- ND-PC means the North Dakota Property & Casualty Insurance Producer Exam - nothing else.
- Each exam (Property or Casualty) has 110 scored questions plus 5-10 unscored items in 150 minutes.
- Passing requires 70%, or 77 correct scored answers, on each exam.
- North Dakota Laws and Regulations is the heaviest domain: 27.3% of Casualty, 23.6% of Property.
What ND-PC Actually Stands For
ND-PC stands for the North Dakota Property & Casualty Insurance Producer Exam - the licensing test required for anyone who wants to sell property or casualty insurance products in the state of North Dakota. It is not a designation you earn once and keep forever like a professional certification; it's a state-administered producer exam tied directly to obtaining and maintaining an insurance license. Because the letters "ND-PC" happen to overlap with other credentials in unrelated industries, it's worth being precise here: on this site, ND-PC always refers to the North Dakota producer licensing exam, and every fact discussed below applies specifically to that exam.
If you're just starting your research, our companion piece What Is ND-PC? covers the broader context, while ND-PC Meaning and What Does ND-PC Stand For? dig into terminology from slightly different angles. This article focuses on what the exam actually measures and how it's structured.
Who Governs the ND-PC and Who Delivers It
The North Dakota Insurance & Securities Department is the regulatory body that sets licensing requirements for producers in the state. It does not, however, run the testing centers or write the day-to-day exam logistics - that role belongs to PSI Services LLC, the third-party vendor contracted to administer the computer-based exams. When you register for your test date, you're working through PSI's scheduling system, not directly with the Department.
This two-party structure matters for candidates because it explains why some information (like content outlines and passing standards) comes from state regulation, while other information (like testing center policies and the exact candidate bulletin) comes from PSI. The current state-hosted PSI candidate bulletin is dated December 27, 2024, and it's the authoritative source for exam-day rules, so it's worth reviewing before you schedule.
How the ND-PC Exam Is Built
Both the Property exam and the Casualty exam share the same format:
- 110 scored questions per exam, plus 5-10 additional unscored experimental questions mixed in without being flagged
- 150 minutes allotted to complete the exam
- Computer-based, multiple-choice delivery at a PSI testing center
- 70% passing score, equal to 77 correct scored answers out of 110
- $64 fee per exam attempt, charged separately for Property and Casualty
- Unlimited retakes if you don't pass on the first try
Because the unscored experimental questions are indistinguishable from scored ones, you should treat every question on screen as if it counts. There's no way to identify or skip the experimental items, so pacing strategy should assume all 115-120 questions on screen are real.
For a deeper breakdown of exactly how the passing threshold is calculated and why 77 correct answers is the number to target, see ND-PC Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass. And if you're trying to gauge how tough this exam really is relative to your background, How Hard Is the ND-PC Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 walks through the format-specific challenges in more detail.
Inside the 20 ND-PC Content Domains
The ND-PC content outline splits into two parallel tracks - Property and Casualty - each built from ten domains. Understanding the domain structure matters more than memorizing isolated facts, because the exam questions are drawn proportionally from these areas.
Property Exam Domains
Domain 2: North Dakota Laws and Regulations Pertinent to Property Insurance
This is the single largest content area on the Property exam at 23.6% of questions. Candidates must know state-specific statutes, licensing rules, and regulatory requirements as they apply to property lines - not generic industry knowledge.
- State-specific producer conduct and disclosure rules
- North Dakota's regulatory definitions for property coverage
The remaining Property domains cover Insurance Regulation, Federal Laws and Regulations, General Insurance, Property Insurance Basics, Dwelling Policy Concepts, Homeowners Policy Concepts, Commercial Property Policies, the Businessowners Policy, and Other Types of Property Insurance (purpose and general characteristics).
Casualty Exam Domains
Domain 12: North Dakota Laws and Regulations Pertinent to Casualty Insurance
This domain carries even more weight on the Casualty side - 27.3% of the exam, making it the largest single content area across both exams. Expect detailed questions on state law as applied to auto, liability, and workers' compensation lines.
- North Dakota-specific casualty statutes and producer obligations
- How state law intersects with personal and commercial liability policies
Casualty also includes Insurance Regulation, Federal Laws and Regulations, General Insurance, Casualty Insurance Basics, Personal Automobile Insurance, Commercial Automobile Policy, Commercial General Liability, Other Types of Casualty Insurance, and Workers' Compensation Laws.
Key Takeaway
Because North Dakota Laws and Regulations dominates both exams, prioritize state-specific statute review before spending equal time on general policy mechanics. A candidate who knows federal-level insurance concepts but skips state law will lose more points than one who does the reverse.
