Life & Health vs Personal Lines Insurance License (California)
Both are California Department of Insurance (CDI) agent licenses, and both pass at 60%. The difference is scope: Life & Accident-Health (L&H) covers life insurance, annuities, and health products, while Personal Lines covers personal auto and home (property & casualty for individuals). Here is how to choose.
Side-by-side comparison
| Life & Accident-Health (L&H) | Personal Lines | |
|---|---|---|
| What you can sell | Life insurance, annuities, accident & health, disability, long-term care | Personal auto, homeowners, renters, personal umbrella (individuals only) |
| Issued by | California Department of Insurance (CDI) | California Department of Insurance (CDI) |
| Exam length | ~150 questions, ~3 hours | ~100 questions, shorter sitting |
| Passing score | 60% | 60% |
| Pre-license education | 12-hour ethics & CA Code course only (AB 943, 2026) | 12-hour ethics & CA Code course only (AB 943, 2026) |
| Typical cost | ~$229 application + ~$54 exam fee | ~$188 application + ~$54 exam fee |
| Best for | Financial/retirement advisors, broader career ceiling | Fast entry into auto & home sales (often at an agency) |
Salary in California
~$45,000–$90,000+/yr — heavily commission-based; annuities and life can pay more
~$40,000–$70,000/yr — often salaried/commission at an agency
Approximate California ranges; insurance pay is commission-driven and varies widely by book of business.
Difficulty
Moderate — broader material (life, annuities, health, tax) and a longer exam
Easier — narrower scope and a shorter exam
Personal Lines is the more common entry-level license; L&H opens a wider career path.
Time required
A few weeks (12-hour ethics course + study + scheduling the exam)
Often 1–2 weeks (12-hour ethics course + study)
Choose Personal Lines for the fastest path into auto & home sales. Choose Life & Health if you want a broader product line and a higher earning ceiling — many agents eventually hold both.
Practice for free
Frequently Asked Questions
Which California insurance license is easier?+
Personal Lines is generally easier — a shorter exam (~100 vs ~150 questions) and a narrower scope (personal auto and home). As of 2026 (AB 943), both licenses require only the 12-hour ethics course for prelicensing, so that's no longer a difference.
Can I hold both licenses?+
Yes. Many California agents start with one and add the other. Each has its own exam (prelicensing is now just the shared 12-hour ethics course under AB 943), but holding both lets you serve more clients.
Do both exams pass at 60%?+
Yes — both the Life & Health and Personal Lines CDI exams require a 60% score to pass.
More comparisons
Last updated: September 2026