- The NY P&C exam has 150 questions, a 2-hour 30-minute limit, and requires a 70% score to pass.
- Homeowners Policy is the single largest domain at 14% of the exam.
- The exam costs $40 and is administered by PSI as Series 17-56 for the NY Department of Financial Services.
- 90 hours of approved prelicensing education is standard before you can sit for the test.
Exam Snapshot: Format, Fee, and Time Limit
Before you memorize a single policy provision, lock in the mechanics of the test itself. The New York Property & Casualty Insurance Agent/Broker Exam is regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services and delivered by PSI under the code Series 17-56. Knowing these numbers cold removes a huge source of test-day anxiety.
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Regulator | New York State Department of Financial Services |
| Test administrator | PSI (Series 17-56) |
| Exam fee | $40 |
| Question count | 150 multiple-choice, computer-based |
| Time limit | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Delivery options | Test center or remote-proctored |
| Prelicensing education | 90 hours, approved coursework |
| License application window | Within 2 years of passing |
For a deeper breakdown of exactly where that $40 fits into your overall prep budget - including study materials and any retake costs - see the NY P&C Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. And if you want the full math on what "70%" actually means in raw question terms, the NY P&C Passing Score 2026 guide walks through it.
Registration and Licensing Basics
The NY P&C exam isn't a standalone credential you collect for résumé decoration - it's the licensing gate for anyone who wants to sell property and casualty insurance in New York. That changes how you should think about prep: you're not studying for a certificate, you're studying for a job requirement.
- Prelicensing hours: Most candidates complete 90 hours of state-approved prelicensing education before scheduling the exam.
- Scheduling: PSI handles booking for both test-center and remote-proctored sessions.
- Time-sensitive licensing: Passing the exam starts a 2-year clock - you must apply for your license within that window or your pass result stops counting.
If you're still confirming whether you meet the prerequisites, check the NY P&C Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify guide before you pay the $40 fee. And if scheduling logistics or blackout periods are on your mind, the NY P&C Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling article covers how PSI availability actually works.
Key Takeaway
Don't let your 90 hours of prelicensing education go stale. Schedule your PSI exam while the material is still fresh - waiting months after finishing coursework is one of the most avoidable reasons candidates underperform.
The 11 Domains at a Glance
The exam blueprint is built from 11 domains, each carrying a specific weight. Treat this table as your master allocation guide - it tells you exactly how many of the 150 questions come from each area.
| Domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1. Insurance Regulation | 9% |
| 2. General Insurance | 9% |
| 3. Property and Casualty Insurance Basics | 13% |
| 4. Dwelling Policy | 6% |
| 5. Homeowners Policy | 14% |
| 6. Auto Insurance | 11% |
| 7. Commercial Package Policy (CPP) | 11% |
| 8. Businessowners Policy | 8% |
| 9. Workers Compensation Insurance | 8% |
| 10. Other Coverages and Options | 7% |
| 11. Accident and Health Insurance | 4% |
Notice that five domains - Homeowners Policy, Property and Casualty Insurance Basics, Auto Insurance, Commercial Package Policy, and Businessowners Policy - together make up more than half the exam. That's exactly where your study hours should concentrate. For a full walkthrough of every domain's sub-topics, bookmark the NY P&C Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 11 Content Areas.
The Heavy Hitters: Homeowners, P&C Basics, Auto, CPP
These four domains combine for nearly half the exam by themselves. Master them and a mediocre performance elsewhere still leaves you within reach of 70%.
Domain 5: Homeowners Policy (14%)
The single largest domain on the exam. Candidates must know the differences between HO policy forms, covered perils, exclusions, and how dwelling and personal property limits interact.
- Distinctions between named-peril and open-peril forms
- Coverage A through F limits and how they relate to each other
- Common endorsements and their effect on base coverage
Domain 3: Property and Casualty Insurance Basics (13%)
This is foundational vocabulary and concept territory - insurable interest, indemnity, underwriting basics, and policy structure. Weakness here undermines every other domain.
- Core legal principles: insurable interest, utmost good faith, indemnity
- Policy structure: declarations, insuring agreement, conditions, exclusions
- Underwriting and rating fundamentals
Domain 6: Auto Insurance (11%)
Expect questions on liability limits, no-fault provisions, and the interplay between mandatory and optional coverages.
- Liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage distinctions
- No-fault and personal injury protection concepts
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist provisions
Domain 7: Commercial Package Policy (CPP) (11%)
Commercial content trips up candidates who only studied personal lines. Know how a CPP bundles multiple commercial coverage parts into one policy.
