How many questions are on the California P&C exam?

The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions covering both national property and casualty concepts and California-specific insurance regulations.

What is the passing score for the California Property & Casualty exam?

This is a state licensure exam. The passing score for the California Property & Casualty exam is set strictly at 60%. However, because insurance licensure requirements and passing standards vary widely by state, candidates seeking equivalent licensure elsewhere MUST verify the exact passing score with their specific state's department of insurance or certification agency (for example, many other states require a 70% passing score for property and casualty exams).

How long do I have to complete the exam?

You are allowed a maximum time limit of 3 hours to complete the entire examination.

How long should I study for the California P&C license exam?

We recommend planning for approximately 60 hours of focused study time. The General Insurance Regulation domain alone accounts for over 27% of the test, so ensure you dedicate ample time to state-specific codes, licensing rules, and NAIC models.

Where can I take the CA-PC exam?

You can take the exam in-person at a PSI test center, a California Department of Insurance (CDI) examination site, or online via PSI remote proctoring.

How much does it cost to take the California P&C exam?

Candidates must pay a $188 license application fee plus an examination fee (typically $55 to $88, plus a PSI convenience fee of $33 to $43 if applicable).

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CA-PC · Syllabus & Exam Outline 2026

California Property & Casualty Insurance License Exam

Exam-aligned study paths covering the national Property & Casualty insurance core plus California insurance law - California Department of Insurance rules, licensing, and state-specific requirements - in retention-first 15-minute topics.

Start studying free see the outline ↓

Questions: 150
Time limit: 3 hours
Passing score: 60%
Cost: $188 license application fee plus an examination fee (typically $55 to $88, plus a PSI convenience fee of $33 to $43 if applicable)
Format: Multiple choice
Delivery: In-person at a PSI test center, a California Department of Insurance (CDI) examination site, or online via PSI remote proctoring
Prep time: ~60 hours

Exam overview

Preparing for the California Property & Casualty Insurance License Exam (CA-PC) requires a thorough understanding of both fundamental insurance principles and the specific state laws regulated by the California Department of Insurance (CDI). This comprehensive syllabus details the precise topics you need to master, spanning from core property and casualty policies to the intricacies of the California Insurance Code. The examination assesses your competency across several major domains, placing a particularly heavy emphasis on general insurance regulation, state-specific compliance, and contract law. To help you prepare effectively and retain complex information, Only Ever maps every domain to 15-minute study topics, allowing you to tackle extensive subjects like workers' compensation and the Commercial Package Policy in focused, manageable bursts. Use this outline to build a strategic study plan. By concentrating your efforts on the heavily weighted regulatory framework and essential policy provisions, you will be well-equipped to achieve the passing score and successfully launch your career as a licensed property and casualty producer in California.

Exam domains & weighting

Each domain's share of the exam — study deepest where the weight is highest. Open one for how to study it and its objectives.

How to study this domain

Focus on distinguishing the exact coverage differences between the various Homeowners (HO) and Dwelling (DP) forms. Memorize which perils are included under basic, broad, and special coverage tiers, and understand the core components of the Commercial Package Policy (CPP).

Key objectives

Homeowners Policies (HO-2 through HO-8)
Dwelling Policies (DP-1, DP-2, DP-3)
Commercial Package Policy and Commercial Property Forms
Business Owners Policy (BOP), Builders Risk, and Cyber
Inland Marine Insurance
National Flood Insurance Program
Other Property Policies

Study this domain

Readiness self-check

Tick off everything you can confidently explain. Anything left unchecked is your study list — tap “Review” to jump straight into that domain.

Readiness

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Part A: Property Insurance - Types of Policies

Review

Can I explain the specific coverage scope differences between an HO-3 and an HO-5 policy?
What are the fundamental components of a Commercial Package Policy (CPP)?

Part A: Property Insurance - Terms and Related Concepts

Review

How does a pure risk legally differ from a speculative risk?
Can I define and provide examples of moral, morale, and physical hazards?

Part A: Property Insurance - Policy Provisions and Contract Law

Review

What specific details are exclusively found in the declarations page of an insurance contract?

Part B: Casualty Insurance - Types of Policies, Bonds, and Related Terms

Review

Who are the three distinct parties involved in a surety bond?

Part B: Casualty Insurance - Terms and Related Concepts

Review

What is the critical difference between an occurrence policy and a claims-made policy regarding coverage triggers?

Part B: Casualty Insurance - Policy Provisions

Review

What are the insured's explicit duties immediately following a liability claim?

Part VII: General Insurance Regulation (Nationally-Uniform Framework)

Review

What actions constitute rebating, misrepresentation, or defamation under California's unfair trade practices?
What are the specific continuing education requirements and renewal procedures for a California P&C producer?

Quick reference

Key Industry Acronyms

Common abbreviations found throughout the property and casualty insurance syllabus.

CPP: Commercial Package Policy
BOP: Business Owners Policy
CGL: Commercial General Liability
HO: Homeowners Policy
DP: Dwelling Policy
NFIP: National Flood Insurance Program
NAIC: National Association of Insurance Commissioners
TRIA: Terrorism Risk Insurance Act
FCRA: Fair Credit Reporting Act

Essential P&C Terminology

Core risk and contract terms required for exam mastery.

Pure Risk

A situation where there is only the possibility of loss or no loss (insurable).

Speculative Risk

A situation where there is a possibility of loss, no loss, or a gain (typically uninsurable).

Moral Hazard

A conscious tendency or character flaw that increases the chance of loss (e.g., dishonesty).

Morale Hazard

An unconscious attitude of indifference or carelessness that increases the chance of loss.

Physical Hazard

A tangible characteristic of property, persons, or operations that increases the chance of loss.

Indemnity

The principle of restoring an insured to their pre-loss financial condition, without allowing them to profit.

Subrogation

The transfer of the insured's right to seek damages from a negligent third party to the insurance company.

Frequently asked questions

Good to know

The exam is compiled from a nationally uniform core (NAIC model) combined with layered, state-specific California insurance laws and regulations.
State-specific regulations (Part VII) account for the heaviest portion of the overall exam weight, making up over 27% of the questions.

Reading isn’t remembering.

California Property & Casualty prep blends nationally-uniform insurance concepts with California-specific law, and most materials muddle the two.

Only Ever teaches the shared national Property & Casualty core once, then layers California insurance law - regulation, licensing, unfair practices, guaranty protection, and state-specific rules - as focused 15-minute topics.

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