The Life Licence Qualification Program (LLQP) exam is the main test standing between you and a life insurance licence in most of Canada. It is a demanding exam, but it is also a well documented one. The regulators publish how it is structured, how it is scored and what happens if you need another attempt. This guide pulls those published details together and suggests a practical way to prepare.
Rules can change and some details differ by province, so treat this as a starting point and confirm current information with your provincial regulator and exam administrator before you book.
Where the exam fits in licensing
Before you can write the exam, you complete the LLQP course through an approved provider. In Ontario, FSRA's LLQP page states that the course is a prerequisite, that it takes approximately 100 hours although completion time varies widely, and that you must present a certificate of completion for the course and its course exam in order to sit the licensing exam.
Passing the exam does not license you on its own. It qualifies you to apply, along with sponsorship, errors and omissions insurance and a background check. Our guide on how to become a licensed life insurance agent in Ontario covers those steps in full.
The four modules
Outside Quebec, the program is the Harmonized LLQP. The Insurance Council of British Columbia's Harmonized LLQP examinee guide lists four modules required for a life and accident and sickness licence:
- Life insurance. Types of life insurance, needs analysis, policy provisions, underwriting, taxation and estate considerations.
- Accident and sickness insurance. Disability, critical illness, long term care and health coverage, both individual and group.
- Segregated funds and annuities. How segregated funds work, their maturity and death benefit features, annuities and registered plans.
- Ethics and professional practice. Legal principles, the agent's duties to clients, disclosure, conflicts of interest and professional conduct. Outside Quebec this is the common law version.
The topic descriptions above are a general summary. The official curriculum and sample questions for each module are published on CISRO's curriculum and sample exam questions page.
Exam format
The BC examinee guide describes the Harmonized LLQP exam format as follows:
- Each module is multiple choice, with four possible answers per question. You select the single most appropriate answer.
- You have 75 minutes to complete each module.
- The Life insurance, Accident and sickness insurance, and Segregated funds and annuities modules each have 35 questions but are scored out of 30.
- The Ethics and professional practice module has 25 questions but is scored out of 20.
- The difference comes from five unscored pilot questions in each module, which are used to test new questions. They do not count toward your score whether you answer them correctly or not, and you will not know which ones they are.
The same guide notes that, for in person exams in BC, the reference material published by CISRO is provided electronically at the exam and is the only reference allowed. Arrangements can differ by administrator, so check what Durham College provides in Ontario.
Passing mark
The BC guide states that a mark of 60% or higher is required to pass. On a module scored out of 30, that means 18 correct scored answers. On the Ethics module, scored out of 20, it means 12.
Each module is passed on its own. You need all four for a life and accident and sickness licence, and the BC guide notes that all four must be completed within twelve months of the date you pass your first module.
Writing the exam in Ontario
FSRA states that the exam in Ontario is administered by Durham College and is available only in person. Cost and delivery options are published on Durham College's website, and FSRA notes that unsuccessful attempts may mean additional fees. Questions about exam administration in Ontario go to Durham College, while questions about exam content go to CISRO, according to FSRA.
Rewrite rules
If you do not pass a module, you can try again, within limits. FSRA's rewrite policy for Ontario is:
- After a failed exam, you may write three supplemental exams.
- A 24 hour waiting period is mandatory between attempts.
- If you fail the fourth overall attempt, you must wait one year from that attempt before registering for the initial exam again, and you must retake the prerequisite course.
- Candidates with a first pass date before April 1, 2024 may be able to continue under earlier rules and should contact Durham College.
These rules follow CISRO's LLQP examination administration policy, which also states that if you fail a module and do not register for a retake within one year, you must complete the minimum qualifications again before registering.
Two deadlines to track
- Course validity. CISRO's policy treats course training as valid for twelve months from completion. Once it expires, you cannot write any module until you complete the course again.
- Licence application. In Ontario, FSRA gives you one year from the date you first pass the exam to apply for your licence.
Plan your study schedule backwards from these dates rather than forwards from the day you start.
A practical study plan
There is no official study plan, and the right pace depends on how much time you have. The structure below is one sensible way to organise the work.
1. Finish the course properly. The course and its course exam come first. Treat the course exam as practice for the real one rather than a formality.
2. Map your weeks. List the four modules and estimate how long each will take you. The Life insurance module covers a wide range of topics, so consider giving it extra time. Put your exam dates and the twelve month course deadline on a calendar.
3. Study one module at a time. Read the material for a module, make short notes in your own words, then test yourself before moving on. Return to earlier modules regularly so they stay fresh.
4. Practise under exam conditions. Use CISRO's sample questions and your course provider's practice exams. Time yourself at 75 minutes per module. Review every wrong answer and note why the correct answer is correct.
5. Focus on applying concepts. Many questions present a client situation and ask what an agent should do or which product feature applies. Memorising definitions is not enough; practise working through scenarios.
6. Know the rules of the room. The CISRO policy prohibits phones, smart watches and other unauthorized devices, and misconduct can lead to a failing grade, suspension from the exam process or permanent removal. Bring the identification your administrator requires and arrive early.
7. If you need a retake, use the gap. The 24 hour minimum between attempts is not a recommendation to rush back. Review the areas that caused trouble before rebooking, keeping an eye on your course validity date.
On exam day
- Read each question fully before looking at the answers.
- Answer every question; an unanswered question scores nothing.
- Flag difficult questions and come back to them rather than losing time.
- Watch the clock. At 75 minutes for 35 questions, you have a little over two minutes per question.
- Do not dwell on questions you suspect are pilot items. You cannot tell which they are, so treat every question as scored.
Preparing with support
Many candidates find the LLQP easier with structure and accountability: a timeline, regular check ins and people who have written the exam before. At Kingsway Advisory, guidance through the LLQP, study structure and exam preparation is part of how we onboard new advisors. You can read more on our careers page, and if you are ready to take the next step, you can apply here.