- How CPP combines coverage parts (property, liability, and more) under one policy
- Common exclusions unique to commercial exposures
- Differences between monoline and package policies
The Lighter Domains You Still Can't Skip
It's tempting to deprioritize the smaller-weight domains, but skipping any of them entirely is risky given the exam draws from all 11 areas. A domain at 4% still represents multiple questions out of 150.
Domain 1: Insurance Regulation (9%) & Domain 2: General Insurance (9%)
These cover the regulatory framework specific to New York and general insurance concepts that apply across all lines. Expect questions on licensing rules, agent/broker duties, and DFS oversight.
Domain 4: Dwelling Policy (6%) & Domain 8: Businessowners Policy (8%)
Dwelling policies are often confused with Homeowners forms - know exactly how they differ in eligibility and coverage scope. Businessowners Policy (BOP) questions test your understanding of bundled small-business coverage.
Domain 9: Workers Compensation (8%), Domain 10: Other Coverages and Options (7%), Domain 11: Accident and Health (4%)
These smaller domains round out the exam. Workers Compensation questions focus on employer obligations and statutory benefits; Accident and Health, though the smallest domain, still deserves a focused review session rather than a skim.
Final-Week Review Plan
In the last stretch before your PSI appointment, structure your remaining hours around domain weight rather than personal comfort. This isn't a full study methodology - just a targeted allocation for your final review pass.
Anchor the Basics
- Review Domain 3 (P&C Basics) and Domain 2 (General Insurance) - everything else builds on these concepts
Attack the Heavyweights
- Drill Domain 5 (Homeowners, 14%), Domain 6 (Auto, 11%), and Domain 7 (CPP, 11%) with practice questions
Mid-Weight Domains
- Cover Domain 1 (Regulation), Domain 8 (Businessowners), and Domain 9 (Workers Compensation)
Close the Gaps
- Finish Domain 4 (Dwelling), Domain 10 (Other Coverages), and Domain 11 (Accident and Health)
Full-Length Simulation
- Take a timed, 150-question practice run under the 2-hour-30-minute limit at newyorkexam.com
For a more detailed week-by-week plan that stretches beyond the final week, see the NY P&C Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
Common Traps on the 150-Question Format
The exam's length and time limit create specific pressure points that a candidate should plan for, not just the content itself.
- Pacing: With 150 questions in 150 minutes, you have roughly one minute per question on average. Don't let a hard Homeowners question eat five minutes you need for the rest of Domain 5.
- Similar-sounding policy forms: Dwelling Policy (Domain 4) and Homeowners Policy (Domain 5) questions are frequently confused because both deal with residential property - know the eligibility differences cold.
- Commercial vs. personal lines mix-ups: CPP (Domain 7) and Businessowners Policy (Domain 8) both cover commercial exposures but differ in structure - a BOP is a package designed for smaller businesses, while a CPP is modular and used for larger or more complex risks.
- Regulation questions that feel like trivia: Domain 1 questions on DFS rules and licensing procedures can feel disconnected from "real" insurance knowledge, but they're worth the same as any other question.
If you're wondering whether your current level of preparation is realistic given these pressure points, the How Hard Is the NY P&C Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 article breaks down what makes this test challenging beyond raw content volume. And if you want a data-driven view of how test-takers generally perform, review the NY P&C Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows analysis.
Key Takeaway
Run at least one full 150-question timed simulation before test day. Pacing errors, not content gaps, are what push otherwise-prepared candidates under 70%.
What Passing Actually Unlocks
Passing the NY P&C exam is a licensing milestone, not a finish line - you still need to apply for your license within the 2-year window and, in most cases, connect with an agency or carrier that hires licensed producers. If you're evaluating whether the time and $40 exam fee are worth it relative to career outcomes, the Is the NY P&C Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 piece and the NY P&C Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis are worth reading before and after you pass.
Practicing under realistic, timed conditions is the fastest way to convert domain knowledge into exam-day performance. Run a full-length simulation at newyorkexam.com so the 150-question, 2-hour-30-minute format feels familiar before you sit at a real PSI terminal.
FAQ
The exam has 150 computer-based multiple-choice questions with a 2-hour 30-minute time limit.
You need to score 70% or higher to pass.
Homeowners Policy is the largest domain at 14% of the exam, followed by Property and Casualty Insurance Basics at 13%.
The exam fee is $40, administered by PSI as Series 17-56 on behalf of the New York State Department of Financial Services.
You must apply for your license within 2 years of passing the exam, so don't delay the licensing paperwork after your PSI result comes in.