LLQP Exam Format: Pass Marks, Structure & What to Expect
The LLQP (Life Licence Qualification Program) exam is the licensing gateway for life insurance agents across most of Canada. Before you study a single chapter, you should know exactly what the exam looks like — because the format shapes the strategy.
Exam structure
The current harmonized exam (HLLQP) is split into four independent modules:
| Module | Questions | Time | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethics and Professional Practice (Common Law) | 20 | 75 min | 60% |
| Life Insurance | 50 | 75 min | 60% |
| Accident and Sickness Insurance | 30 | 75 min | 60% |
| Segregated Funds and Annuities | 40 | 75 min | 60% |
Every question is multiple choice with four options and exactly one best answer. There is no penalty for guessing — never leave a question blank.
Quebec runs a different track through the AMF with its own module structure (civil code ethics instead of common law). Everything on this page refers to the common law exam used in the rest of Canada.
How scoring actually works
Each module is scored independently. Passing three modules and failing one means you have not passed — you must rewrite the failed module. This is why experienced candidates treat Ethics (only 20 questions) with real respect: each question carries 5% of the module score, so two careless answers can fail you.
Booking and cost
You register through your provincial regulator or its designated exam administrator. Expect to pay an exam fee per sitting (varies by province, roughly $50–$100 per module or a bundled rate). Exams are offered at test centres and, in most provinces, via remote proctoring from home.
Retake rules
If you fail a module, a mandatory waiting period applies before you can rewrite it — typically two weeks for a first rewrite, longer after repeated failures. You only rewrite the modules you failed; passed modules stay banked for a limited period (check your regulator's exact validity window).
What this means for your study plan
- The Life Insurance module is half the exam's volume — it deserves the largest share of your hours.
- Ethics is small but dense with scenario traps; it fails more people than they expect.
- Timed practice matters: 75 minutes for 50 questions is 90 seconds each. Train at that pace with our free timed practice quiz.
- Read the 48-hour cram checklist in the final two days before your sitting.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass mark for the LLQP exam?
The pass mark for each LLQP/HLLQP module is 60%. You must pass every module separately to earn the full qualification.