exam-day luck.
Prepare with a system built for New York.
📋 Official New York L&H Insurance Licensing Resources
To ensure absolute accuracy when registering for your exam and filing your application, we recommend utilizing these official state materials alongside your TESTivity Platinum Study Package.
Instant PDF Downloads
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New York L&H Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook and Content Outlines (PDF)
Direct mirror hosted by GetTheLicense.org
Official Portals & Live Verification
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New York State Dept. of Financial Services (NYDFS)
For resident agent regulations and fee schedules -
Pearson VUE New York L&H Insurance Licensing Page
To schedule your exam, find test centers, or check live updates