- ND-PC is actually two separate exams - Property and Casualty - each with 110 scored questions and 150 minutes.
- Passing requires 70%, meaning 77 correct scored answers on each exam.
- North Dakota Laws and Regulations is the single largest content area: 27.3% of Casualty, 23.6% of Property.
- No prelicensing course is required, but applicants must pass a fingerprint-based criminal history check.
What the ND-PC Certification Actually Covers
The ND-PC certification - the North Dakota Property & Casualty Insurance Producer Exam - is the licensing credential required to sell property and casualty insurance products in North Dakota. It's administered by PSI Services LLC under the authority of the North Dakota Insurance & Securities Department, which sets the rules candidates must follow before they can legally represent a carrier or agency in the state.
Unlike some multi-line insurance exams that blend everything into one test, ND-PC is structured as two distinct exams: Property and Casualty. A candidate who wants to write both lines must pass each one separately. That distinction matters for planning, because your study time, question exposure, and even your test-day scheduling look different depending on which line - or both - you're pursuing. For a full breakdown of what each line demands, see our ND-PC Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 20 Content Areas.
Exam Format, Timing, and Scoring
Every ND-PC exam - Property or Casualty - follows the same structural blueprint:
- 110 scored questions plus an additional 5-10 unscored experimental items mixed in without identification, so no question can be safely skipped or rushed.
- 150 minutes to complete the exam, which averages out to a little over a minute per question if you include the unscored items.
- 70% passing score, which equals 77 correct scored answers out of 110.
- $64 exam fee per attempt, per line.
- Computer-based, multiple choice format delivered through PSI's testing network.
- Unlimited retakes - there's no cap on how many times you can sit for the exam if you don't pass, though each attempt requires paying the fee again.
Because the unscored experimental questions are invisible to the test-taker, treat every question on screen as if it counts. This is one of the most misunderstood mechanics of the exam, and it's a big reason candidates underestimate the time pressure. For a deeper look at how tough the test actually feels in practice, read How Hard Is the ND-PC Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Key Takeaway
Budget your 150 minutes assuming all 115-120 questions are scored. Don't try to guess which ones are experimental - it's not disclosed, and guessing wastes mental energy you need for content recall.
The 20 Domains: Property vs. Casualty
ND-PC content is organized into 20 domains total, split evenly between the two exams. Understanding this split is the foundation of any serious study plan, because the domains are not weighted equally - some carry far more exam weight than others.
Property Exam Domains
Domain 1-3: Insurance Regulation, ND Laws, Federal Laws
These regulatory domains form the backbone of the Property exam. Domain 2 - North Dakota Laws and Regulations Pertinent to Property Insurance - alone accounts for 23.6% of the Property exam, making it the single largest content area on that test.
- Licensing rules and producer duties under state law
- Unfair trade practices and claims-handling regulations
- Federal statutes that intersect with property coverage
Domain 4-10: Policy Concepts
These domains cover the operational core of property insurance: general insurance concepts, property basics, dwelling policies, homeowners policies, commercial property, businessowners policies, and other specialty property forms.
- Perils, exclusions, and endorsements across policy types
- Differences between dwelling forms and homeowners forms
- Commercial property and BOP structure and eligibility
Casualty Exam Domains
Domain 11-13: Regulation and Federal Law
Domain 12 - North Dakota Laws and Regulations Pertinent to Casualty Insurance - is the heaviest single domain on either exam, representing 27.3% of the Casualty test.
- State-specific licensing and conduct requirements
- Federal regulations affecting liability and auto coverage
- General insurance regulation shared across both lines
Domain 14-20: Casualty Product Knowledge
This block covers general insurance basics, casualty fundamentals, personal auto, commercial auto, commercial general liability, other casualty types, and workers' compensation laws.
- Personal auto policy structure and exclusions
- Commercial auto and CGL coverage triggers
- Workers' compensation statutory requirements in North Dakota
Because the two North Dakota law domains dominate their respective exams, they deserve outsized attention in any study schedule. Skimming these sections to focus on "more interesting" product domains is one of the most common mistakes candidates make. Our ND-PC Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts is built specifically to reinforce these high-weight areas in quick review sessions.