For a full walkthrough of every domain with study priorities attached, see ND-PC Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 20 Content Areas. It expands on each domain listed above with more granular subtopics.
| Exam | Largest Domain | Weight | Questions Scored | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Property | ND Laws & Regulations (Property) | 23.6% | 110 | $64 |
| Casualty | ND Laws & Regulations (Casualty) | 27.3% | 110 | $64 |
Who Can Sit for the ND-PC - Eligibility Basics
Eligibility for the ND-PC exam is more accessible than many candidates expect. There is no mandatory prelicensing course - you can study independently and still qualify to sit for the exam. That said, several other requirements apply:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Reside in North Dakota or maintain a principal place of business in the state
- Pass each exam corresponding to the line of authority you're requesting (Property, Casualty, or both)
- Complete a fingerprint-based criminal history background check
- Apply for licensure through NIPR (the National Insurance Producer Registry)
Once you pass an exam, your score stays valid for one year, giving you a window to complete the rest of the licensing process before you'd need to retest. For the complete eligibility checklist with step-by-step application guidance, read ND-PC Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Cost, Scoring, and Licensing Timeline
Budgeting for the ND-PC process involves more than the exam fee itself. Here's the full financial picture based on current published figures:
- $64 per exam attempt (Property and Casualty are billed separately)
- $100 initial license fee once you've passed and are ready to apply
- $25 biennial renewal fee, due by the last day of your birth month
- 24 continuing education hours required per renewal cycle, including 3 ethics hours
Scoring is straightforward: each exam is scored out of 110, and you need 77 correct answers (70%) to pass. There's no partial credit for the unscored experimental questions, and there's no penalty for guessing, so leaving a question blank is never advantageous. For the complete cost breakdown - including how the fees stack up if you need retakes - see ND-PC Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
If you're trying to plan around specific testing windows or figure out how far in advance to schedule with PSI, ND-PC Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling covers scheduling mechanics in more depth.
Mapping Study Time to the Domains That Matter
Because North Dakota Laws and Regulations makes up nearly a quarter to over a quarter of each exam, your study schedule should reflect that weighting rather than treating all ten domains per exam equally. A simple way to structure preparation:
State Law Foundations
- North Dakota Laws and Regulations Pertinent to Property Insurance
- North Dakota Laws and Regulations Pertinent to Casualty Insurance
Regulation & Federal Overlay
- Insurance Regulation (both exams)
- Federal Laws and Regulations (both exams)
Policy Mechanics
- Dwelling, Homeowners, Commercial Property, Businessowners
- Personal Auto, Commercial Auto, Commercial General Liability
Remaining Basics & Full Timed Practice
- Property/Casualty Insurance Basics, Other Types of coverage, Workers' Compensation
- Full-length timed practice runs under 150-minute conditions
This isn't a generic weekly template - it's ordered specifically around the ND-PC's own weighting, starting with the domains worth the most points (state law) and ending with timed practice that mirrors the real 110-question, 150-minute format. For a more complete first-attempt strategy, including how to handle the unscored experimental questions psychologically, see ND-PC Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
What Happens After You Pass
Passing the ND-PC exam is a milestone, not the finish line. Your score is valid for one year, during which you need to complete the fingerprint-based background check and submit your application through NIPR along with the $100 initial license fee. Once licensed, you're subject to biennial renewal: $25 every two years, timed to the last day of your birth month, with 24 continuing education hours (3 of them ethics-specific) completed in each cycle.
Many candidates pursuing the ND-PC are doing so to start or expand a career as an insurance producer, agent, or broker handling property and casualty lines in North Dakota. If you're weighing whether the licensing investment pays off relative to the career opportunity, Is the ND-PC Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and ND-PC Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis explore that question in more depth. You can also browse ND-PC Jobs for a sense of the roles this license opens up, and check ND-PC Training for structured preparation resources.
Before you commit to a study plan, it's worth practicing under realistic conditions. You can start running through sample questions and timed sets on our practice test platform to see how your current knowledge compares to the 70% bar you'll need to clear.
Frequently Asked Questions
ND-PC stands for the North Dakota Property & Casualty Insurance Producer Exam. It refers to the two separate licensing exams (Property and Casualty) administered by PSI Services LLC on behalf of the North Dakota Insurance & Securities Department.
It's effectively two exams. Property and Casualty each have their own 110 scored questions, 150-minute time limit, $64 fee, and 70% passing requirement. You must pass each one separately for the corresponding line of authority.
No. North Dakota does not require a prelicensing education course before you sit for the exam, though you still need to meet age, residency, background check, and NIPR application requirements.
Your passing score remains valid for one year, giving you time to complete the fingerprint-based background check and submit your license application through NIPR.
North Dakota Laws and Regulations is the largest domain on both exams - 23.6% of Property and 27.3% of Casualty - so it deserves the earliest and heaviest study focus relative to other domains.