Eligibility, Application, and Fees
ND-PC has a straightforward eligibility path compared to many professional credentials, but the steps still need to be followed in order:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Reside in North Dakota or maintain a principal place of business there
- Pass each exam line you intend to write (Property, Casualty, or both)
- Complete a fingerprint-based criminal history check
- Apply for licensure through NIPR (National Insurance Producer Registry)
Notably, no prelicensing course is mandated by the state - candidates are free to self-study, use exam prep resources, or take a course voluntarily. That flexibility is convenient, but it also means the responsibility for exam readiness falls entirely on the candidate. Full eligibility detail lives in ND-PC Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
| Item | Cost / Detail |
|---|---|
| Exam fee (each line) | $64 |
| Initial license fee | $100 |
| License renewal fee | $25 (biennial) |
| Score validity | 1 year from exam date |
| Retake policy | Unlimited attempts, fee due each time |
These numbers matter when you're budgeting for licensure, especially if you plan to pursue both lines or anticipate needing a retake. For the complete cost picture including cumulative scenarios, see ND-PC Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. And if you want to know exactly how the 77-correct threshold is calculated and what it means for your margin of error, check ND-PC Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Who Hires ND-PC-Licensed Producers
Holding an active ND-PC license opens the door to producer roles at independent agencies, captive carrier offices, and brokerages operating in North Dakota. Because the license is line-specific, candidates who complete both Property and Casualty exams position themselves for a broader range of roles - auto and homeowners insurance, commercial package policies, workers' compensation placement, and general liability underwriting support are all fair game once both lines are active.
Employers in this space typically care less about how you got licensed and more about whether you carry an active, unrestricted producer license with the lines they need covered. That's why passing scores and license status - not exam prep methods - are what show up on background checks and appointment paperwork. If you're weighing whether the licensing investment pays off relative to the roles it unlocks, Is the ND-PC Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 walks through that calculus, and ND-PC Jobs covers the kinds of positions that typically require this license.
Building a Domain-Weighted Prep Plan
Given that the two North Dakota law domains alone make up roughly a quarter of each exam, the smartest prep sequencing starts there rather than saving regulation for last. A simple way to structure your remaining weeks before test day:
North Dakota Laws and Regulations
- Master Domain 2 (Property) or Domain 12 (Casualty) first - the single heaviest content block on each exam
- Drill licensing, unfair trade practice, and claims regulation questions repeatedly
Regulation and Federal Law
- Cover Insurance Regulation and Federal Laws domains for your chosen line
- Connect state-specific rules to the federal framework so you can distinguish the two on exam questions
Core Policy Concepts
- Property track: dwelling, homeowners, commercial property, BOP
- Casualty track: personal auto, commercial auto, CGL, workers' compensation
Timed Practice and Review
- Run full-length timed practice exams under 150-minute conditions
- Revisit any domain where you're missing more than a few practice questions
Spacing out review sessions and testing yourself with active recall (rather than passive rereading) tends to work well specifically because ND-PC content is dense with regulatory detail that's easy to recognize but hard to recall cold under timed conditions. Our ND-PC Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt expands this into a full week-by-week plan, and running practice questions on our practice test platform is one of the fastest ways to find out which domains still need work before you commit to a test date.
If you're still deciding when to sit for the exam relative to your application timeline, remember that scores are only valid for one year - schedule with that deadline in mind. Our ND-PC Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling article covers how to plan around PSI's scheduling windows.
Renewal and Continuing Education
Passing the exam and getting licensed isn't the end of the ND-PC story - North Dakota producer licenses renew on a biennial cycle, due by the last day of your birth month, for a $25 renewal fee. To renew, producers must complete 24 continuing education hours, including 3 hours specifically in ethics.
Key Takeaway
Track your CE hours throughout the two-year cycle rather than scrambling at renewal time - 24 hours (with 3 in ethics) adds up faster when spread across both years.
Missing a renewal deadline can put your license into lapsed status, which creates unnecessary friction with carriers and agencies who need your appointment to stay current. Treat renewal dates with the same seriousness as your original exam date.
Frequently Asked Questions
ND-PC covers two separate exams - Property and Casualty. Each has its own 110 scored questions, its own $64 fee, and requires its own passing score of 70%.
No. North Dakota does not require a prelicensing course. Candidates can self-study or use exam prep resources at their own discretion.
Passing scores remain valid for one year, during which you must complete your license application through NIPR.
Retakes are unlimited. You'll need to pay the $64 fee again for each attempt, so it's worth reviewing your weakest domains before rescheduling.
North Dakota Laws and Regulations, since it's the largest content area on both exams - 27.3% of Casualty and 23.6% of Property - and carries more weight than any other single domain.